The Earth. The World

The Earth. The World. 

Jesus says: “God blesses those who are humble, for they will inherit the whole earth.” Matthew 5:5

It can be confusing to a person to read: God will give them the whole earth and then read “And how do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul in the process?  Is anything worth more than your soul?”   Matthew 16:26

We also read:

John 3:16 "For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.”

1 John 2:15 “Stop loving this evil world and all that it offers you, for when you love the world you show that you do not have the love of the Father in you.”

Ephesians 5:5 “You can be sure that no immoral, impure, or greedy person will inherit the Kingdom of Christ and of God. For a greedy person is really an idolater who worships the things of this world.”

Plus why would God give us the world that going to pass away?

“And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.” 1 John 2:17   

The differences we need to pick up on are the “word” choices.   Jesus and the apostles use the word “ge” for earth and the word “kosmos” for world.  This is also different then the word "owlam" which unending world that we know as eternity. 
 
Example:

"He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also He has put eternity in their hearts, except that no one can find out the work that God does from beginning to end.  Ecclesiastes 3:11

Though the words “world” and “earth” are closely described in some of their biblical definitions and contexts such as the dwelling place of humans and the “inhabitants of the earth, men, the human family”… the word “world” - kosmos also refers to worldly affairs, riches, goods, endowments, advantages, pleasures, etc that which are hollow, unfulfilling, frail, fleeting and stir desire and seduce people from God and are obstacles to the cause of Christ.  (Concordance definition.)

The word “earth”, on the other hand, is more specific to make up or building composition of man or the heart of a man. 
  

So when Jesus says, “God blesses those who are humble, for they will inherit the whole earth” he is not referring to the “earth” as worldly things but people. 

Would it not be wonderful to see the people we have come into contact with in this life to be with us in Heaven?  To see the warm light of heaven grace their smiling countenance because you were a ray of light in their life.   To embrace those who were once so harden toward us but were now transformed by God’s amazing power and grace.  
  

Would it not be wonder to know that through the Holy Spirit we were able to touch peoples lives and plant a seed and be a part of them giving their life to Christ or rededicating their life to Christ?
   

That would be a wonderful inheritance to see.  And though this inheritance would be an honor I personally would have to give all recognition to the Lord.   For in Him alone and not in myself would I be able to do such things.  I can not do what the Lord wants me to do unless the Lord is working in me.

"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." Philippians 4:13
 

To see and hear the Lord’s laughter of joy would be great enough.  Jesus Christ's joy- there is nothing like it. 
 

According to concordance and word of God.  “Gentleness or meekness is the opposite to self assertiveness and self-interest.  It stems from the trust in God’s goodness and control over the situation no matter how good or bad.  

 The gentle person is not occupied with self at all but the with the work of the Holy Spirit.  The human will may push the rudder in the direction of God but from there- nothing can be accomplished in all genuine real sincere goodness without God taking over and blowing in the sails of one’s life.

“But when the Holy Spirit controls our lives, he will produce this kind of fruit in us: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.  Here is not conflict with the law.”

Oh how the Holy Spirit plays a wonderful symphony in one’s soul. 
  

The Soul

We know just experiencing this life that this human tent, vessel, body isn’t permanent.   In fact these bodies are fragile.  They bruise, ache, become tired and exhausted, break, get sick, and eventually, if not shortened by incident, shuts down where the soul is carried out of the body to it’s eternal destination- to either doom or glory.  Doom if the soul hasn’t given itself to Jesus Christ or glory if it has trusted and given itself to Jesus Christ.  The soul is eternal… the body is temporary.

God created the soul but if man’s soul doesn’t want God where all life flourishes in and was created by then how can it have life?  “In the beginning the Word [Jesus Christ] already existed.  He was with God, and he was God.  He was in the beginning with God.  He created everything there is.  Nothing exists that he didn’t make.  Life itself was in him, and this life gives light to everyone.  The light shines through the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it.” John 1:1-5

A person can choose to live in darkness, they can choose to stay in their disbelief and doubt but when Christ is living in a person's life it is evident.   They no longer do they do the same sinful things they used to do or crave the same things they used to crave.  The world is a bitter taste in their mouth and offensive to the mind and heart of Christ - the soul has found Christ Jesus.

The Earth   
The word "ge" for “earth” relates closely to the word "aphar" which means dust or earth.   We see the word "aphar" in the origin or the beginning of man.  

“And the LORD God formed a man’s body from the dust of the ground and breathed into it the breath of life.  And the man became a living person.” Genesis 2:7

“By the sweat of your brow will you have food to eat until you return to the ground from which you were made.  For you were made from dust, and to dust you will return." Genesis 3:19

“For then the dust will return to the earth, and the spirit will return to God who gave it.” Ecclesiastes 12:7

Jesus uses these concepts of the “earth” and “world” when he said this:

“The time has come for the Son of Man to enter into his glory. The truth is, a kernel of wheat must be planted in the soil.  Unless it dies it will be alone- a single seed.  But its death will produce many new kernels- a plentiful harvest of new lives. Those who love their life in this world will lose it.  Those who despise their life in this world will keep it for eternal life.” John 12:23-25

Jesus came to plant his life saving message in the souls of men (and women) but in order for the 
massage to have power and meaning in men he had die as a pure innocent sacrifice for our sins. For man made of earth was separated from God by sin but Jesus made a way for us to be one with God through his death and resurrection from death by the Spirit of God, who lives in us who believe in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.  

And though he took his physical body with him when he ascended into heaven he left, a spiritual body behind, the body of Christ who lives by Spirit of God instead of the understanding of the world.

And through the Spirit of God we would stop living as the world lives and live and become God’s children.   Where our lives of faith in Jesus Christ would bring others to Jesus Christ and those others would bring others to Jesus Christ and so on… but those who love their life in this world will lose it.  Because the things of this world are hollow, unfulfilling, frail, fleeting and stir desire and seduce people from God and are obstacles to the cause of Christ.   For Christ is life and eternal life and without him there is no life… only meaninglessness.    

“Everything is meaningless,” says the teacher, “utterly meaningless!” Ecclesiastes 1:2

Jesus said, “The good soil represents the hearts of those who truly accept God’s message and produce a huge harvest-thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times as much as had been planted.” Matthew 13:23

Our lives mean something to God and so do the souls who haven’t accepted the life saving message of Jesus Christ.

“But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him?  And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him?  And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them?  And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent?  That is what the Scriptures mean when they say, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!” Romans 10:14-15

There are people who are looking but are confused and helpless out there in this world. 

I heard a man recently tell a story of a woman, in India, who through her baby into the river to appease the false river god and when the missionary came by moments later to see what was wrong, she told him what she had done.  In sorrow and wishing he had been there sooner, he told her to appease the one true God for our sins we only have to come to Jesus who died for our sins and ask for his forgiveness and make him Lord and Savior our life.  Hearing this news she said to the missionary, "If you had been here to tell me this sooner, I would still have my baby boy."

A man jumps off a bridge and ends his life because he has made money his god and since he lost his god all his hopes are lost.

Jesus traveled through all the cities and villages of that area, teaching in the synagogues and announcing the Good News about the Kingdom.  And wherever he went, he healed people of every sort of disease and illness.  He felt great pity for the crowds that came, because their problems were so great and they didn't know where to go for help.  They were like sheep without a shepherd.  He said to his disciples, "The harvest is great, but the workers are so few.  So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send out more workers for the his fields." 

May we see people not as they are or appear to be but in how God sees them and who he created them to be.   We all have a greater potential in God then we see and allow ourselves to live in.  He has plans for them just as he has plans for us.  They are plans for good and not disaster, to give them a future and a hope.  (Reference: Colossians 1:16-17, Jeremiah 29:11)  But again how will they know this unless we show them what is right, and speak up for what is right, and show them they have value in God as well? May we ask God to help us to help those in need. 

“No, O people, the LORD has already told you what is good, this is what he requires: to do what is right, to love mercy and walk humbly with your God,” Micah 6:8

“Christ is the one through whom God created everything in heaven and earth.  He made the things we can see and the things we can’t see- kings, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities.  Everything has been created through him and for him.  He existed before everything else began, and he holds all creation together.”  Colossians 1:16-17

Only in Him can we do all he has asked of us.

Jesus says: “God blesses those who are humble, for they will inherit the whole earth.” Matthew 5:5


 

BREAD pt.2

My wife made these rolls for thanksgiving that were delicious.   I told her that they were so good that she didn’t make enough for leftovers.  In truth I saw one in the basket after everyone ate and I snagged it for later that evening.  They were good!  I hope she makes them for Christmas dinner this year. 

When I think about it… thanksgiving never ends with God.  There is always something to be thankful to God for.  God always seems to have more then enough to sustain us.  Even when things are financially tight, God somehow provides for those physical needs.   When things seem challenging and not all that positive he provides for us the spiritual strength and nutrition to endure such times as we look to Him.

We can see that in the bible as well.   Let’s look the account of Jesus feeding the five thousand men not counting woman and children.  He feeds five thousand plus people with five barley loaves and two fish.   Seems crazy but he has done that when we pass out food in Mexico, at a church that God is using to transform what used to be cardboard village on a covered garbage dump into a neighborhood of actual homes.

“After this, Jesus crossed over the Sea of Galilee, also known as the Sea of Tiberias.  And a huge crowd kept following him wherever he went, because they saw his miracles as he healed the sick.  Then Jesus went up into the hills and sat down with his disciples around him.  (It was nearly time for the annual Passover celebration.)  Jesus soon saw a great crowd of people climbing the hill, looking for him.  Turning to Philip, he asked. “Phillip, where can we buy bread to feed all these people?” He was testing Philip, for he already knew what he was going to do.  Philip replied, “It would take a small fortune to feed them!”  Then Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, spoke up.  “There’s a young boy here with five barely loaves and two fish.  But what good is that with this huge crowd?” "Tell everyone to sit down," Jesus ordered.  So all of them- the men alone numbering five thousand- sat down on the grassy slopes.  Then Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks to God, and passed them out to the people.  Afterward he did the same with the fish.  And they all ate until they were full.  "Now gather the leftovers," Jesus told his disciples, "so that nothing is wasted."  There were only five barley loaves to start with, but twelve baskets were filled with the pieces of bread the people did not eat!" John 6:1-13

I want you to think about something and take it to heart.  Jesus took the bread, gave thanks to God The Father for it and passed it out to the people.  We are to thank God The Father for Jesus Christ, the Bread of Life and we are to pass Jesus, God’s love, out to others as instructed by the Holy Spirit.

 “The rain and snow come down from the heavens and stay on the ground to water the earth.  They cause the grain to grow, producing seed for the farmer and bread for the hungry.  It is the same with my word.  I send it out, and it always produces fruit.  It will accomplish all I want it to, and it will prosper everywhere I sent it.   You will live in joy and peace.  The mountains and hills will burst into song, and the trees of the field will clap their hands!  Where once there were thorns, cypress trees will grow.  Where briers grew, myrtles will sprout up.  This miracle will bring great honor to the LORD’s name; It will be an everlasting sign of his power and love.”  Isaiah 55:10-12

God’s bread (word) can only work in us if it is "in" us.  And in order for it to work in us we have to accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior of our life - and let us not forget -to continually go to God to receive spiritual nourishment from Him or else (if we don’t do this) we will be come dull and indifferent and lack spiritual nourishment to live in a Holy righteous conviction.   A seed can be planted, a plant can be planted, a tree can be planted but they still need water and nutrients to grow.    

So it is the same with us, we need the Holy Spirit and God’s word to grow and sustain us in all the conditions in this life.

  

“And the same God who cares for me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.  Now glory be to God our Father forever and ever. Amen.”  Philippians 4:19-20

Through the Bread of Life, Jesus Christ, we cannot only go to heaven after we pass from this life but we can receive for our daily physical needs and spiritual needs as well from God. 

Notice they ate until they were full; they ate as much as they wanted but there were leftovers.  God provides and supplies “all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.”  

Spiritually there is so much of God’s truth, goodness and love that we cannot entirely grasp it all and consume it all.   It would overwhelm us but thank God Jesus breaks the bread into understandable parts so we can digest them by His Spirit (Holy Spirit) and live them by His Spirit (Holy Spirit) and still…. there is SO MUCH MORE. 

“Now we know only a little, and even the gift of prophecy reveals little! But when the end comes, these special gifts will disappear.  It’s like this: When I was a child, I spoke and thought and reasoned as a child does.  But when I grew up, I put away childish things. Now we see things imperfectly as in a poor mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity.  All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely just as God knows me now. There are three things that will endure- faith, hope and love- and the greatest of these is love.” 1 Corinthians 13:9-13

The SOURCE of faith, hope and love – never ends!!! AND He is GOD, Our Heavenly Father!

“I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will give you mighty inner strength through his Holy Spirit.  And I pray that Christ will be more and more at home in your hearts as you trust in him.  May your roots go down deep into the soil of God’s marvelous love.   And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high and how deep his love really is.  May you experience the love of Christ, though it is so great you will never fully understand it.  Then you will be filled with the fullness of life and power that comes from God.  Now glory be to God! By his mighty power at work within us, he is able to accomplish infinitely more than we would ever dare to ask or hope.  May he be given glory in the church and in Christ Jesus forever and ever through the endless ages. Amen.”  Ephesians 3:16-2

Just as there were 12 baskets full of leftover bread from five loaves of barley bread that is what God has for us spiritually.   There is the amount our soul can consume which the Holy Spirit helps us with and then there is more that God has for us- more then we can even imagine or even consume!  The amount he has for us is beyond our understanding and even spiritual comprehension and consumption.    That is why it is so important to understand God is only limited in working in and through our life by us.

Our Lives.
He can take those five loaves of bread and two fish in our lives and multiply them to feed five thousand people.  He has unlimited resources to help us live this life not beat down and discouraged by the challenges and circumstances in life but in victory by the love, hope and faith he gives us!  Where the power of the most high dwells (lives) in us -refreshing, confirming, directing, renewing, emboldening, and giving us clear vision -not clouded by the world but the vision and reality that HE REIGNS.   He is above all things!  And we can’t help but hunger and live by the mind of Christ.

There is a story in the bible of a woman named Naomi who was staying in the pagan land of Moab.  A land of not her people or her God.  There in Moab her soul served greatly. She was hungry for the bread of her people and when she heard the Lord had visited His people giving them bread she departed from Moab and returned to the land of Judah. (Ruth 1:6-7)    

Some of us are trying to live off the food of the pagan land but still very unsatisfied and hungry.   You crave the spiritual bread you were created for by your Creator.  You have tasted this bread before.  It is good. You have just heard the LORD is giving his people good bread, take Naomi's example, come back to the LORD and His people and receive from God the life saying renewing bread from God.
  
 she arose with her daughters-in-law that she might return from the land of Moab, for she had heard in the land of Moab that the LORD had visited His people in giving them food. 7So she departed from the place where she was, and her two daughters-in-law with her; and they went on the way to return to the land of Judah.…When Naomi heard there was bread in Bethany
May God make this truth so alive in our hearts that we don't forget it- even for a moment.  In Jesus Name Amen.

BREAD pt.1

MOLDY BREAD

Would you eat moldy bread? 

If you were hungry and had no other source of food you would probably eat moldy bread.  And if you had to consume moldy bread, you would probably get used to it.  Your senses would become desensitized to it.  

“In 1913, a food - borne disease called alimentary toxic aleukia occurred in Siberia. Several larger outbreaks occurred during the war years of 1941-1945 involving several districts in Western Siberia and European Soviet Russia.  The disease claimed at least 100,000 people. The disease was attributed to the consumption of bread made from wheat contaminated with trichothecene mycotoxins…” Quote by Dr. Jackson Kung’u

I think that is interesting how this disease occurred during a war.  Spiritually…. We are going through a war as well.   Our adversary, Satan, wants to take as many souls with him to his final destination- hell and he feeds those, lost and wandering from God, his moldy bread to claim their souls.    

Trichothecene mycotixin is a poison produced by fungi that can have all kinds of nasty affects on the human body.   It is said to have similar symptoms to radiation poisoning/ sickness.  Symptoms include fever, rashes, bleeding noise, throat, and gums, Leukopenia, elimination of bone marrow, and of course death.

According to the Center of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), “Trichothecene mycotoxins could be weaponized and dispersed through the air or mixed in food or beverages.”

Deadly toxins remind me of spiritual toxins.   They kill just as many if not more people.

Alarming is the quantity of spiritual toxins people consume everyday.  People nurse from the bottle of the world, polluting and numbing their mind to the propaganda and mind washing of evil, sinful and destructive behavior.  This moldy bread of this world influences attitudes and desensitizes their senses.  They accept the solicitations of the moldy bread without even a second thought.  It poisons their mind to rationalize and compromise and be indifferent to the things they are suppose to know instinctively are wrong.  They are hopelessly confused making the opinions of the world their god.

They consume this moldy bread, while listening to music, watching so-called “entertainment”, the nightly news, playing video games, surfing the internet, listening to talk radio, reading the nightly newspaper, relaxing with a magazine, book, or electronic tablets (such as an ipad or kindle).  They are exposed to this moldy bread at the theater, at the park, social gathering establishments, in the city, and in what the government deems permissible but God deems to be evil.  They are exposed to it so often that it now lives in and has tainted and changed their heart.  

Jesus said, "But evil words come from an evil heart and defile the person who says them. For from the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, all other sexual immorality, theft, lying and slander. These are what defile you.  Eating with unwashed hands could never defile you and make you unacceptable to God!" Matthew 15:18
  

They have eaten the poison apple of the wicked world and fallen asleep like Snow White.  They have been deceived and betrayed by lies and luring of “so-called” gifts like Hansel and Gretel and power like Edmund in “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.” 

I too was once poisoned by this moldy bread.

This moldy bread people have been eating has made God (Our Heavenly Father, His Son Jesus Christ our Savior, and Holy Spirit -our guide to all truth) more a myth and fable then HIS VERY REAL REALITY.  The moldy bread of this world has made God a religion.  A religion we create ourselves by picking and choosing who God is.  And even when finally start thinking about coming to God because God has been asking us to join him, we stop ourselves because we believe the lie that we have to make ourselves "acceptable" in some way before we come to him. (More moldy bread.)

We believe the lie "we" have to make ourselves right but the truth is "we can't" make ourselves right for everyone has sinned and fallen short of God's glorious standard. (Romans 3:23) If you want to get right with God you have to come to God in whatever condition you are in. 

You want some good bread to eat? You simply give your life to God and there He transforms our heart and mind and gives us the Spirit of Christ.  God's word says, "Yet now God in his gracious kindness declares us not guilty.  He has done this through Christ Jesus, who freed us by taking away our sins.  For God sent Jesus to take the punishment for our sins and to satisfy God's anger against us.  We are made right with God when we believe that Jesus shed his blood, sacrificing his life for us." Romans 3:24

Jesus, with his spotless sinless human life, took the death penalty price for our sin, short comings, and failures.   So when we finally come to God, in a real sincere genuine way, God will accept us.   We just have to surrender our life to God (who is God the Heavenly Father, Son Jesus Christ, and Holy Spirit).  Simply ask God who knows the intentions of your heart, It can be as simple as this prayer:

"Jesus will you become LORD of my life.  Forgive me, I have sinned against you. I want to become the person you created me to be. I want to experience all the goodness and learn to walk in all your ways.  Transform my heart, mind and give me your Holy Spirit. In Jesus Name Amen." 

There in your sincere prayer, God will give you the ability to understand his word, the bible.  The bible won't just be words on a page but will have "meaning" that will affect your soul.  They will be a great part of your spiritual nourishment.  Jesus says, "People need more then bread for their life; they must feed on every word of God." Matthews 4:4  You will be able to communicate and speak with God.   God will show himself to you in wonderful ways.  You will be able to see the things of God.  You will experience his presence in your life as you seek God, praise God and worship God.   He will quiet your soul as you trust him and meditate on his words.  His Holy Spirit will enable you to do and experience things you never thought possible.  And you will grow and mature into the person God created you to be while touching other people's lives for and in Christ Jesus.  But those who choose only the moldy bread of this life can't have this.
   

The moldy bread of this world twists the mind, hardens the heart, making people spiritual dull, indifferent, blind and deaf.   The saving Gospel of Jesus Christ is hidden from them because they love the moldy bread of this world and know no other spiritual bread in which they can eat. But you know now there is GOOD BREAD to eat that comes daily from God as you seek Him.

Moldy bread has and still affects church folks today.  They are told even by certain seminaries that the Holy Spirit no longer works as He did in those days.  These are varied and strange teachings with no benefit to our soul.  These who teach such things forget GOD doesn't change he is the same yesterday, today and forever. (Hebrews 13:8-9) 

Jesus says to those people, “I know all the things you do, that you are neither hot or cold.  I wish you were one or the other!  But since you are like lukewarm water, I will spit you out of my mouth!  You say, ‘I am rich.  I have everything I want. I don’t need a thing!’ “And you don’t realize that you are wretched and miserable and poor and naked.  I advise you to buy gold from me- gold that has been purified by fire.  Then you will be rich.  And also buy white garments so you will not be shamed by your nakedness.  And buy ointment for your eyes so you will be able to see.   I am the one who corrects and disciplines everyone I love.  Be diligent and turn from your indifference.  Look! Here I stand at the door and knock.  If you hear me calling and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal as friends.  I will invite everyone who is victorious to sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sit with my Father on his throne.  Anyone who is willing to hear should listen to the Spirit and understand what the Spirit is saying to the churches.” Revelation 3:15-22

They have gotten stagnant, stale, and blind by the moldy bread of this world instead of choosing to have a continual wholesome, strengthening, life changing meal with the Lord.  He encourages and strengthens me daily as I go to Him.

Both sets of people (the people of the world and lukewarm church folks) are unaware of the good bread God has for them.  The bread that makes us rich in faith experiencing what…

 “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined. But it was to us that God revealed these things by his Spirit.  For his Spirit searches out everything and shows us God’s deep secrets.” 1 Corinthians 2:9-10

God’s bread changes our hearts so we become:

“Productive and useful in the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. But those who fail to develop these virtues are blind or, at least, very shortsighted.  They have forgotten that God has cleansed them from their old life of sin.”  2 Peter 1:8-9

Jesus said: “And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul?”  Matthew 16:26

Jesus said: “And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but are yourself lost or destroyed?” Luke 9:25

This moldy bread makes a veil in the minds and hearts of men and women and causes them to perish.

Hosea 4:6 “My people are destroyed from lack of knowledge….”

Isaiah 5:13 “Therefore my people will go into exile for lack of understanding; their men of rank will die of hunger and their masses will be parched with thirst.”  

2 Corinthians 4:3 “But even if the gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing.”

2 Corinthians 4:4 “Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don't believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News. They don't understand this message about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God.”

Satan weakens and deceives the nations with his moldy bread.  (Isaiah 14:12/ Revelation 20:3)  Satan deceives now just as he did in the beginning with Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. Satan’s deception brings death to those who believe his lies.  Remember Adam and Eve.  He deceives to kill and have vengeance.  He wants power over people’s lives.  To keep them so busy with the moldy bread of this world that they perish for not knowing the true God who can give them the power to defeat Satan and this world. 

Jesus declares this: “The time for judging this world has come, when Satan, the ruler of this world, will be cast out. And when I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw everyone to myself." John 12:31-32

1 John 5:4-5 “For every child of God defeats this evil world by trusting Christ to give the victory.  And the ones who win this battle against the world are the ones who believe that Jesus is the Son of God.”

Jesus says, "The thief [Satan] does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have [it] more abundantly.” John 10:10

Jesus says, “God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for him, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.”  Matthew 5:3

 1 John 2:15-17 says:        

“Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you.  For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions.  These are not from the Father, but are from this world. And this world is fading away, along with everything that people crave.  But anyone who does what pleases God will live forever.”

God’s love cannot work in us if we “love” this world or if we chose to stay under the eclipse of the world, or accept what the Satan, the god of this world offers and solicits. 

Jesus says God blesses those who are poor… and those who realize their need for him, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.  People need to realize they poor when they eat just what the world offers them and every person needs to see that they need God in their life.

Remember the voice?

“Make a highway for the LORD through the wilderness.  Make a straight, smooth road through the desert for our God. Fill in the valleys and level the hills.  Straighten out the curves and smooth off the rough spots.  Then the glory of the Lord will be revealed, and all the people will see it together.  The LORD has spoken.” Isaiah 40:3-5

Who we make room for in our heart is who we serve and will glorify.  We serve who we put an emphasis on.  We serve this world… then we believe the things Satan solicits.  Lies like: Money will make us happy.  Possessions will make us happy.  Popularity will make us happy.  Pleasure will make happy.  Hate and vengeance will make us happy. 

Tough to hear but we also serve Satan when we believe his defeating lies and give into his tactics.   We will get the results of this decaying world if we choose to believe Satan over God.  Satan lies… you know those lies… they sound like thoughts that say we aren’t smart enough, good enough, knowledgeable enough, well enough, tough enough, they bring about accusations and negatives points of others which can cause blockages so we can’t experience all that God has for us.

Instead of building in God’s goodness, moldy bread builds strongholds for the enemy in our life and allows him to tear down what God is equipping with us to over come Satan and this evil world.  

Satan wants us to put an emphasis on us (prideful or doubtful thinking) but in truth the emphasis should not be on us but on God  -living in and doing the work through us.  

When God is at work in us, the emphasis is off, the world, Satan, others and us and on God’s will. (They were of one accord.)  He is the one who brings about understanding and gives us the words to speak.  He is the one who gives us boldness to do righteous acts.  He is the one who impacts and empowers our lives.  So why do we put such an emphasis on other things first instead of God?   

“And ye shall serve the LORD your God, and he shall bless thy bread, and thy water; and I will take sickness away from the midst of thee.” Exodus 23:25

You want to be healed from the sick moldy bread of the world then each of us has to choose to serve God?  Then worry; fear, anxiety, frustration etc will be taken away from us. 

As a Christian just seeing the limitedness of what the world has to offer discourages me.  It shouts, “Take this moldy bread! Take this moldy bread! Take this moldy bread! And soon solicitors of moldy bread surround me.   But then I am reminded I have a choice I don’t have to eat this moldy bread.  I don’t have to give into and accept the solicitation of this world.  I don’t have to stand under this world’s eclipse but I can look behind it and see God who is bigger then all things.   God is bigger then anything we might temporarily face in life. 

We have a choice to believe in Satan’s lies and offers. If Satan, the father of lies says, “We aren’t going to make it,” then you can be assured that we will make if we trust God to make it.  I can chose to carry all these building concerns in life or give them to God where he can take care of them one at a time as I diligently seek, walk and trust in him.

“Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about what happens to you.  Be careful! Watch out for attacks from the Devil, your great enemy.  He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for some victim to devour.  Take a firm stand against him, and be strong in your faith.  Remember that your Christian brothers and sisters all around the world are going through the same kind of suffering you are.”  1 Peter 5:7-9

“In” Jesus Christ, Satan is deprived of the power and influence he exercises in the world and tries hard to overshadow our lives with.  In the submitting and humbling of ourselves before Jesus Christ, he enables us to never give up, never lose faith, always be hopeful and endure through every circumstance. (1 Corinthians 13:7)

THE BREAD FROM HEAVEN

The bread from heaven is the only “way” to cure to the effects of the poisonous moldy bread in our life.

Jesus said, “The true bread of God is the one who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”  John 6:33

Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life.  Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.” John 6:35

Jesus told him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.”  John 14:6

Jesus is light to the soul.  We have to treasure that and keep it close to our heart. 

Jesus said to the people, “I am the light of the world, if you follow me, you won’t be stumbling through the darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.”

And as we trust Jesus, our lives will bear witness to his bread of goodness and righteousness.

Jesus said “You are the light of the world- like a city on a mountain, glowing in the night for all to see.  Don’t hide your light under a basket! Instead put it on a stand and let it shine for all.  In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.”  Matthew 5:14-16

Jesus said “If you love me, obey my commandments.  And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor, who will never leave you.   He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth.  The world at large cannot receive him, because it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t recognize him.  But you do, because he lives with you now and later will be in you.” John 14:15-17

“The truth is, no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit.  Humans can reproduce only human life, but the Holy Spirit gives new life from heaven.”  John 3:5-6

Jesus gives us spiritual bread (nourishment) from himself through the Holy Spirit. 

THE HOLY SPIRIT and Evil

“He [The Holy Spirit] gives us more and more strength to stand against such evil desires.  As the Scriptures say, ‘God sets himself against the proud, but he shows favor to the humble.’  So humble yourselves before God.  Resist the Devil, and he will flee from you.  Draw close to God, and God will draw close to you…”  James 4:6-8

So He [Jesus] said to them, "When you pray, say: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as [it is] in heaven. Give us day by day our daily bread. And forgive us our sins, For we also forgive everyone who is indebted to us. And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one." Luke 11:2-4

The Holy Spirit’s daily bread helps us recognize and honor our Father of Heaven, allows the kingdom of God to be lived through us, enables us forgive the trespasses of others and be lead away from the temptations of Satan.

EXPERIENCING GOD

“So God has given both his promise and his oath. These two things are unchangeable because it is impossible for God to lie. Therefore, we who have fled to him for refuge can have great confidence as we hold to the hope that lies before us.  This hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls. It leads us through the curtain into God's inner sanctuary.”  Hebrews 6:18-19

“And so, dear brothers and sisters, we can boldly enter heaven's Most Holy Place because of the blood of Jesus. By his death, Jesus opened a new and life-giving way through the curtain into the Most Holy Place.  And since we have a great High Priest who rules over God's house, let us go right into the presence of God with sincere hearts fully trusting him. For our guilty consciences have been sprinkled with Christ's blood to make us clean, and our bodies have been washed with pure water.”  Hebrews 10:19-22

“No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him.  But it was to us that God revealed these things by his Spirit.  For his Spirit searches out everything and shows us God’s deep secrets.  No one can know a person’s thoughts except that person’s own spirit, and no one can know God’s thoughts except God’s own Spirit (not the world’s spirit), so we can know the wonderful things God has freely given us.   When we tell you these things, we do not use words that come from human wisdom.  Instead we speak words given to us by the Spirit, using the Spirit’s words to explain spiritual truths.  But people who aren’t spiritual can’t receive these truths from God’s Spirit.  It all sounds foolish to them and they can’t understand it, for only those who are spiritual can understand what the Spirit means.  Those who are spiritual can evaluate all things, but they themselves cannot be evaluated by others.  For, ‘who can know the LORD’s thoughts?  Who knows enough to teach him?’ But we understand these things for we have the mind of Christ.”  1 Corinthians 2:9-16 (NLT)

If we are eating the spiritual nourishment through the Holy Spirit, which Jesus gives, then we will have the mind of Christ.  So don’t get discouraged by the world.  It’s the world – what do you expect?  It’s the moldy bread maker but we know where to get the good bread to share with those who will listen.

God is good…

Scribbled On A Bit of Parchment

The Day Comes

Scribbled on a bit of parchment in hopes I will not forget.

Did you see the morning dawn?  Did you take notice?  Behold its Maker’s hand? 

How the beautiful peach sky did not overcome what was below it…  For under it were the rolling hills and the clumping live oaks standing in the fog.   They were like green broccoli sitting in a warm pot of heavy steam. 

The fog… how it quiets the mind in it’s seclusion.

How it anoints the branches and the grasses until it’s time to go.

I watch as the rays of the rising sun sift it from its valleys and it floats overhead like fine thin silk. 

Heavy dewdrops are its offspring and memory of its glory. 

Oh how I wish I could stay in the coolness of the morn but look a breeze comes and the leaves and acorns tumble within it.  They run excited for what mystery lays ahead.

And so I too must continue to take their example in my stride- Jesus what is to come? 

Come Lord come. 

Fill my day with your thoughts -for my thoughts slow and weigh me down.  Yes, yours are much better suited for me then mine and I temporary, too, want to bring glory to you.  

Come Lord Jesus come.

 By Jeff Johnson a.k.a J.D. Johns

Acknowledging God pt.3

Jesus Christ, the Lord, says “If anyone acknowledges me publicly here on earth, I will openly acknowledge that person before my Father in heaven.  But if anyone denies me here on earth, I will deny that person before my Father in heaven.” Matthew 10:32

Important?  Why?  Jesus is the only way to the Father of Heaven.   If you want to be in heaven after this life and if you want to experience God’s love more.... then just in things we already take for granted such as the sun and the rain, food, water, etc  (Reference Matthew 5:45) then we must acknowledge Jesus Christ.

We take many things for granted that the Father of all creation does for us everyday and yet our Father in Heaven wants to bless us more with his "assuring" love but we can't receive that assurance in his love if we don't acknowledge Jesus Christ above all things in life.

For Jesus Christ made the way for us to experience a deep meaningful relationship with God the Father (The Father of all Creation) and have eternal life.  A relationship that is so deep and meaningful that it transforms us.

Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth and the life.  No one can come to the Father except through me." John 14:6 

Jesus said,  "But you shouldn't be so concerned about perishable things like food.  Spend your energy seeking the eternal life that I, the Son of Man, can give you.  For God the Father has sent me for that very purpose." John 6:27 

Jesus said, “Yes, I am the gate.  Those who come in through me will be saved.  Wherever they go, they will find green pastures.”  John 10:9
 

Receiving A Mighty Relationship through our Shepherd Jesus Christ.

Jesus is only way for soul to receive true peace, assurance, joy, love, hope, encouragement and conviction to stand in faith at all times.   Through Jesus, our LORD, we receive what is not possible in our human strength and understanding. 

“The LORD is my shepherd; I have everything I need.  He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful streams.   He renews my strength.  He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to his name.   Even when I walk through the dark valley of death, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me.  Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me.   You prepare a feast for me in the presence of my enemies.  You welcome me as a guest, anointing my head with oil.   My cup overflows with blessing.  Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will live in the house of the LORD forever.”  Psalm 23

Again, we cannot find the spiritual, physical blessings, the comfort and encouragement from God unless we acknowledge God and follow Jesus Christ.   Jesus and the Father and Spirit are one.  So as you follow Jesus you are actually following the Father.  Difficult concept for most of us to understand but God is beyond our understanding.

Philip, one of the disciples of Jesus, said to him, "Lord, show us the Father and we will be satisfied."

Jesus replied, "Philip, don't you even yet know who I am, even after all the time I have been with you?  Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father!  So why are you asking to see him? Don't you believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me?   The words I say are not my own, but my Father who lives in me does his work through me.  Just believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me.  Or at least believe because of what you have seen me do."  John 14:8-11

Jesus was God and is God.   He could lay down his life (he could let his physical body die) and pick it up again.   He knew it wasn't the physical body that was most important but the soul in which lives in the body.  For God made both the body and soul.   The body to carry the soul but the body was never to last.  The soul was to last into eternity.

Life of Faith

“So we are always confident, even though we know that as long as we live in these bodies we are not at home with the Lord.” 2 Corinthians 5:6

Life is short but those who know God know this is not the home of their soul… this life is a very brief experience compared to eternity.   So we need to look at life as a trip, an expedition, a mission, and even an adventure.

But no trip would “be”  and no trip would be “transformed" into a healthy and successful experience without faith in a well respected, experienced, caring, and trustworthy guide- a shepherd.

Jesus is that guide!  He is that shepherd.   He knows this world and He created this world.   He sees all the good and all the evil.  He sees the prideful, the humble, and the needy.  He sees those who want to know Him and those who don’t want to know Him.  He knows us.  He knows what will give us peace, challenge and stretch our faith, stimulate us, and show us things we wouldn’t even imagine but again we can’t receive from Jesus (God) unless we seek and acknowledge Him. 
      

Preparing Your Soul

We as humans sometimes have tendency to believe we have immortality when it comes to this life… like we can just select the restart button and start again but in reality our life here is fragile and can be taken from us without warning.  There is no restart button.  No one knows the number of his or her days only God.   

Think about it.... is your soul prepared to leave this life and be taken into the next?  What kind of relationship do you have with the Lord Jesus Christ?  Are you acquainted with him? Do you know HIM?  Have you lost touch with Him?  Do you even know Him?   Do you trust Him?  Do you have his Holy Spirit within you and working in you?  What do your words and actions say about your relationship with God?
 

Jesus says, “… the Kingdom of Heaven is like a fishing net that is thrown into the water and gathers fish of every kind.  When the net is full, they drag it up onto the shore, sit down and sort the good fish into crates, and throw the bad ones way.  That is the way it will be at the end of the world.   The angels will come and separate the wicked people from the godly, throwing the wicked into the fire.  There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.  Do you understand?”  Matthew 13:47-51

How does God define the godly or the wicked?  The godly do what is right; they obey God, they love God’s mercy, and have Jesus as their shepherd. 
 

“No, O people, the LORD has already told you what is good, and this is what he requires: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.” Micah 6:8

Doing right starts with coming to God in repentance for the wrongs we have done. We already know in our heart what is wrong and right even though we try to justify it but no amount of human justification will count when it comes to God.  Doing right is acknowledging our daily need in Him and drawing from his goodness and godliness which is LIGHT.  (You can't have this if you don't trust him as your Shepherd.)
  

Jesus said “All who do evil hate the light and refuse to go near it for fear their sins will be exposed. But those who do what is right come to the light so others can see that they are doing what God wants.” John 3:20-21

Jesus said to the people, "I am the light of the world.  If you follow me, you won't be stumbling through the darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life." John 8:12
 

“This is the message we heard from Jesus and now declare to you: God is light, and there is no darkness in him at all.” 1 John 1:5

 "But if we are living in the light, as God is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from all sin. " 1 John 1:7

(Remember your eye is a lamp.  Luke 11:34-36)

God's children come to the light and live in the light.  Have you come to the "light"? Do you repeatedly come to the "light" everyday? Do you walk and see in the "light" of God?

The wicked don’t do what is right, they don’t love mercy (giving it or receiving it) and they don’t walk with God.

Jesus speaking about himself says this about the wicked:

 “......... But those who do not trust him have already been judged for not believing in the only Son of God.  Their judgment is based on this fact:  The light from heaven came into the world, but they loved darkness more than the light, for their actions were evil.”  John 3:18-19

Now I want to share some things with you.  I am not sharing them for my benefit.  They are not to trample the good grass and muddy up the waters or make you feel cheated but to share the reality of heaven and hell in hopes to encourage you and stimulate you to acknowledge God and continue to acknowledge God in your life.

I know there is a heaven and a hell.  I know there is God who is the Father and Son, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit.   I have seen Jesus.  I have experienced his smile.  His smile instantly stopped my tears caused by hurt and filled my heart with unexplainable joy.  I have seen the glory of the Father and the smoke that comes out from underneath his royal shimmering robe as he walked in front of me.  I know the Holy Spirit lives in me for once I could not understand the bible and now I can.   He has taught me things in private, I could not possible know myself. 
 

I know there is a hell because it was partially unveiled to me.  I heard the blood curdling screams rising out of hell and saw Satan himself standing over it.  Frightening it was to just hear a tiny evidence of it and see the orange casting shadows of the flames below. 
  

I know there is a heaven because I have seen the warm yellow light in the open doorway of my invitation from God- and I cheerful excepted his invitation!  When I get glimpses of heaven it is the same yellow light that fills heaven and vegetation there.  I have seen the blue sapphires of God’s throne, which I must admit gave me God fearing shivers of reverence when I was shown what the blue sapphires where…

Proof and encouragement and conviction from God comes only with acknowledging God.  Bad things happen in life but it is who we turn to that makes the greatest impact in our life.  We can turn to ourselves or turn to God. 

This is important!  Acknowledging God gives you something godly in turn.  It’s a promise!  And I have found it to be true. Look!

“God blesses those who realize their need for him, for the Kingdom of Heaven is given to them.   God bless those who mourn, for they will be comforted.  God blesses those who are gently and lowly, for the whole earth will belong to them.   God bless those who are hungry and thirsty for justice, for they will receive it in full.  God blesses those who are merciful, for they will be shown mercy.  God blesses those who hearts are pure, for they will see God.   God blesses those who work for peace, for they will be called the children of God.   God blesses those who are persecuted because they live for God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.”  Matthew 5:3-10

Again- you can’t receive and live in these things unless you acknowledge and trust God for them.

God’s Spirit is omnipresent but He can’t live in “us” unless we give our life to God not the "god" we created in our mind but the one true God.
 

 Jesus says “If you love me, obey my commandments.  And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor, who will never leave you.   He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth.  The world at large cannot receive him, because it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t recognize him.  But you do, because he lives with you now and later will be in you.” John 14:15

The Holy Spirit will lead you into ALL truth.   That truth is not just his priceless deep wisdom but what he wants to literally show us to give you assurance of your salvation in heaven.  Truths we can't even imagine.  I believe God shows himself and pieces of heaven and the aspects of the spiritual to encourage us and in return we can encourage to others.   You will be able to share those things with others and edify, exhort, and encourage others in the Lord.


In your acknowledgement of God, You have all that Psalms 23 says.  

We can invest ourselves totally in this life.   We can trust in the things of this life but they will fail us.  We can try to make, create, and invest in every man made safety net but they will mean nothing in the end.  They will be nothing when it comes to saving your soul.  (Which is matters most!)

 Jesus said, "And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul?" Matthew 16:26

We need to be invested in Jesus Christ.  That means we have allowed him to come in and work in our lives.   The extent (non-existent or living) relationship with the Lord will determine our eternal destination…. heaven or hell.  This world can take a lot of things from us and most of them are worthless but our eternal investment in the Lord Jesus Christ is something no one can take away.

Empowering the Vessel & the Soul

 Jesus said, “Don’t be afraid of those who want to kill you.  They can only kill your body; they cannot touch your soul.  Fear only God, who can destroy both soul and body in hell.”  Matthew 10:28

As an art major I have had many projects I was assigned to in college which ended up in the waste bin.  I would start them and then the professor would tell me to insert this or that until they no longer were "my" art pieces or what I purposed for them.  They had turned to someone elses.  They were "directed" by someone else other then me.

Who directs your life? You, others, God?  God is our creator.  We forget that.  We seem to assume God's role and create our own purposes- which usually don't make us feel very satisfied and in the end have terrible results if we never acknowledge our Creator in this life.

We are God's art piece but we can allow ourselves, others and Satan to create something God didn't intend for us -which is a life that doesn't acknowledge it's creator, who he really is, and is full of disobedience and sin.  It is even turns hostile towards God, God's word and the Holy name Jesus Christ.   And if the creation doesn't acknowledge God and turn to God then God has no choice but throw that soul and body into the burning pit of hell.

The is really a piece of clay with a body.   When we allow God to live and work in us, he not only transforms us but empowers us by his love.   Which has wonderful lasting effects on our life and other people's lives.

Jesus says, “If you refuse to take up your cross and follow me, you are not worthy of being mine.”  Matthew 10:38

This is called denying one's self.  If you put importance just on you, you alone and the things around you and not on God then you can’t live in and be empowered by God.  If your mind is stuck on the conditions of your body or your circumstances then your soul cannot be empowered by God.  To be empowered by God you must acknowledge God. 

People, so focused and dependent on their own flesh, deeds, wants and own understandings -  can’t receive God's help and empowerment to meet their every spiritual need.   His goodness and godliness won’t come out of you if you aren’t hooked up to him.  They won't come to you and live in if you don't stand still and let his words make an impression in your heart.

God empowers the soul to see and do greater things then thought possible regardless of conditions and human understandings.

Jesus continues with, “If you cling to your life, you will lose it; but if you give it up for me, you will find it.”  Matthew 10:39

Jesus is our life.... We were created by him and for him and we need to acknowledge Him.  He knows exactly why we were built and made.  He should be the one who shapes and molds our life.  So even if this shell of a body dies and breaks the soul shall continue to live in Him and with Him.

“Destruction is certain for those who argue with their Creator.  Does a clay pot ever argue with its maker?  Does the clay dispute with the one who shapes it, saying, ‘Stop, you are doing it wrong!’  Does the pot exclaim, ‘How clumsy can you be!’” Isaiah 45:9

So who knows us better then the one who created our body and soul?  Let us acknowledge and trust God and see what goodness and godliness comes out.

“Praise the Lord; Praise God our savior! For each day he carries us in his arms.” Psalm 68:19