The other day we talked about angels, Jesus didn't take on their nature. To us angels are somewhat fantasy because they aren't something we see and touch, something we interact with day in and day out on a knowing basis. Yes, they are all around us, helping us, God's angels at least. In the little daily Bible reading booklet I have that same day was a little bit about angels.
God created angels-
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.
Angels give God worship-
Neh 9:6 Thou, even thou, art LORD alone; thou hast made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth, and all things that are therein, the seas, and all that is therein, and thou preservest them all; and the host of heaven worshippeth thee.
Angels minister to those who are God's-
Heb 1:13 But to which of the angels said he at any time, Sit on my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool?
Heb 1:14 Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?
Angels rejoice-
Luk 15:7 I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.
Luk 15:10 Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.
Angels are a mystery to us. There are stories about them, movies on them. Just recently I watched a movie called 'Legion' and in the movie the main characters were angels. Apparently ((((and don't read further if you don't want it spoiled for you))) God decided that humanity wasn't worth saving any more and the angel Michael disagreed with Him and came to earth to save mankind. Another angel came to stop Michael and have mankind end with the death of a child. There was a huge fight, in fact most of the movie was about the fighting, in the end Michael was killed and evil seemed to be prevailing but then just when you thought all was lost, Michael returns- God having brought Him back to life. The other angel that killed Michael said he wouldn't have spared his life, like Michael was sparing his, and Michael said that's why God spared Him. The whole point being that compassion and love is the main thing, self-sacrifice is very important, all important. These angels were warring on the movie screen and it makes you wonder what they must think about how they are depicited by man. This wasn't the first movie about angels - there is a whole series- the Prophecy movies- that deal with angels as well. There are many movies with angels in them and a lot of people believe they are more fiction than fact and maybe the movie theme is but the reality of angels is fact.
We can't see them as a rule, even when they interact with us we don't know they are angels. That they exist is a wonderful marvel of God's. Angels aren't subject to death like we are. The very angels that witness the creation of Adam and Eve are alive today witnesses the birth of babies. Angels are wonderful mysteries and we are blessed when they minister to us. Thank God for His mercy and love, thank God for allowing the angels to live among us. We thank each other for the kindnesses we do, and we can thank God for His ministering angels. While we cannot worship any but God, giving thanks isn't worshipping and we can thank the angels who by God's grace live and act in our lives unseen. One day I hope and pray we can know all that the angels did for us and thank them in person and by the grace and mercy of our Lord, through His loving kindness we shall. By the forgiveness of our Lord, our Savior we will live in harmony with God, with His Son, with the Holy Spirit, with all the beings created by Him, hopefully one day very soon.
In the love of Jesus Christ now and forever.
Amen.
Monday, March 8, 2010
Sunday, March 7, 2010
He took not on him the nature of angels
Heb 2:16 For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham.
Heb 2:17 Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.
Heb 2:18 For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.
The nature of angels- spirit.
Psa 104:4 Who maketh his angels spirits; his ministers a flaming fire
Heb 1:7 And of the angels he saith, Who maketh his angels spirits, and his ministers a flame of fire.
Jesus did not take on the nature of a spirit. Jesus took on the nature of the seed of Abraham which was human nature. Some want to believe Jesus didn't really take on the nature of a human being, that He didn't face any of the temptations we do, not really. He some how had this special ability to resist that we in no way can possibily ever possess. Were we born like Him? No. We in no way can even think for a flicker of a heartbeat that we were born of God as He was born of God without a human father. But Jesus took on humanity, He took on the flesh and the Bible is clear when it tells us that ... 'he himself hath suffered being tempted'. If Jesus had some special ability that enabled Him to resist temptation then He wouldn't have suffered. He suffered though. He suffered through the temptations that came His way and He relied upon His Father to keep Him and His Father did. Jesus had to surrender Himself fully to the Father as a human being, the nature that was prone to sin had to be surrendered to God the Father because God the Son chose to give up His eternal spirit self and merge it with flesh forever.
Jesus wanted to be made like us. Jesus wanted to know what it meant to be a human being born into a sin-filled world. Jesus wanted to save us, to be merciful and to be our high priest forever with God. Jesus wanted to reconcile us to to God and the only way He could to that was to die for our sins. We have a Creator that stepped down from a very lofty height and chose to become created in flesh. In the womb of Mary He was formed slowly, cell by cell, bit by bit just as all babies are formed. He wasn't instantly in Mary's belly ready to be birthed. She had to carry Him for nine months as He grew within her. He literally took on flesh in a miraculous way without human seed. The Holy Spirit overshadowed Mary, the Holy Spirit formed the spirit seed of God that united with Mary's human egg, human and God united to form the Son of God in flesh. The Spirit of God that was Jesus along with the Spirit Father God in the beginning created heaven and earth and the Spirit of God that took on flesh became Jesus, Son of God forever in flesh. The mystery of it all is something we live with and by faith we believe. Jesus overcame so we could overcome through His righteousness. He came and saved us, doing for us what we can never do for ourselves. When we are tempted we must cling to Jesus. When we fall we must cling to the forgiveness He offers us and live in His righteousness.
Jesus wasn't an angel. Jesus was uniquely God and human combined. Jesus set aside His divinity to overcome the weakness of the flesh in humanity and prevailed though Satan threw everything imaginable at Him to tempt Him to sin. Praise God for the victory of Christ our only hope. The love of God is beyond our full comprehension but we understand enough to know we must believe in that love. We are blessed so very blessed.
By the grace and mercy of our Lord and Savior, our Creator and Redeemer, Jesus Christ now and forever.
Amen.
Heb 2:17 Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.
Heb 2:18 For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.
The nature of angels- spirit.
Psa 104:4 Who maketh his angels spirits; his ministers a flaming fire
Heb 1:7 And of the angels he saith, Who maketh his angels spirits, and his ministers a flame of fire.
Jesus did not take on the nature of a spirit. Jesus took on the nature of the seed of Abraham which was human nature. Some want to believe Jesus didn't really take on the nature of a human being, that He didn't face any of the temptations we do, not really. He some how had this special ability to resist that we in no way can possibily ever possess. Were we born like Him? No. We in no way can even think for a flicker of a heartbeat that we were born of God as He was born of God without a human father. But Jesus took on humanity, He took on the flesh and the Bible is clear when it tells us that ... 'he himself hath suffered being tempted'. If Jesus had some special ability that enabled Him to resist temptation then He wouldn't have suffered. He suffered though. He suffered through the temptations that came His way and He relied upon His Father to keep Him and His Father did. Jesus had to surrender Himself fully to the Father as a human being, the nature that was prone to sin had to be surrendered to God the Father because God the Son chose to give up His eternal spirit self and merge it with flesh forever.
Jesus wanted to be made like us. Jesus wanted to know what it meant to be a human being born into a sin-filled world. Jesus wanted to save us, to be merciful and to be our high priest forever with God. Jesus wanted to reconcile us to to God and the only way He could to that was to die for our sins. We have a Creator that stepped down from a very lofty height and chose to become created in flesh. In the womb of Mary He was formed slowly, cell by cell, bit by bit just as all babies are formed. He wasn't instantly in Mary's belly ready to be birthed. She had to carry Him for nine months as He grew within her. He literally took on flesh in a miraculous way without human seed. The Holy Spirit overshadowed Mary, the Holy Spirit formed the spirit seed of God that united with Mary's human egg, human and God united to form the Son of God in flesh. The Spirit of God that was Jesus along with the Spirit Father God in the beginning created heaven and earth and the Spirit of God that took on flesh became Jesus, Son of God forever in flesh. The mystery of it all is something we live with and by faith we believe. Jesus overcame so we could overcome through His righteousness. He came and saved us, doing for us what we can never do for ourselves. When we are tempted we must cling to Jesus. When we fall we must cling to the forgiveness He offers us and live in His righteousness.
Jesus wasn't an angel. Jesus was uniquely God and human combined. Jesus set aside His divinity to overcome the weakness of the flesh in humanity and prevailed though Satan threw everything imaginable at Him to tempt Him to sin. Praise God for the victory of Christ our only hope. The love of God is beyond our full comprehension but we understand enough to know we must believe in that love. We are blessed so very blessed.
By the grace and mercy of our Lord and Savior, our Creator and Redeemer, Jesus Christ now and forever.
Amen.
Friday, March 5, 2010
Ye do err...
Mat 22:29 '...Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God.'
How many of us can say we know the scriptures and the power of God? Seriously? I know very few scriptures compared to the many that make up the Bible, and even the Old Testament on it's own. We are to know the word of God but how many of us study to know the word? The power of God, do you know the power of God? These are good questions and questions we need to ask ourselves. Jesus told those He was speaking to that they erred because they didn't know the scriptures nor the power of God. We can err a lot when we rely on things other than the scripture and when we reduce God to the power of a human being. We do that all too often. We take God's power from Him imagining things that are impossible to Him. We speak of a miracle and equate it to God's power, but many slice and dice it until it was only accomplished through scientific means. Stripping away the power of God from the act of a miracle. With medical miracles we can see doctors scratching their heads not quite understanding things, but then chalking it up not to God but to just one of those quirks in life that happen. Quirks. Miracles are quirks. I'm not saying I know the power of God, but I do know the Bible tells me this...
Mar 10:27 And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible.
With man there are many impossibilities, things that defy logic and reason and men won't even pretend to be able to do because they know they are impossible. With God nothing is impossible but this doesn't mean God will do something senselessly just to prove He can do the impossible. So many in Jesus' time didn't comprehend that God could allow His Son to become a human being, to be born of a woman into a common mostly unremarkable early life. People were looking for a Messiah, a Promised One but they didn't want the Messiah to be someone like Jesus they wanted a kingly man full of self-importance ready and willing to wrest into submission all who would not follow God. Miracle after miracle was performed by Jesus and that was great but they wanted more, they wanted to be herald into a new age where the Jewish people were no longer oppressed in any way. They wanted self-importance for themselves and their race as the promised of God. They were blinded because self was in the way. They had their ideas of how things should be. A messiah should arrive and bring glory to them not help the poor and forgive sinners. They couldn't understand the workings of God, not His power nor the scriptures. We need to know the scriptures and the power of God if we're not to err.
I'm sure some in those days could quote the scriptures backwards and forewards knowing them word for word and yet still they lost the real knowledge the scriptures were to impart to them. We have that danger today as well. We need the Holy Spirit to open our eyes to all the truth in the scriptures as we seek to know the scriptures- God's word to us.
2Ti 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness
1Th 1:5 For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake.
All scripture is given by inspiration of God.
You do err, not knowing the scriptures.
For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power.
Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God.
Please Lord help us to know the scriptures as You would have us know them so that we do not err. Please Lord help us to know the power of God so that we don't err. We need You Lord, we need the Holy Spirit to open our hearts, our minds, to You and all you would have us know. We can't believe that we can ignore your Holy Word, Your Word given to us by Your inspiration, and hope to know You, and Your power. Please help us as we study- help us understand fully Your inspired word which is... profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.
By the love and mercy of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, now and forever.
Amen.
How many of us can say we know the scriptures and the power of God? Seriously? I know very few scriptures compared to the many that make up the Bible, and even the Old Testament on it's own. We are to know the word of God but how many of us study to know the word? The power of God, do you know the power of God? These are good questions and questions we need to ask ourselves. Jesus told those He was speaking to that they erred because they didn't know the scriptures nor the power of God. We can err a lot when we rely on things other than the scripture and when we reduce God to the power of a human being. We do that all too often. We take God's power from Him imagining things that are impossible to Him. We speak of a miracle and equate it to God's power, but many slice and dice it until it was only accomplished through scientific means. Stripping away the power of God from the act of a miracle. With medical miracles we can see doctors scratching their heads not quite understanding things, but then chalking it up not to God but to just one of those quirks in life that happen. Quirks. Miracles are quirks. I'm not saying I know the power of God, but I do know the Bible tells me this...
Mar 10:27 And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible.
With man there are many impossibilities, things that defy logic and reason and men won't even pretend to be able to do because they know they are impossible. With God nothing is impossible but this doesn't mean God will do something senselessly just to prove He can do the impossible. So many in Jesus' time didn't comprehend that God could allow His Son to become a human being, to be born of a woman into a common mostly unremarkable early life. People were looking for a Messiah, a Promised One but they didn't want the Messiah to be someone like Jesus they wanted a kingly man full of self-importance ready and willing to wrest into submission all who would not follow God. Miracle after miracle was performed by Jesus and that was great but they wanted more, they wanted to be herald into a new age where the Jewish people were no longer oppressed in any way. They wanted self-importance for themselves and their race as the promised of God. They were blinded because self was in the way. They had their ideas of how things should be. A messiah should arrive and bring glory to them not help the poor and forgive sinners. They couldn't understand the workings of God, not His power nor the scriptures. We need to know the scriptures and the power of God if we're not to err.
I'm sure some in those days could quote the scriptures backwards and forewards knowing them word for word and yet still they lost the real knowledge the scriptures were to impart to them. We have that danger today as well. We need the Holy Spirit to open our eyes to all the truth in the scriptures as we seek to know the scriptures- God's word to us.
2Ti 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness
1Th 1:5 For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake.
All scripture is given by inspiration of God.
You do err, not knowing the scriptures.
For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power.
Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God.
Please Lord help us to know the scriptures as You would have us know them so that we do not err. Please Lord help us to know the power of God so that we don't err. We need You Lord, we need the Holy Spirit to open our hearts, our minds, to You and all you would have us know. We can't believe that we can ignore your Holy Word, Your Word given to us by Your inspiration, and hope to know You, and Your power. Please help us as we study- help us understand fully Your inspired word which is... profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.
By the love and mercy of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, now and forever.
Amen.
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Strangers- No Halos, No Wings
Mat 25:31 When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:
Mat 25:32 And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats:
Mat 25:33 And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.
Mat 25:34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:
Mat 25:35 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:
Mat 25:36 Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.
Mat 25:37 Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?
Mat 25:38 When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?
Mat 25:39 Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?
Mat 25:40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.
Mat 25:41 Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:
Mat 25:42 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink:
Mat 25:43 I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.
Mat 25:44 Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?
Mat 25:45 Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.
Mat 25:46 And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.
Mat 22:36 Master, which is the great commandment in the law?
Mat 22:37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
Mat 22:38 This is the first and great commandment.
Mat 22:39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
Mat 22:40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.
Love thy neighbor as thyself.
If you hunger, you wish to be fed.
If you thirst, you wish to drink.
If you lack clothing, you wish to be clothed.
If you're sick, you wish to be nurtured.
If you lack a place to live, you wish to have a home.
If you are imprisoned, you wish to know outside someone cares.
If you are the stranger don't you wish to be helped?
What do we do to help others? What do we do? People are in need all around us. Who do we help?
A stranger came to my door yesterday and I feared him and just wanted him to leave, leery of him and his being around my house. My first thought was that maybe he was one of those thieves who case the house before they do anything. Later that day it hit me, he was a stranger and I didn't welcome Him. I told myself that it was the way things are, society is different now. How can I trust strangers that come to my door not to hurt me, or want to hurt me? Today another stranger came to the door and my son answered it, it was a man selling meat out of his truck. My son told him we weren't interested, and we're really not because who wants meat from an unknown source? But immediately I told him and my daughter about the stranger the day before and now today and how we are supposed to help strangers, they could be angels even. And my daughter said, but yesterday that guy looked like he was trouble, and I said how are strangers supposed to look? Are they supposed to have a halo, wings, look nice? This all has me really thinking about things and I believe God wants me to learn something here, I only hope and pray that I do learn. I need to get over my fear, I need to help strangers. I need to do as God would have me to do. I need Him to teach me, help me because I am so weak. I don't want to be among those who don't help strangers, who don't love my neighbors. I need to do more some how, some way. I want to be among the sheep on God's right hand. May God help me.
By the grace and mercy of the Lord Jesus Christ, our Savior.
In His love.
Amen.
Mat 25:32 And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats:
Mat 25:33 And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.
Mat 25:34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:
Mat 25:35 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:
Mat 25:36 Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.
Mat 25:37 Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?
Mat 25:38 When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?
Mat 25:39 Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?
Mat 25:40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.
Mat 25:41 Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:
Mat 25:42 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink:
Mat 25:43 I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.
Mat 25:44 Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?
Mat 25:45 Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.
Mat 25:46 And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.
Mat 22:36 Master, which is the great commandment in the law?
Mat 22:37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
Mat 22:38 This is the first and great commandment.
Mat 22:39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
Mat 22:40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.
Love thy neighbor as thyself.
If you hunger, you wish to be fed.
If you thirst, you wish to drink.
If you lack clothing, you wish to be clothed.
If you're sick, you wish to be nurtured.
If you lack a place to live, you wish to have a home.
If you are imprisoned, you wish to know outside someone cares.
If you are the stranger don't you wish to be helped?
What do we do to help others? What do we do? People are in need all around us. Who do we help?
A stranger came to my door yesterday and I feared him and just wanted him to leave, leery of him and his being around my house. My first thought was that maybe he was one of those thieves who case the house before they do anything. Later that day it hit me, he was a stranger and I didn't welcome Him. I told myself that it was the way things are, society is different now. How can I trust strangers that come to my door not to hurt me, or want to hurt me? Today another stranger came to the door and my son answered it, it was a man selling meat out of his truck. My son told him we weren't interested, and we're really not because who wants meat from an unknown source? But immediately I told him and my daughter about the stranger the day before and now today and how we are supposed to help strangers, they could be angels even. And my daughter said, but yesterday that guy looked like he was trouble, and I said how are strangers supposed to look? Are they supposed to have a halo, wings, look nice? This all has me really thinking about things and I believe God wants me to learn something here, I only hope and pray that I do learn. I need to get over my fear, I need to help strangers. I need to do as God would have me to do. I need Him to teach me, help me because I am so weak. I don't want to be among those who don't help strangers, who don't love my neighbors. I need to do more some how, some way. I want to be among the sheep on God's right hand. May God help me.
By the grace and mercy of the Lord Jesus Christ, our Savior.
In His love.
Amen.
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Who Shall Separate Us From the Love of Christ
Rom 8:35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
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.
If we believe in God, truly believe we have to believe God will NEVER leave us, and that NOTHING can ever separate us from the love of Christ, NOTHING.
Tribulation- Great affliction, trial, or distress; suffering: the tribulations of the persecuted.
Distress- To cause strain, anxiety, or suffering to. To constrain or overcome by harassment.
Persecution- To oppress or harass with ill-treatment. To annoy persistently; bother.
Famine- Severe hunger; starvation
Nakedness- Having no clothing on the body; nude.
Peril- Imminent danger. b. Exposure to the risk of harm or loss. Something that endangers or involves risk.
Sword- An instrument of death or destruction
Reading through this list of things that could possibly come our way reveals how horrible it can be to live a life in Christ and STILL NOT be separated from Christ's love. Yet why do we get it in our heads that if we love God we won't suffer, or shouldn't suffer. That if God loves us then we won't have to go through any pain, horrific pain. Read that list again:
Tribulation- suffering. Distress- anxiety, suffering, harassment. Persecution- oppressed, annoyed, bothered. Famine- starvation. Nakedness- no clothes. Peril- danger, harm, loss, risk. Sword- death, destruction.
We don't believe any of that should happen to us if we love God, that we have the right to question God's love for us if we are called to go through severe suffering. We can let all that or any bit of it separate us from Christ, that's what Satan wants and any who try to convince you that Satan is just a made us boogy man, I say that you can't believe in God and not believe in Satan, the Bible is clear on the matter of His existence- the father of lies, the prince of this world, the dragon- he is very real and while you might think that the common person isn't of interest to Him that would be a mistake. Every human being is of interest to him. He would have each and every one of us on His side and separated from God and he will do everything he can to separate us, he will use EVERYTHING at his disposal. I've had some tell me that Satan is just an illusion and people use the idea of him to get away with their own evil. He's not an illusion. He is among the principalities, the powers, the creatures that will try to separate us from the love of Christ.
We have to cling to Christ through it all. We have to realize that life is like a rubber raft trip down a river. You're going to have calm traveling but you're also going to encounter amazing rapids such that threaten to toss you from the raft and separate you from it so that you drown. Christ is that raft and we have to cling to Him at all times. We have to hold on to Him in the calm and in the raging river. We are on that 'white water rafting trip' for life. We will only reach the shore when Christ returns or the sleep of death claims us and we sleep in Christ until He returns. It's a lifetime trip without any separation from that raft. If we think we can reach land and tie up the raft and go off exploring we are wrong. When we leave the raft we leave our protection, our source of eternal life. People think they can leave the raft, they believe they can go off without Christ in their lives and still have eternal life in Him. As long as we love God and have faith and hope in Him we can survive anything in Him without being separated from Him. When we lose hope and lose faith in Christ we are in danger of separating ourselves from Christ. Christ doesn't leave us when we go through trials and tribulations, we leave Him, we question Him, our faith crumbles.
I don't know when the next tribulation will hit me, but I know it will. It might be something outrageous or it could be something small and unassuming yet still a trial that will come trying to separate me from Christ, but I pray that my faith and hope remain by the grace of Christ, through the Holy Spirit.
Read this again...
Rom 8:35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
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.
May this be our belief, our heart felt belief that nothing separates us Christ's love, nothing! By the grace of God, through His righteousness, His love now and forever, by His forgiveness.
Amen.
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.
If we believe in God, truly believe we have to believe God will NEVER leave us, and that NOTHING can ever separate us from the love of Christ, NOTHING.
Tribulation- Great affliction, trial, or distress; suffering: the tribulations of the persecuted.
Distress- To cause strain, anxiety, or suffering to. To constrain or overcome by harassment.
Persecution- To oppress or harass with ill-treatment. To annoy persistently; bother.
Famine- Severe hunger; starvation
Nakedness- Having no clothing on the body; nude.
Peril- Imminent danger. b. Exposure to the risk of harm or loss. Something that endangers or involves risk.
Sword- An instrument of death or destruction
Reading through this list of things that could possibly come our way reveals how horrible it can be to live a life in Christ and STILL NOT be separated from Christ's love. Yet why do we get it in our heads that if we love God we won't suffer, or shouldn't suffer. That if God loves us then we won't have to go through any pain, horrific pain. Read that list again:
Tribulation- suffering. Distress- anxiety, suffering, harassment. Persecution- oppressed, annoyed, bothered. Famine- starvation. Nakedness- no clothes. Peril- danger, harm, loss, risk. Sword- death, destruction.
We don't believe any of that should happen to us if we love God, that we have the right to question God's love for us if we are called to go through severe suffering. We can let all that or any bit of it separate us from Christ, that's what Satan wants and any who try to convince you that Satan is just a made us boogy man, I say that you can't believe in God and not believe in Satan, the Bible is clear on the matter of His existence- the father of lies, the prince of this world, the dragon- he is very real and while you might think that the common person isn't of interest to Him that would be a mistake. Every human being is of interest to him. He would have each and every one of us on His side and separated from God and he will do everything he can to separate us, he will use EVERYTHING at his disposal. I've had some tell me that Satan is just an illusion and people use the idea of him to get away with their own evil. He's not an illusion. He is among the principalities, the powers, the creatures that will try to separate us from the love of Christ.
We have to cling to Christ through it all. We have to realize that life is like a rubber raft trip down a river. You're going to have calm traveling but you're also going to encounter amazing rapids such that threaten to toss you from the raft and separate you from it so that you drown. Christ is that raft and we have to cling to Him at all times. We have to hold on to Him in the calm and in the raging river. We are on that 'white water rafting trip' for life. We will only reach the shore when Christ returns or the sleep of death claims us and we sleep in Christ until He returns. It's a lifetime trip without any separation from that raft. If we think we can reach land and tie up the raft and go off exploring we are wrong. When we leave the raft we leave our protection, our source of eternal life. People think they can leave the raft, they believe they can go off without Christ in their lives and still have eternal life in Him. As long as we love God and have faith and hope in Him we can survive anything in Him without being separated from Him. When we lose hope and lose faith in Christ we are in danger of separating ourselves from Christ. Christ doesn't leave us when we go through trials and tribulations, we leave Him, we question Him, our faith crumbles.
I don't know when the next tribulation will hit me, but I know it will. It might be something outrageous or it could be something small and unassuming yet still a trial that will come trying to separate me from Christ, but I pray that my faith and hope remain by the grace of Christ, through the Holy Spirit.
Read this again...
Rom 8:35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
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.
May this be our belief, our heart felt belief that nothing separates us Christ's love, nothing! By the grace of God, through His righteousness, His love now and forever, by His forgiveness.
Amen.
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Keep Us from Evil
Rom 8:18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
Do we believe this? Surely our unique suffering is worse than people imagine. Suffering is unique isn't it? Seriously. Not all pain is the same for everyone. A woman who gives birth and travails in that most horrible of pains doesn't do so the same as the next woman. Some tolerate pain more so than others. Pain is unique to us. we can sympathize with others in pain because we know what it is to have our own pain. Even the pain of a head ache gives us the experience of pain we need to understand. 'The suffering of this present time....are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.' I ask again, do we believe this? The pain some feel is so great, the suffering so intense and yet they can't compare with the glory to come. What does that mean exactly? When you compare something you are weighing them against each other aren't you? The suffering and the glory. Does this statement indicate that the glory will far outweigh the suffering? Perhaps like it is for a lot of women who give birth the pain is horrific and then it's over and there is a new life to account for all the pain. Many women forget the pain easily enough as they adore the child in their arms. Many would say that it was all worth it and they go through it again, and again, and again.
'The sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.'
The glory revealed in us. There will be glory, the glory of Christ revealed in us. We will suffer though. We will suffer through the pains of this life here on earth living in a world that is no longer meant for God's children. We can't fool ourselves into believing things are right on this world. We can't be lulled into believing life is what you make it because here on this earth corrupted by Satan, ruled by Satan- the Prince of this World, we only have so much control. We have the control to choose to live in Christ yet doing that won't take us out of the world.
Jesus even prayed that specifically- remember this...
Joh 17:15 I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.
We have to live in the world, this world that isn't right for us.
Joh 17:14 I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
The world hates us. Does the world hate you? I don't feel like it hates me, is this because I'm too much like the world and not enough like Christ? Satan has many devices he uses to snare us. I don't live in a country where believing in Jesus Christ means I risk my very life. I don't live among people who hate me because I believe in Jesus. There are a lot of people who do, more people than we realize. We can read about it now just by going to an internet search engine and putting in there Christian persecution. We can read about it in newspapers, magazines, it's out there for us to know about yet even knowing it doesn't seem really, real. Does the world hate you? Perhaps the hate comes in other ways. Perhaps your being hated isn't outright hatred for Christ but rather life giving you one hardship after another to deal with, wearing you down as dripping water can wear away a stone. One drop is okay but sometimes a torrent of water hits us threatening to drown us. The world hates us, the world hates us because we are not of the world and we need to remember that when the hatred comes at us in ways we wouldn't suspect. Even the hatred within. Satan will use outside influence and he will also try to whisper into our thoughts to discourage us as only he knows how.
We have hope though, Jesus has prayed to the Father for us. 'Keep them from evil.'
Rom 8:24 For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?
Rom 8:25 But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.
Rom 8:26 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
Rom 8:27 And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.
Rom 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
We must pray and trust the Holy Spirit to help our infirmities. We must hope. We are living in this world that is not ours and yet we are Christ's and we will be kept by Him. Some how all that happens, all the suffering, all the hatred, will work together for our good if we love God. God's purpose is that we love Jesus Christ whom He sent. Love and believe on the Lord our Savior.
By the grace and mercy of Jesus, through His righteousness and His righteousness alone, in His almighty love.
Amen.
Do we believe this? Surely our unique suffering is worse than people imagine. Suffering is unique isn't it? Seriously. Not all pain is the same for everyone. A woman who gives birth and travails in that most horrible of pains doesn't do so the same as the next woman. Some tolerate pain more so than others. Pain is unique to us. we can sympathize with others in pain because we know what it is to have our own pain. Even the pain of a head ache gives us the experience of pain we need to understand. 'The suffering of this present time....are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.' I ask again, do we believe this? The pain some feel is so great, the suffering so intense and yet they can't compare with the glory to come. What does that mean exactly? When you compare something you are weighing them against each other aren't you? The suffering and the glory. Does this statement indicate that the glory will far outweigh the suffering? Perhaps like it is for a lot of women who give birth the pain is horrific and then it's over and there is a new life to account for all the pain. Many women forget the pain easily enough as they adore the child in their arms. Many would say that it was all worth it and they go through it again, and again, and again.
'The sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.'
The glory revealed in us. There will be glory, the glory of Christ revealed in us. We will suffer though. We will suffer through the pains of this life here on earth living in a world that is no longer meant for God's children. We can't fool ourselves into believing things are right on this world. We can't be lulled into believing life is what you make it because here on this earth corrupted by Satan, ruled by Satan- the Prince of this World, we only have so much control. We have the control to choose to live in Christ yet doing that won't take us out of the world.
Jesus even prayed that specifically- remember this...
Joh 17:15 I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.
We have to live in the world, this world that isn't right for us.
Joh 17:14 I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
The world hates us. Does the world hate you? I don't feel like it hates me, is this because I'm too much like the world and not enough like Christ? Satan has many devices he uses to snare us. I don't live in a country where believing in Jesus Christ means I risk my very life. I don't live among people who hate me because I believe in Jesus. There are a lot of people who do, more people than we realize. We can read about it now just by going to an internet search engine and putting in there Christian persecution. We can read about it in newspapers, magazines, it's out there for us to know about yet even knowing it doesn't seem really, real. Does the world hate you? Perhaps the hate comes in other ways. Perhaps your being hated isn't outright hatred for Christ but rather life giving you one hardship after another to deal with, wearing you down as dripping water can wear away a stone. One drop is okay but sometimes a torrent of water hits us threatening to drown us. The world hates us, the world hates us because we are not of the world and we need to remember that when the hatred comes at us in ways we wouldn't suspect. Even the hatred within. Satan will use outside influence and he will also try to whisper into our thoughts to discourage us as only he knows how.
We have hope though, Jesus has prayed to the Father for us. 'Keep them from evil.'
Rom 8:24 For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?
Rom 8:25 But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.
Rom 8:26 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
Rom 8:27 And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.
Rom 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
We must pray and trust the Holy Spirit to help our infirmities. We must hope. We are living in this world that is not ours and yet we are Christ's and we will be kept by Him. Some how all that happens, all the suffering, all the hatred, will work together for our good if we love God. God's purpose is that we love Jesus Christ whom He sent. Love and believe on the Lord our Savior.
By the grace and mercy of Jesus, through His righteousness and His righteousness alone, in His almighty love.
Amen.
Monday, March 1, 2010
Desperate for Love
Gen 29:17 Leah was tender eyed; but Rachel was beautiful and well favoured.
Gen 29:30 And he went in also unto Rachel, and he loved also Rachel more than Leah, and served with him yet seven other years
Gen 29:31 And when the LORD saw that Leah was hated, he opened her womb: but Rachel was barren
Gen 29:32 And Leah conceived, and bare a son, and she called his name Reuben: for she said, Surely the LORD hath looked upon my affliction; now therefore my husband will love me.
Gen 29:33 And she conceived again, and bare a son; and said, Because the LORD hath heard that I was hated, he hath therefore given me this son also: and she called his name Simeon.
Gen 29:34 And she conceived again, and bare a son; and said, Now this time will my husband be joined unto me, because I have born him three sons: therefore was his name called Levi.
Gen 29:35 And she conceived again, and bare a son: and she said, Now will I praise the LORD: therefore she called his name Judah; and left bearing.
Gen 30:15 And she said unto her, Is it a small matter that thou hast taken my husband? and wouldest thou take away my son's mandrakes also? And Rachel said, Therefore he shall lie with thee to night for thy son's mandrakes.
Gen 30:16 And Jacob came out of the field in the evening, and Leah went out to meet him, and said, Thou must come in unto me; for surely I have hired thee with my son's mandrakes. And he lay with her that night.
Gen 30:17 And God hearkened unto Leah, and she conceived, and bare Jacob the fifth son.
Gen 30:20 And Leah said, God hath endued me with a good dowry; now will my husband dwell with me, because I have born him six sons: and she called his name Zebulun.
Gen 33:1 And Jacob lifted up his eyes, and looked, and, behold, Esau came, and with him four hundred men. And he divided the children unto Leah, and unto Rachel, and unto the two handmaids.
Gen 33:2 And he put the handmaids and their children foremost, and Leah and her children after, and Rachel and Joseph hindermost.
Gen 49:29 And he charged them, and said unto them, I am to be gathered unto my people: bury me with my fathers in the cave that is in the field of Ephron the Hittite,
Gen 49:30 In the cave that is in the field of Machpelah, which is before Mamre, in the land of Canaan, which Abraham bought with the field of Ephron the Hittite for a possession of a buryingplace.
Gen 49:31 There they buried Abraham and Sarah his wife; there they buried Isaac and Rebekah his wife; and there I buried Leah.
*******
To live and not be loved enough by the one you want to be loved by is painful. Leah spent years trying to gain favor of Jacob and never did, not over that of Rachel. Rachel even sold the favors of Jacob for a night for mandrakes from one of Leah's sons. Can you even imagine? Seriously. In the end, Jacob was buried next to Leah, not Rachel. Does that mean he did love her? I've no doubt he had affection for her, but the great love he had for Rachel far surpassed that he had for Leah. What lessons do we learn from this? What lessons should we learn from this? Are we Rachel's or Leah's? No, we're not usually in marriages with two women and one man, but the point of it all. How many people are in relationships with someone and that someone ends up wanting another? We live in a society that doesn't allow for more than one wife or husband so what happens is divorce. Divorce is very prevalent. No, it's not usually the same situation as Jacob's, Rachel's and Leah's. Jacob was tricked into marrying Leah, he never loved her to begin with. It was probably a good thing that he favored her as much as he did. Still, life often puts us into situations we don't enjoy but have to endure. Leah was never given a chance to find a man who loved her and had to live a life unloved by a counterpart. Yes, a lot of people go through life without finding a counterpart but it's not easy when we were made to have counterparts. The Lord said it's not good for man to be alone.
Gen 2:18 And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him
It's not good to be alone. Yet, Paul says this...
1Co 7:8 I say therefore to the unmarried and widows, It is good for them if they abide even as I.
Which was alone, unmarried.
That wasn't a commandment, but a suggestion rather. It's easier to worship God with a whole heart if you're not worried by a loved one's walk with Christ.
No matter which situation we are called to, the bottom line is to live for God no matter what walk we are called to undertake. Are you caught up in a marriage where you are like Leah in some respects, left feeling unloved? Are you the one loved more than another? Are you alone? Have you been left? We can get caught up in the cares of this life and that's what Satan wants to happen. Satan would have us so caught up in our lives here and now that we lose sight of God and the hope of a new life in Christ at His return. We have to determine to set our treasures in heaven. If we keep our treasures here on earth that's where our hearts are going to be. Treasures come in many shapes and sizes. Treasures can be people, animals, objects, situations. Anything that would take our minds off Christ is a danger and we have to recognize that. We can live trying to have lives that make us happy in a worldly way, but that will only always give us temporary happiness, short-lived and wanting something better, something more. We have to live for Christ and the happiness we can find in that amazing love knowing that life here and now is not what it should be for us. We are strangers here, this is not our world anymore than it was Jesus' world.
By the grace and mercy of our Lord and our Saviour Jesus Christ now and forever, in His love and in His righteousness.
Amen.
Gen 29:30 And he went in also unto Rachel, and he loved also Rachel more than Leah, and served with him yet seven other years
Gen 29:31 And when the LORD saw that Leah was hated, he opened her womb: but Rachel was barren
Gen 29:32 And Leah conceived, and bare a son, and she called his name Reuben: for she said, Surely the LORD hath looked upon my affliction; now therefore my husband will love me.
Gen 29:33 And she conceived again, and bare a son; and said, Because the LORD hath heard that I was hated, he hath therefore given me this son also: and she called his name Simeon.
Gen 29:34 And she conceived again, and bare a son; and said, Now this time will my husband be joined unto me, because I have born him three sons: therefore was his name called Levi.
Gen 29:35 And she conceived again, and bare a son: and she said, Now will I praise the LORD: therefore she called his name Judah; and left bearing.
Gen 30:15 And she said unto her, Is it a small matter that thou hast taken my husband? and wouldest thou take away my son's mandrakes also? And Rachel said, Therefore he shall lie with thee to night for thy son's mandrakes.
Gen 30:16 And Jacob came out of the field in the evening, and Leah went out to meet him, and said, Thou must come in unto me; for surely I have hired thee with my son's mandrakes. And he lay with her that night.
Gen 30:17 And God hearkened unto Leah, and she conceived, and bare Jacob the fifth son.
Gen 30:20 And Leah said, God hath endued me with a good dowry; now will my husband dwell with me, because I have born him six sons: and she called his name Zebulun.
Gen 33:1 And Jacob lifted up his eyes, and looked, and, behold, Esau came, and with him four hundred men. And he divided the children unto Leah, and unto Rachel, and unto the two handmaids.
Gen 33:2 And he put the handmaids and their children foremost, and Leah and her children after, and Rachel and Joseph hindermost.
Gen 49:29 And he charged them, and said unto them, I am to be gathered unto my people: bury me with my fathers in the cave that is in the field of Ephron the Hittite,
Gen 49:30 In the cave that is in the field of Machpelah, which is before Mamre, in the land of Canaan, which Abraham bought with the field of Ephron the Hittite for a possession of a buryingplace.
Gen 49:31 There they buried Abraham and Sarah his wife; there they buried Isaac and Rebekah his wife; and there I buried Leah.
*******
To live and not be loved enough by the one you want to be loved by is painful. Leah spent years trying to gain favor of Jacob and never did, not over that of Rachel. Rachel even sold the favors of Jacob for a night for mandrakes from one of Leah's sons. Can you even imagine? Seriously. In the end, Jacob was buried next to Leah, not Rachel. Does that mean he did love her? I've no doubt he had affection for her, but the great love he had for Rachel far surpassed that he had for Leah. What lessons do we learn from this? What lessons should we learn from this? Are we Rachel's or Leah's? No, we're not usually in marriages with two women and one man, but the point of it all. How many people are in relationships with someone and that someone ends up wanting another? We live in a society that doesn't allow for more than one wife or husband so what happens is divorce. Divorce is very prevalent. No, it's not usually the same situation as Jacob's, Rachel's and Leah's. Jacob was tricked into marrying Leah, he never loved her to begin with. It was probably a good thing that he favored her as much as he did. Still, life often puts us into situations we don't enjoy but have to endure. Leah was never given a chance to find a man who loved her and had to live a life unloved by a counterpart. Yes, a lot of people go through life without finding a counterpart but it's not easy when we were made to have counterparts. The Lord said it's not good for man to be alone.
Gen 2:18 And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him
It's not good to be alone. Yet, Paul says this...
1Co 7:8 I say therefore to the unmarried and widows, It is good for them if they abide even as I.
Which was alone, unmarried.
That wasn't a commandment, but a suggestion rather. It's easier to worship God with a whole heart if you're not worried by a loved one's walk with Christ.
No matter which situation we are called to, the bottom line is to live for God no matter what walk we are called to undertake. Are you caught up in a marriage where you are like Leah in some respects, left feeling unloved? Are you the one loved more than another? Are you alone? Have you been left? We can get caught up in the cares of this life and that's what Satan wants to happen. Satan would have us so caught up in our lives here and now that we lose sight of God and the hope of a new life in Christ at His return. We have to determine to set our treasures in heaven. If we keep our treasures here on earth that's where our hearts are going to be. Treasures come in many shapes and sizes. Treasures can be people, animals, objects, situations. Anything that would take our minds off Christ is a danger and we have to recognize that. We can live trying to have lives that make us happy in a worldly way, but that will only always give us temporary happiness, short-lived and wanting something better, something more. We have to live for Christ and the happiness we can find in that amazing love knowing that life here and now is not what it should be for us. We are strangers here, this is not our world anymore than it was Jesus' world.
By the grace and mercy of our Lord and our Saviour Jesus Christ now and forever, in His love and in His righteousness.
Amen.
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