After leaving her young son, Samuel, with the High Priest Eli at the Holy Temple, knowing she'd be leaving him there for the rest of His life never to have him in her home again, Hannah prayed this prayer…
1Sa 2:1 And Hannah prayed, and said,
My heart rejoiceth in the LORD,
mine horn is exalted in the LORD
my mouth is enlarged over mine enemies
because I rejoice in thy salvation.
Her heart rejoiced! There was NO sadness! Her heart rejoiced! Imagine it, your heart's desire was a child and you have that child and then have to give the child up, can you imagine rejoicing? The thing here is Hannah didn't *HAVE* to give up Samuel. Hannah chose to lend Him to the Lord. There was honor and the need of rejoicing in such a miraculous gift and being able to hold true to your vow to the Lord. This was a blessing. Hannah wasn't dooming Samuel to a life of horror, but gifting Him with the life of service to the Lord. The Lord who answered Hannah's prayer would surely be trustworthy and Hannah knew this, she was giving Samuel a gift by lending Him to the Lord. Hannah was rejoicing in the salvation of the Lord. She knew the power of the Lord firsthand, she understood that salvation was found in the Lord and no where else. Her life was exalted, she was able to praise God and give glory to Him and no one could take this from her, no enemy could destroy this bonding Hannah had with the Lord God. Her prayer continues...
1Sa 2:2 There is none holy as the LORD
for there is none beside thee:
neither is there any rock like our God.
Such amazing praise and truth! People might think there are things or others that are holy as the Lord but there is nothing and no one as Holy as our God. God is a surety beyond all sureties. Satan would have us believe God defaults on His promises, that all of life's heartaches are allowed by God to bring us pain and misery. Satan wants us to believe that all our suffering is from God, that there is no surety with the Lord, no goodness, nothing holy only that which is contemptible. God holds our eternal life in His hands as a precious gift He's proven to be more than willing to give to us, it's our eternal life which matters more than anything we suffer here on earth right now. Satan would have us only focus on this world and our short life that we are to live within it. As long as we only focus on this world Satan will have us lose the very thing he longs for and will never, ever have-- eternal life. Hannah spoke true… neither is there any rock like our God.
1Sa 2:3 Talk no more so exceeding proudly
let not arrogancy come out of your mouth
for the LORD is a God of knowledge
and by him actions are weighed.
By the Lord our actions are weighed. We cannot profess to have all understanding. We cannot presume to place ourselves on the level God. God alone has all knowledge, God alone is worthy of being honored and glorified. Any pride, any arrogance we possess should be silenced. Hannah knew this, because Hannah was blessed by the Lord and the words she spoke in her prayer were from the Lord. The full circle that took at least four maybe six years -including the time Hannah became pregnant- brought Hannah to the culmination of a miracle granted to her. As Hannah fulfilled her vow God blessed her with amazing insight.
1Sa 2:4 The bows of the mighty men are broken
and they that stumbled are girded with strength.
1Sa 2:5 They that were full have hired out themselves for bread
and they that were hungry ceased
so that the barren hath born seven
and she that hath many children is waxed feeble.
The mighty- broken
The stumbling- strengthened
The full- hungered
The hungry-filled
The barren- bares seven
The fruitful womb- feebled
1Sa 2:6
The LORD killeth,
and maketh alive:
he bringeth down to the grave,
and bringeth up.
1Sa 2:7
The LORD maketh poor,
and maketh rich:
he bringeth low,
and lifteth up.
1Sa 2:8
He raiseth up the poor out of the dust,
and lifteth up the beggar from the dunghill,
to set them among princes,
and to make them inherit the throne of glory:
for the pillars of the earth are the LORD'S,
and he hath set the world upon them.
1Sa 2:9
He will keep the feet of his saints,
and the wicked shall be silent in darkness;
for by strength shall no man prevail.
FOR BY STRENGTH SHALL NO MAN PREVAIL! It's not be strength we gain eternal life, it's not by being strong on our own we can get through life and it's heartaches- only through the LORD do we prevail. It is the strength of the Lord that brings victory. Separated from the Lord we are NOTHING. We may think we are all that and then some, but we are but living dust without the Lord.
1Sa 2:10
The adversaries of the LORD shall be broken to pieces
out of heaven shall he thunder upon them
the LORD shall judge the ends of the earth
and he shall give strength unto his king,
and exalt the horn of his anointed.
PRAISE and GLORY all HONOR to our LORD! Hannah prayed and prophesized of the Lord's king, the Lord's anointed, our Savior! So beautiful, so wondrous this prayer of Hannah's. There is such depth in this prayer that there is no doubt that the Lord gave Hannah a blessing for her kept vow.
Reading on...
Hannah went home and time passed--
1Sa 2:18 But Samuel ministered before the LORD, being a child, girded with a linen ephod.
1Sa 2:19 Moreover his mother made him a little coat, and brought it to him from year to year, when she came up with her husband to offer the yearly sacrifice.
Every year Hannah made her first born son a coat. Once a year Hannah would see Samuel. Imagine the joy of watching Him grow in knowledge and love of the Lord.
1Sa 2:20 And Eli blessed Elkanah and his wife, and said, The LORD give thee seed of this woman for the loan which is lent to the LORD. And they went unto their own home.
1Sa 2:21 And the LORD visited Hannah, so that she conceived, and bare three sons and two daughters. And the child Samuel grew before the LORD.
Eli was thankful for Hannah's and her husband's gift to the Lord, the loan of their son. How well behaved Samuel had to have been. How respectful, how subservient, and attentive he was because he had Eli, the High Priest blessing his parents. Samuel had been raised properly and was a blessing to his parents. The blessing Eli gave to Samuel's parents was the gift of more children. Hannah went from being barren to receiving a blessing in Samuel. She raised Samuel for three to five years then loaned him to the Lord and then she visited Him every year… let's suppose 3 years maybe more, maybe less, but let's just imagine it was a few years and during all this time from the time of Samuel's birth until 7-8 years later Hannah was barren once more but found no sadness in her barren state. She'd been blessed and rejoiced in that blessing, it was enough. No more sad countenance, no more despair, no more heart ache longing for a child, that was all gone even though she didn't have possession of her child any longer. The Lord blessed her and Hannah wasn't presumptuous in that blessing, she was grateful eternally so. Then she was bless by Eli who asked the Lord to continue to bless her with children. The LORD visited Hannah, not once but six times! The LORD visited her and she was able to conceive. Without the Lord's blessing, without having the favor of the Lord, without having been obedient to the Lord, the Lord would not have continued to bless Hannah's barren womb. Hannah didn't miraculously become fertile after having Samuel, she remained barren until she was blessed again, and again with five more children. While Hannah was blessed with these children Samuel was growing before the Lord.
Amazing, all of this is so incredibly amazing and it's good for us to study, to glean the miraculous wonders, the truths that God has for us in all He does. May God continue to bless us as we seek Him, may we have understanding in Him of all we need to understand so that we may serve Him, that we may love Him as He would have us do.
God's will be done now and forever.
In His miraculous mercy and grace!
Amen.
Saturday, August 7, 2010
Friday, August 6, 2010
...no more sad
Hannah prayed after she brought her very young son to live with the High Priest Eli. Biblical scholars estimate that Samuel- Hannah's son- was between 3 and 5 years old.
( 2Ch 31:16 Beside their genealogy of males, from three years old and upward, even unto every one that entereth into the house of the LORD, his daily portion for their service in their charges according to their courses)
Hannah did not bring a child who couldn't understand instruction and follow commands. Hannah did not bring a child who had to be cared for in every little thing. Hannah brought a child that was old enough to listen and obey, she brought a child that could tend to his own needs- feed himself, wash himself. It's not really a stretch to imagine Samuel 4 or 5 years old, the age we send most children to kindergarten. Samuel was to be molded by Eli- taught the ways of God because Hannah lent Him to God for the rest of His life.
1Sa 2:11 And Elkanah went to Ramah to his house. And the child did minister unto the LORD before Eli the priest.
Elkanah- Hannah's husband- returned to Ramah, Hannah with him, leaving Samuel at the temple and what did Samuel do? Samuel MINISTERED to the LORD before Eli the priest! Yes, Samuel definitely had to be out of his infant/toddler stage and right on up there into his childhood when Hannah brought Him to the temple and lent him to the Lord. I can just imagine the life Samuel had to have led with his mother. He had to have been taught daily about the Lord He was promised to. Hannah wouldn't have been cruel and kept Him in the dark as to his future. She knew from the moment she realized that she'd conceive that the child in her womb was only loaned to her by God. Upon his birth I can only imagine Hannah's thoughts of joy even knowing she would one day be without her son. Can you just picture her looking down into the little scrunched up newborn's face, his tiny fingers wrapped around one of hers as she told him right then and there that He was God's. Hannah laid no permanent claim to Samuel and he grew up knowing this. He was promised to God and he would go to the Temple when he was older and there he would serve God by serving the High Priest. He knew this from the moment he could comprehend Samuel understood that his life was spoken for. Samuel knew he would be leaving his mother and father as well as the only home he knew and he also knew it was an honor, a great thing that he would be doing-- something to be much desired. Hannah's love of God was instilled in her son. Going away to the temple wasn't something dread but a day to look forward to. Hannah left her son but not in tears of sadness. Was she going to miss him? Yes. Would he miss her? Of course he would. God's greater purpose was what ruled their lives and nothing else.
Some might argue that Hannah's desire for a child was pure selfishness, that her heart aching for a child of her own was wrong, that she should have just trusted that God would allow her to have a child or not as He wills. Others might say that God knowing Hannah's every need understood that she might need a child and Hannah lacked the trust she should have had in God by praying as she did. What matters most is God and His will, not ours, not even our understanding. We don't know all of what Hannah prayed--
1Sa 1:10 And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the LORD, and wept sore.
1Sa 1:11 And she vowed a vow, and said, O LORD of hosts, if thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of thine handmaid, and remember me, and not forget thine handmaid, but wilt give unto thine handmaid a man child, then I will give him unto the LORD all the days of his life, and there shall no razor come upon his head.
1Sa 1:12 And it came to pass, as she continued praying
She continued praying, how long she prayed, what she prayed we do not know. We do know that she was being watched and Eli, the High Priest believed her to be drunk. Intervening he asked her how long she'd drink and told her she should put away the wine. Eli didn't know that Hannah's sorrowful prayer- of the sort that would cause her actions in prayer to be misinterpreted as a drunken woman's- was coming from the depths of her heart. Eli didn't know what Hannah prayed for, what her heart's affliction was. But when Hannah answered him with respect and explained herself as only one that wasn't drunk could, Eli said this…
1Sa 1:17 Then Eli answered and said, Go in peace: and the God of Israel grant thee thy petition that thou hast asked of him.
Go in peace.
The God of Israel grant thee thy petition that thou hast asked of him.
Eli's response was one of genuine understanding. He wanted the very sorrowful Hannah to go in peace not in upset, he wanted her petition- the petition of such intensity- to be granted and he didn't even know what it was she'd prayed for.
Hannah's response was one of gratitude. Here the High Priest in God's Holy Temple was telling her that he was right there with her- wanting God to hear her and answer her as she desired. Faith, belief in God and trust in those God has called into His service- so amazing. Hannah left Eli…
1Sa 1:18 And she said, Let thine handmaid find grace in thy sight. So the woman went her way, and did eat, and her countenance was no more sad.
…and was no longer sad. Amazing. The faith she revealed was wonderful. God rewards faith, time and time again we can read of how much God rewards those who truly believe in Him, even if the rewards aren't always immediate. We can believe in all God promises.
Heb 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
Heb 11:2 For by it the elders obtained a good report.
Heb 11:3 Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.
Heb 11:4 By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.
Heb 11:5 By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.
Heb 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
Heb 11:7 By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.
Heb 11:8 By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.
Heb 11:9 By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise:
Heb 11:10 For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.
Heb 11:11 Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised.
Heb 11:12 Therefore sprang there even of one, and him as good as dead, so many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as the sand which is by the sea shore innumerable.
Heb 11:13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.
Heb 11:14 For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country.
Heb 11:15 And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned.
Heb 11:16 But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.
Heb 11:17 By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son,
Heb 11:18 Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called:
Heb 11:19 Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure.
Heb 11:20 By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come.
Heb 11:21 By faith Jacob, when he was a dying, blessed both the sons of Joseph; and worshipped, leaning upon the top of his staff.
Heb 11:22 By faith Joseph, when he died, made mention of the departing of the children of Israel; and gave commandment concerning his bones.
Heb 11:23 By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his parents, because they saw he was a proper child; and they were not afraid of the king's commandment.
Heb 11:24 By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter;
Heb 11:25 Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;
Heb 11:26 Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward.
Heb 11:27 By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible.
Heb 11:28 Through faith he kept the passover, and the sprinkling of blood, lest he that destroyed the firstborn should touch them.
Heb 11:29 By faith they passed through the Red sea as by dry land: which the Egyptians assaying to do were drowned.
Heb 11:30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they were compassed about seven days.
Heb 11:31 By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace.
Heb 11:32 And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets:
Heb 11:33 Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions,
Heb 11:34 Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.
Heb 11:35 Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection:
Heb 11:36 And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment:
Heb 11:37 They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented;
Heb 11:38 (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.
Heb 11:39 And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise:
Heb 11:40 God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.
Hannah was no longer sad, she believed that God would indeed grant her petition and He did. Amazing.
No, even the most sincere, heartfelt prayer can go seemingly unheard, the petition not granted, but God has His plans, His ways and we need to belief, we need to have that faith that can make us turn away from our heart wrenching petitions and no longer be sad.
More on this study to come. : )
All glory to our Savior!
All praise to our Creator!
By His mercy!
By His grace!
Forever and always God's will be done!
Amen.
( 2Ch 31:16 Beside their genealogy of males, from three years old and upward, even unto every one that entereth into the house of the LORD, his daily portion for their service in their charges according to their courses)
Hannah did not bring a child who couldn't understand instruction and follow commands. Hannah did not bring a child who had to be cared for in every little thing. Hannah brought a child that was old enough to listen and obey, she brought a child that could tend to his own needs- feed himself, wash himself. It's not really a stretch to imagine Samuel 4 or 5 years old, the age we send most children to kindergarten. Samuel was to be molded by Eli- taught the ways of God because Hannah lent Him to God for the rest of His life.
1Sa 2:11 And Elkanah went to Ramah to his house. And the child did minister unto the LORD before Eli the priest.
Elkanah- Hannah's husband- returned to Ramah, Hannah with him, leaving Samuel at the temple and what did Samuel do? Samuel MINISTERED to the LORD before Eli the priest! Yes, Samuel definitely had to be out of his infant/toddler stage and right on up there into his childhood when Hannah brought Him to the temple and lent him to the Lord. I can just imagine the life Samuel had to have led with his mother. He had to have been taught daily about the Lord He was promised to. Hannah wouldn't have been cruel and kept Him in the dark as to his future. She knew from the moment she realized that she'd conceive that the child in her womb was only loaned to her by God. Upon his birth I can only imagine Hannah's thoughts of joy even knowing she would one day be without her son. Can you just picture her looking down into the little scrunched up newborn's face, his tiny fingers wrapped around one of hers as she told him right then and there that He was God's. Hannah laid no permanent claim to Samuel and he grew up knowing this. He was promised to God and he would go to the Temple when he was older and there he would serve God by serving the High Priest. He knew this from the moment he could comprehend Samuel understood that his life was spoken for. Samuel knew he would be leaving his mother and father as well as the only home he knew and he also knew it was an honor, a great thing that he would be doing-- something to be much desired. Hannah's love of God was instilled in her son. Going away to the temple wasn't something dread but a day to look forward to. Hannah left her son but not in tears of sadness. Was she going to miss him? Yes. Would he miss her? Of course he would. God's greater purpose was what ruled their lives and nothing else.
Some might argue that Hannah's desire for a child was pure selfishness, that her heart aching for a child of her own was wrong, that she should have just trusted that God would allow her to have a child or not as He wills. Others might say that God knowing Hannah's every need understood that she might need a child and Hannah lacked the trust she should have had in God by praying as she did. What matters most is God and His will, not ours, not even our understanding. We don't know all of what Hannah prayed--
1Sa 1:10 And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the LORD, and wept sore.
1Sa 1:11 And she vowed a vow, and said, O LORD of hosts, if thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of thine handmaid, and remember me, and not forget thine handmaid, but wilt give unto thine handmaid a man child, then I will give him unto the LORD all the days of his life, and there shall no razor come upon his head.
1Sa 1:12 And it came to pass, as she continued praying
She continued praying, how long she prayed, what she prayed we do not know. We do know that she was being watched and Eli, the High Priest believed her to be drunk. Intervening he asked her how long she'd drink and told her she should put away the wine. Eli didn't know that Hannah's sorrowful prayer- of the sort that would cause her actions in prayer to be misinterpreted as a drunken woman's- was coming from the depths of her heart. Eli didn't know what Hannah prayed for, what her heart's affliction was. But when Hannah answered him with respect and explained herself as only one that wasn't drunk could, Eli said this…
1Sa 1:17 Then Eli answered and said, Go in peace: and the God of Israel grant thee thy petition that thou hast asked of him.
Go in peace.
The God of Israel grant thee thy petition that thou hast asked of him.
Eli's response was one of genuine understanding. He wanted the very sorrowful Hannah to go in peace not in upset, he wanted her petition- the petition of such intensity- to be granted and he didn't even know what it was she'd prayed for.
Hannah's response was one of gratitude. Here the High Priest in God's Holy Temple was telling her that he was right there with her- wanting God to hear her and answer her as she desired. Faith, belief in God and trust in those God has called into His service- so amazing. Hannah left Eli…
1Sa 1:18 And she said, Let thine handmaid find grace in thy sight. So the woman went her way, and did eat, and her countenance was no more sad.
…and was no longer sad. Amazing. The faith she revealed was wonderful. God rewards faith, time and time again we can read of how much God rewards those who truly believe in Him, even if the rewards aren't always immediate. We can believe in all God promises.
Heb 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
Heb 11:2 For by it the elders obtained a good report.
Heb 11:3 Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.
Heb 11:4 By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.
Heb 11:5 By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.
Heb 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
Heb 11:7 By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.
Heb 11:8 By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.
Heb 11:9 By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise:
Heb 11:10 For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.
Heb 11:11 Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised.
Heb 11:12 Therefore sprang there even of one, and him as good as dead, so many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as the sand which is by the sea shore innumerable.
Heb 11:13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.
Heb 11:14 For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country.
Heb 11:15 And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned.
Heb 11:16 But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.
Heb 11:17 By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son,
Heb 11:18 Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called:
Heb 11:19 Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure.
Heb 11:20 By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come.
Heb 11:21 By faith Jacob, when he was a dying, blessed both the sons of Joseph; and worshipped, leaning upon the top of his staff.
Heb 11:22 By faith Joseph, when he died, made mention of the departing of the children of Israel; and gave commandment concerning his bones.
Heb 11:23 By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his parents, because they saw he was a proper child; and they were not afraid of the king's commandment.
Heb 11:24 By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter;
Heb 11:25 Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;
Heb 11:26 Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward.
Heb 11:27 By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible.
Heb 11:28 Through faith he kept the passover, and the sprinkling of blood, lest he that destroyed the firstborn should touch them.
Heb 11:29 By faith they passed through the Red sea as by dry land: which the Egyptians assaying to do were drowned.
Heb 11:30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they were compassed about seven days.
Heb 11:31 By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace.
Heb 11:32 And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets:
Heb 11:33 Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions,
Heb 11:34 Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.
Heb 11:35 Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection:
Heb 11:36 And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment:
Heb 11:37 They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented;
Heb 11:38 (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.
Heb 11:39 And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise:
Heb 11:40 God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.
Hannah was no longer sad, she believed that God would indeed grant her petition and He did. Amazing.
No, even the most sincere, heartfelt prayer can go seemingly unheard, the petition not granted, but God has His plans, His ways and we need to belief, we need to have that faith that can make us turn away from our heart wrenching petitions and no longer be sad.
More on this study to come. : )
All glory to our Savior!
All praise to our Creator!
By His mercy!
By His grace!
Forever and always God's will be done!
Amen.
Lent to the Lord
Hannah- bring Samuel to Eli at the temple--
Sa 1:24 And when she had weaned him, she took him up with her, with three bullocks, and one ephah of flour, and a bottle of wine, and brought him unto the house of the LORD in Shiloh: and the child was young.
1Sa 1:25 And they slew a bullock, and brought the child to Eli.
1Sa 1:26 And she said, Oh my lord, as thy soul liveth, my lord, I am the woman that stood by thee here, praying unto the LORD.
1Sa 1:27 For this child I prayed; and the LORD hath given me my petition which I asked of him:
1Sa 1:28 Therefore also I have lent him to the LORD; as long as he liveth he shall be lent to the LORD. And he worshipped the LORD there.
The LORD hath given me my petition which I asked of him.
Therefore also I have LENT him to the LORD.
As long as he liveth he shall be LENT to the LORD.
And he worshipped the LORD there.
Lent to the Lord.
When we think of lending something we don't think of it as a permanent lending or else we'd just say we are just giving that thing away, no lending involved. Hannah was giving Samuel- her longed for son- to God. Yet she didn't say she was giving him to the LORD she said she was lending him and then she clarified that. She was lending her son to the Lord for as long as he LIVED. So why the lending? Maybe there's some deeper meaning of all this I'm missing, something to explain the whole 'lent' thing, but in my simple thoughts it speaks volumes to me. The Lord granted Hannah a desire that she had in the depths of her heart and in response to that granting, Hannah promised to give back the very thing she longed for. The very answer to her prayer and she was offering to give it up if she received it. Doesn't that seem sort of strange? What if Hannah's lending Samuel was stated that way because Samuel would forever be part of her life. Part of Samuel would never leave Hannah. The wonderful miracle of the answered prayer, the fulfilling of a heart's desire, this would always be with Hannah, always. The miracle of carrying a child, or being part of that amazing act of bringing life into the world- this was Hannah's desire. Having that child to care for and raise was what she longed for. Her husband had children by another, and even though he treated her even better than his other wife and children she still wanted children. It didn't appear as if she want a child to make her husband happy. It didn't appear as if her husband thought less of Hannah for her lack of child bearing. This desire of Hannah's was something coming deep from within her and as a woman, I can relate to this particular desire. The fact that Hannah was going to give up the very thing she longed for is something I can't completely relate to. The idea of giving up my longed for child would have been unimaginable to me. Even now I want to have my hand in the lives of my children. This selfless act of Hannah's was amazing. Hannah really meant she was lending Samuel to the Lord, the Lord had lent Samuel to her and she was giving Him back to serve the Lord.
We all have desires in our hearts. We all know what it means to pray from the heart, crying out to the Lord for the thing we long for. Sometimes God answers us exactly as we expect, other times God answers us in what we might consider a roundabout way. God desires that we give Him thanks for the gifts He bestows on us, the prayers He answers. God also desires that we hold true to our word if we give it to Him. We have to be very careful what we pray don't we? It's easy to pray to God and promise Him this, that, and the other thing, people do it all the time. Do people always hold true to their promises? No. Does God expect them to ? Yes. Hannah promised God something if her prayer was answered and Hannah held true to that promise. In her heart she wasn't losing a son, she was lending Him back to the Lord, a promise made, a promise fulfilled.
There is much more here to study and I'm going to continue to do so but not tonight. The Lord is wonderful and He knows our heart's desires, He knows our everything there is to know about us. May He answer my prayer to know Him and for Him to know me, to bless me, to forgive me, to love me. May this be the prayer of us all.
By His Grace!
In His LOVE!
Amen.
Sa 1:24 And when she had weaned him, she took him up with her, with three bullocks, and one ephah of flour, and a bottle of wine, and brought him unto the house of the LORD in Shiloh: and the child was young.
1Sa 1:25 And they slew a bullock, and brought the child to Eli.
1Sa 1:26 And she said, Oh my lord, as thy soul liveth, my lord, I am the woman that stood by thee here, praying unto the LORD.
1Sa 1:27 For this child I prayed; and the LORD hath given me my petition which I asked of him:
1Sa 1:28 Therefore also I have lent him to the LORD; as long as he liveth he shall be lent to the LORD. And he worshipped the LORD there.
The LORD hath given me my petition which I asked of him.
Therefore also I have LENT him to the LORD.
As long as he liveth he shall be LENT to the LORD.
And he worshipped the LORD there.
Lent to the Lord.
When we think of lending something we don't think of it as a permanent lending or else we'd just say we are just giving that thing away, no lending involved. Hannah was giving Samuel- her longed for son- to God. Yet she didn't say she was giving him to the LORD she said she was lending him and then she clarified that. She was lending her son to the Lord for as long as he LIVED. So why the lending? Maybe there's some deeper meaning of all this I'm missing, something to explain the whole 'lent' thing, but in my simple thoughts it speaks volumes to me. The Lord granted Hannah a desire that she had in the depths of her heart and in response to that granting, Hannah promised to give back the very thing she longed for. The very answer to her prayer and she was offering to give it up if she received it. Doesn't that seem sort of strange? What if Hannah's lending Samuel was stated that way because Samuel would forever be part of her life. Part of Samuel would never leave Hannah. The wonderful miracle of the answered prayer, the fulfilling of a heart's desire, this would always be with Hannah, always. The miracle of carrying a child, or being part of that amazing act of bringing life into the world- this was Hannah's desire. Having that child to care for and raise was what she longed for. Her husband had children by another, and even though he treated her even better than his other wife and children she still wanted children. It didn't appear as if she want a child to make her husband happy. It didn't appear as if her husband thought less of Hannah for her lack of child bearing. This desire of Hannah's was something coming deep from within her and as a woman, I can relate to this particular desire. The fact that Hannah was going to give up the very thing she longed for is something I can't completely relate to. The idea of giving up my longed for child would have been unimaginable to me. Even now I want to have my hand in the lives of my children. This selfless act of Hannah's was amazing. Hannah really meant she was lending Samuel to the Lord, the Lord had lent Samuel to her and she was giving Him back to serve the Lord.
We all have desires in our hearts. We all know what it means to pray from the heart, crying out to the Lord for the thing we long for. Sometimes God answers us exactly as we expect, other times God answers us in what we might consider a roundabout way. God desires that we give Him thanks for the gifts He bestows on us, the prayers He answers. God also desires that we hold true to our word if we give it to Him. We have to be very careful what we pray don't we? It's easy to pray to God and promise Him this, that, and the other thing, people do it all the time. Do people always hold true to their promises? No. Does God expect them to ? Yes. Hannah promised God something if her prayer was answered and Hannah held true to that promise. In her heart she wasn't losing a son, she was lending Him back to the Lord, a promise made, a promise fulfilled.
There is much more here to study and I'm going to continue to do so but not tonight. The Lord is wonderful and He knows our heart's desires, He knows our everything there is to know about us. May He answer my prayer to know Him and for Him to know me, to bless me, to forgive me, to love me. May this be the prayer of us all.
By His Grace!
In His LOVE!
Amen.
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
You're Fighting for Your Eternal Life
Gal 5:16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.
Greek Definitions--
Walk-- G4043 peripateo¯ per-ee-pat-eh'-o - figuratively to live, deport oneself
Spirit-- G4151 pneuma pnyoo'-mah - the Holy spirit, spirit (-ual, -ually), mind
Fulfil-- G5055 teleo¯ tel-eh'-o - accomplish, perform
Lust-- G1939 epithumia ep-ee-thoo-mee'-ah - what is forbidden
Flesh-- G4561 sarx sarx - human nature, passions, carnal
If we live in the Holy Spirit, being spiritually minded, we will NOT perform what is forbidden in our human nature, our carnal passions.
Gal 5:17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.
Lusteth -- G1937 epithumeo¯ ep-ee-thoo-meh'-o -to set the heart upon
Our carnal human nature sets our heart AGAINST the Spirit.
The Spirit sets our hearts AGAINST our carnal human nature
Our carnal nature is contrary to the Spirit and the Spirit contrary to our carnal nature. To live in the Spirit means NOT living in our carnal human nature. Likewise to live in our carnal human nature means NOT living in the Spirit. We cannot have it both ways! We try though, we really, really do try. We make excuse after excuse for our carnal desires. They are who we are and a leopard cannot change it's spots, right? We are human, born with a human nature subject to things carnal, things that aren't spiritual. It goes against what comes naturally to us, to walk in the Spirit which is unnatural to us. Our natural nature is carnal and we cannot change that. We make the mistake thinking we can change our nature.
We have to LIVE in the Holy Spirit, not just visit the Holy Spirit when it's convenient to us. People just don't get it, and people-- including me because I don't fully understand what it means to LIVE in the Spirit-- struggle with it all. When we are caught up with Christ in the air upon His return to go live with Him forever it will be a reunion, a blessed completion of what is started here and now. We will have been living in the Spirit that He's sent to live with us. We won't be suddenly inspired towards God in that moment, we will have been living in the God called the Holy Spirit. It's an agony for us to live with our human natures constantly at war with things Spiritual. Paul talked of how hard it was and it's so true. But it's a fight we cannot give up on, not for a moment! Satan would have us discouraged that is one of his biggest weapons in this spiritual warfare.
We must LIVE in the Spirit.
We must live so that the Spirit sets our hearts AGAINST our carnal nature.
We cannot let our carnal nature set our hearts against the Spirit.
Our carnal nature with the help of principalities and powers unseen will stop at nothing to set our hearts against God and all things spiritual. By the GRACE of our Lord we must call upon His mercy and His righteousness even when we are at our lowest point because we have to seek GOD first always, no matter what happens in our lives. We must throw ourselves at the feet of our Savior begging for forgiveness seventy-times seven times, endlessly realizing that our self without Him is nothing. We are only truly alive in Him. We are in a WAR! We are! WAKE UP EVERYONE YOU'RE FIGHTING FOR YOUR ETERNAL LIFE! Arm yourself with Spiritual armor! Too many are in this battle without any armor choosing to be defenseless and expecting to be on the winning side. Too many are being mortally wounded without ever realizing their eternal life blood is seeping away.
Please Lord! Please! Let us live so that the SPIRIT we live in sets our hearts constantly against our carnal nature and NOT let our carnal nature set us against the SPIRIT.
By your grace, your mercy, your love now and forever! Thank you! All glory, all praise, and all honor unto You our Savior, our King!
Amen!
Greek Definitions--
Walk-- G4043 peripateo¯ per-ee-pat-eh'-o - figuratively to live, deport oneself
Spirit-- G4151 pneuma pnyoo'-mah - the Holy spirit, spirit (-ual, -ually), mind
Fulfil-- G5055 teleo¯ tel-eh'-o - accomplish, perform
Lust-- G1939 epithumia ep-ee-thoo-mee'-ah - what is forbidden
Flesh-- G4561 sarx sarx - human nature, passions, carnal
If we live in the Holy Spirit, being spiritually minded, we will NOT perform what is forbidden in our human nature, our carnal passions.
Gal 5:17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.
Lusteth -- G1937 epithumeo¯ ep-ee-thoo-meh'-o -to set the heart upon
Our carnal human nature sets our heart AGAINST the Spirit.
The Spirit sets our hearts AGAINST our carnal human nature
Our carnal nature is contrary to the Spirit and the Spirit contrary to our carnal nature. To live in the Spirit means NOT living in our carnal human nature. Likewise to live in our carnal human nature means NOT living in the Spirit. We cannot have it both ways! We try though, we really, really do try. We make excuse after excuse for our carnal desires. They are who we are and a leopard cannot change it's spots, right? We are human, born with a human nature subject to things carnal, things that aren't spiritual. It goes against what comes naturally to us, to walk in the Spirit which is unnatural to us. Our natural nature is carnal and we cannot change that. We make the mistake thinking we can change our nature.
We have to LIVE in the Holy Spirit, not just visit the Holy Spirit when it's convenient to us. People just don't get it, and people-- including me because I don't fully understand what it means to LIVE in the Spirit-- struggle with it all. When we are caught up with Christ in the air upon His return to go live with Him forever it will be a reunion, a blessed completion of what is started here and now. We will have been living in the Spirit that He's sent to live with us. We won't be suddenly inspired towards God in that moment, we will have been living in the God called the Holy Spirit. It's an agony for us to live with our human natures constantly at war with things Spiritual. Paul talked of how hard it was and it's so true. But it's a fight we cannot give up on, not for a moment! Satan would have us discouraged that is one of his biggest weapons in this spiritual warfare.
We must LIVE in the Spirit.
We must live so that the Spirit sets our hearts AGAINST our carnal nature.
We cannot let our carnal nature set our hearts against the Spirit.
Our carnal nature with the help of principalities and powers unseen will stop at nothing to set our hearts against God and all things spiritual. By the GRACE of our Lord we must call upon His mercy and His righteousness even when we are at our lowest point because we have to seek GOD first always, no matter what happens in our lives. We must throw ourselves at the feet of our Savior begging for forgiveness seventy-times seven times, endlessly realizing that our self without Him is nothing. We are only truly alive in Him. We are in a WAR! We are! WAKE UP EVERYONE YOU'RE FIGHTING FOR YOUR ETERNAL LIFE! Arm yourself with Spiritual armor! Too many are in this battle without any armor choosing to be defenseless and expecting to be on the winning side. Too many are being mortally wounded without ever realizing their eternal life blood is seeping away.
Please Lord! Please! Let us live so that the SPIRIT we live in sets our hearts constantly against our carnal nature and NOT let our carnal nature set us against the SPIRIT.
By your grace, your mercy, your love now and forever! Thank you! All glory, all praise, and all honor unto You our Savior, our King!
Amen!
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
Bought
1Co 7:23 Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men.
Greek definitions--
BOUGHT-
G59
a????a´??
agorazo¯
ag-or-ad'-zo
From G58; properly to go to market, that is, (by implication) to purchase; specifically to redeem: - buy, redeem.
PRICE-
G5092
t?ยต?´
time¯
tee-may'
From G5099; a value, that is, money paid, or (concretely and collectively) valuables; by analogy esteem (especially of the highest degree), or the dignity itself: - honour, precious, price, some.
SERVANTS-
G1401
d??????
doulos
doo'-los
From G1210; a slave (literally or figuratively, involuntarily or voluntarily; frequently therefore in a qualified sense of subjection or subserviency): - bond (-man), servant.
MEN-
G444
a?´????p??
anthro¯pos
anth'-ro-pos
From G435 and ??´? o¯ps (the countenance; from G3700); manfaced, that is, a human being: - certain, man.
You are REDEEMED with the HIGHEST DEGREE, A VALUABLE PRICE, be not the SLAVES in SUBJECTION of another HUMAN BEING.
1Co 7:23 Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men.
We are bought! Yet we don't often act like we've been bought because we want so desperately to be our own person, not to need anyone or anything else. We want to stand on our own two feet without any help, thank you very much. If we do have help from others we want those others to turn around and tell us how wonderful it is that we made it mostly on our own, that they only offered a token of help, that without us doing the majority of the work nothing would have happened.
Self-sufficient, self-made, self-supporting. We reject the idea of relying on anyone. We reject the idea of anyone 'owning' us. Slavery is appalling to us with good reason given the horrors equated with it. Being enslaved sounds awful. Yet if we are BOUGHT, and we are, we are owned. You cannot buy something and not own it. Yes, you can buy something and then give it away to someone freely, gift it to another but until it's yours you cannot give it away. Once you buy something you can do with it pretty much what you want to do with it. You can care for it or neglect it. If it's a living thing- our world has created certain laws to protect the living thing, animals for example- even then a lot of animals are bought as livestock in order to kill them- humanely of course. When you've bought something and it's yours you are at liberty to control what you've bought. We've been bought. Bought from whom? Who owned us before we were bought? These are questions we need to think about, right?
1Co 7:23 Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men.
Rom 6:16 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?
Rom 6:17 But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.
Rom 6:18 Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.
Servants of sin.
Servants of righteousness.
If we are servants of sin- who owns us?
Eze 28:15 Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee.
Joh 8:44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.
There is a father of lies, a father of sin, and that father is Satan. Satan brought sin to the human race and that sin has come to all humans through Him. As soon as we are aware of right and wrong and choose the wrong we are serving Satan. That sounds harsh but it's true. People don't like to talk about the accountability of children there is a great debate over it all but to me personally, accountability begins when you know better and still do it no matter the age. When we serve Satan by engaging in the works He's wrought He owns us. Is it no wonder we have to be born again daily? Is it no wonder that we have to ask for forgiveness daily? Is it no wonder we need to pray always?
Jesus bought us from Satan. Jesus bought us by paying the HIGHEST price one could ever pay. A God, setting aside His spirit form and taking on human flesh and in that flesh suffering the pain of living in a sin-filled world and being murdered while innocent of any and all sin. He died and by His death we are bought. Once we are bought we are not enslaved and tormented, we are loved as those adopted by God the Father. Once bought we have salvation from the sin of Satan, we are no longer in bondage to Him. On our own we cannot save ourselves. We cannot buy ourselves, we have to rely on our Savior. We don't need self-sufficiency we need God-reliance. We need to accept that we are so loved that the price paid for us was beyond measure.
1Co 7:23 Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men.
1Co 7:24 Brethren, let every man, wherein he is called, therein abide with God.
No matter our situation in life, no matter if our job is as a servant to others, no matter what we are called to do we have to abide with God. God is our master, we serve God, we serve our Savior, our full allegiance is first and foremost to God above all.
Gal 5:13 For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.
Bought by our Savior. We are His and once we are bought we are freed from sin and are owned by a loving Savior who owns us in pure love like we can scarcely imagine.
By the grace of God may we be servants of righteousness in Him and not servants of sin. All praise, glory, and honor to our loving Savior for His mercy, for His grace to us who are so undeserving.
Amen.
Greek definitions--
BOUGHT-
G59
a????a´??
agorazo¯
ag-or-ad'-zo
From G58; properly to go to market, that is, (by implication) to purchase; specifically to redeem: - buy, redeem.
PRICE-
G5092
t?ยต?´
time¯
tee-may'
From G5099; a value, that is, money paid, or (concretely and collectively) valuables; by analogy esteem (especially of the highest degree), or the dignity itself: - honour, precious, price, some.
SERVANTS-
G1401
d??????
doulos
doo'-los
From G1210; a slave (literally or figuratively, involuntarily or voluntarily; frequently therefore in a qualified sense of subjection or subserviency): - bond (-man), servant.
MEN-
G444
a?´????p??
anthro¯pos
anth'-ro-pos
From G435 and ??´? o¯ps (the countenance; from G3700); manfaced, that is, a human being: - certain, man.
You are REDEEMED with the HIGHEST DEGREE, A VALUABLE PRICE, be not the SLAVES in SUBJECTION of another HUMAN BEING.
1Co 7:23 Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men.
We are bought! Yet we don't often act like we've been bought because we want so desperately to be our own person, not to need anyone or anything else. We want to stand on our own two feet without any help, thank you very much. If we do have help from others we want those others to turn around and tell us how wonderful it is that we made it mostly on our own, that they only offered a token of help, that without us doing the majority of the work nothing would have happened.
Self-sufficient, self-made, self-supporting. We reject the idea of relying on anyone. We reject the idea of anyone 'owning' us. Slavery is appalling to us with good reason given the horrors equated with it. Being enslaved sounds awful. Yet if we are BOUGHT, and we are, we are owned. You cannot buy something and not own it. Yes, you can buy something and then give it away to someone freely, gift it to another but until it's yours you cannot give it away. Once you buy something you can do with it pretty much what you want to do with it. You can care for it or neglect it. If it's a living thing- our world has created certain laws to protect the living thing, animals for example- even then a lot of animals are bought as livestock in order to kill them- humanely of course. When you've bought something and it's yours you are at liberty to control what you've bought. We've been bought. Bought from whom? Who owned us before we were bought? These are questions we need to think about, right?
1Co 7:23 Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men.
Rom 6:16 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?
Rom 6:17 But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.
Rom 6:18 Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.
Servants of sin.
Servants of righteousness.
If we are servants of sin- who owns us?
Eze 28:15 Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee.
Joh 8:44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.
There is a father of lies, a father of sin, and that father is Satan. Satan brought sin to the human race and that sin has come to all humans through Him. As soon as we are aware of right and wrong and choose the wrong we are serving Satan. That sounds harsh but it's true. People don't like to talk about the accountability of children there is a great debate over it all but to me personally, accountability begins when you know better and still do it no matter the age. When we serve Satan by engaging in the works He's wrought He owns us. Is it no wonder we have to be born again daily? Is it no wonder that we have to ask for forgiveness daily? Is it no wonder we need to pray always?
Jesus bought us from Satan. Jesus bought us by paying the HIGHEST price one could ever pay. A God, setting aside His spirit form and taking on human flesh and in that flesh suffering the pain of living in a sin-filled world and being murdered while innocent of any and all sin. He died and by His death we are bought. Once we are bought we are not enslaved and tormented, we are loved as those adopted by God the Father. Once bought we have salvation from the sin of Satan, we are no longer in bondage to Him. On our own we cannot save ourselves. We cannot buy ourselves, we have to rely on our Savior. We don't need self-sufficiency we need God-reliance. We need to accept that we are so loved that the price paid for us was beyond measure.
1Co 7:23 Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men.
1Co 7:24 Brethren, let every man, wherein he is called, therein abide with God.
No matter our situation in life, no matter if our job is as a servant to others, no matter what we are called to do we have to abide with God. God is our master, we serve God, we serve our Savior, our full allegiance is first and foremost to God above all.
Gal 5:13 For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.
Bought by our Savior. We are His and once we are bought we are freed from sin and are owned by a loving Savior who owns us in pure love like we can scarcely imagine.
By the grace of God may we be servants of righteousness in Him and not servants of sin. All praise, glory, and honor to our loving Savior for His mercy, for His grace to us who are so undeserving.
Amen.
Monday, August 2, 2010
Not to send peace
Mat 10:34 Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.
When did this change? When did Jesus change this to peace on earth? You hear all the time talk of world peace. But Jesus didn't bring peace to earth when He was here and He didn't tell us to try and bring world peace. He wants us to find peace in Him, for us to promote His peace to others, but not to set a course for world peace. He tells us THINK NOT. He didn't want us to be confused on this issue. So many believe that the Messiah would come and bring peace with Him, today many believe He will come again and bring world peace with Him. But there will be NO world peace until sin is totally gone. Sin will not be totally gone until the day the author of sin is destroyed along with all those that have followed Him. People who spend countless hours, countless dollars are striving for world peace before the Bible tells us there will be world peace are misguided. I know this sounds contrary to a lot of people. Shouldn't we want peace? No, not the peace this world imagines, not peace without God as it's Author. The world will strive for some semblance of peace that it can manufacture, but at it's heart it won't be led by God. Jesus' own words tell us a different story. 'THINK NOT that I am come to send peace on earth, I came not to send peace, but a sword.' That sword is the Word of God, the Word of God is the truth.
Eph 6:17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God
Joh 17:17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.
Joh 14:27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
Joh 16:33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
Joh 17:9 I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine.
Joh 17:15 I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.
Joh 17:16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
Jesus didn't pray for world peace and He didn't tell us to seek peace for the world. Do a search online for world peace, you'll find it's something many, many people are seeking. To talk contrary about world peace makes you appear as a rebel, as contrary to something God and Jesus would want. But the Bible tells us differently, Jesus tells us differently. I believe it's very important we have this understanding because we know that the enemy of God likes to appear as an angel of light. The enemy of God likes to set up false hope and situations that are pure counterfeit- meant to appear as if they are from God but they really, really aren't.
Mat 10:34 Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.
Our battle is with the same enemy of Jesus, and our armor, our weapons the same as Jesus used. We have to wear our armor and we have to wield our sword confidently, practicing and using it daily so that we NEVER are caught without it at our side, unprepared to use the sword when we need it the most.
These verses here tell a story so much different than the one we like to imagine--
Mat 10:34 Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.
Mat 10:35 For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.
Mat 10:36 And a man's foes shall be they of his own household.
Mat 10:37 He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.
Mat 10:38 And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.
Mat 10:39 He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.
This is not a pretty picture of peace in the world. This is a picture of the warfare we are part of and if it's a warfare that can hit close to home and heart, what makes us think that it would be better for us with strangers and those who have no ties to us at all?
No, we are not to bring discord, we are to bring truth and if the truth brings discord we are to remain grounded in that truth and any discord that comes as a result is not to be unexpected. We can have the peace of God with us, but still be in a situation of discord. Peace in a storm. The storm may rage all around us, buffeting us unrelentingly, but we can have the peace of our Lord and Savior with us through it all. Satan will try and tell us that all the discord around us proves we are not really followers of Christ, because wherever we go there is upset and angst, but in truth that only proves how much Satan wants to draw us away from the peace by instigating the discord.
May God bless us all richly with His peace, with His amazing, all consuming love. May we hold fast to the truth in ALL things as we fight this battle of spiritual warfare.
By His grace and mercy!
Through His love and in His righteousness forever!
Amen.
When did this change? When did Jesus change this to peace on earth? You hear all the time talk of world peace. But Jesus didn't bring peace to earth when He was here and He didn't tell us to try and bring world peace. He wants us to find peace in Him, for us to promote His peace to others, but not to set a course for world peace. He tells us THINK NOT. He didn't want us to be confused on this issue. So many believe that the Messiah would come and bring peace with Him, today many believe He will come again and bring world peace with Him. But there will be NO world peace until sin is totally gone. Sin will not be totally gone until the day the author of sin is destroyed along with all those that have followed Him. People who spend countless hours, countless dollars are striving for world peace before the Bible tells us there will be world peace are misguided. I know this sounds contrary to a lot of people. Shouldn't we want peace? No, not the peace this world imagines, not peace without God as it's Author. The world will strive for some semblance of peace that it can manufacture, but at it's heart it won't be led by God. Jesus' own words tell us a different story. 'THINK NOT that I am come to send peace on earth, I came not to send peace, but a sword.' That sword is the Word of God, the Word of God is the truth.
Eph 6:17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God
Joh 17:17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.
Joh 14:27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
Joh 16:33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
Joh 17:9 I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine.
Joh 17:15 I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.
Joh 17:16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
Jesus didn't pray for world peace and He didn't tell us to seek peace for the world. Do a search online for world peace, you'll find it's something many, many people are seeking. To talk contrary about world peace makes you appear as a rebel, as contrary to something God and Jesus would want. But the Bible tells us differently, Jesus tells us differently. I believe it's very important we have this understanding because we know that the enemy of God likes to appear as an angel of light. The enemy of God likes to set up false hope and situations that are pure counterfeit- meant to appear as if they are from God but they really, really aren't.
Mat 10:34 Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.
Our battle is with the same enemy of Jesus, and our armor, our weapons the same as Jesus used. We have to wear our armor and we have to wield our sword confidently, practicing and using it daily so that we NEVER are caught without it at our side, unprepared to use the sword when we need it the most.
These verses here tell a story so much different than the one we like to imagine--
Mat 10:34 Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.
Mat 10:35 For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.
Mat 10:36 And a man's foes shall be they of his own household.
Mat 10:37 He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.
Mat 10:38 And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.
Mat 10:39 He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.
This is not a pretty picture of peace in the world. This is a picture of the warfare we are part of and if it's a warfare that can hit close to home and heart, what makes us think that it would be better for us with strangers and those who have no ties to us at all?
No, we are not to bring discord, we are to bring truth and if the truth brings discord we are to remain grounded in that truth and any discord that comes as a result is not to be unexpected. We can have the peace of God with us, but still be in a situation of discord. Peace in a storm. The storm may rage all around us, buffeting us unrelentingly, but we can have the peace of our Lord and Savior with us through it all. Satan will try and tell us that all the discord around us proves we are not really followers of Christ, because wherever we go there is upset and angst, but in truth that only proves how much Satan wants to draw us away from the peace by instigating the discord.
May God bless us all richly with His peace, with His amazing, all consuming love. May we hold fast to the truth in ALL things as we fight this battle of spiritual warfare.
By His grace and mercy!
Through His love and in His righteousness forever!
Amen.
Sunday, August 1, 2010
I will deliver my flock
Eze 34:9 Therefore, O ye shepherds, hear the word of the LORD;
Eze 34:10 Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against the shepherds; and I will require my flock at their hand, and cause them to cease from feeding the flock; neither shall the shepherds feed themselves any more; for I will deliver my flock from their mouth, that they may not be meat for them.
I am against the shepherds.
I will require my flock at their hand.
Cause them to cease from feeding the flock
Neither shall the shepherds feed themselves anymore
I will deliver my flock from their mouth
They may not be meat for them.
Think about this…really think about what this is saying. Shepherds tend their sheep, they feed them, guide them, care for them and yes, often they do this so they can eventually eat from them. In the analogy sense we tend to believe that the good shepherd isn't shepherding his sheep to eat them later, we imagine the sheep being protected and used mainly for their wool, not food. The good shepherd is to guard his flock, keep them alive and well but only until they are needed for something else- even sacrifice. These verses tell a slightly different story. These are the words of the LORD.
The LORD is against the shepherds.
The LORD will require the flock at the shepherds hands.
The LORD will stop the shepherds from feeding their flock.
The LORD will stop the shepherds from eating.
The LORD will deliver HIS flock- He will keep the shepherds from eating of the flock.
The LORD will keep the sheep from being food for the shepherds.
Again in the analogy sense the picture here is clear. Those tending to God's people are corrupted and the LORD intervenes, protecting His people, keeping His people from being devoured spiritually by false shepherds- shepherds that aren't tending God's people as God would have them be tended.
Reading on…
Eze 34:11 For thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I, even I, will both search my sheep, and seek them out
Eze 34:12 As a shepherd seeketh out his flock in the day that he is among his sheep that are scattered; so will I seek out my sheep, and will deliver them out of all places where they have been scattered in the cloudy and dark day.
God will search for HIS people even those not with the flock but scattered away from the protection of the majority. God's people will be DELIVERED from ALL places in the CLOUDY and DARK DAY. When will they be delivered? In the cloudy and dark day. Is there a darker day than the day the world meets it's end? Things will be at their absolute worst right before Christ returns for His people, just like in the days of Noah and the days of Sodom and Gomorrah. Remember- only 8 people were saved in Noah's day and even less in Sodom and Gomorrah. Not even TEN people worthy of saving could be found in that city teeming with self-servers. The last days will be the same.
Reading on…
Eze 34:13 And I will bring them out from the people, and gather them from the countries, and will bring them to their own land, and feed them upon the mountains of Israel by the rivers, and in all the inhabited places of the country.
Eze 34:14 I will feed them in a good pasture, and upon the high mountains of Israel shall their fold be: there shall they lie in a good fold, and in a fat pasture shall they feed upon the mountains of Israel.
Eze 34:15 I will feed my flock, and I will cause them to lie down, saith the Lord GOD.
Eze 34:16 I will seek that which was lost, and bring again that which was driven away, and will bind up that which was broken, and will strengthen that which was sick: but I will destroy the fat and the strong; I will feed them with judgment.
Again, in the day of deliverance we will be brought into our own land, the land of heaven. The symbolism of God's land is Israel, the New Jerusalem is in heaven and we who have been tortured and tormented from living in a world of hate against God and God's love will find all the solace we need in our new pasture, with our Good Shepherd. Christ finds the lost, binds up the broken, Christ will strengthen the sick, but all those who are healthy and strong from living in league with the world will be destroyed.
We, right now, live in a world as those lost. We don't belong in this world and God knows that, He knows that His people live lost in a world of sin, needing to be found by Him. We live in a world that breaks our hearts daily with all it's horrors and sin, God will bind up our broken hearts fully. We are sick and in need of Christ- our holy physician- on our own we are far from healthy. There are those who don't seek the Lord but live in the world glorying in its atrocities, being a part of the sin filling our world, making it sick. Those who appear to be healthy will be destroyed, they believe they have NO need of saving, no need of a Savior, they are fine just the way they are.
Some people are waiting for this world we live in to find peace. People will twist the Bible until they are convinced that peace will come to earth while sinners still reign. Christ is going to come again and take us WITH Him. The earth will be made new after ALL sinners are destroyed. Read this…
1Th 4:16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
1Th 4:17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
1Th 4:18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
Rev 20:4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ A THOUSAND YEARS.
Rev 20:5 But the rest of the dead lived NOT AGAIN UNTIL the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.
Rev 20:6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.
Rev 20:7 And when the thousand years are EXPIRED, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison,
Rev 20:8 And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea.
Rev 20:9 And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them.
Rev 20:10 And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.
Rev 20:11 And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.
Rev 20:12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.
Rev 20:13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.
Rev 20:14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
Rev 20:15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.
Rev 21:1 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.
Rev 21:2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
Rev 21:3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.
Rev 21:4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.
Rev 21:5 And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.
Rev 21:6 And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.
Rev 21:7 He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.
When Christ returns we will rise and meet Him in the air and be with him a 1000 years! Then after the 1000 years the dead are raised - those that weren't taken with Christ when He came- the ungodly, those who never truly repented and never accepted Christ as their Savior. Then they are all judged according to their works and their final punishment set accordingly as they are destroyed completely once and for all, forever. Then and only then will the New Jerusalem come down from God OUT of heaven and it is then the earth is made new.
Those who are expecting peace now are deceived. The Bible clearly reveals the truth. The devil has many deceived and they expect world peace here and now. False Christs, Satan disguised as an angel of light, people who cry peace and safety, these are what we can expect. Unbelievable deception that only those who ….
Rev 14:12 Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.
….who keep the commandments of God and have the faith of Jesus will be spared the deception. We know there are going to be FEW, we know it's a very narrow path, we know these things and we have to remember these things because while the whole world around us falls under the deception, we alone will stand out as those deceived.
Well, this study certainly took a turn I wasn't expecting, but such is the way of studying sometimes. Christ our Good Shepherd will ultimately take us His sheep and we will be safe in His love. Until the time we are taken with Him we live in this world of sin with the promise of His return as our hope. Living with that promised hope doesn't mean we won't be sick, broken-hearted, tired, weary, worn, it means we have hope even through all the pain and heartache of life. Hope. Faith. Love.
May God keep us in Him always! May our faith be helped… Lord we believe, help our unbelief…just as the father cried out to Jesus. Mk 9:24. Bless us oh Lord, bless us and keep us safe from evil because we are not taken out of the world, we live in this world and need the safety only YOU can give us.
By Your grace!
By Your love!
By Your mercy!
In Your righteousness!
Amen.
Eze 34:10 Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against the shepherds; and I will require my flock at their hand, and cause them to cease from feeding the flock; neither shall the shepherds feed themselves any more; for I will deliver my flock from their mouth, that they may not be meat for them.
I am against the shepherds.
I will require my flock at their hand.
Cause them to cease from feeding the flock
Neither shall the shepherds feed themselves anymore
I will deliver my flock from their mouth
They may not be meat for them.
Think about this…really think about what this is saying. Shepherds tend their sheep, they feed them, guide them, care for them and yes, often they do this so they can eventually eat from them. In the analogy sense we tend to believe that the good shepherd isn't shepherding his sheep to eat them later, we imagine the sheep being protected and used mainly for their wool, not food. The good shepherd is to guard his flock, keep them alive and well but only until they are needed for something else- even sacrifice. These verses tell a slightly different story. These are the words of the LORD.
The LORD is against the shepherds.
The LORD will require the flock at the shepherds hands.
The LORD will stop the shepherds from feeding their flock.
The LORD will stop the shepherds from eating.
The LORD will deliver HIS flock- He will keep the shepherds from eating of the flock.
The LORD will keep the sheep from being food for the shepherds.
Again in the analogy sense the picture here is clear. Those tending to God's people are corrupted and the LORD intervenes, protecting His people, keeping His people from being devoured spiritually by false shepherds- shepherds that aren't tending God's people as God would have them be tended.
Reading on…
Eze 34:11 For thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I, even I, will both search my sheep, and seek them out
Eze 34:12 As a shepherd seeketh out his flock in the day that he is among his sheep that are scattered; so will I seek out my sheep, and will deliver them out of all places where they have been scattered in the cloudy and dark day.
God will search for HIS people even those not with the flock but scattered away from the protection of the majority. God's people will be DELIVERED from ALL places in the CLOUDY and DARK DAY. When will they be delivered? In the cloudy and dark day. Is there a darker day than the day the world meets it's end? Things will be at their absolute worst right before Christ returns for His people, just like in the days of Noah and the days of Sodom and Gomorrah. Remember- only 8 people were saved in Noah's day and even less in Sodom and Gomorrah. Not even TEN people worthy of saving could be found in that city teeming with self-servers. The last days will be the same.
Reading on…
Eze 34:13 And I will bring them out from the people, and gather them from the countries, and will bring them to their own land, and feed them upon the mountains of Israel by the rivers, and in all the inhabited places of the country.
Eze 34:14 I will feed them in a good pasture, and upon the high mountains of Israel shall their fold be: there shall they lie in a good fold, and in a fat pasture shall they feed upon the mountains of Israel.
Eze 34:15 I will feed my flock, and I will cause them to lie down, saith the Lord GOD.
Eze 34:16 I will seek that which was lost, and bring again that which was driven away, and will bind up that which was broken, and will strengthen that which was sick: but I will destroy the fat and the strong; I will feed them with judgment.
Again, in the day of deliverance we will be brought into our own land, the land of heaven. The symbolism of God's land is Israel, the New Jerusalem is in heaven and we who have been tortured and tormented from living in a world of hate against God and God's love will find all the solace we need in our new pasture, with our Good Shepherd. Christ finds the lost, binds up the broken, Christ will strengthen the sick, but all those who are healthy and strong from living in league with the world will be destroyed.
We, right now, live in a world as those lost. We don't belong in this world and God knows that, He knows that His people live lost in a world of sin, needing to be found by Him. We live in a world that breaks our hearts daily with all it's horrors and sin, God will bind up our broken hearts fully. We are sick and in need of Christ- our holy physician- on our own we are far from healthy. There are those who don't seek the Lord but live in the world glorying in its atrocities, being a part of the sin filling our world, making it sick. Those who appear to be healthy will be destroyed, they believe they have NO need of saving, no need of a Savior, they are fine just the way they are.
Some people are waiting for this world we live in to find peace. People will twist the Bible until they are convinced that peace will come to earth while sinners still reign. Christ is going to come again and take us WITH Him. The earth will be made new after ALL sinners are destroyed. Read this…
1Th 4:16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
1Th 4:17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
1Th 4:18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
Rev 20:4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ A THOUSAND YEARS.
Rev 20:5 But the rest of the dead lived NOT AGAIN UNTIL the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.
Rev 20:6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.
Rev 20:7 And when the thousand years are EXPIRED, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison,
Rev 20:8 And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea.
Rev 20:9 And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them.
Rev 20:10 And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.
Rev 20:11 And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.
Rev 20:12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.
Rev 20:13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.
Rev 20:14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
Rev 20:15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.
Rev 21:1 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.
Rev 21:2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
Rev 21:3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.
Rev 21:4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.
Rev 21:5 And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.
Rev 21:6 And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.
Rev 21:7 He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.
When Christ returns we will rise and meet Him in the air and be with him a 1000 years! Then after the 1000 years the dead are raised - those that weren't taken with Christ when He came- the ungodly, those who never truly repented and never accepted Christ as their Savior. Then they are all judged according to their works and their final punishment set accordingly as they are destroyed completely once and for all, forever. Then and only then will the New Jerusalem come down from God OUT of heaven and it is then the earth is made new.
Those who are expecting peace now are deceived. The Bible clearly reveals the truth. The devil has many deceived and they expect world peace here and now. False Christs, Satan disguised as an angel of light, people who cry peace and safety, these are what we can expect. Unbelievable deception that only those who ….
Rev 14:12 Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.
….who keep the commandments of God and have the faith of Jesus will be spared the deception. We know there are going to be FEW, we know it's a very narrow path, we know these things and we have to remember these things because while the whole world around us falls under the deception, we alone will stand out as those deceived.
Well, this study certainly took a turn I wasn't expecting, but such is the way of studying sometimes. Christ our Good Shepherd will ultimately take us His sheep and we will be safe in His love. Until the time we are taken with Him we live in this world of sin with the promise of His return as our hope. Living with that promised hope doesn't mean we won't be sick, broken-hearted, tired, weary, worn, it means we have hope even through all the pain and heartache of life. Hope. Faith. Love.
May God keep us in Him always! May our faith be helped… Lord we believe, help our unbelief…just as the father cried out to Jesus. Mk 9:24. Bless us oh Lord, bless us and keep us safe from evil because we are not taken out of the world, we live in this world and need the safety only YOU can give us.
By Your grace!
By Your love!
By Your mercy!
In Your righteousness!
Amen.
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