Monday, October 31, 2005

Today Our Daily Bread 1 John 5

This passage is taken from Rock Church's monthly schedule for Daily Bread reading- The comments are from Lena's Journalin'. Lena's personal comments on the scripture passages of the day...


1 John 5:1-21
Obedience by Faith
1 Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves Him who begot also loves him who is begotten of Him. 2By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep His commandments. 3For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome. 4For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world--our F15 faith. 5Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?
The Certainty of God's Witness
6 This is He who came by water and blood--Jesus Christ; not only by water, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who bears witness, because the Spirit is truth. 7For there are three that bear witness in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one. 8And there are three that bear witness on earth: F16 the Spirit, the water, and the blood; and these three agree as one. 9If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater; for this is the witness of God which F17 He has testified of His Son. 10He who believes in the Son of God has the witness in himself; he who does not believe God has made Him a liar, because he has not believed the testimony that God has given of His Son. 11And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. 12He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. 13These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, F18 and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.
Confidence and Compassion in Prayer
14 Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. 15And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him. 16If anyone sees his brother sinning a sin which does not lead to death, he will ask, and He will give him life for those who commit sin not leading to death. There is sin leading to death. I do not say that he should pray about that. 17All unrighteousness is sin, and there is sin not leading to death.
Knowing the True--Rejecting the False
18 We know that whoever is born of God does not sin; but he who has been born of God keeps himself, F19 and the wicked one does not touch him. 19We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one. 20And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us an understanding, that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life. 21Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.
Footnotes F15: 5:4 M-Text reads your. F16: 5:8 NU-Text and M-Text omit the words from in heaven (verse 7) through on earth (verse 8). Only four or five very late manuscripts contain these words in Greek.F17: 5:9 NU-Text reads God, that. F18: 5:13 NU-Text omits the rest of this verse. F19: 5:18 NU-Text reads him.

~Lena’s Journalin’~
Ever just love someone’s child because you love them, or you love their friends and are open to their friends, because you are open to them?
This is how God thinks- We are fam-i-ly…..Family is family, not by choice, but by what is, and since love is a decision we can decide to love our families or not. Since the love of God is not based on merit, but on choice, then we can choose to love the people for who they are, not what they do or do not do.
So, we are in the family of God, God is our Father, we say we love Him, because we realize the magnitude of His great love that drew us to Him. We were drawn to Him and into His great family, because we love Him, we choose to come to Him and into His family (kind of like choosing to marry). What we get afterwards, we did not necessarily count on, but it is always a package deal, as God is unselfish. He loved us as we were, when we came to Him (and that may not have been a very pretty picture at all), yet He choose us before we were ever born, before our personality was formed and molded by our world, He chose to love us. He chose to take us into His family, to keep us in His heart, to call us His own. If we can grasp this people drawing love, we will do the same for others in word, thought and deed, because we decide to. This shows we really are acting like God would and can be associated with Him as He is.
Do you love God? Love His kids. What if they don’t deserve it? What if they are bad or are not acting as we expect them to act or they are hypocrites or don’t live the Bible? Whoa!!!! Whoa now, Do we? Really the only way I can say I am perfected is by following Him, the only way I/we can even be Christians is by Christ who strengthens us.
So, How did we come to God? His love drew us to Him. He didn’t ask me to be perfect first. His love drew me into His perfection, which is well able to change me into His image. This is a great amount of mercy that has been extended towards us, we also should learn how to extend it to others at all levels. Just because I’m 20 in the Lord and you’re 6, does not mean I have something on you and I’m allowed to be pioused and judgmental about where I am and where you should be. Love covers a multitude of sin. Are we seeking the Lord? Are we growing in Him? Then let’s love one another where we are and encourage one another to go on towards more perfection. Who is our enemy anyway? People? No, our enemy is who God’s enemy is, we have entered covenant with Him, what is His is ours, as well as what is ours is His. We love those He loves and we engage ourselves in war against “those” He despises. Satan, the spirit and father of evil and darkness is God’s enemy, not people.
God loves people, satan hates them-Do you see his characteristics that try to weasel their way up into our faith walk? Identify the enemy for who he is, uncover his works in your own life and combat them with spiritual weapons of spiritual warfare. The greatest weapon God gives us is His grand love. His weapons are not the same as his enemy’s weapons. The enemy’s weapons are based in the sense realm, only because he knows where we live and the things that affect us naturally. We have to step up and get the view of the war that God has and fight as He fights.
So, your brother in the faith of Christ Jesus does you wrong, talks bad about you, when you did not deserve it at all. Satan wants you to fight your own kingdom brother, he wants you to use one of his weapons for this fight- hatred, self-defense, unforgivness, etc….Do any of those tools ever work? Yes, they do, they work for satan to plot us against the war we are supposed to be involved in, which is God’s, they work to destroy our faith in God and His Word, they work to bring us outside of the war we enlisted in and bring us back over to his “side”. They work very well, there is a definite strategy with his tools of warfare. If he can kill, steal or destroy within, he’s won more than half the battle. On the other-hand, on the kingdom of God side, If my brother offends me (which happens regularly) and I forgive him , or I bless him purposely, or I forgive Him, I have joined God against His enemy-satan and we take ground back from His enemy!
Bearing witness? We are bearing witness everyday of our lives, especially if we have said we are His. Do we allow the work of the Father God and his great drawing love to capture us? Do we allow the saving work of his Son Jesus to change us? Do we allow the great inward ongoing work of the power of the Holy Spirit to keep us, teach us, and lead us? We cannot live out a faith in God and pick and choose, we have to live and receive the “whole package”.
Why would it end here by saying- keep yourselves from idols? Because idols are just other images that we follow after, put before our eyes as models. If we do not take in and belong to all of God- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, there are other’s we are serving, others that are taking up that space in our lives set apart by God for Himself and the working of his Spirit.
I beg you, in your journey of eternal life with God- Love!
Love God- Love People
Love Be! Amen.
Change your known world, when you do you wil change atmosphere’s, situations, hearts ( it always starts with our own), even the spirit realm will be effected as they see a people with revelation willing to see what is going on and full well knowing what’s up, they engage themselves accordingly –on and with purpose.


Romans 16:19-20
19 For your obedience has become known to all. Therefore I am glad on your behalf; but I want you to be wise in what is good, and simple concerning evil. 20 And the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.

Acts 17:6
6 But when they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some brethren to the rulers of the city, crying out, "These who have turned the world upside down have come here too.

Sunday, October 30, 2005

Today Our Daily Bread 1 John 4

1 John 4:1-21
Love for God and One Another
1 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world. 2By this you know the Spirit of God:
Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, 3and every spirit that does not confess that F12 Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world. 4You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. 5They are of the world.
Therefore they speak as of the world, and the world hears them.
6We are of God. He who knows God hears us; he who is not of God does not hear us.
By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error.
Knowing God Through LoveR7
7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. 8He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. 9In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. 10In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 11Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.
Seeing God Through Love
12 No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love has been perfected in us. 13By this we know that we abide in Him, and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit. 14And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son as Savior of the world. 15Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. 16And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him.
The Consummation of Love
17 Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world. 18There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. 19We love Him F13 because He first loved us.
Obedience by Faith
20 If someone says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can F14 he love God whom he has not seen? 21And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also.

Footnotes - F12: 4:3 NU-Text omits that and Christ has come in the flesh. F13: 4:19 NU-Text omits Him. F14: 4:20 NU-Text reads he cannot.
Show cross-references
- R7: cf. John 3:16

~ Lena’s Journlin’~
It is really important that we understand what is being said when we read God’s word… This is why we use study tools, to open the word up to us in ways we’d not have seen it if it were closed up to our understanding. The world has led us to think of our words in certain terms and everyday words that once had one meaning now have others as new discoveries are made and times change. This is why Strong’s concordance is useful, because it breaks the words down for us English speaking folks and takes us back to what was said when it was said, oh, about 2,000 years ago. Since I’ve learned what “confess” means, and that it does not mean what immediately comes to mind in present day USA talk, which is “to recite over and over”.

I am compelled to write so you will also know.
Here’s a definition from Strong’s Greek Lexicon:

to say the same thing as another, i.e. to agree with, assent, to concede, not to refuse, to promise, not to deny, to confess, declare, to confess, i.e. to admit or declare one's self guilty of what one is accused of, to profess, to declare openly, speak out freely, to profess one's self the worshipper of one, to praise, celebrate.
If you read this passage and thought that confess meant “recite 100 + times”, you now see it does not mean what you thought. Do you see it really means that you give your life over to it? Confessing is more like living and demonstrating outwardly.
Remember, we are spirits, who have souls and live on earth in bodies. Are we confessing the Lord Jesus Christ? Also Heb. 1 says there are ministering spirits who are ministering to those who are heirs of salvation. Who do you think they minister to and how do you think they know to “minister” to certain ones and not others? They know full well, who’s are either His or destined by prayer and the intent of those who are His, by the confession of their mouths and of their lives. It’s IN or OUT, there’s no in between, unless you are “on the way”, by God’s drawing grace on your life and the mercy of those He’s led to pray for you. By those who refuse to let you go and be swayed by evil and the evil one. Know that those who, through the confession of their lives, and the preaching of their faithfulness to God, are set around you to draw you into God’s kingdom and its work.
Anti-Christ spirit? That is any force, whether in bodied or not, that is against God and His earthly work- period!
The love that is being written of here is agape(o). It is the love that comes from God. It is without conditions. It loves because it is love. It extends even if no return is expected. Of course there is delight in return, but it loves even if there is none. The word “knoweth”, means to understand. Anyone who loves like this by a decision of his free-will, understands God. Through the exercise and freewill choice of the exercise of this type of love, the person has become intimately acquainted with God. How could he not, God is love. When one chooses to act as God in this manner, he has become one with God’s spirit, who IS love.
Please listen. This is a decision- period. Period! PERIOD!!!.

It is not based on how the persons act, or how deserving they are or any merit they might be able to display. It does not mean they are at all lovely in outward appearance or ever will be. It means the Lover, the giver of love, decides to love- period! That is exactly how God loves us, exactly how he drew us, exactly how He set us up to come to Him. His love drew us to Him, because we could not deserve it.
Did Jesus decide to love us? Yes He did. We also, in response to His great sacrificial love demonstrated on earth in His flesh, should now have the great desire stirred up inside of us to do the same in demonstration for others. We know that does not mean get nailed to a cross, it means love the co-worker who is a pain in the neck daily. It means say yes to help someone, when it costs you something you could have bought for yourself, or take time out to listen to someone who needs your ear when you’re the one who really needed the ear to listen to you. Those are the sacrifices we are speaking of and more.
When the world sees this in daily demonstration they will “know” Him, through us. What a sign and a wonder in our world when someone will choose to love you, no matter your merit. When that “Christian” becomes the church in daily demonstration, rather than just goes to church on Sundays. What a sign when they don’t just tell our world how they should act, but they decide to be living examples of the lord Jesus Christ everyday, even at work! Even when it’s excruciating to not “let go” on someone else, but rather take that frustration to the Lord allowing Him to perfect us in love and give us direction on how to handle those who belong to Him. ( for, the earth is the Lord’s and the people and all who live in it- Ps 24:1) This IS the ultimate sacrifice that we would, daily wherever we are set, demonstrate Him, by laying down our own wills and comforts and expressions based even on our past experiences and hurts, and lay down all that life’s experience compels us to do, for the sake of the salvation, that someone may actually see Christ and be saved. (There’s no greater love than this that can be demonstrated- than a man lay down His (self) life for another, who could be a potential friend of God!) [Jn 15:12 This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends. 14 You are My friends if you do whatever I command you…]
Love that is being perfected takes our fears away, takes our walls of protection that really have been erected to keep God out by keeping His people out.
All you “perfectionists”? Love perfects us. Deciding to love others perfects us. In loving others we are perfected in our love for God. Like being perfect? Choose to love! Be love as God is love, that’s perfection! Pointing out an imperfection is NOT love in demonstration, unless the identification is inside of one’s self to bring ones’ self towards change, so that love may grow greater still. That pinpointing was meant by God, to take out of our own lives what could harm us or keep us from God and the sense of His great love. Seeing imperfection was meant to steer us towards prayer and towards being the answer a person needs to be led towards truth. As I see my own hindrances and point them out and am willing to have God help me to change them, I’m empowered by God’s Spirit to be the example of a changed life to others. If I constantly point out the imperfections of others and I myself do not change the things God is dealing with me on (such as pointing out others’ faults!), I am very religious and hypocritical and my life does not invite others to change. This is what can be laid down for the benefit of another. No greater love….
This is what rocks the world! Your world, the world as a whole and even the atmospheric world around earth. Turn it back right side up – towards God! LOVE- BE LOVE!


Romans 16:19-20
19 For your obedience has become known to all. Therefore I am glad on your behalf; but I want you to be wise in what is good, and simple concerning evil. 20 And the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.

Acts 17:6

6 But when they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some brethren to the rulers of the city, crying out, "These who have turned the world upside down have come here too.

Saturday, October 29, 2005

Today Our Daily Bread 1 John 2

The scripture passages were taken from Rock Church's suggested daily reading schedule for the month of October. Comments are from, ~ Lena's Journalin' ~ which are Lena's own personal notations on each day’s passages.

1 John 2:1-29
The Test of Knowing Christ
1 My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. 2And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.
The Test of Knowing Him
3 Now by this we know that we know Him,
if we keep His commandments.
4He who says, "I know Him," and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
5But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him.
By this we know that we are in Him.
6He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked. 7Brethren, F1 I write no new commandment to you, but an old commandment which you have had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which you heard from the beginning. F2 8Again, a new commandment I write to you, which thing is true in Him and in you, because the darkness is passing away, and the true light is already shining. 9He who says he is in the light, and hates his brother, is in darkness until now.
10He who loves his brother abides in the light, and there is no cause for stumbling in him.
11But he who hates his brother is in darkness and walks in darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.
Their Spiritual State
12 I write to you, little children, Because your sins are forgiven you for His name's sake. 13I write to you, fathers, Because you have known Him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, Because you have overcome the wicked one. I write to you, little children, Because you have known the Father. 14I have written to you, fathers, Because you have known Him who is from the beginning. I have written to you, young men, Because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, And you have overcome the wicked one.
Do Not Love the World
15 Do not love the world or the things in the world.
If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
16For all that is in the world--the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life--is not of the Father but is of the world. 1
7And the world is passing away, and the lust of it;
but he who does the will of God abides forever.
Deceptions of the Last Hour
18 Little children, it is the last hour; and as you have heard that the F3 Antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come, by which we know that it is the last hour. 19They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us; but they went out that they might be made manifest, that none of them were of us. 20But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you know all things. F4
21I have not written to you because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and that no lie is of the truth. 22Who is a liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist who denies the Father and the Son. 23Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father either; he who acknowledges the Son has the Father also.
Let Truth Abide in You
24 Therefore let that abide in you which you heard from the beginning.
If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, you also will abide in the Son and in the Father. 25And this is the promise that He has promised us--eternal life. 26These things I have written to you concerning those who try to deceive you.
27But the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you, and you do not need that anyone teach you; but as the same anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you will F5 abide in Him. The Children of God28 And now, little children, abide in Him, that when F6 He appears, we may have confidence and not be ashamed before Him at His coming. 29If you know that He is righteous, you know that everyone who practices righteousness is born of Him.
Footnotes
F1: 2:7 NU-Text reads Beloved.
F2: NU-Text omits from the beginning.
F3: 2:18 NU-Text omits the.
F4: 2:20 NU-Text reads you all know.
F5: 2:27 NU-Text reads you abide.
F6: 2:28 NU-Text reads if.

~Lena’s Journalin’~
What an awesome and full passage of scriptures! If any felt the lack of clarity or direction, here you have it.
"Abide" is mentioned over and over again. It is speaking of our continual faith that is lived out in a daily walk with Christ that only began when you received revelation and accepted Christ, but that faith cannot and must not stop there. To "abide" is to live, to stay. Without abiding in Christ, there is no activated spiritual life with truth. You cannot "accept Christ once" and not walk as He walked and commands us to follow Him in. Those who are identified as His, also belong to Him. They don’t know of, have heard of, and are acquainted with- Him. No they are daily a part of His life and He is a vital part of their lives. His word is their direction for everyday life, they depend on it, they count on it, and have decided to do it, knowing it is vital to their eternal life and that of others they can influence with it. They do it on purpose, knowing that when they do it changes them, and as they change, they can also by firsthand experience change their world that God has placed them in.
There’s a scripture in Acts (17:26And He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their preappointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings, 27 so that they should seek the Lord, in the hope that they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us; 28 for in Him we live and move and have our being,..) - we’ve read it lately. It says, God has set the boundaries of the earth….He places men on earth in specific, strategic places at specific times for specific reasons. (side note- God does not do anything unplanned! He is THE DIVINE STRATEGIST.) You live where you live and work with the people you work with, and go to church in your specific church, for strategic reasons.
It is much better when a person stays put in a job, a neighborhood, one church, one family, etc for their appointed by God time, because they will grow there, become strong (because they are not always uprooted and transplanted- weakening the growth structure), flourish, join strength with others, (which empowers the church or neighborhood, etc), and it gives the element of time and proving so that others may see the developed Christ in me.
If I move from house to house, job to job, church to church- I’m hiding, I’m not being real before anyone, I’m not proving God. I’m uncommitted to Him and to people.
God sets the members in the body and in the earth as it pleases Him. That does not mean it will always please us. But the point here is being set. This is a stable position, that both God and people can depend on. The world has got to be able to depend on someone or something. The Christ they’ll learn to depend on is seen or not seen in you.
Do you ever wonder why in the NT it is always speaking of the end times being near, the last days are here etc? Doesn’t it seem kind of funny when Jesus had just come and mankind had only barely begun to receive the promise and free gift of salvation that the texts speak of it being "the end"? Also, how Jesus had just come to earth, done His perfect work, left for heaven to intercede for the work He left in our hands, and now everyone says, "He’s coming soon"?
I believe in the 2nd physical coming of Christ and I also believe these are the last days.
I’d like to share a few considerations of the spiritual nature of these words that would apply to us whether He returns physically in our lifetime on earth or not.
He’s coming soon- Everytime a heart hears of Jesus and of His great love for mankind, and of His work on the cross for sin, and every-time that one person receives the gift of eternal life, through the freewill of their being believing and receiving Him, and that person decides to give their life over to Christ’s Lordship and continual influence through the groweth of their faith in the word- Christ has appeared, has COME to them! He’s coming soon! Amen!
These are the last days-How many days do you have on earth? All would say, only God knows, right? That is truth, because He knows everything, even the choices we will make with our free-wills that effect the length of our lives here on earth, to either cut our lives short or even extend our lives.
In the light of eternity; Eternity is where God was, then in it He also created man, man was and is inside of the eternal realm, but is alive on earth (now about 6,000 years ago), and where man will go to be with God or be away from God- forever.
How long is one person’s life? No matter the length of days, how long is that life, in the light of eternity? Not very long at all, right? (and for us to think of this is very hard, because we have been taught to think a long life is 80+ years). I believe the Bible says our life on earth is but a vapor, it will seem just like smoke when we pass on to the next life and see it as it was/is. So God gave us earthly life in this time period we are in right now, fully Alive in 2005. We live in Florida or California or wherever. We are here for a time, and the time is oh so short- about like a vapor, because that is how God sees it. We, as Jesus was, were sent here by God, for a purpose in a specific period of time. The time it takes for us to get that, prepare for it, and then live it out, is very short. Once we get it and do it, the days seem so much shorter than before, we sense an urgency to use everyday for God’s plan, for His purpose. We wonder if the people He’s set us around will be able to get it in the timeframe we have left to be around them, we now almost regret not having known before this time, but forgetting regret, we have got to use all we have left for God’s glory!-These ARE the last days. (this is what our hearts constantly cry out to us, with urgency we operate daily, making "the most" of each day for the Kingdom of God, as much as we can do for the time we have left here, we do). There’s a realization that what we once worked so hard for, acceptance of people, money to buy things that make us feel successful and comfortable, prestige, position….these things are no longer of so much importance to us, because our days are numbered and however many we have are not enough to make His work known and to be who he created us to be right now today where we are set by God. Now we can see a little bit of what He wants done while we are here, and we so desire to be a part, to do our part- of changing the world or the small piece of it, that He’s set us in, Amen.
Jesus is coming Soon & These ARE the last days!

Romans 16:19-20 19 For your obedience has become known to all. Therefore I am glad on your behalf; but I want you to be wise in what is good, and simple concerning evil. 20 And the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.
Acts 17:6 But when they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some brethren to the rulers of the city, crying out, "These who have turned the world upside down have come here too.

Friday, October 28, 2005

Today Our Daily Bread Hebrews 10 (oops did today's yesterday, so a doing yesterday's today)

The scripture passages were taken from Rock Church's suggested daily reading schedule for the month of October. Comments are from, ~ Lena's Journalin' ~ which are Lena's own personal notations on each day’s passages.
(Oops- I misread what should have been for today-yesterday, so I’ll read yesterday’s today….)

Hebrews 10:1-39
Animal Sacrifices Insufficient
Justified by Faith in Christ's Sacrifice
1 For the law, having a shadow of the good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with these same sacrifices, which they offer continually year by year, make those who approach perfect. 2For then would they not have ceased to be offered? For the worshipers, once purified, would have had no more consciousness of sins. 3But in those sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year. 4For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sins.
Christ's Death Fulfills God's WillR8
5 Therefore, when He came into the world, He said: "Sacrifice and offering You did not desire, But a body You have prepared for Me. 6In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin You had no pleasure. 7Then I said, "Behold, I have come-- In the volume of the book it is written of Me-- To do Your will, O God."' F31 8Previously saying, "Sacrifice and offering, burnt offerings, and offerings for sin You did not desire, nor had pleasure in them" (which are offered according to the law), 9then He said, "Behold, I have come to do Your will, O God." F32 He takes away the first that He may establish the second. 10By that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
Christ's Death Perfects the Sanctified
11 And every priest stands ministering daily and offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. 12But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God, 13from that time waiting till His enemies are made His footstool. 14For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified. 15But the Holy Spirit also witnesses to us; for after He had said before, 16"This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the LORD: I will put My laws into their hearts, and in their minds I will write them," F33 17then He adds, "Their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more." F34 18Now where there is remission of these, there is no longer an offering for sin.
Hold Fast Your Confession
19 Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, 20by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh, 21and having a High Priest over the house of God, 22let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. 23Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. 24And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, 25not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.
The Just Live by Faith
26 For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 27but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries. 28Anyone who has rejected Moses' law dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. 29Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace? 30For we know Him who said, "Vengeance is Mine, I will repay," F35 says the Lord. F36 And again, "The LORD will judge His people." F37 31It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. 32But recall the former days in which, after you were illuminated, you endured a great struggle with sufferings: 33partly while you were made a spectacle both by reproaches and tribulations, and partly while you became companions of those who were so treated; 34for you had compassion on me F38 in my chains, and joyfully accepted the plundering of your goods, knowing that you have a better and an enduring possession for yourselves in heaven. F39 35Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward. 36For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise: 37"For yet a little while, And He F40 who is coming will come and will not tarry. 38Now the F41 just shall live by faith; But if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him." F42 39But we are not of those who draw back to perdition, but of those who believe to the saving of the soul.
Footnotes
F31: 10:7 Psalm 40:6-8
F32: 10:9 NU-Text and M-Text omit O God.
F33: 10:16 Jeremiah 31:33
F34: 10:17 Jeremiah 31:34
F35: 10:30 Deuteronomy 32:35
F36: NU-Text omits says the Lord.
F37: Deuteronomy 32:36
F38: 10:34 NU-Text reads the prisoners instead of me in my chains.
F39: NU-Text omits in heaven.
F40: 10:37 Or that which
F41: 10:38 NU-Text reads My just one.
F42: 10:38 NU-Text reads My just one.
Show cross-references
R8: cf. Ps. 40:6-8
~Lena’s Journalin’~
Why would God set up such "impossibility"?
So that man could see his great need for salvation and for God’s Divine intervention on the matter of sin and unrighteousness. So man could sense the severity of eternity without God’s loving and saving presence.
When one shed’s blood, all of a sudden things get a bit more final, more outside of this world minded. The view changes from "right here right now", to, "what happens later?" Questions begin to arise, a seriousness is felt, and God is usually sought after like never before. We have to know that being without God while here is one matter, but being without His presence for eternity is a whole ‘nother matter and a very serious one at that. Really eternity began before we began and it is in our hearts everyday. Whether we face it or not may present itself daily, so God helps us to see it. He leads us towards its desire and plan.
These sacrifices made it evident. They showed us how we must continually depend on God to be clean and to stay clean. That if we do not continuously come, living a sacrificial lifestyle, we will remain in sin, or fall back into old patterns of sin (who’s goal is to separate us from God both here and now, and later on, after our earthly death). Doesn’t it make you cringe to think of the slaying of even animals in that form? That must have been some sight, and the smell was probably unforgettable, which is precisely the point! Why would we want to forget our need for God, His love for us, and that He’s drawing us even by the law which proves to us our lack from being without Him? The only reason to forget would be, satan’s ploy against us and God, to make us forget, so we can’t or won’t participate!
Think of Jesus on the cross now. Then go before that, where He sat with His disciples and took the bread and ate it, took the cup of blood and drank it. He was saying-" I’m so willing to do this thing for you, YOU ARE THIS important to My Father!, It will be gruesome, it will smell like hell come to earth, it will be hard to look upon and be present for and hear the cries of, but I want you to remember it forever- at least until you die, so you will know that what you see here is nowhere near what hell smells, tastes, looks, sounds and feels like, and does not at all compare to an eternity without God's love. PLEASE don’t allow satan to make you forget- Remember ME!" "Take the bread, drink the cup and remember ME. It’s nothing, really, it’s nothing." ( Now we know it is/was everything, but in light of the eternal doom we could now choose, He’d do it again if it were required, BUT praise God ALL that is required is a free-will response to the action of love taken by Jesus- he laid down His life for us, and we also ought to lay ours down for others!)
OK, what does that mean lay down your life for others? Does it mean go back to the same place He was, be beaten, spit upon, hated, mocked, torn apart, whipped, marred (in reputation) and killed by torture and torment of enemies and friends alike? Well, not physcally speaking so much, but do you see any similarities here to everyday life and the walk of faith and of giving the message of God’s love to a hurt, dying, oppressed world, who is hostile to God by nature of their father whom they presently serve? Would you subject yourself to risk your reputation to say you belong to Him? He did. Would you become a bit uncomfortable and allow people who hate God to tell you about it for a bit, venting the lies they’ve been told, so you could love them to God? What about being a part of a church fellowship and it’s kingdom work on earth which the world relates to hypocricy and double standards and mocks it? Would you spend your time on something like that, when you could be having fun or just resting on Sunday’s, Wednesdays, Bible Study group days, prayer meeting days, church picnic and helping out in the community or other called by the church assembly days? THOSE kinds of things are the laying down of a regular daily life for the people God loves. S 5 sacrifice and offering You did not desire….that means he doesn’t want us to gie all of this, our time , our reputation, our lies- because we HAVE TO, we’re made to. He wants us to gie it and make sacrifices, because we are alive unto Hi and we are expressing our heartfelt thankfulness to Him and His by revelation of what was done for us and for others like us. He wants us to love Him so much that we cannot help but become a participator in His body and we are compelled by His passion to live out our faith as a part of His living body of believers who assemble unto Him on earth. These are heart responses from a hearing ear.
What on earth is worth anything? Possessions and the time spend to gather and keep them? NO, NO, NO, it is people that mean everything to God and should become everything to us as we respond to His great love. Anything else is a waste of this precious time we have here. Why do you think we struggle everyday to want more, get more, be more? So we’ll get unfocussed, distracted and FORGET. REMEMBER what and who is important. Give this love to yourself from God, and to your own family in demonstration, and even if you are perfecting that, don’t stop there! Go and take your beautiful family into the house of God regularly and show them what is truly important and how to join in the work of God, then go into the earth and serve people with the gospel message. Bring your life to a hurt and dying world who has been so deceived and lied to they don’t even remember their need for God’s love and grace and salvation! I beg you believers in the house of God, – GO! I beg you, who do not yet know Him- COME to Him, I beg you who do so many others things,- COME into the house of the Lord, regularly, Come into the fields of harvestors lay down what seemed important in life to you and give your lives to God’s work, to what is important to Him.
One little thing and I’ll stop. Our daughter is in a Youth Pastoring Internship program in another state. She called and told me of a prayer and a prophecy she’d had spoken over her life. She said she took it to the Lord (as we all should prophecy spoken over us. She started to think, "Lord, every word ever spoken over me is about Dreaming Bigger. So I start to think bigger, I think about going to nations, like China, I even leave home and my job of 4 years and my friends, and I go to another state to learn to minister further, I always think about Your kingdom coming and how I fit into that picture, why do they always say, dream bigger, that’s not big enough- Jazz, etc.?" She said, she instantly got the answer, "Have you asked about My big dreams and what I’d like to do and how I’d like to do it?" "Have you asked me who and what is on My heart today? Just for today?". She realized the Big dreams were God’s dreams come true, not just the ones about her and how she fits and where she’s to go etc. The bigger dream is to know His, and of course to make His dreams come true how He desires. Those may not seem a whole lot different from one another, but sometimes, we are so busy, saying, Lord, tell me where to go and what to do and show me this or that about my own life and plans, God Bless all of my plans, and off we go to do stuff that we think at least has God involved, and so should bless Him, but we didn’t specifically ask Him, what He’d like done or accomplished.
Dream Big?YES, Dream God!

Romans 16:19-20 19 For your obedience has become known to all. Therefore I am glad on your behalf; but I want you to be wise in what is good, and simple concerning evil. 20 And the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.
Acts 17:6 But when they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some brethren to the rulers of the city, crying out, "These who have turned the world upside down have come here too.

Thursday, October 27, 2005

Today Our Daily Bread Hebrews 11

The scripture passages were taken from Rock Church's suggested daily reading schedule for the month of October. Comments are from, ~ Lena's Journalin' ~ which are Lena's own personal notations on each day’s passages.
Hebrews 11:1-40
By Faith We Understand
The Honor Roll of the Faithful
1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. 2For by it the elders obtained a good testimony. 3By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.
Faith at the Dawn of HistoryR9
4 By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts; and through it he being dead still speaks. 5By faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death, "and was not found, because God had taken him"; F43 for before he was taken he had this testimony, that he pleased God. 6But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. 7By faith Noah, being divinely warned of things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his household, by which he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith. Faithful AbrahamR10 8 By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. 9By faith he dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise; 10for he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God. 11By faith Sarah herself also received strength to conceive seed, and she bore a child F44 when she was past the age, because she judged Him faithful who had promised. 12Therefore from one man, and him as good as dead, were born as many as the stars of the sky in multitude--innumerable as the sand which is by the seashore.
The Heavenly Hope
13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, F45 embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. 14For those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a homeland. 15And truly if they had called to mind that country from which they had come out, they would have had opportunity to return. 16But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them.
The Faith of the PatriarchsR11
17 By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, 18of whom it was said, "In Isaac your seed shall be called," F46 19concluding that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead, from which he also received him in a figurative sense. 20By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come. 21By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and worshiped, leaning on the top of his staff. 22By faith Joseph, when he was dying, made mention of the departure of the children of Israel, and gave instructions concerning his bones.
The Faith of Moses
R12 23 By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden three months by his parents, because they saw he was a beautiful child; and they were not afraid of the king's command. 24By faith Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, 25choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, 26esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in F47 Egypt; for he looked to the reward. 27By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured as seeing Him who is invisible. 28By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of blood, lest he who destroyed the firstborn should touch them. 29By faith they passed through the Red Sea as by dry land, whereas the Egyptians, attempting to do so, were drowned. By Faith They Overcame30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they were encircled for seven days. 31By faith the harlot Rahab did not perish with those who did not believe, when she had received the spies with peace. 32And what more shall I say? For the time would fail me to tell of Gideon and Barak and Samson and Jephthah, also of David and Samuel and the prophets: 33who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, 34quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became valiant in battle, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. 35Women received their dead raised to life again. Others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection. 36Still others had trial of mockings and scourgings, yes, and of chains and imprisonment. 37They were stoned, they were sawn in two, were tempted, F48 were slain with the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented-- 38of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, in dens and caves of the earth. 39And all these, having obtained a good testimony through faith, did not receive the promise, 40God having provided something better for us, that they should not be made perfect apart from us.
Footnotes
F43: 11:5 Genesis 5:24
F44: 11:11 NU-Text omits she bore a child.
F45: 11:13 NU-Text and M-Text omit were assured of them.
F46: 11:18 Genesis 21:12
F47: 11:26 NU-Text and M-Text read of.
F48: 11:37 NU-Text omits were tempted.
Show cross-references
R9: Gen. 4:1-16; 5:18-24; 6:5!md8:22
R10: Gen. 15:1-6; 21:1-7
R11: Gen. 22:1-14; 48:8-16; 50:22-25
R12: Ex. 2:1-10; 12:31-51
~ Lena’s Journalin’~
Inside of faith is housed the creative works of God’s Spirit, because God is an unseen spirit, we must see as He sees in order to have like-mindedness with Him. The only way to see this way is to look into the unseen realm, where He dwells.
You do believe there are things you cannot see, that are all around us right now? Even our own bodies have so many detailed and important unseen components. Man has so desired to see that which is unseen that he spends billions of dollars in research and lifetimes of time and labor seeking to see what is not yet seen. Even 200 years ago, we could not see the insides of the human body as we do now, and even now we only have a glimpse of its inner workings.
Faith takes what is not seen and believes in it. Faith brings it from the unseen to the seen world. Men had desire to see a heart, believed man had one to see, experience told them there was one there, they told others of what they believed they could see, they believed that and their faith led them to bring it out of the unseen realm into the open and see it, and they did.
God saw us, He saw the worlds, He saw it all, spoke it all into existence after He saw it in the unseen realm. He made molds for each thing in His mind’s eye and formed them with His faith words. His love motivated Him to bring what was unseen to what was seen. It is bigger than just dreaming, but one must dream about what could be, in order to consider believing in it enough to call it forth, giving it shape and substance.
Faith is a substance. The NLT says- confident assurance of what we see. It believes so strongly, that it not only hopes, but actually knows inside and is sure enough to trust and rely on God for ______________. It possesses what it once hoped for. It’s declaration stems from ownership of what has been seen. There is a strong confidence involved in faith. Not confidence in self (confiding in truth, in God’s word, which is truth), not confidence in other men, but a strong reliant confidence in God and His trusted Word.
Will you believe God for something and everything in earth and from hell come to see that it does not happen? YES. But true faith will not give up on it’s word from God and its confidence in God, non matter what.
I always use our names as examples. Can anyone tell you you have another name than the one that was given you? Yes, they can try to tell you that, but do you believe them? No. Can they talk you into or out of it? No, of course not, it is yours, it belongs to you, you own it! When you were in your mother’s womb, in the unseen place, your parents were deciding on your name and some even called you by that name before they ever saw you.(some of that was happening before ultrasound machines showed us the shadows of a baby). Then they put that name on your birth certificate, mailed it in and had it stamped and sealed as being so. In order to change it, you either have to take on another’s name in marriage or change it in court legally and pay a price to do so, having new documents stamped and sealed. Your parents called you that name everyday of your life and now others call you that name. Everyday you sign or write that name. It is Yours and you know it. Is there anything you cannot naturally see, that you believe in as strongly as you do your name? Believing in God that strongly and in Jesus’ sacrifice that strongly, is so pleasing to God. God can trust a person like that with praying for people’s hearts. He can rely on that person to change the earth and the evil effects on it. He can use that person to see beyond the outer crust of people and see deeply into their hearts that are crying out to be seen by God and anyone who will look; to see beyond what appears, like anger, hurt, impossibilities etc., and be willing to be change to that hurting and dying soul.
How can anyone love unconditionally as God does, without seeing by faith? Faith has to work by love and love believes the BEST of every person. What does that mean exactly? It means we at least believe God loves them and wants to save them from the eternal doom and punishment of hell. That my sin separated me from God, and that’s all that keeps them from Him. That receiving Him is not based on how bad, or mean or angry I am at the world, but it is based on a sacrifice that was good enough to cover the multitude of all sin and anything that would try to keep anyone from God’s love. Sin, no matter how gross looking or acting, is keeping me from God’s love for me. Once a person knows God, they cannot help but want to rescue others from that doom and that painful separation. Once a person experiences the true love of God, the desire of their hearts is so greatly stirred that any who they could help know Him as well, would. They cannot stand the fact that any would perish and they want all to have the eternal life they have personally come to know.
Why would somebody give all of their life to this goal and dream? Why would they endure torment? Why would they allow others to beat them down and mock them? Why? Because they’e seen by faith, believe whom they have not seen and are manifesting the one they so long to see in living form everyday.
I have a friend who’s son wants to see God. He was very insistent on, "seeing God". He’s 4. He was so insistent that he cried about it and asked for days. One night at a worship service she was loving on him as he sat in her lap and she said to him, "Hunny see, you are God’s child", he immediately looked up into her face and said, "Mommy, that means you are God!"
Is that true? Is she God?
Gen 1. He made them in His own image, male and female, in the image of God He made them and told them to be fruitful, multiply…., etc. What were they supposed to multiply? Can anybody see God? Jn 1 , In the beginning the Word already existed. He was with God, and he was God.
2He was in the beginning with God. 3He created everything there is. Nothing exists that he didn't make…14So the Word became human and lived here on earth among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. F1 And we have seen his glory, the glory of the only Son of the Father. Rom 8:9 (amp) But you are not living the life of the flesh, you are living the life of the Spirit, if the [Holy] Spirit of God [really] dwells within you [directs and controls you]. But if anyone does not possess the [Holy] Spirit of Christ, he is none of His [he does not belong to Christ, is not truly a child of God].
Can man see God? His image? His alikeness? What does Christian mean anyway? One who is likened to Christ, One who is like Christ is, as in as Christ is. Little Christs? Yes and Amen.

Ever hear comments of earthly families, "He is JUST the spittin;' image of his father" ? Amen - of our Father (God)
Romans 16:19-20 19 For your obedience has become known to all. Therefore I am glad on your behalf; but I want you to be wise in what is good, and simple concerning evil. 20 And the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.
Acts 17:6 But when they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some brethren to the rulers of the city, crying out, "These who have turned the world upside down have come here too.

Tuesday, October 25, 2005

Today Our Daily Bread 2 Tim 1, Rom 16:19-20 & Acts 17:6

The scripture passages were taken from Rock Church's suggested daily reading schedule for the month of October. Comments are from, ~Lena's Journalin'~ which are Lena's own personal notations on each days’ passages.
2 Tim 1:1-18
1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, according to the promise of life which is in Christ Jesus, 2 To Timothy, my dearly beloved son: *Grace, **mercy, and ***peace, from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.
3 I thank God, whom I serve from my forefathers with pure conscience, that without ceasing I have remembrance of thee in my prayers night and day; 4 Greatly desiring to see thee, being mindful of thy tears, that I may be filled with joy; 5 When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that is in thee also.
6 Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands. 7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
8 Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God; 9 Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,
10 But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel: 11 Whereunto I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles. 12 For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, F1 and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day. 13 Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. 14 That good thing which was committed unto thee keep by the Holy Ghost which dwelleth in us.
15 This thou knowest, that all they which are in Asia be turned away from me; of whom are Phygellus and Hermogenes. 16 The Lord give mercy unto the house of Onesiphorus; for he oft refreshed me, and was not ashamed of my chain: 17 But, when he was in Rome, he sought me out very diligently, and found me. 18 The Lord grant unto him that he may find mercy of the Lord in that day: and in how many things he ministered unto me at Ephesus, thou knowest very well.
FOOTNOTES:F1 believed: or, trusted

~Lena’s Journalin’~
Why was Paul appointed a preacher, an apostle, etc.? Was it due to his worthiness? Of course it wasn’t, he was a persecutor of the church of God, who continually spoke against God’s people I the church! (Ever been used there?) Was it because of his position in life? He was a scholar of sorts, knew a lot about God’s word, enough to be extremely religious and at the same time shut the spirit of God right out of his life! He wasn’t born a prophet or apostle, but he was born (again)- one of his new spiritual life! An Apostle is one who is an example to follow, one who shows the way, one who sets it up so others can live in it, kind of like a builder. He gets it up and running, shows others how to do enough that they can pick up there and live in it, while he goes on to show others how to also. I believe as many as he influenced for evil, he more than covered for God! God uses influence. Why would you want some? For God’s eternal kingdom, that’s why. The more the better! Seriously. Saul was a great influencer for evil and he is a great example of someone who was a part of a big mess and was totally against and opposed to the things of God (ever been there?), but was changed by an opportunity given him and accepted by Him. What made him an Apostle and Preacher was the answer to God’s offer for his life. If he had refused God, he would not be who he was.
We use this scripture often- God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of love, power and of a sound m mind...Well, that is what it is saying. Now, look at the context of how and why it is brought up this way here. The context is God’s call on you! God is asking all of us the same question He asked Saul, "Will you come away from evil ruling your life and of influencing people against Me, by not influencing them for Me? Will you be an influencer, for My kingdom, Majesty and Glory? Will you share your life with others, a life given over to the leading of the Spirit of Christ and God? Will you cease from speaking ill of My house and My people (the church) and come and follow Me and grow up enough with a goal in mind to reproduce in others what you’ve learned by the example and testimony of a changed life?
NOW bring that scripture out of the archives! GOD HAS NOT GIVEN YOU A SPIRIT OF FEAR- ONE of POWER and LOVE and of a SOUND MIND! How does that sound in this context? That says to me that the timidity that tries to hold me back, has no place in God’s presence in my life. The lies that tell me I’m not enough have to flee. He’s MORE than enough and it’s not all about me, it IS ALL about HIM! Now would be a good time to speak those memorized verses- I can do ALL things through Christ who gives me strength (Phil 4:13), I am MORE than a conqueror through Him who loved me and GAVE His life a ransom for me and for many others. What do we conquer over? Fear, dread, intimidation. Over what? Sharing the gospel, being the gospel! Why? There’s a war out there God is calling each one of us to engage in for His glory, that God would win us out of darkness into light and life, That our souls and the souls of any others who will come to Him through us will be saved! That’s why we must overcome our fears!
One more diddy and I’ll be finished here today- This scripture below says it so awesomely. I spoke to my Cell ladies last Thursday about this. What is every trail in life set out to do to you? I mean every one? What is every tragedy, every death and separation, every enemy thought of failure, etc etc, out to do to you? I can tell you by revelation of God’s spirit, they may look different, but they are the same in their very mission and goal, they have the same goal for your soul that sin does-to separate you from the revelation of the the living love of God. To keep you serving the lie of the evil one, to keep you where you cannot see his evil plight against you. To house you in disappointment and the deception of rejection and failure, to make you think you are either not worthy of or not loved by God. This one is the biggest- to make you think God is your enemy! Every trial, every plight, every tragedy is an opportunity to either turn to or away from God, the strategy for your soul and your salvation is to steal it away from the hand of God! Read on…

Romans 8:31-39
31 What then are we to say about these things? If God is for us, who is against us? 32 He who did not withhold his own Son, but gave him up for all of us, will he not with him also give us everything else? 33 Who will bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is to condemn? It is Christ Jesus, who died, yes, who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who indeed intercedes for us.
F51 35 Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will hardship, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 As it is written, "For your sake we are being killed all day long; we are accounted as sheep to be slaughtered." 37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord
Concerning the scriptures we’ve been reading ALL month below- what are you obedient to? The sharing of the gospel through a life evidenced with Christ? The call in answer to God’s question to You? YES, THAT is what will turn your and our world back to God!
Here are definitions of grace, mercy & peace for those who want to do a bit of a word study:
*Grace
That which affords joy, pleasure, delight, sweetness, charm, loveliness: grace of speech
good will, loving-kindness, favour
of the merciful kindness by which God, exerting his holy influence upon souls, turns them to Christ, keeps, strengthens, increases them in Christian faith, knowledge, affection, and kindles them to the exercise of the Christian virtues
what is due to grace
the spiritual condition of one governed by the power of divine grace
the token or proof of grace, benefit
a gift of grace
benefit, bounty
thanks, (for benefits, services, favours), recompense, reward
Translated Words
**Mercy-
kindness or good will towards the miserable and the afflicted, joined with a desire to help them
of men towards men: to exercise the virtue of mercy, show one's self merciful
of God towards men: in general providence; the mercy and clemency of God in providing and offering to men salvation by Christ
the mercy of Christ, whereby at his return to judgment he will bless true Christians with eternal life
***Peace-
a state of national tranquillity
exemption from the rage and havoc of war
peace between individuals, i.e. harmony, concord
security, safety, prosperity, felicity, (because peace and harmony make and keep things safe and prosperous)
of the Messiah's peace
the way that leads to peace (salvation)
of Christianity, the tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from God and content with its earthly lot, of whatsoever sort that is
the blessed state of devout and upright men after death


Romans 16:19-20 19 For your obedience has become known to all. Therefore I am glad on your behalf; but I want you to be wise in what is good, and simple concerning evil. 20 And the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.
Acts 17:6 But when they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some brethren to the rulers of the city, crying out, "These who have turned the world upside down have come here too.

Monday, October 24, 2005

Today Our Daily Bread 1 Tim 1, Rom 16:19-20 & Acts 17:6

Just in case-Please excuse me if I' not able to post in the next day or so. Got up early to get this one out- the storm has started, Am believing it won't hit too hard, but if power were to go out, I wouldn't be able to post...due to Wilma & its effects
Love 2 All!

The scripture passages were taken from Rock Church's suggested daily reading schedule for the month of October. Comments are from, ~Lena's Journalin'~, which are Lena's own personal notations on each days’ passages.
1 Timothy 1:1-20
Greeting
Keep the Faith of the Gospel
1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ, by the commandment of God our Savior and the Lord Jesus Christ, our hope, 2To Timothy, a true son in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord.
No Other Doctrine
3 As I urged you when I went into Macedonia--remain in Ephesus that you may charge some that they teach no other doctrine, 4nor give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which cause disputes rather than godly edification which is in faith.
5Now the purpose of the commandment is love from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from sincere faith, 6from which some, having strayed, have turned aside to idle talk, 7desiring to be teachers of the law, understanding neither what they say nor the things which they affirm. 8But we know that the law is good if one uses it lawfully, 9knowing this: that the law is not made for a righteous person, but for the lawless and insubordinate, for the ungodly and for sinners, for the unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers, 10for fornicators, for sodomites, for kidnappers, for liars, for perjurers, and if there is any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine, 11according to the glorious gospel of the blessed God which was committed to my trust.
Glory to God for His GraceR2
12 And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord who has enabled me, because He counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry, 13although I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an insolent man; but I obtained mercy because I did it ignorantly in unbelief. 14And the grace of our Lord was exceedingly abundant, with faith and love which are in Christ Jesus.
15This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief. 16However, for this reason I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show all longsuffering, as a pattern to those who are going to believe on Him for everlasting life.
17Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, to God who alone is wise, F7 be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.
Fight the Good Fight
18 This charge I commit to you, son Timothy, according to the prophecies previously made concerning you, that by them you may wage the good warfare, 19having faith and a good conscience, which some having rejected, concerning the faith have suffered shipwreck, 20of whom are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I delivered to Satan that they may learn not to blaspheme.
Footnotes
F7: 1:17 NU-Text reads to the only God. Show cross-references R2: cf. Acts 8:1-3; 9:1-19

~Lena’s Journalin’~
What makes one a true son, in the faith? I’m sure there are many things, some I think of are: growth, maturity, continuance in covenant, a participator, and one who has and calls one a Father.
A son is not a son without the active presence of a father. This "father" could be a father figure, or a mentor, but it is a continual influential presence. A child can be birthed by a male’s initial influence, but without the continued nuturing of a "father" the child can remain a "child", for his whole life. Maturity comes with accountability and continual training by example. Someone bigger has to show us the Father, as Jesus did. If we are left to ourselves, we are children in levels of maturity. This is so important to the growth of one’s faith. We must grow up, by following others who "father" us, so that we can also "father" others. This is God’s Divine plan. Jesus came to show us "The Father", this is also the mission and goal of every disciple. Without this we are very shallow in our faith-walk, and we do not grow much in our faith. Ever meet an adult who was not "fathered", has no accountability to anyone, is not teachable, is very self-made, doesn’t need anyone, thinks and acts-"me, me me-ish"? They may have celebrated so many birthdays each year, but that does not mean they are matured sons. True son-ship can only come through yielding one’s life to another’s life.
Just a side note here: Macedonia, means to expand (Isa 54:3-4), Paul says-I urged you, when I went on to (expand God’s kingdom) Macedonia, remain in Ephesus (where you are "permitted" to be). Our pastor preaches on the Elementary Principles in Hebrews 6. It speaks of the elements and foundations of our faith, it says we can "go on to perfection (which is completion or the process of completion of the next "level") if God so permits…He’s the one who gives the "A-O-K", the charge to go on, because we are faithful at each level of growth and maturity. He is calling us towards Macedonia- or expansion of our faith and of taking ground for His kingdom. We fulfill that cal by purposing to grow, never staying where we are at, never being too satisfied to just stay there and not go on, yet staying there long enough to learn all we can so that we can go on to the next place in Him strong and well equipped. This is not about failure or being tested so much as it is about being drawn to become more and more as He is, and being willing to grow and be submitted to the process.
Dear People, please lay down religious thinking. Pick up LOVE, love motivates and keeps us maturing. Religion deceives us in telling us we have arrived somehow and now can tell others how much they lack being where we are. Love grows, matures and shares that route out of deep concern for the progress of the beloved, not to show one up on you, as in a contest, but to share the joy of growth for the benefit of others. The law may be needed to initiate this process and get us to the goals set before us, but grace truly gets us there as the revelation of His love also leads us there and then keeps us there. We do what we do, not because we are made to. We are freewill beings realizing that the power of our wills is exercised by choosing life and love, because we want to, not because we have to. There is no real power in rebellion. It exercises a power that divides, but its effect is temporary and will be dealt with by God in eternity’s light. The eternal power of life is contained in love.
Just to touch on verse 20. "Turned over to satan"…Please listen, satan IS the god (little"g") of this world. When we do not decide to follow God’s will, we serve satan’s, by process of elimination. The Lord said, we cannot serve two masters, if we are not with Him, we are against Him, etc. I truly believe people are drawn to God by the prayers of others, and by the covering of grace of the request of others. I believe if a believer will gird another up, he is girded up, or "shielded, kept, protected" until a time when he must decided for himself. There is grace extended towards that person to become a believer in Christ. When that happens the person receives his own grace to grow. At first the grace is there because another decided to pray for them and extend love towards them. When the revelation of the love of God is received, there is a certain grace that helps the person grow and as they grow grace is extended. All of this happens through free-will choices. When or if the person, through their own free-will, decides to come outside of the extended grace, through stubbornness of the will or disobedience to growth or outright rebellion to God, they are back in the territory of God’s enemy, satan. They are no longer under the hand of God or grace of God extended over them, due to their own choices made. By process of elimination, if not under the "hand of God", then who’s hand is one "under"? Where were we when we first came to believe in Him? Under who’s hand? We were involved under satan’s hand, yet in that place we were able to be drawn by God, that place may have led us to God. We were in rebellion there, yet the pain of the consequence of rebellion actually brought us to the saving of our souls! It would be the grace of God if in rebellion we were brought to salvation. At least we were not yet dead in the flesh, but still had time to repent. Sometimes we need a clearer view to even really appreciate what we had. Maybe our rebellion put us in that place, but if we are able to see there, so be it and God be glorified!
Romans 16:19-20 19 For your obedience has become known to all. Therefore I am glad on your behalf; but I want you to be wise in what is good, and simple concerning evil. 20 And the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.
Acts 17:6 But when they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some brethren to the rulers of the city, crying out, "These who have turned the world upside down have come here too.

Sunday, October 23, 2005

Today Our Daily Bread Eph 3, also Rom 16:19-20 & Acts 17:6

The scripture passages were taken from Rock Church's suggested daily reading schedule for the month of October. Comments are from, "Lena's Journalin'" which are Lena's own personal notations on each days passages.

Ephesians 3:1-21
1 For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles,
Ever feel like a prisoner to someone or something? Paul did not feel like a prisoner, he served as one on purpose. Everything he was about, was for the sake of the gospel and of and for the people God so loved. He was forced by His own will and the power of the love of God inside of him, he was impassioned for the things of God in ways other might attribute as bondage. To him, there was no bondage at all, because the love of God and the revelation of the gospel message became his "driving force". Revelation is understanding made known. How did you know you were "in love"? You just knew, could not explain it, just knew. How did you get born again? All of a sudden understanding of the truth came to you and you made that understanding your own, you adopted it and took it in as a conviction that changed your life (Hey, if you have not done that yet, and desire to, e-mail me! Werhisimage@aol.com I’ll call you, it’s a matter of death or life for you. God wants to arrest you and change your whole Destiny!)
Why do I write this way? So you may understand and acknowledge Him and His will for your life, more and more and more. So that you can be saved in your spirits- of course, your souls (being progressively renewed to the thought patterns of His words), and even your body, that it may take you into the service of His will all of your days on this earth. Mysteries are being unlocked here, so you can live and others can live through your witness!
2 If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward:
3 How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words, 4 Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ) 5 Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;
6 That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel: 7 Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power.
8 Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ; 9 And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:
10 To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God, 11 According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord: 12 In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him.

13 Wherefore I desire that ye faint not at my tribulations for you, which is your glory.
14 For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, 16 That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; 17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; 19 And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fullness of God.
20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, 21 Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.
~Lena's Journalin' ~
Who are you bold and confident in? Yourself, your abilities, your positions in life, your place in your family? Good. Are you also bold in what means everything to God? Or timid and shy about the very life given for your sin? The only shame in that is based completely on lies. We used to serve the Father of lies (Jn 10) and he does not want us talking about God at all, he does not want us serving God at all, but if he can get us to say we serve God, but not rise up in boldness and proclaim Him as our Lord and Master, then things are still pretty comfy cozy for him. See, it is one thing when a persons life is changed, yeah satan loses that person and maybe a bit of influence on him, if he is strong and godly in his own walk of faith, but if that same person leads others to do so, watch out. That is when anger is stirred, because we become influencers for God’s eternal kingdom, we shake the kingdom of darkness, we bring it to nothing, no further influence over our lives or the lives of those who will follow us in the Way to God. THAT makes the d’evil mad. (I heard a guy speak satan’s name this way and realized "D’"(cap or small) means "deity or god of" and we all know what evil is, so we’d say, "devil" or "d’evil", and it keeps it real clear to me who he is and what he’s trying to do with me. He is the god of evil and of every evil thing and of the whole evil world. As much as is revealed to me, I refuse to serve his will anymore. I’d surely rather make him mad at me than to have God saddened, that I refused His will. And who is greater and stronger anyway? So often we magnify the enemy of God and speak of His antics against us, what about God and His glory and plan and strength etc. Let’s magnify the Lord! Remember the angelic world? There are even 2/3rds of the angelic host that are for us rather than against us. That are against principalities and powers and rulers of the darkness. When we call on the name of the Lord they are working for us! Hey let me drop you an eternal hint- in the end- We win!, Who’s side ya want t’ be on? Why would you glory in a tribulation? It is an opportunity to prove your love will not be Loved, your faith will not be moved, your love for God and His will is not based on the appearance of blessings only! Whew, that’s a biggie! Are you into Christianity and go to church and have Christian fellowship only because it blesses you?, but when it no longer feels like it is blessing you, are you outta there? That is so worldly in nature. That is a sign of immature, conditional love. We all have to come up to a more mature thinking, it will hardly ever go the way we thought it should. So what? Did we get to His goal? Remember His main goal? Love.
PRAY for those who you have a hard time naturally getting along with. God loves them no matter what you feel at the moment concerning them. They are growing also, and everyone does not have to be on the same plane as you are. In a family, there are newborn immature impolite, smelly, crying, but so fresh and new babies and there are also old wrinkled great grandparents. God loves them all and does not fault one for not being where the other is at. Yet when observances in love are made, one will definitely learn from another. Become strong in the Lord, by being in His word and practicing doing His word on purpose daily! So what can we do on purpose with today’s word?
Get Bold.
Lay down shyness that keeps you from being an influencer for God.
Speak about the Lord to Christians and non-Christians alike.
Tell what God has done, rather than what problems are "getting us down."
Love- everyone, where they are at, no matter what.
Exercise unconditional love- on purpose.
Be willing to observe and learn from others who are not on the same plane as you.
Make the d’evil mad- on purpose. (Wow, what an offensive thought, huh?)
Allow God to use your life as a demonstration of His will in the earth, allow God to crush satan underneath your feet and turn your own life, home, neighborhood, town & city upside Down, where the king of darkness once ruled, God Almighty has the rulership. Amen!
Romans 16:19-20 19 For your obedience has become known to all. Therefore I am glad on your behalf; but I want you to be wise in what is good, and simple concerning evil. 20 And the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.
Acts 17:6 But when they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some brethren to the rulers of the city, crying out, "These who have turned the world upside down have come here too.

Saturday, October 22, 2005

Today Our Daily Bread Eph 2 (From Rock Church's Daily Bread Reading List) plus Ro 16:19-20 & Acts 17:6

Ephesians 2:1-22
By Grace Through Faith
Salvation by Grace Through Faith in Christ
1 And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, 2in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, 3among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others. 4But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9not of works, lest anyone should boast. 10For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.
Brought Near by His Blood
11 Therefore remember that you, once Gentiles in the flesh--who are called Uncircumcision by what is called the Circumcision made in the flesh by hands-- 12that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. 13But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.
Christ Our Peace
14 For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, 15having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace, 16and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity. 17And He came and preached peace to you who were afar off and to those who were near. 18For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father.
Christ Our Cornerstone
19 Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, 21in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, 22in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.
~ Lena’s Journalin’ ~
Before Adam sinned, man was spiritually and naturally alive unto God. Sin brought spiritual death and separation from (the fellowship) of God(’s great love). Because the freewill action of disobedience was the cause of this great separation which brought the severe penalty of death (which could have been eternal death, with no way of repair and the bringing of life in the created beings back to God), death had to be dealt with on the level of the freewill. The course of this world is death, because willful disobedienceinvited its rule. Sin being the ruler of our wills is the WAY of the prince of darkness (satan himself). BUT through Jesus, who through the free exercise of His will, obeyed God, we can be made (spiritually) alive unto God once more, but only if we desire to. Yet it is more than mere desire that must take us to that place and keep us in that place of life. It is the exercise of our own free wills unto God continuously. If you said, "I love you dear", to Your spouse on your wedding day, but that was the last day you ever said that, and after that you never again acted as though you were even married to that person, you wouldn’t even live in their house! Do you think they would believe you loved them? Even if you said with your mouth that day, that it was forever? NO WAY Jose! You have to prove it and a more accurate word is demonstrate your promise to them. Your words would be powerless if your life action did not back it up!
So, Do you love God? Do you believe in Him? In His Son? Do you lie in His house, forever? (starting when you were born again-or just once a year at Christmas?) How does God KNOW we mean what we say? By what we do. We live out what we really believe. It is all a matter of the will. The war and the victories are in the area of the will. This is where the first battle began, and the last battle ends, for us. Whenever we choose God’s WAY, we are saying a very loud NO to the enemy’s way. When we say No to God’s way, even by subtle non-action, non-participation, we say a loud YES to God’s enemy and the enemy of our wills. When we do that continually we are in covenant with sin, when we practice obedience to God, we have cut off our other "lover" and have "married" or become joined to His will. The more we obey God and disobey the evil sway, the ore territory we take back for the kingdom of God. Sometimes when I feel rebellion rise in me over a Godly principle that could be acted out inside of me, but my flesh is resisting. I purposely rise up and obey God anyway, even at that moment to spite the enemy. I say NO to his way on purpose, because I know he wants to think he wins in using me instead of me being used by God. I do not want God to feel alone where I’m concerned. Does my small act of obedience help God at all? Did Jesus’? Or does it have to be a big act to help God? Think about that one. (God’s plan, His way, His rule, His goals?)When we join ourselves to His will this way, we are not strangers of God, but Sons and heirs and citizens and members of His household and His family, the temple of God’s Spirit, a part of the Temple of His house.Again, this is what changes the world, yours and the one you are a part of. Everything we do has a rippling effect. Everything. God made it so, on purpose, that way, when we do righteously it effects any others. Be bold in Christ and alter your world!
Romans 16:19-20 19 For your obedience has become known to all. Therefore I am glad on your behalf; but I want you to be wise in what is good, and simple concerning evil. 20 And the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.
Acts 17:6 But when they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some brethren to the rulers of the city, crying out, "These who have turned the world upside down have come here too.