Know Him
Paul is saying not that I may know “of” Jesus Christ but know Jesus as who he is as Lord and Savior.
This type of “know” is to know and understanding someone on a very personal level like a spouse or a best friend.
The Amplified bible reads: [For my determined purpose is] that I may know Him [that I may progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him, perceiving and recognizing and understanding the wonders of His Person more strongly and more clearly], and that I may in that same way come to know the power outflowing from His resurrection [which it exerts over believers], and that I may so share His sufferings as to be continually transformed [in spirit into His likeness even] to His death….”
When people are around someone with good or bad habits, people tend to pick up and be influenced by those same habits do they not? Paul is saying the same thing, the more I get to “know” Christ more deeply and intimately the more I can let go of who I am (feelings, perceptions, understandings, etc) and become like Christ. This is a good thing!
Paul writes: “ My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” Galatians 2:20
Paul also writes: “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.” Philippians 1:21
If Paul is allowed to live, Christ will continue to be Paul’s source of strength and encouragement and if Paul dies or is put to death for his faith, he will finally be off this world and with Christ in heaven.
Paul’s relationship with the Lord has helped him know nothing can separate him from God’s love. This has given him a lighter burden to carry. He isn’t concerned for himself as much as those he might leave behind.
The words of Jesus come to mind, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle, and you will find rest of your souls. For my yoke fits perfectly and the burden I give you is light.” Matthew 11:28
Death… we all will face it. To those who know Christ it isn’t something to be afraid of but to those who don’t know Christ it should be something to be very afraid and be anxious about.
So without doing a lot of shadow boxing, ask yourself this question, “Are you prepared for death right now?
“Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away.” James 4:14
You like myself have seen the very young to the very old die. Death doesn’t care what your age might be- it isn’t bias.
I have learned from sorrow and suffering –that which I could not learn had I not witnessed and experienced sorrow and suffering. Sometimes "what" we consider "not good" is actually "good" because of what comes from it.
In fact Jesus says, "But wisdom is shown to be right by what results from it." Note: Matthew 11:19.
For man learns nothing from the empty foolishness of life. Think about it. For a man sees his need for God -in all his weakness and seeing the foolishness of life can never satisfy him.
Seeing this need can only be satisfied and answered by God, he seeks God from the depths of his heart and God approaches.
“God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for him, for the Kingdom of heaven is theirs.” Matthew 5:3
“A good name is better then fine perfume, and the day of death is better then the day of birth. It is better to go to a house of mourning then go to a house of feasting, for death is the destiny of everyone; the living should take this to heart.” Ecclesiastes 7:2
We see life has no guarantees and without notice we can find ourselves on the doorstep of our eternal destination. And depending on if we know or don’t know Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior will determine our eternal destination.
Most of us have read or heard of this verse, “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16
So knowing Jesus is the Son of God who He sent to save us…
“I live by the power of the living Father who sent me; in the same way, those who partake of me will live because of me.” John 6:57
“I am the way, the truth and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.” John 14:6
….. Have you made a choice to “know” Jesus Christ?
Where is your heart and mind when it comes to your eternal destination? Have you given it any thought at all?
Have you put your soul in the words of mere men and what they have rationalized in their own minds? If so, you are in a very dangerous and precarious position… We can’t take the words of man as fact- we must know if they are true. Most often that comes with the trials and fires of life. With the trials and fires of life, God's love bleeds more visible as we earnestly seek him.
You can’t put your soul in the hands of man’s theories and ideas. The words of man mean nothing when it comes to the threshold of eternity. Would you step out of an airplane onto a cloud of vapor thinking it would support you? Of course not! Words are just words until they are proven true.
So while you still have the grace of God put some time and investment into your soul not in things of this world- for you can’t take them with you.
“For we brought nothing into this world and is certain we can carry nothing out.” 1 Timothy 6:7.
Don’t leave your soul’s destination up to chance and take the cop-out/excuse that you don’t know what you really believe.
No one should have to plead with someone to search for truth in God and Jesus Christ for someone else's soul’s sake. A person should want to do that for themselves but I understand sometimes it takes someone to bring it mind because we are lost and blinded by the busyness and cares of this life -but this life is only temporary my friend and eternity is forever.
So if you don’t know what you really believe.... you are going to do nothing? Don’t be fooled by thoughts that stop you in your tracks. Earnestly seek God and he will reveal himself to you.
God says in the book of Jeremiah 29:13. " If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me."
Most people don't even try and because they don't try they never find him.
What is your soul’s destination worth?
I have found in this short (oops) it's been more then 12 years now journey -God is more real then I even imagined and my revelation of Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior has deepened. I hold to this truth dearly for my soul’s sake and sanity. For it is clear this place is not my home.
“For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.” 1 Corinthians 1:18-19
Remember what we read in Philippians 3:10...... (might want to go back up and read it again.)
* (Here is a little star if you forget your place)
The ways of human security (money, possessions, our degrees, our achievements, human rational/reasoning, other people we know, etc.) are no security at all -when all those human securities are taken away, what then?
Where will their hope be then? Human security can only take you so fair. They definitely do not carry into eternity.
When the world crumbles and storms on the seas and in the skies come like increasing birth pains and people are only out to save themselves- where will their hope be then?
When Jesus comes to get his own- how will the unbelieving world explain what has happened to us? There are approximately 6.9 billion Christians in the world, can you imagine them all disappearing at once?
But those left behind will have this passage to refer to:
“For when the Son of Man returns, you will know it beyond a doubt. It will be as evident as the lightning that flashes across the sky. But first the Son of Man must suffer terribly and be rejected by this generation. When the Son of Man returns, the world will be like the people were in Noah’s day. In those days before the flood, people enjoyed banquets and parties and weddings right up to the time Noah entered his boat and the flood came to destroy them all. And the world be as it was in the days of Lot. People went about their daily business- eating and drinking, buying and selling, farming and building- until the morning Lot left Sodom. Then fire and burning sulfur rained down from heaven and destroyed them all. Yes, it will be business as usual right up to the hour when the Son of Man returns. On that day a person outside the house must not go into the house to pack. A person in the field must not return to town. Remember what happened to Lot’s wife! Whoever clings to this life will lose it, and whoever loses this life will save it. That night two people will be asleep in one bed; one will be taken away, and the other will be left. Two women will be grinding flour together at the mill; one will be taken, the other left.”
“Lord, where will this happen?” the disciples asked.
Jesus replied, “Just as the gathering of vultures shows there is a carcass nearby, so these signs indicate the end is near.” Luke 17: 24-37
Just think where people’s understandings carry them now, where will their understandings take them then?
Who’s Understanding?
God word says, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct your paths. Don’t be impressed with your own wisdom. Instead, fear the LORD and turn away from evil. Then you will have healing for your body and strength for your bones.” Proverbs 3:5-8
We as Christians are not to let our own wisdom and understanding master over our sails of our soul. God himself is to be the wind that encourages our sails.
Just as one might turn their boat or let the boom of the mast catch the wind, we too must let go and turn our attention on to God not our circumstances. There, our interior sails will straighten out from their sag and find the right mind and heart set in God instead of our own strength and understanding. The Christian soul no longer runs efficiently on the things of this world but on the things of God. Mind, heart, Spirit (Note Ezekiel 36:26)
“…. 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
That place we can only find and come in through by Jesus Christ who is the narrow gate.
“You can enter God’s Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way.” Matthew 7:13
“Yes, I am the gate. Those who come in through me will be saved. They will come and go freely and will find good pastures.” John 10:9
In God’s good pastures we will find good things to help our soul endure and thrive.
Who’s understanding we use matters greatly. Who we trust matters greatly. Who we know matters greatly. Read Matthew 6:19-34
Tuesday, October 29, 2013
Sunday, October 06, 2013
Beneath the Waters (I Will Rise) Hillsong
How true... the reality and revelation of Jesus Christ doesn't come until we give our lives to God. Where were we become a new creation. And now we live in Him.
Friday, September 27, 2013
Liberty in Christ
Liberty in Christ
What does that mean?
- Freedom from the Mosaic law which only tells us we are guilty of sin and blinds us to what Christ Jesus has accomplished for us with his life, sacrifice, resurrection, - as our Teacher, Shepherd, Savior, High Priest and Creator.
- Freedom from being dominated over by corrupt desires, which allows our soul to walk in the Spirit/ the will of God.
- Freedom from the restraints and miseries of the earthly frailty. Our bodies may be dying but our Spirit is being refreshed, assured and matured in the love of our Lord. We can have joy, peace, love, hope, and faith when outwardly there is no reason why we should have such wonderful things.
- We are Christ minded not worldly-minded. (Note: 1 Corinthians 2:16)
- This liberty has only been given to us as Christians because we have accepted the blood covenant with our Lord Jesus Christ, which paid the penalty for our sins. This covenant made it possible to have a relationship with God.
- We are not self-assured by good deeds or works or even those we surround ourselves with, for these things can give us a false sense of security. We are to be assured in our Lord Jesus Christ alone.
To Be Liberated
We can try to do many things to “change” -for what “we “ think is better but unless there is a heart and mind change nothing will change.
We are doomed to repeat the same things over and over again. Ever hear people say they are going to do something to make their situation or life better but their “idea” of better is pitiful next to God’s plan. Then you have those who like to TALK but don’t even follow through at all. Maybe it’s because of fear, maybe it’s not sure how to pursue their objective, maybe it was a temporary desire, maybe the passion was snuffed out, maybe they didn’t seek God’s direction.
Ever give advice “inspired by the Holy Spirit” to someone and it sounds and looks like they were listening but in following up in conversation their situation and mindset is still much the same.
Jesus said, the Spirit is willing but the flesh is weak. Our sheer “will” power of the flesh is weak, inconsistent, and easily distracted. It wants to give in to the screams and naggings of the world. The flesh has a difficult time getting out of mundane themes and feelings of yesterday to a fresh perspective on the here and now. It is captured in the cocoon and familiarity of the days before. The dust we have accumulated from yesterday’s life is never brushed off with the renewing assurance (hope) of the Lord. And since it is transfixed on yesterday and it’s cloud, it finds it difficult to seek God’s face and partnership in the tasks at hand. If finds it difficult to stand because it never considers who wants to stand with them. It finds it difficult to see God’s mercies and grace are fresh and anew everyday.
“The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning.” Lamentations 3:22-23
The flesh finds it difficult to be humble and submit to God and not this life. We forget who is our caretaker at times who makes all things new- including our perspective on day.
“This is the day the Lord has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it.” Pslam 118:24
“Behold, God is my helper; The Lord is the sustainer of my soul.” Psalm 54:4
Life without God is very lonely and trying and meaningless.
So what does a person need to be liberated?
- One: People need to give their life to the Lord Jesus Christ- EVERYDAY! Don’t try to give him only parts because one part affects all the other parts. I know this from experience. Give him the entire engine- not just parts of the engine. Give him ALL you are able to give.
- Two goes with one: Admit you have been wrong in your thinking and understanding and you need God’s help. Only a fool admits he/she doesn’t need God. I need him everyday to keep a sound mind! (Note Galatians 5:22-23) Sound mind isn't our way but God's way.
- Three is very important: Submit to His Spirit and not our flesh. For God changes our heart when we give our life to Him and He makes us want to please Him. We no longer want to submit to our sinful and weak nature but walk humbly with God. (Micah 6:8)
- Four goes with 1,2 & 3. Read the Word of God for yourself. Ask God to guide your reading and study and meditate on the words that seem to pop off the page. God wants to liberate your life through His Spirit! (Holy Spirit)
- Five: Stop quickly when you feel you are being seduced into horizontal thinking… where it’s just you tackling the things in life and the world and God seems to be absent or at least very distant in your mindset and heart.
God says, “Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.” Ezekiel 36:26
“A heart of flesh” in this case is not talking about the sinful nature but a heart that is receptive to God and the things of God. It is a heart of “moral” character, conscience, resolution, and determination. And God is to be not just the compass of that heart but the strength of that heart.
“I will give them hearts that recognize me as the Lord. They will be my people, and I will be their God, for they will return to me wholeheartedly.” Jeremiah 24:7
“This is what the LORD says: "Cursed is the one who trusts in man, who depends on flesh for his strength and whose heart turns away from the LORD.” Jeremiah 17:5
Have you ever tried to please God by your own “will” power or strength. It is not just the most frustrating thing a person can go through but you feel like a complete failure as a Christian.
More then a decade ago, I remember being on the phone sharing my predicament to my grandmother. I had just been saved and filled with the Holy Spirit weeks before. Life had turned from night to day and I was trying to share this new reality with everyone I knew but as I started listening to the radio ministries and reading my bible I found myself off kilter, I knew I had been swept clean by the Holy Spirit. I no longer had those resentful feelings I used to have. I knew I could finally read God’s word to where it now made sense. I was now enjoying church. I was like a spiritual sponge soaking all I could from the pastor’s sermons. I even liked that “Christian” music. I had become a new creature in Christ.
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” 2 Corinthians 5:17
BUT when I compared my life to other Christians, I found I didn’t measure up.
I didn’t want to crawl, I wanted to walk and run like everyone else
and that is where I inadvertently stepped into a hole. Ever play out in a
green field and step into a hole that was covered by some long blades of grass?
What happens? Well that is what I did.
In my haste to “catch up” (figuratively speaking) “I” was trying to please God with my own "will" power. That was my first mistake. Second mistake was not comprehending all the spiritual warfare I was now standing in. No one told me once I became a Christian I would suddenly be a target on Satan's hit list. I wondered why if I am a Christian why are these sinful thoughts popping into my head from no-where? I didn't even give it the remote possibility it was Satan whispering in my ear to sabotage my faith. I thought it was ALL me. These thoughts really bothered me until I was thoroughly frustrated. (Sinful thoughts would had not bothered me before but since my heart had changed, they bothered me now. After all Jesus says if you even think it, you are guilty of sin.) Was the thought something I conjured up and hunted down and sequestered OR did I put those "thoughts" into the production line? I didn't... so what did?
Go tell those "thoughts" to go take a jump off a high high high cliff so when it hits the ground no one can tell what it originally looked like. That is way the word says "stand firm against all strategies and tricks of the Devil". But I at the time did not know that. And do to the confusion and junk thrown at me, and thinking - that junk was my problem ... and thinking I had to be perfect by my own strength I was now stumbling over mere ideas that came into my mind.
Hebrews 12 calls this life “a race” but I find the only competitor in this race is MYSELF. I am up against myself, my wandering mind, my feelings, my desires, my wants, my needs, my understandings, my perceptions, my lack knowledge when it comes to the word of God and so on… That is why it is important to be in the word of God so you can stay liberated in God. Satan is the big bully on the sidelines- heckling you and throwing whatever he can in your path to try to stop you. We "compete" against ourselves in all the different facets of this life. And this race is “figuratively” more like a three-legged race where Jesus is to be our partner and we are depend on his leading not ours. We move as he moves.
"For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring." Acts 17:28
Hebrews 12:1-2: “Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
In my haste to “catch up” (figuratively speaking) “I” was trying to please God with my own "will" power. That was my first mistake. Second mistake was not comprehending all the spiritual warfare I was now standing in. No one told me once I became a Christian I would suddenly be a target on Satan's hit list. I wondered why if I am a Christian why are these sinful thoughts popping into my head from no-where? I didn't even give it the remote possibility it was Satan whispering in my ear to sabotage my faith. I thought it was ALL me. These thoughts really bothered me until I was thoroughly frustrated. (Sinful thoughts would had not bothered me before but since my heart had changed, they bothered me now. After all Jesus says if you even think it, you are guilty of sin.) Was the thought something I conjured up and hunted down and sequestered OR did I put those "thoughts" into the production line? I didn't... so what did?
Go tell those "thoughts" to go take a jump off a high high high cliff so when it hits the ground no one can tell what it originally looked like. That is way the word says "stand firm against all strategies and tricks of the Devil". But I at the time did not know that. And do to the confusion and junk thrown at me, and thinking - that junk was my problem ... and thinking I had to be perfect by my own strength I was now stumbling over mere ideas that came into my mind.
Hebrews 12 calls this life “a race” but I find the only competitor in this race is MYSELF. I am up against myself, my wandering mind, my feelings, my desires, my wants, my needs, my understandings, my perceptions, my lack knowledge when it comes to the word of God and so on… That is why it is important to be in the word of God so you can stay liberated in God. Satan is the big bully on the sidelines- heckling you and throwing whatever he can in your path to try to stop you. We "compete" against ourselves in all the different facets of this life. And this race is “figuratively” more like a three-legged race where Jesus is to be our partner and we are depend on his leading not ours. We move as he moves.
"For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring." Acts 17:28
Hebrews 12:1-2: “Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
He is the author and finisher of our faith- not us. When we try to be the author and finisher of our faith we get all ensnared in life and live in disobedience.
Let’s go back to the hole I was ensnared in …. And as I flipped through the pages of my bible and listened to my grandmother’s words of encouragement, my eyes directly fell upon this verse.
“….. It is not by force nor by strength, but by my Spirit, says the LORD of Heaven's Armies.” Zechariah 4:6
Tears came from my eyes… all this time I had been trying to be “perfect” by my “own” strength when all I had to do was turn and ask for God’s help. God is the one to aid us as we live this Christian life.
I remember this relief came over me. I
spoke the verse's words out loud, my grandmother’s voice smiled on other end of
the line. “That’s right!” She replied. “God loves us. He doesn’t
want us to try living this life without Him.” This revelation sank within
me; God is going to assist me. God is going to help me.
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30
Thank God for THE Shepherd who picks us out of all the different kinds of holes in life.
We are all like sailboats without wind for our sails when we try to go through this life without God’s help. Yep- all kinds of dangers there. Pirates, sharks, dehydration, the unpredicted squall- to name a few. We are just aimlessly walking and groping through the darkness when we go it alone. Yep- there too! Those left behind Legos, walls that come out of no where, the bed post that seems to find your toe every stink'n time, and the eluding light switch.
SO before we can be liberated we must see some of the symptoms of what we need to be liberated from. Here are a few.
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30
Thank God for THE Shepherd who picks us out of all the different kinds of holes in life.
We are all like sailboats without wind for our sails when we try to go through this life without God’s help. Yep- all kinds of dangers there. Pirates, sharks, dehydration, the unpredicted squall- to name a few. We are just aimlessly walking and groping through the darkness when we go it alone. Yep- there too! Those left behind Legos, walls that come out of no where, the bed post that seems to find your toe every stink'n time, and the eluding light switch.
SO before we can be liberated we must see some of the symptoms of what we need to be liberated from. Here are a few.
- Legalism.
- Counting your good deeds as a way to find favor with God.
- Measuring your own goodness against other people's "lack of goodness".
- You finding yourself closer to fears then to God.
- Trusting yourself more then God.
- Hypocrisy, holding to a doubt standard towards others, partiality.
- Lies, deceit and deception and slander.
- Being conceited and prideful.
- Jealousy, anger, hostility, foul abuse language.
- Envy, coveting, greedy over what the world considers the “good things” in this life.
- All the different forms of worldly addiction. Alcohol, drugs, gambling, immoral sex, hording, gluttony, internet and video game addiction and so on.
- Impure and/or lustful thoughts.
- Idolatry. The worship of things and people instead of God.
- Not upholding truth, denying the truth.
- Participation in demonic actives, witchcraft, fortune telling, mediums or spiritualist.
- Accepting our circumstances in life as a measure of who we are in Christ.
- Living in your own understanding and perception.
- Thinking everyone is wrong except you and your own little group.
Quite a few are listed in
Galatians 5:19-21.
"No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it." 1 Corinthians 10:13
“Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” Isaiah 41:10
“For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.” 1 John 2:16
“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. John 15:1-4
“See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ.” Colossians 2:8
“Can anything separate us from the love of Christ? Can trouble, suffering, and hard times, or hunger and nakedness, or danger and death? It is exactly as the scriptures say, “For you we face death all day long. We are like sheep on their way to be butchered.” In everything we have won more than a victory because of Christ who loves us. I am sure that nothing can separate us from God’s love- not life or death, not angels or spirits, not the present or the future, and not powers above or powers below. Nothing in all creation can separate us from God’s love for us in Christ Jesus our Lord!” Romans 8:35-39
(God is the everlasting hand of friendship and faithfulness)
“You have been raised to life with Christ. Now set your heart on what is in heaven, where Christ rules at God’s right side. Think about what is up there, not about what is here on earth. You died, which means that you life is hidden with Christ, who sits beside God. Christ gives meaning to your life and when he appears, you will also appear with him in glory” Colossians 3:1-4
"No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it." 1 Corinthians 10:13
“Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” Isaiah 41:10
“For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.” 1 John 2:16
“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. John 15:1-4
“See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ.” Colossians 2:8
“Can anything separate us from the love of Christ? Can trouble, suffering, and hard times, or hunger and nakedness, or danger and death? It is exactly as the scriptures say, “For you we face death all day long. We are like sheep on their way to be butchered.” In everything we have won more than a victory because of Christ who loves us. I am sure that nothing can separate us from God’s love- not life or death, not angels or spirits, not the present or the future, and not powers above or powers below. Nothing in all creation can separate us from God’s love for us in Christ Jesus our Lord!” Romans 8:35-39
(God is the everlasting hand of friendship and faithfulness)
“You have been raised to life with Christ. Now set your heart on what is in heaven, where Christ rules at God’s right side. Think about what is up there, not about what is here on earth. You died, which means that you life is hidden with Christ, who sits beside God. Christ gives meaning to your life and when he appears, you will also appear with him in glory” Colossians 3:1-4
(Set your heart on what is eternal not temporal.)
“But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ. More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ.” Philippians 3:7-8
In the liberty of Christ we find all things are possible through Christ who strengthens us.
The dark churning skies of "our" world are blown away by a refreshing wind which reveals calm clarity in the mind and heart as we humble ourselves before God. His quiet compass of our soul keeps us away from the religious Bermuda Triangle. His anchor for our soul keeps us from becoming estranged from his love. We sadly see those who only live to serve this world and its always-unsatisfied appetite of meaningless. We are reminded with His pure light, God gives our life meaning; he satisfies our eternal souls with his eternal constant love. What more does the soul need but God?
Sin & Liberty Don’t Mix
Some even now think God’s liberty gives them the right to sin and live immoral lives but sin only brings you back under bondage. It separates you from God.
“For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love.” Galatians 5:13
God has no favorites. God is not impartial. God is not a hypocrite.
“But if you do what is wrong, you will be paid back for the wrong you have done. For God has no favorites.” Colossians 3:25
Liberty & His Return
The good work happens when we trust in him and his liberty. It won't matter when the day the Lord comes because you will be living and growing in his liberty. You will be ready!
“God is the one who began this good work in you, and I am certain that he won’t stop before it is complete on the day that day that Christ Jesus returns. I pray that your love will keep on growing and that you will fully know and understand how to make the right choices. Then you will still be pure and innocent when Christ Jesus returns. And until that day, Jesus Christ will keep you busy doing good deeds that bring glory and praise to God.” Philippians 1:6, 9-11
Wearing Liberty.
“Then Jonathan made a covenant with David, because he loved him as his own soul. And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was on him and gave it to David, and his armor, and even his sword and his bow and his belt.” 1 Samuel chapter 18
According to one of MANY Jewish customs this was one way to show a covenant. Jonathan is saying to David, “Whatever is mine in yours.”
This covenant also illustrates the covenant we have with Jesus Christ- if we have made him Lord of our life. Not having a robe of righteousness ourselves, Jesus has given us his robe of righteousness, which not only makes us holy and acceptable in the sight of our Heavenly Father, but it allows us live in God’s righteousness by his Holy Spirit.
Romans 13:14 “Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh.”
Galatians 3:27 “for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.”
Ephesians 4:24 “and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.”
Colossians 3:10 “and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. Here there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.”
Liberty is being clothed from head to foot in what God has given us. Think about the armor of God.
“A final word: Be strong with the Lord’s mighty power. Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies and tricks of the Devil. For we are not fighting against people made of flesh and blood but the unseen world, against those mighty powers of darkness who rule this world, and against wicked spirits in the heavenly realms. Use every piece of God’s armor to resist the enemy in the time of evil, so that after the battle you will still be standing firm. Stand your ground, putting on the sturdy belt of truth, and the body armor of God’s righteousness. For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News, so that you will be fully prepared. In every battle you will need faith as your shield to stop the fiery arrows aimed at you by Satan. Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Pray at all times and on every occasion in the power of the Holy Spirit. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all Christians everywhere.” Ephesians 6:10-18
Think about the parable Jesus shares with us about the Story of the Lost Son. (Note Luke 15:11-32
The son has lost his entire inheritance. He has been living the way of the world and being used by the world. He ends of in the lowest of low jobs - feeding the swine. Seeing nothing to lose he decides to go and ask if he can be a servant in his father’s house but as he approaches the road to his father’s house a man, who recognized his saunter from the distance, comes running towards him.
As the man got closer, the son realized it was his father. The father did not have rage or disbelief as he looked at his son standing there in soiled and tattered rags for clothes but one of tears and a smile. The father embraced and kissed his son as if he had been waiting for this day for a long time. Ashamed the son said to his father, “Father I have sinned against both you and heaven, and I am no longer worthy of being called your son.”
The father wiped his son’s tears of repentance from his face. It wasn’t long after when some servants approached. The father said to his servants, “Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. And kill the calf we have been fattening in the pen. We must celebrate with a feast, for this son of mine was dead and has now returned to life. He was lost, but now he is found…”
The Father of Heaven has given us the best robe that His house can offer - the robe of HIS righteousness - a sign of a loving covenant with you as his child. He has only offered it to you through Jesus Christ and Him alone. You are accepted by God because of this covering of righteousness. You can live in His liberty because of this covering. Living according to the Holy Spirit not the flesh. He has placed a ring on your finger - also a sign of a loving covenant with you through Christ. This ring is also a sign of authority and “restored” relationship and “honored” position- for you are God’s child and you have authority over sin in your life and evil trying to smother your light. He has given you sandals for your feet- which represent the peace that comes from the Good News of Jesus Christ. Jesus has saved us. We were once lost in sin and this world but now we are found. We have been saved and restored and liberated in Christ.
The devil and sin have no power over us. Evil has no power over us. No wonder why the Devil and his evil forces want to destroy us. Fortunately he can only kill our bodies not our souls and to be absent from the body for a Christian is to be present with the Lord. 2 Corinthians 5:8
THINK ON THIS-
Are you liberated in Christ? Have you accepted his liberty? Are you assured in Him alone? ARE YOU A PRISONER SET FREE? God wants you to be. Have you been living as the rest of world does and used by the world and found yourself empty? Come to Him just as the Lost Son did and find how much God loves you. Come to Him. He doesn’t want you to live this life without Him.
“But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ. More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ.” Philippians 3:7-8
In the liberty of Christ we find all things are possible through Christ who strengthens us.
The dark churning skies of "our" world are blown away by a refreshing wind which reveals calm clarity in the mind and heart as we humble ourselves before God. His quiet compass of our soul keeps us away from the religious Bermuda Triangle. His anchor for our soul keeps us from becoming estranged from his love. We sadly see those who only live to serve this world and its always-unsatisfied appetite of meaningless. We are reminded with His pure light, God gives our life meaning; he satisfies our eternal souls with his eternal constant love. What more does the soul need but God?
Sin & Liberty Don’t Mix
Some even now think God’s liberty gives them the right to sin and live immoral lives but sin only brings you back under bondage. It separates you from God.
“For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love.” Galatians 5:13
God has no favorites. God is not impartial. God is not a hypocrite.
“But if you do what is wrong, you will be paid back for the wrong you have done. For God has no favorites.” Colossians 3:25
Liberty & His Return
The good work happens when we trust in him and his liberty. It won't matter when the day the Lord comes because you will be living and growing in his liberty. You will be ready!
“God is the one who began this good work in you, and I am certain that he won’t stop before it is complete on the day that day that Christ Jesus returns. I pray that your love will keep on growing and that you will fully know and understand how to make the right choices. Then you will still be pure and innocent when Christ Jesus returns. And until that day, Jesus Christ will keep you busy doing good deeds that bring glory and praise to God.” Philippians 1:6, 9-11
Wearing Liberty.
“Then Jonathan made a covenant with David, because he loved him as his own soul. And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was on him and gave it to David, and his armor, and even his sword and his bow and his belt.” 1 Samuel chapter 18
According to one of MANY Jewish customs this was one way to show a covenant. Jonathan is saying to David, “Whatever is mine in yours.”
This covenant also illustrates the covenant we have with Jesus Christ- if we have made him Lord of our life. Not having a robe of righteousness ourselves, Jesus has given us his robe of righteousness, which not only makes us holy and acceptable in the sight of our Heavenly Father, but it allows us live in God’s righteousness by his Holy Spirit.
Romans 13:14 “Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh.”
Galatians 3:27 “for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.”
Ephesians 4:24 “and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.”
Colossians 3:10 “and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. Here there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.”
Liberty is being clothed from head to foot in what God has given us. Think about the armor of God.
“A final word: Be strong with the Lord’s mighty power. Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies and tricks of the Devil. For we are not fighting against people made of flesh and blood but the unseen world, against those mighty powers of darkness who rule this world, and against wicked spirits in the heavenly realms. Use every piece of God’s armor to resist the enemy in the time of evil, so that after the battle you will still be standing firm. Stand your ground, putting on the sturdy belt of truth, and the body armor of God’s righteousness. For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News, so that you will be fully prepared. In every battle you will need faith as your shield to stop the fiery arrows aimed at you by Satan. Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Pray at all times and on every occasion in the power of the Holy Spirit. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all Christians everywhere.” Ephesians 6:10-18
Think about the parable Jesus shares with us about the Story of the Lost Son. (Note Luke 15:11-32
The son has lost his entire inheritance. He has been living the way of the world and being used by the world. He ends of in the lowest of low jobs - feeding the swine. Seeing nothing to lose he decides to go and ask if he can be a servant in his father’s house but as he approaches the road to his father’s house a man, who recognized his saunter from the distance, comes running towards him.
As the man got closer, the son realized it was his father. The father did not have rage or disbelief as he looked at his son standing there in soiled and tattered rags for clothes but one of tears and a smile. The father embraced and kissed his son as if he had been waiting for this day for a long time. Ashamed the son said to his father, “Father I have sinned against both you and heaven, and I am no longer worthy of being called your son.”
The father wiped his son’s tears of repentance from his face. It wasn’t long after when some servants approached. The father said to his servants, “Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. And kill the calf we have been fattening in the pen. We must celebrate with a feast, for this son of mine was dead and has now returned to life. He was lost, but now he is found…”
The Father of Heaven has given us the best robe that His house can offer - the robe of HIS righteousness - a sign of a loving covenant with you as his child. He has only offered it to you through Jesus Christ and Him alone. You are accepted by God because of this covering of righteousness. You can live in His liberty because of this covering. Living according to the Holy Spirit not the flesh. He has placed a ring on your finger - also a sign of a loving covenant with you through Christ. This ring is also a sign of authority and “restored” relationship and “honored” position- for you are God’s child and you have authority over sin in your life and evil trying to smother your light. He has given you sandals for your feet- which represent the peace that comes from the Good News of Jesus Christ. Jesus has saved us. We were once lost in sin and this world but now we are found. We have been saved and restored and liberated in Christ.
The devil and sin have no power over us. Evil has no power over us. No wonder why the Devil and his evil forces want to destroy us. Fortunately he can only kill our bodies not our souls and to be absent from the body for a Christian is to be present with the Lord. 2 Corinthians 5:8
THINK ON THIS-
Are you liberated in Christ? Have you accepted his liberty? Are you assured in Him alone? ARE YOU A PRISONER SET FREE? God wants you to be. Have you been living as the rest of world does and used by the world and found yourself empty? Come to Him just as the Lost Son did and find how much God loves you. Come to Him. He doesn’t want you to live this life without Him.
Jesus may those who read this take to heart your words and apply it to their lives. In Jesus Name Amen.
Friday, September 20, 2013
These Last Days Pt.1
Persecution
What do we know about
persecution?
- Persecution of Christians is no new thing. It has been happening for centuries.
- Persecution was helpful in spreading the gospel to other parts of the world.
- Persecution has helped Christians become closer to God.
- Persecution comes in all kinds of forms. It comes in violence, it comes in jail time, it comes in demanding people yield to ideas and paying for practices they don’t agree with.
- Persecution of Christians in American is currently a very different “animal” compared to the persecutions of Christians in Africa and the Middle East. In those places you can be killed for your faith in Jesus Christ. Here, in the United States, you can get fired from your job for sharing the gospel or put in jail for the night for sharing the life saving message of Jesus Christ out on the streets especially if the crowd doesn't like what they want to hear. The truth is, if it doesn’t seem like the forces of hell are influencing now just wait because there is more in store. Satan and his army only come to kill, steal and destroy and he will use anyone and anything to do it!
Articles:
Jesus
said, “The
nations and kingdoms will proclaim war against each other, and there will be
famines and earthquakes in many parts of the world. But all this will be only the beginning of the horrors to
come. Then you will be arrested,
persecuted and killed. You will be
hated all over the world because of your allegiance to me. And many will turn away
from me and betray and hate each other.
And many false prophets will appear and will lead many people
astray. Sin will be rampant
everywhere, and the love of many will grow cold. But those who endure to the end will be saved. And the Good News about the Kingdom
will be preached throughout the whole world, so that all nations will hear it;
and then, finally, the end will come.” Matthew 24:7-14
“You will be hated all over the
world because of your allegiance to me,” there is definite a line being drawn in the
grains of humanity right now.
Jesus
said, “Anyone who is not
with me, is against me. Anyone who does not work with me is working against me.” Matthew 12:30
“And the Good News about the
Kingdom will be preached throughout the whole world, so that all nations will
hear it; and then, finally, the end will come.” Can you see it in the Lord’s voice? The Lord who knows it all and has seen
it all, will say, “That’s enough time for them to decide if they want to come to me to be
saved or not.”
These Last Days Pt. 2
Last and Final
Invitation
This reminds
me of a story Jesus told in the bible.
Jesus said: “A certain man was
preparing a great banquet and invited many guests. 17 At the
time of the banquet he sent his servant to tell those who had been invited,
‘Come, for everything is now ready.’
18 “But they all alike began
to make excuses. The first said, ‘I have just bought a field, and I must go and
see it. Please excuse me.’
19 “Another said, ‘I have
just bought five yoke of oxen, and I’m on my way to try them out. Please excuse
me.’
20 “Still another said, ‘I
just got married, so I can’t come.’
21 “The servant came back and
reported this to his master. Then the owner of the house became angry and
ordered his servant, ‘Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town
and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame.’
22 “‘Sir,’ the servant said,
‘what you ordered has been done, but there is still room.’
23 “Then the master told his
servant, ‘Go out to the roads and country lanes and compel them to come in, so
that my house will be full. 24 I tell you, not one of those who
were invited will get a taste of my banquet.’” Luke 14:16-24
In Matthew's account of Jesus telling the story. The messengers are ignored and some are seized and treated shamefully and some are killed for giving the invite. Matthew 22
In Matthew's account of Jesus telling the story. The messengers are ignored and some are seized and treated shamefully and some are killed for giving the invite. Matthew 22
The Lord has
given an invitation for His salvation.
He has given his invitation for people to get to know him and join him
in heaven but many people are giving excuses and putting it off like death and
His coming have some kind of guidelines and can be dictated by how we feel and our schedule. People are being careless with their soul by ignoring such invitations. This is not the time to be too busy. This is not the time to hope in some
false hope that will only take you straight to hell. Jesus is inviting all of humanity. He is reaching out to us as a whole. Please do not make excuses and be too
busy for him.
DID YOU GET YOUR INVITATION?
DID YOU GET YOUR INVITATION?
If people don’t
come and come soon, they won’t taste the salvation that only comes in Jesus Christ. Instead, by their choice, they will
sadly be tortured in hell and the thrown into the lake of fire. (Sometimes there is no nice way to say the truth.)
If you have not seen the 23 Minutes in Hell video- you may want to watch it to give you a better understanding of what hell is like. You can view it on YouTube and on this blog.
If you have not seen the 23 Minutes in Hell video- you may want to watch it to give you a better understanding of what hell is like. You can view it on YouTube and on this blog.
Jesus speaking of his return said, “When the Son of Man returns, the world will be like the
people were in Noah’s day. In
those days before the flood, the people enjoyed banquets and parties and
weddings right up to the time Noah entered his boat and the flood came to
destroy them all. ” Luke 17:26-27
Noah had been
building that boat for some 100 years!
Noah’s family probably told many people that God was going to flood the
earth. People, seeing the
boat out in the middle of nowhere, probably just scoffed and disregarded
him. Just as people today will
scoff and disregard the saving message of Jesus Christ and His return.
2 Peter
2:3-7 says “Most
importantly, I want to remind you that in the last days scoffers will come,
mocking the truth and following their own desires. 4 They
will say, “What happened to the promise that Jesus is coming again? From before
the times of our ancestors, everything has remained the same since the world
was first created. They deliberately
forget that God made the heavens by the word of his command, and he brought the
earth out from the water and surrounded it with water. Then
he used the water to destroy the ancient world with a mighty flood. And by the same word, the present heavens
and earth have been stored up for fire. They are being kept for the day of
judgment, when ungodly people will be destroyed.”
These Last Days Pt. 3
Redundancy of the Good News. Cont. Pt 2.
Does that scare
you? It scares me and I am
saved. It scares me for those
people who have chosen not to believe in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.
That is why God is
giving one last call. He is
having his pastors, teachers, evangelist, and servants, give the message of the
Good News.
Are you ready? Are you prepared? Did you know what it means to be saved? Do you just know what the bible says just as Judas knew Christ but in the end was not saved because he was the son of the devil by his actions.
Then Jesus said, "I chose the twelve of you, but one is a devil."
Jesus chooses all of us but it is our choice to make in Lord of our life or not.
Why do you think God's messengers are giving the salvation message again and again? Why do you think they are speaking with a sense of urgency? Why do you think they are speaking as plainly as they can? Souls are at stake! You either will have Jesus in heaven or hell without him and there is no place out of hell once you are in hell and you can’t get to heaven without Jesus. (Note: Luke 6:19-31)
The Lord is Not Slow in Coming.
“The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise,
as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone
to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a
thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed
by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare.”2 Peter 3:9-10
Repentance
comes when we accept the Good News.
For how could a person be repentant if they don’t accept the Good News?
These Last Days Pt. 4
Sin & The Good
News Cont. Pt3
All of us will suffer from the affects of sin. We will suffer the affects of our own sin and we will suffer the affects of other people’s sin in this life. No one knows the affects of sin affecting their life better then our Lord Jesus Christ who paid the price for our sins on the cross. Jesus was without sin yet he suffered the consequences of all our sin.
”For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.” 2 Corinthians 5:21
Some may have heard of the old Jewish system of sacrificing animals for sins, this was only a mere shadow… a foretelling of the REAL sacrifice- who was Jesus Christ.
“We are made right in God’s sight when we trust in Jesus Christ to take away our sins. And we all can be saved in this same way, no matter who we are or what we have done. For all have sinned; all fall short of God’s glorious standard. Yet now God in his gracious kindness declares us not guilty.
He has done this through Christ Jesus, who has 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. God was being entirely fair and just in this present time when he declares sinners to be right in his sight because they believe in Jesus. Can we boost, then, that we have done anything to be accepted by God? No, because our acquittal is not based on our good deeds. It is based on our faith. So we are made right with God through faith and not by obeying the law.” Romans 3:22- 28
You and I cannot be forgiven of our sins and go to heaven unless we sincerely tell God we are sorry for our sins and accept Jesus as Lord and Savior of our life.
“If we claim we have no sin, we are only
fooling ourselves and not living in the truth. But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just
to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness. If we claim we have not sinned, we are
calling God a liar and showing that his word has no place in our hearts.” 1 John 1:8-10
All of us will suffer from the affects of sin. We will suffer the affects of our own sin and we will suffer the affects of other people’s sin in this life. No one knows the affects of sin affecting their life better then our Lord Jesus Christ who paid the price for our sins on the cross. Jesus was without sin yet he suffered the consequences of all our sin.
”For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.” 2 Corinthians 5:21
Some may have heard of the old Jewish system of sacrificing animals for sins, this was only a mere shadow… a foretelling of the REAL sacrifice- who was Jesus Christ.
“The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him,
and said, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” John
1:29
“We are made right in God’s sight when we trust in Jesus Christ to take away our sins. And we all can be saved in this same way, no matter who we are or what we have done. For all have sinned; all fall short of God’s glorious standard. Yet now God in his gracious kindness declares us not guilty.
He has done this through Christ Jesus, who has 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. God was being entirely fair and just in this present time when he declares sinners to be right in his sight because they believe in Jesus. Can we boost, then, that we have done anything to be accepted by God? No, because our acquittal is not based on our good deeds. It is based on our faith. So we are made right with God through faith and not by obeying the law.” Romans 3:22- 28
You and I cannot be forgiven of our sins and go to heaven unless we sincerely tell God we are sorry for our sins and accept Jesus as Lord and Savior of our life.
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