Scripture selections are taken from the Rock Church Daily Bread Reading schedule for each month. “Lena’s Journalin’” are Lena’s comments on the specific passages from her Daily Journal.
If the e-mail text you receive is encrypted at all, just scroll down to the end of all of the text and click on Lena’s Journalin’ , which will take you directly to the web-page where you will be able to read the text quite clearly in it’s purposed form.
Matthew 21:1-46 -
The Triumphal Entry
1As Jesus and the disciples approached Jerusalem, they came to the town of Bethphage on the Mount of Olives. Jesus sent two of them on ahead. 2"Go into the village over there," he said, "and you will see a donkey tied there, with its colt beside it. Untie them and bring them here. 3If anyone asks what you are doing, just say, 'The Lord needs them,' and he will immediately send them." 4This was done to fulfill the prophecy,
5 "Tell the people of Israel, F109 'Look, your King is coming to you. He is humble, riding on a donkey— even on a donkey's colt.'" F110
6The two disciples did as Jesus said. 7They brought the animals to him and threw their garments over the colt, and he sat on it. F111
8Most of the crowd spread their coats on the road ahead of Jesus, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 9He was in the center of the procession, and the crowds all around him were shouting,
"Praise God F112 for the Son of David! Bless the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Praise God in highest heaven!" F113
10The entire city of Jerusalem was stirred as he entered. "Who is this?" they asked.
11And the crowds replied, "It's Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee."
Jesus Clears the Temple
12Jesus entered the Temple and began to drive out the merchants and their customers. He knocked over the tables of the money changers and the stalls of those selling doves. 13He said, "The Scriptures declare, 'My Temple will be called a place of prayer,' but you have turned it into a den of thieves!" F114
14The blind and the lame came to him, and he healed them there in the Temple. 15The leading priests and the teachers of religious law saw these wonderful miracles and heard even the little children in the Temple shouting, "Praise God for the Son of David." But they were indignant 16and asked Jesus, "Do you hear what these children are saying?" "Yes," Jesus replied. "Haven't you ever read the Scriptures? For they say, 'You have taught children and infants to give you praise.' F115 " 17Then he returned to Bethany, where he stayed overnight.
Jesus Curses the Fig Tree
18In the morning, as Jesus was returning to Jerusalem, he was hungry, 19and he noticed a fig tree beside the road. He went over to see if there were any figs on it, but there were only leaves. Then he said to it, "May you never bear fruit again!" And immediately the fig tree withered up.
20The disciples were amazed when they saw this and asked, "How did the fig tree wither so quickly?"
21Then Jesus told them, "I assure you, if you have faith and don't doubt, you can do things like this and much more. You can even say to this mountain, 'May God lift you up and throw you into the sea,' and it will happen. 22If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer."
The Authority of Jesus Challenged
23When Jesus returned to the Temple and began teaching, the leading priests and other leaders came up to him. They demanded, "By whose authority did you drive out the merchants from the Temple? F116 Who gave you such authority?"
24"I'll tell you who gave me the authority to do these things if you answer one question," Jesus replied. 25"Did John's baptism come from heaven or was it merely human?" They talked it over among themselves. "If we say it was from heaven, he will ask why we didn't believe him. 26But if we say it was merely human, we'll be mobbed, because the people think he was a prophet." 27So they finally replied, "We don't know." And Jesus responded, "Then I won't answer your question either.
Story of the Two Sons
28"But what do you think about this? A man with two sons told the older boy, 'Son, go out and work in the vineyard today.' 29The son answered, 'No, I won't go,' but later he changed his mind and went anyway. 30Then the father told the other son, 'You go,' and he said, 'Yes, sir, I will.' But he didn't go. 31Which of the two was obeying his father?" They replied, "The first, of course." Then Jesus explained his meaning: "I assure you, corrupt tax collectors and prostitutes will get into the Kingdom of God before you do. 32For John the Baptist came and showed you the way to life, and you didn't believe him, while tax collectors and prostitutes did. And even when you saw this happening, you refused to turn from your sins and believe him.
Story of the Evil Farmers
33"Now listen to this story. A certain landowner planted a vineyard, built a wall around it, dug a pit for pressing out the grape juice, and built a lookout tower. Then he leased the vineyard to tenant farmers and moved to another country. 34At the time of the grape harvest he sent his servants to collect his share of the crop. 35But the farmers grabbed his servants, beat one, killed one, and stoned another. 36So the landowner sent a larger group of his servants to collect for him, but the results were the same.
37"Finally, the owner sent his son, thinking, 'Surely they will respect my son.'
38"But when the farmers saw his son coming, they said to one another, 'Here comes the heir to this estate. Come on, let's kill him and get the estate for ourselves!' 39So they grabbed him, took him out of the vineyard, and murdered him.
40"When the owner of the vineyard returns," Jesus asked, "what do you think he will do to those farmers?"
41The religious leaders replied, "He will put the wicked men to a horrible death and lease the vineyard to others who will give him his share of the crop after each harvest."
42Then Jesus asked them, "Didn't you ever read this in the Scriptures?
'The stone rejected by the builders has now become the cornerstone. This is the Lord's doing, and it is marvelous to see.' F117
43What I mean is that the Kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a nation that will produce the proper fruit. 44Anyone who stumbles over that stone will be broken to pieces, and it will crush anyone on whom it falls. F118 "
45When the leading priests and Pharisees heard Jesus, they realized he was pointing at them—that they were the farmers in his story. 46They wanted to arrest him, but they were afraid to try because the crowds considered Jesus to be a prophet.
FOOTNOTES:F109: Greek Tell the daughter of Zion. Isa 62:11. F110: Zech 9:9. F111: Greek over them, and he sat on them. F112: Greek Hosanna, an exclamation of praise that literally means "save now"; also in 21:9b, 15. F113: Pss 118:25-26; 148:1. F114: Isa 56:7; Jer 7:11. F115: Ps 8:2. F116: Or By whose authority do you do these things? F117: Ps 118:22-23. F118: This verse is omitted in some early manuscripts.
Copyright Statement: Holy Bible, The New Living Translation
~ Lena’s Journalin’~
When we ask something of God in prayer, why do we ask?
Do we ask because we hope he’ll want us to have what we want to have?
Do we hope he’ll like us enough to give us what we want?
Do we hope he’ll even hear us?
Are we just thinking aloud?
Why do we ask?
Do we believe in Him?
In His word?
If we ask and when we ask, we must ask in faith.
For the longest time, I wondered why we “have” to talk to God a certain way. Ya know so many people teach and tell us how to pray and also when you are around a fellowship of believers they often correct your words and help you speak a different way, different than you usually think to speak on your own.
They say things like, “When you approach God, say”, “…”, or they’ll say something like, “God doesn’t even hear those prayers”.
I used to wonder why we couldn’t just speak with God as though He was our buddy and longtime friend and vent on Him and complain and murmur and blow smoke and just about say anything to Him we want, etc.
Then lately I believe He began to show me answers. First off He is God! Do we believe in God? I’m talking Almighty Creator of the whole entire World and the Universe! Yeah- God! Secondly, he’s King, like King of Kings. He knows absolutely everything and is trying to teach us a few things if we are willing to listen. We DO NOT need to vent, we need answers and change. He needs people, to change the world. he needs us to change ours. Venting changes nothing, nothing at all. It only makes me feel ok for brief moments as I’ve blown off some steam, but God needed that steam to accomplish a few things where His will is concerned and wanted to use my energy to do it. he wanted to change my complaint in to a realization of who He is, to turn and look to Him for the answers only He could give, and then do something about it!
Do you remember the story of Esther? (There’s a movie out right now called “One Night with the King”, might be a good one to see). Well Esther became queen. I mean she was the King’s wife, she slept in His bed, talk about buddy-buddy, that’s a bit closer than friends. They were intimate- when he called for her. She had a need, she had a plan, she had a desire and she needed the execution of His will concerning it. She had to pray for the favor of God and then had to walk out a plan to approach the earthly king. Her favor with God allotted her a place in the throne room.
Our favor with Jesus, and our faith in the power of His shed blood allots us a place in the throne room. If Esther was somehow not right with the king, if she wanted the approach to be successful, she’d have to do something different than she was to make things right before the approach.
This is the same way with us and our King. We cannot just storm in and vent! This is God, yes he’s our Father, but only because of the Son and a living active faith in the Son. Also because we have a regular relationship with Him through Jesus, we must maintain our love-walk and our good standing. If we mess up, we can repair through faith, but faith is the way.
Even earthly kings have a way of approach and a weeding through the red tape to get an appointment. We have a continual approach and appointment with our Father through faith in Jesus Christ. Not a one time, “Ah yeah, I believe in God”, but a life that is willing to be cleansed from unrighteousness - daily. A life that is willing to live being daily led by the blood of Jesus and be a demonstrator of its power! A life willing to change to gain more and more favor with God and become an influencer of men for their King. This means change how I speak, change my thoughts and words to faith-filled words. Become who He is to be where He is.
Not use God as a venting station, but saving energy for fervency in the spirit.
Ok, so your Aunt Tilly gets a bad report from the Dr. You are sad about the report, you cry, you say I can’t believe she got this report, man! Now you worry, worry, worry all day long, all week long. Now you tell God how sad and worried you are. He is NOT hearing it and it is not changing the report.
Ok, your child gets in trouble, gets in a fight at school is suspended. You are mad, angry. He tells you the story and you feel he’s been treated unfairly, now you’re really mad. You call people, tell them about the story, tell the parent of the other kids, tell the teacher, tell the principle, tell the coach, now you tell God how mad you are. He didn’t hear any of it, and not one of those things you did changed the situation at all.
Your spouse is hurting you emotionally, he’s getting on your nerves, he’s so unfair, does not help you at all, the he makes you sad, mad, angry, tired. Everyday you talk to God about it. You tell Him how hurt you are, how sad, and how mad he makes you and how nothing ever seems to get better. The enemy hears you in all of this “venting” and knows exactly where to push your buttons next time, though God did not hear any of it. That’s the truth. Love will tell you the truth, because the truth is the only way to freedom.
None of the above even skimmed through any of the requirements of making the approach of help to God.
Thanksgiving is the first approach to His presence. In what part of any of the above did we give thanks?
When we give thinks in (not for) all things, we are only beginning to come into His presence. Now that we’ve come into His presence the way to stay there long enough to be inside of the place of help is to praise. Praise is how we open up the next gate. If we’ve not given thanks or praised where are we? Outside of God’s presence, and He doesn’t hear us outside where murmuring and complaining occur. He doesn’t live out there. Out there no changes will be made, and no help is available. Yet if we do not approach the right way, we stay outside. If we really want and need help and change, we must go inside and stay inside until.
We have a saying- “Pray Until Something Happens”. P.U.S.H.
That does not mean beg until something happens, or complain until something happens, or cry until something happens.
It means, to make the approaches properly and stay in the presence, do what it takes, say what is required the way He requires it, and stay THERE until something happens!
That means ditch the crying, wishing, begging, complaining, venting etc. Leave it outside the door and if and when you come out again, let it burn on the altar! Don’t pick it up. If we live this way, we can take the presence with us.
The veil was rent in two, so we could go in and God could come out, too.
Daily Repetitive Verses -
John 17:15 I'm not asking you to take them out of the world but to protect them from the evil one.
Sunday, October 15, 2006
Saturday, October 14, 2006
Matthew 17 Do you KNOW Him?
Scripture selections are taken from the Rock Church Daily Bread Reading schedule for each month. “Lena’s Journalin’” are Lena’s comments on the specific passages from her Daily Journal.
If the e-mail text you receive is encrypted at all, just scroll down to the end of all of the text and click on Lena’s Journalin’ , which will take you directly to the web-page where you will be able to read the text quite clearly in it’s purposed form.
Matthew 17:1-27 The Transfiguration
1Six days later Jesus took Peter and the two brothers, James and John, and led them up a high mountain. 2As the men watched, Jesus' appearance changed so that his face shone like the sun, and his clothing became dazzling white.
3Suddenly, Moses and Elijah appeared and began talking with Jesus.
4Peter blurted out, "Lord, this is wonderful! If you want me to, I'll make three shrines, F87 one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah."
5But even as he said it, a bright cloud came over them, and a voice from the cloud said, "This is my beloved Son, and I am fully pleased with him. Listen to him." 6The disciples were terrified and fell face down on the ground.
7Jesus came over and touched them. "Get up," he said, "don't be afraid." 8And when they looked, they saw only Jesus with them. 9As they descended the mountain, Jesus commanded them, "Don't tell anyone what you have seen until I, the Son of Man, have been raised from the dead."
10His disciples asked, "Why do the teachers of religious law insist that Elijah must return before the Messiah comes F88 ?"
11Jesus replied, "Elijah is indeed coming first to set everything in order. 12But I tell you, he has already come, but he wasn't recognized, and he was badly mistreated. And soon the Son of Man will also suffer at their hands." 13Then the disciples realized he had been speaking of John the Baptist.
Jesus Heals a Demon-Possessed Boy
14When they arrived at the foot of the mountain, a huge crowd was waiting for them. A man came and knelt before Jesus and said, 15"Lord, have mercy on my son, because he has seizures and suffers terribly. He often falls into the fire or into the water. 16So I brought him to your disciples, but they couldn't heal him."
17Jesus replied, "You stubborn, faithless people! How long must I be with you until you believe? How long must I put up with you? Bring the boy to me." 18Then Jesus rebuked the demon in the boy, and it left him. From that moment the boy was well.
19Afterward the disciples asked Jesus privately, "Why couldn't we cast out that demon?"
20"You didn't have enough faith," Jesus told them. "I assure you, even if you had faith as small as a mustard seed you could say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it would move. Nothing would be impossible." F89
Jesus Again Predicts His Death
22One day after they had returned to Galilee, Jesus told them, "The Son of Man is going to be betrayed. 23He will be killed, but three days later he will be raised from the dead." And the disciples' hearts were filled with grief.
Payment of the Temple Tax
24On their arrival in Capernaum, the tax collectors for the Temple tax came to Peter and asked him, "Doesn't your teacher pay the Temple tax?"
25"Of course he does," Peter replied. Then he went into the house to talk to Jesus about it. But before he had a chance to speak, Jesus asked him, "What do you think, Peter F90 ? Do kings tax their own people or the foreigners they have conquered?"
26"They tax the foreigners," Peter replied. "Well, then," Jesus said, "the citizens are free! 27However, we don't want to offend them, so go down to the lake and throw in a line. Open the mouth of the first fish you catch, and you will find a coin. Take the coin and pay the tax for both of us."
FOOTNOTES:F87: Or shelters; Greek reads tabernacles. F88: Greek that Elijah must come first. F89: Some manuscripts add verse 21, But this kind of demon won't leave unless you have prayed and fasted. F90: Greek Simon.
Copyright Statement: Holy Bible, The New Living Translation
~ Lena’s Journalin’~
Not being recognized seems to be a characteristic of God. Those who have the message of salvation are so real, almost no one would really notice, they’re not putting on a show, they’re being who they are. Jesus was a carpenter’s son and those in His town had a hard time listening to His message.
Not recognizing is also a characteristic of the blind. We are given so many opportunities by God to see Him, in the faces, and hear Him in the voices of others. This seeing and hearing is usually offered through His humble and real messengers. It almost seems the more humble and the more real a person is, the less the spiritually blind and deaf hear and see them. Yet those physically blind are actually more acute to hear and those physically deaf are more acute to seeing.
We as disciples must be very wary of pride. Very wary. Pride will bring us into deafness and blindness and what has been from the Lord and is right before our very eyes, may not be seen or heard. One form of pride that shows up, is that we pick and choose who we hear the voice of God from. This is what the people in Jesus’ day did. They decided who was speaking for God in their ears. If it wasn’t who they chose they’d become deaf to that voice. It amazes me that God the Father that day on the mountain said, “Hear Him!”.
That word “hear” means don’t be deaf to His words, it also means, consider with importance what is said. Attend to it, which means go ahead and do something about it, get more understanding of it so you can. Let your ear be pierced by it – as a bond slave who has been freed chooses to stay and has his ear pierced to the doorpost so his blood would be on that house, and in this act he is saying he is one with the household, and with the piercing he then also wore the mark in the form of an earring, which symbolized that he was free to go, but love kept him there to serve anyway. One more definition is “to sit under on purpose, as in to study one who you want to know all about.”
So Father God says to DISCIPLES, hear Him [Jesus].
Do we as modern-day disciples hear Him? How do we hear Him? Through imperfect earthen vessels like John the Baptist or Peter were, we hear through Pastor Fred, Music, our spouses, kids, in-laws…..etc. Those who know they are being used and those who do not even realize they are. That really depends on us, our pride or humility level. How hungry are we to hear Him? If we’re really attentive, as one who sits under a teacher to get every word, we’ll look for His voice, especially in the most unsuspecting places.
God has given us His word as a filter. No matter the vessel or the presentation, we can hear His voice and obey it, as long as it lines up with His words.
Say you are arguing with someone and the discussion gets heated, they are angry with you and they say, “You are so unkind and unloving, you are think of yourself first so often…..” They are totally in the wrong spirit when they say it to you, they are angry and they are sinning by shooting insulting words your way. Or someone told you someone else said it about you and it was gossip, now we all know that’s sin, right? Can or did you hear God’s voice speak? Can you walk away, pray and say, “Ok God speak to me further, you just opened the door, I’ll let You in, say what You may?”
Are you really a willing disciple or do you pick and choose your voice of receptivity? A root word of “disciple” is “discipline”. Can he use whoever is willing to vent, to discipline you?
Can you be more unselfish in nature? Could you ever tune up on your kindness level? What about love, are you yet perfected? And where did those words, love, kindness, unselfishness come from anyway? Galatians 5:22 has a good lot of them all clumped together. They are called the very characteristic of the God-nature, the Divine evidence of a Christian, God’s fruit.
Can we grow more fruit or have our fruits sweeter? There was truth to extract, for those who really desire truth, in even the words of a bad presentation. There’s also another attribute that can be honed in on for the bad presentation, that’s forgiveness.
Time to hit the knees, please. Humbly be arrested before the presence of God. Say, You’re right, I’m wrong”, confess sin, ask for help in fine-tuning and pruning fruit trees, then thank God for the vessel He used to speak His word to you! It could’ve been your “X-whoever”!!!
There are some pinpointed things I see here as I read the definitions of these key Greek words in the part about the boy being released from demonic activity.
The part where Jesus says you are stubborn and faithless. It was not specifically saying there was no faith, but the key is who was the faith in, and was it complete faith, wholeheartedly rooted in their intimate knowledge of the greatness of God? Jesus set Himself apart from the world to know God everyday, to know God’s desires for the day, to know God as Father, not just as written word.
When Jesus said prayer and fasting, He was saying, “Has anything brought you to that place with God where you separate yourself out from everything else you do? Is there anything that had led you to that place where your hunger for Him increases? Or are you sufficient inside of yourself, and just do what you do on your own? Without a consecrated lifestyle and knowing the very heart of God, you’ll never have enough faith to war against the demonic realm and win for the salvation of people. Who are we saving them for anyways? Ourselves, to get a prize, or some kind of brownie points? Or do we go forth to save them, because He wants them saved oh so very badly, and we know that because we know Him and He told us so, and we believe Him and want to do what He says?”
The words “prayer and fasting” can be unified into saying, “coming way”, going specifically to God to build a further trust and living love relationship, them to become so hungry, and consumed with what is on His heart.
The disciples may have been trying what they saw Jesus do. Like, “Hey Guys, lets’ try that too!” That doesn’t cut the mustard.
The bottom line of the workings of the spirit in and through us - Do you know Him? Are you His? Do you know it? Is your heart consumed with love for other people’s freedom? Can you stand to not deliver those who could be His if only they were loosed from their bonds? Does your heart yearn for that? Are you hungry?
Jesus said His meat and drink was to do the will of God. I’ve heard people not eat till they do the will of God, maybe Jesus did that too sometimes.
Give to Caesar what is Caesars and to God what is God’s. He is oh so hungry for His will to be done.
Daily Repetitive Verses -
John 17:15 I'm not asking you to take them out of the world but to protect them from the evil one.
If the e-mail text you receive is encrypted at all, just scroll down to the end of all of the text and click on Lena’s Journalin’ , which will take you directly to the web-page where you will be able to read the text quite clearly in it’s purposed form.
Matthew 17:1-27 The Transfiguration
1Six days later Jesus took Peter and the two brothers, James and John, and led them up a high mountain. 2As the men watched, Jesus' appearance changed so that his face shone like the sun, and his clothing became dazzling white.
3Suddenly, Moses and Elijah appeared and began talking with Jesus.
4Peter blurted out, "Lord, this is wonderful! If you want me to, I'll make three shrines, F87 one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah."
5But even as he said it, a bright cloud came over them, and a voice from the cloud said, "This is my beloved Son, and I am fully pleased with him. Listen to him." 6The disciples were terrified and fell face down on the ground.
7Jesus came over and touched them. "Get up," he said, "don't be afraid." 8And when they looked, they saw only Jesus with them. 9As they descended the mountain, Jesus commanded them, "Don't tell anyone what you have seen until I, the Son of Man, have been raised from the dead."
10His disciples asked, "Why do the teachers of religious law insist that Elijah must return before the Messiah comes F88 ?"
11Jesus replied, "Elijah is indeed coming first to set everything in order. 12But I tell you, he has already come, but he wasn't recognized, and he was badly mistreated. And soon the Son of Man will also suffer at their hands." 13Then the disciples realized he had been speaking of John the Baptist.
Jesus Heals a Demon-Possessed Boy
14When they arrived at the foot of the mountain, a huge crowd was waiting for them. A man came and knelt before Jesus and said, 15"Lord, have mercy on my son, because he has seizures and suffers terribly. He often falls into the fire or into the water. 16So I brought him to your disciples, but they couldn't heal him."
17Jesus replied, "You stubborn, faithless people! How long must I be with you until you believe? How long must I put up with you? Bring the boy to me." 18Then Jesus rebuked the demon in the boy, and it left him. From that moment the boy was well.
19Afterward the disciples asked Jesus privately, "Why couldn't we cast out that demon?"
20"You didn't have enough faith," Jesus told them. "I assure you, even if you had faith as small as a mustard seed you could say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it would move. Nothing would be impossible." F89
Jesus Again Predicts His Death
22One day after they had returned to Galilee, Jesus told them, "The Son of Man is going to be betrayed. 23He will be killed, but three days later he will be raised from the dead." And the disciples' hearts were filled with grief.
Payment of the Temple Tax
24On their arrival in Capernaum, the tax collectors for the Temple tax came to Peter and asked him, "Doesn't your teacher pay the Temple tax?"
25"Of course he does," Peter replied. Then he went into the house to talk to Jesus about it. But before he had a chance to speak, Jesus asked him, "What do you think, Peter F90 ? Do kings tax their own people or the foreigners they have conquered?"
26"They tax the foreigners," Peter replied. "Well, then," Jesus said, "the citizens are free! 27However, we don't want to offend them, so go down to the lake and throw in a line. Open the mouth of the first fish you catch, and you will find a coin. Take the coin and pay the tax for both of us."
FOOTNOTES:F87: Or shelters; Greek reads tabernacles. F88: Greek that Elijah must come first. F89: Some manuscripts add verse 21, But this kind of demon won't leave unless you have prayed and fasted. F90: Greek Simon.
Copyright Statement: Holy Bible, The New Living Translation
~ Lena’s Journalin’~
Not being recognized seems to be a characteristic of God. Those who have the message of salvation are so real, almost no one would really notice, they’re not putting on a show, they’re being who they are. Jesus was a carpenter’s son and those in His town had a hard time listening to His message.
Not recognizing is also a characteristic of the blind. We are given so many opportunities by God to see Him, in the faces, and hear Him in the voices of others. This seeing and hearing is usually offered through His humble and real messengers. It almost seems the more humble and the more real a person is, the less the spiritually blind and deaf hear and see them. Yet those physically blind are actually more acute to hear and those physically deaf are more acute to seeing.
We as disciples must be very wary of pride. Very wary. Pride will bring us into deafness and blindness and what has been from the Lord and is right before our very eyes, may not be seen or heard. One form of pride that shows up, is that we pick and choose who we hear the voice of God from. This is what the people in Jesus’ day did. They decided who was speaking for God in their ears. If it wasn’t who they chose they’d become deaf to that voice. It amazes me that God the Father that day on the mountain said, “Hear Him!”.
That word “hear” means don’t be deaf to His words, it also means, consider with importance what is said. Attend to it, which means go ahead and do something about it, get more understanding of it so you can. Let your ear be pierced by it – as a bond slave who has been freed chooses to stay and has his ear pierced to the doorpost so his blood would be on that house, and in this act he is saying he is one with the household, and with the piercing he then also wore the mark in the form of an earring, which symbolized that he was free to go, but love kept him there to serve anyway. One more definition is “to sit under on purpose, as in to study one who you want to know all about.”
So Father God says to DISCIPLES, hear Him [Jesus].
Do we as modern-day disciples hear Him? How do we hear Him? Through imperfect earthen vessels like John the Baptist or Peter were, we hear through Pastor Fred, Music, our spouses, kids, in-laws…..etc. Those who know they are being used and those who do not even realize they are. That really depends on us, our pride or humility level. How hungry are we to hear Him? If we’re really attentive, as one who sits under a teacher to get every word, we’ll look for His voice, especially in the most unsuspecting places.
God has given us His word as a filter. No matter the vessel or the presentation, we can hear His voice and obey it, as long as it lines up with His words.
Say you are arguing with someone and the discussion gets heated, they are angry with you and they say, “You are so unkind and unloving, you are think of yourself first so often…..” They are totally in the wrong spirit when they say it to you, they are angry and they are sinning by shooting insulting words your way. Or someone told you someone else said it about you and it was gossip, now we all know that’s sin, right? Can or did you hear God’s voice speak? Can you walk away, pray and say, “Ok God speak to me further, you just opened the door, I’ll let You in, say what You may?”
Are you really a willing disciple or do you pick and choose your voice of receptivity? A root word of “disciple” is “discipline”. Can he use whoever is willing to vent, to discipline you?
Can you be more unselfish in nature? Could you ever tune up on your kindness level? What about love, are you yet perfected? And where did those words, love, kindness, unselfishness come from anyway? Galatians 5:22 has a good lot of them all clumped together. They are called the very characteristic of the God-nature, the Divine evidence of a Christian, God’s fruit.
Can we grow more fruit or have our fruits sweeter? There was truth to extract, for those who really desire truth, in even the words of a bad presentation. There’s also another attribute that can be honed in on for the bad presentation, that’s forgiveness.
Time to hit the knees, please. Humbly be arrested before the presence of God. Say, You’re right, I’m wrong”, confess sin, ask for help in fine-tuning and pruning fruit trees, then thank God for the vessel He used to speak His word to you! It could’ve been your “X-whoever”!!!
There are some pinpointed things I see here as I read the definitions of these key Greek words in the part about the boy being released from demonic activity.
The part where Jesus says you are stubborn and faithless. It was not specifically saying there was no faith, but the key is who was the faith in, and was it complete faith, wholeheartedly rooted in their intimate knowledge of the greatness of God? Jesus set Himself apart from the world to know God everyday, to know God’s desires for the day, to know God as Father, not just as written word.
When Jesus said prayer and fasting, He was saying, “Has anything brought you to that place with God where you separate yourself out from everything else you do? Is there anything that had led you to that place where your hunger for Him increases? Or are you sufficient inside of yourself, and just do what you do on your own? Without a consecrated lifestyle and knowing the very heart of God, you’ll never have enough faith to war against the demonic realm and win for the salvation of people. Who are we saving them for anyways? Ourselves, to get a prize, or some kind of brownie points? Or do we go forth to save them, because He wants them saved oh so very badly, and we know that because we know Him and He told us so, and we believe Him and want to do what He says?”
The words “prayer and fasting” can be unified into saying, “coming way”, going specifically to God to build a further trust and living love relationship, them to become so hungry, and consumed with what is on His heart.
The disciples may have been trying what they saw Jesus do. Like, “Hey Guys, lets’ try that too!” That doesn’t cut the mustard.
The bottom line of the workings of the spirit in and through us - Do you know Him? Are you His? Do you know it? Is your heart consumed with love for other people’s freedom? Can you stand to not deliver those who could be His if only they were loosed from their bonds? Does your heart yearn for that? Are you hungry?
Jesus said His meat and drink was to do the will of God. I’ve heard people not eat till they do the will of God, maybe Jesus did that too sometimes.
Give to Caesar what is Caesars and to God what is God’s. He is oh so hungry for His will to be done.
Daily Repetitive Verses -
John 17:15 I'm not asking you to take them out of the world but to protect them from the evil one.
Friday, October 13, 2006
James 5 Gotta serve somebody- move or stay put?
Scripture selections are taken from the Rock Church Daily Bread Reading schedule for each month. “Lena’s Journalin’” are Lena’s comments on the specific passages from her Daily Journal.
If the e-mail text you receive is encrypted at all, just scroll down to the end of all of the text and click on Lena’s Journalin’ , which will take you directly to the web-page where you will be able to read the text quite clearly in it’s purposed form.
James 5:1-20
A Warning to the Rich 1 You rich people, listen! Cry and be very sad because of the troubles that are coming to you. 2 Your riches have rotted, and your clothes have been eaten by moths. 3Your gold and silver have rusted, and that rust will be a proof that you were wrong. It will eat your bodies like fire. You saved your treasure for the last days. 4The pay you did not give the workers who mowed your fields cries out against you, and the cries of the workers have been heard by the Lord All-Powerful. 5Your life on earth was full of rich living and pleasing yourselves with everything you wanted. You made yourselves fat, like an animal ready to be killed. 6You have judged guilty and then murdered innocent people, who were not against you. Be Patient 7Brothers and sisters, be patient until the Lord comes again. A farmer patiently waits for his valuable crop to grow from the earth and for it to receive the autumn and spring rains. 8You, too, must be patient. Do not give up hope, because the Lord is coming soon. 9Brothers and sisters, do not complain against each other or you will be judged guilty. And the Judge is ready to come! 10Brothers and sisters, follow the example of the prophets who spoke for the Lord. They suffered many hard things, but they were patient. 11We say they are happy because they did not give up. You have heard about Job's patience, and you know the Lord's purpose for him in the end. You know the Lord is full of mercy and is kind. Be Careful What You Say 12My brothers and sisters, above all, do not use an oath when you make a promise. Don't use the name of heaven, earth, or anything else to prove what you say. When you mean yes, say only yes, and when you mean no, say only no so you will not be judged guilty. The Power of Prayer 13Anyone who is having troubles should pray. Anyone who is happy should sing praises. 14Anyone who is sick should call the church's elders. They should pray for and pour oil on the personF7 in the name of the Lord. 15And the prayer that is said with faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will heal that person. And if the person has sinned, the sins will be forgiven. 16Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so God can heal you. When a believing person prays, great things happen. 17Elijah was a human being just like us. He prayed that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years! 18Then Elijah prayed again, and the rain came down from the sky, and the land produced crops again. Saving a Soul 19My brothers and sisters, if one of you wanders away from the truth, and someone helps that person come back, 20remember this: Anyone who brings a sinner back from the wrong way will save that sinner's soul from death and will cause many sins to be forgiven.
FOOTNOTES:F8 pour oil on the person - Oil was used in the name of the Lord as a sign that the person was now set apart for God's special attention and care.
Copyright Statement: New Century Version
~ Lena’s Journalin’~
Is it “wrong” to be “rich”? Rich in what? Faith? No.
But, what is your passion in life, what do you put the most energy forth for? What do you give your life and health and strength to and what fills your mind with thoughts continuously? What takes the most of your time or drives you to accomplish in life? Is it for you to make a name for self glorification, does it build your won self worth or does it being ultimate glory to God?
In that lies the determiner of whether riches are “wrong” or not. What do they do to you, or what do you do with them? Do they lead you, guide you, are they possibly the god you serve? Or do they serve you and your God can tell you whatever He’d like for you to do with them? Do you passionately pursue it for your security here, while there is none being stored for the future which is our true life eternal?
We cannot serve two Masters, we’ll love one and hate the other, which is why the love of money is the root of all evil. We cannot serve God and money. Yet we have to serve somebody, don’t we?
I’ve seen over and over again through a few experiences in life, people choose their location to live based on money. Doesn’t that sound logical? Isn’t that how we are/were raised? Isn’t THAT how we provide for our families?
It could be, if we are the one in charge. It all boils down to who do we really trust? I remember the first time I ever heard the message presented that we are placed in cities, towns, areas on the earth as it pleases the Lord, that He assembles us in families about the earth, for equipping and for ministry. And 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, Acts 17:26
The message I’d heard was brought forth saying, why do you let your job move you around? That was so foreign in thinking to me. I’d never heard anything like it. Was there any other way to think or live?
After living here now 18 years In the same area and going to the same fellowship. I realize more and more of what the man was sharing. A tree who moves from place to place will never get strong enough to withstand any storm, and there’ll not be deep roots, ever. That tree may never bring forth fruit, because it stays in the cycle of transplanting and shock, when it begins to establish itself in new soil it is uprooted again. If you were that tree you may as well just hang there doing nothing until the next digging.
I’ve seen God bless people who move from place to place to place and I’ve seen them be effective in ministries. I’ve also seen people hurt over and over again, by transplants who stay a bit, get established and then go on to the next location, call or venture. There’s s scripture that comes to mind.
1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 2And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. Rom 12
There is a good, acceptable and a perfect will of God. Where do we live? In His grace, by mercy (because we do things requiring it more and more), or in His Divine favor? Do you know God blesses the wills of men too? He likes when someone will give Him anything, he’s thankful takes it, ahh but the joy of the father when a Son wants what the father wants, what the father knows is best. The perfect will of the father.
I’ve also seen how people can’t seem to come to the house of the Lord, because they have to work 1st, or they are too tired from working so hard and so much, or they are storing up enough energy for the next work day because today they felt weak from working so much, all of this for money and more money. Yet the money keeps running away and we never seem to catch up or “get ahead”. God and His house are 2nd at best, money and its pursuit are 1st.
If that person comes, they can give some and come at least on Sundays, but mostly it is to get a fuel up to make it through the week. If anyone asks them to serve at church or help in kingdom ministry work they can’t, and they not only have excuses, but the excuses are real, they have to go serve somebody. It is all a trust and a faith issue. Having to work for money and all of the things it requires us to pay for is the #1 deterrent of growth in faith and commitment to God. I’d say there is a challenge out there for us all.
Who will we serve? If God is God, serve Him. If money is god, serve him, and we do.
I’ve also seen people say ok then I won’t work as much, but they don’t mix their faith with their time or gift offerings to the house of the Lord. It’s almost like the enemy wants to say, go ahead try it, when you fail, you’ll come back this way, to serve my will anyway.
Trust, reliance and Faith without works is dead. If we trust God, we must apply faith and purposeful work to that specified faith act. We must know our promises in the One we trust and rely on, know His word and insist on its blessing on the life of those who give of their lives for His kingdom work.
So I stay here when I could take a new position at a new company in Timbuktu and make more money. I must do that by faith. I must make declarations of faith concerning that decision.
Such as, “God I serve You and Not money, because I believe You provide all of my needs more than any other job ever could. You fill my mind and heart with creative ideas and energy to make money easily, so that I can have time for the things that are important to You first and them also to me. You are important to me, my family is important to me, and my church and the salvation of those in the world around me are important to me. I want to “kill two birds with one stone” as often as I can to conserve time and energy and be able to work my job(s) and Your kingdom at the very same time. Lord, open doors for me to be a witness that people see as genuine. Give me opportunities to meet new people and say just the right things they need to hear that will lead them to You. I want to stay in one location until You send me somewhere else, if You ever do. I believe my pastors and leaders would see me as being ready to be sent out even before I see it, if that’s what You choose to do. I’ll not choose it, for You set people in the body as it pleases You, people like my pastors will see these kinds of moves before I ever do. I belong to a family, I’m a family member. I’m faithful to You, Lord and to people too. I’m planted here through thick and thin and I grow. My roots grow down deep in love. I love Your house, more than even the furnishing and decorating of my own house. I see the work laid out here in Your local house is so extensive and You’ve been waiting to bring its increase through more of my participation here. I see the main reason for having order in my own house is to be hospitable to those who come through, so they can see You more. I believe that the righteous decisions I make to stay put are based on principles of covenant and covenant is solid. There is blessing to covenant keepers, so I call Your provisional blessings to come to my house, my business ventures, my family and all I put my hands to. You are Almighty God and anything I could ever do, any work I could ever do will not compare to what You can do for me. Forgive me for working for myself and not joining into Your work, for being too busy building my own walls and castle dreams and not tending to Yours. I purpose to lay down my life as You laid Yours down for me and my world. I won’t make my own way in life, I make way for You, I deposit my life trust in You and I expect You to take care of everything I and my family will ever need. Show me more of Your ways Lord, teach me Your pathways, and help me stay on track, not looking at what I must do to take care of me and mine, but what can I do to further care for what You care for, and in so doing I give and it shall be given me.” Amen.
Without these kinds of faith-filled prayers our ventures are dead ventures and will not work. Our pastor just preached about faith and said, what is not of faith is sin. We in America, like formulas and obligations and all we’ve gotten from that is religion, another rote obligation. We even like obligation and at least this one is a good obligation, it motivates us to be good.
Now, God is not looking for good works, though He is looking for works of faith! He’s calling us into a passionate driving relationship to move and rock our present world that is crying out for a revolutionary change.
Patience is the proof of trust. If we trust God we have patience. Those who have problems with patience are either very excited or do not trust. If we really see what God has told us and know Him well enough to know He’ll accomplish His word that we stand on and that we will not budge off of, we’ll have no problem “waiting”. This is the tool the enemy uses to get us to quit. If we quit we’ll possibly never see what we originally saw in the spirit and may never attain it either. The staying is for our faith. If we uproot our faith before its time it’ll die and it will not be able to bring forth fruit. Once the enemy sees we are immoveable the battle is about over. Patience is the process of this work. Will you stay or will you quit? Do you really mean it or just wish for it? Wishing doesn’t go anywhere with God nor does it move out of His enemies.
Did you mean what you said when you started this course? Did you mean it when you confessed Jesus as Lord of your life? That means you no longer rule your own life, you were bought by Him with His blood. He paid for you and then you said, yes I want to follow you. That’s a vow, a promise, before God- not men, God.
Yes, yes. No no. Now, as never before, it is a time to make and keep commitments, not contracts, commitments, especially those made in and to the Lord!
Follow through, follow Him. He’ll make you a fisher of men, whether you want to or not. His want to will become yours too.
Sickness comes into opened doors, or are attacks of enemies.
Is there a difference? Illness is not a test from God. The more involved we are in the will of God the more authority we will exercise over it. Pray, Pray, alone, with others, with elders, with oil, Pray.
Daily Repetitive Verses -
John 17:15 I'm not asking you to take them out of the world but to protect them from the evil one.
If the e-mail text you receive is encrypted at all, just scroll down to the end of all of the text and click on Lena’s Journalin’ , which will take you directly to the web-page where you will be able to read the text quite clearly in it’s purposed form.
James 5:1-20
A Warning to the Rich 1 You rich people, listen! Cry and be very sad because of the troubles that are coming to you. 2 Your riches have rotted, and your clothes have been eaten by moths. 3Your gold and silver have rusted, and that rust will be a proof that you were wrong. It will eat your bodies like fire. You saved your treasure for the last days. 4The pay you did not give the workers who mowed your fields cries out against you, and the cries of the workers have been heard by the Lord All-Powerful. 5Your life on earth was full of rich living and pleasing yourselves with everything you wanted. You made yourselves fat, like an animal ready to be killed. 6You have judged guilty and then murdered innocent people, who were not against you. Be Patient 7Brothers and sisters, be patient until the Lord comes again. A farmer patiently waits for his valuable crop to grow from the earth and for it to receive the autumn and spring rains. 8You, too, must be patient. Do not give up hope, because the Lord is coming soon. 9Brothers and sisters, do not complain against each other or you will be judged guilty. And the Judge is ready to come! 10Brothers and sisters, follow the example of the prophets who spoke for the Lord. They suffered many hard things, but they were patient. 11We say they are happy because they did not give up. You have heard about Job's patience, and you know the Lord's purpose for him in the end. You know the Lord is full of mercy and is kind. Be Careful What You Say 12My brothers and sisters, above all, do not use an oath when you make a promise. Don't use the name of heaven, earth, or anything else to prove what you say. When you mean yes, say only yes, and when you mean no, say only no so you will not be judged guilty. The Power of Prayer 13Anyone who is having troubles should pray. Anyone who is happy should sing praises. 14Anyone who is sick should call the church's elders. They should pray for and pour oil on the personF7 in the name of the Lord. 15And the prayer that is said with faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will heal that person. And if the person has sinned, the sins will be forgiven. 16Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so God can heal you. When a believing person prays, great things happen. 17Elijah was a human being just like us. He prayed that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years! 18Then Elijah prayed again, and the rain came down from the sky, and the land produced crops again. Saving a Soul 19My brothers and sisters, if one of you wanders away from the truth, and someone helps that person come back, 20remember this: Anyone who brings a sinner back from the wrong way will save that sinner's soul from death and will cause many sins to be forgiven.
FOOTNOTES:F8 pour oil on the person - Oil was used in the name of the Lord as a sign that the person was now set apart for God's special attention and care.
Copyright Statement: New Century Version
~ Lena’s Journalin’~
Is it “wrong” to be “rich”? Rich in what? Faith? No.
But, what is your passion in life, what do you put the most energy forth for? What do you give your life and health and strength to and what fills your mind with thoughts continuously? What takes the most of your time or drives you to accomplish in life? Is it for you to make a name for self glorification, does it build your won self worth or does it being ultimate glory to God?
In that lies the determiner of whether riches are “wrong” or not. What do they do to you, or what do you do with them? Do they lead you, guide you, are they possibly the god you serve? Or do they serve you and your God can tell you whatever He’d like for you to do with them? Do you passionately pursue it for your security here, while there is none being stored for the future which is our true life eternal?
We cannot serve two Masters, we’ll love one and hate the other, which is why the love of money is the root of all evil. We cannot serve God and money. Yet we have to serve somebody, don’t we?
I’ve seen over and over again through a few experiences in life, people choose their location to live based on money. Doesn’t that sound logical? Isn’t that how we are/were raised? Isn’t THAT how we provide for our families?
It could be, if we are the one in charge. It all boils down to who do we really trust? I remember the first time I ever heard the message presented that we are placed in cities, towns, areas on the earth as it pleases the Lord, that He assembles us in families about the earth, for equipping and for ministry. And 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, Acts 17:26
The message I’d heard was brought forth saying, why do you let your job move you around? That was so foreign in thinking to me. I’d never heard anything like it. Was there any other way to think or live?
After living here now 18 years In the same area and going to the same fellowship. I realize more and more of what the man was sharing. A tree who moves from place to place will never get strong enough to withstand any storm, and there’ll not be deep roots, ever. That tree may never bring forth fruit, because it stays in the cycle of transplanting and shock, when it begins to establish itself in new soil it is uprooted again. If you were that tree you may as well just hang there doing nothing until the next digging.
I’ve seen God bless people who move from place to place to place and I’ve seen them be effective in ministries. I’ve also seen people hurt over and over again, by transplants who stay a bit, get established and then go on to the next location, call or venture. There’s s scripture that comes to mind.
1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 2And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. Rom 12
There is a good, acceptable and a perfect will of God. Where do we live? In His grace, by mercy (because we do things requiring it more and more), or in His Divine favor? Do you know God blesses the wills of men too? He likes when someone will give Him anything, he’s thankful takes it, ahh but the joy of the father when a Son wants what the father wants, what the father knows is best. The perfect will of the father.
I’ve also seen how people can’t seem to come to the house of the Lord, because they have to work 1st, or they are too tired from working so hard and so much, or they are storing up enough energy for the next work day because today they felt weak from working so much, all of this for money and more money. Yet the money keeps running away and we never seem to catch up or “get ahead”. God and His house are 2nd at best, money and its pursuit are 1st.
If that person comes, they can give some and come at least on Sundays, but mostly it is to get a fuel up to make it through the week. If anyone asks them to serve at church or help in kingdom ministry work they can’t, and they not only have excuses, but the excuses are real, they have to go serve somebody. It is all a trust and a faith issue. Having to work for money and all of the things it requires us to pay for is the #1 deterrent of growth in faith and commitment to God. I’d say there is a challenge out there for us all.
Who will we serve? If God is God, serve Him. If money is god, serve him, and we do.
I’ve also seen people say ok then I won’t work as much, but they don’t mix their faith with their time or gift offerings to the house of the Lord. It’s almost like the enemy wants to say, go ahead try it, when you fail, you’ll come back this way, to serve my will anyway.
Trust, reliance and Faith without works is dead. If we trust God, we must apply faith and purposeful work to that specified faith act. We must know our promises in the One we trust and rely on, know His word and insist on its blessing on the life of those who give of their lives for His kingdom work.
So I stay here when I could take a new position at a new company in Timbuktu and make more money. I must do that by faith. I must make declarations of faith concerning that decision.
Such as, “God I serve You and Not money, because I believe You provide all of my needs more than any other job ever could. You fill my mind and heart with creative ideas and energy to make money easily, so that I can have time for the things that are important to You first and them also to me. You are important to me, my family is important to me, and my church and the salvation of those in the world around me are important to me. I want to “kill two birds with one stone” as often as I can to conserve time and energy and be able to work my job(s) and Your kingdom at the very same time. Lord, open doors for me to be a witness that people see as genuine. Give me opportunities to meet new people and say just the right things they need to hear that will lead them to You. I want to stay in one location until You send me somewhere else, if You ever do. I believe my pastors and leaders would see me as being ready to be sent out even before I see it, if that’s what You choose to do. I’ll not choose it, for You set people in the body as it pleases You, people like my pastors will see these kinds of moves before I ever do. I belong to a family, I’m a family member. I’m faithful to You, Lord and to people too. I’m planted here through thick and thin and I grow. My roots grow down deep in love. I love Your house, more than even the furnishing and decorating of my own house. I see the work laid out here in Your local house is so extensive and You’ve been waiting to bring its increase through more of my participation here. I see the main reason for having order in my own house is to be hospitable to those who come through, so they can see You more. I believe that the righteous decisions I make to stay put are based on principles of covenant and covenant is solid. There is blessing to covenant keepers, so I call Your provisional blessings to come to my house, my business ventures, my family and all I put my hands to. You are Almighty God and anything I could ever do, any work I could ever do will not compare to what You can do for me. Forgive me for working for myself and not joining into Your work, for being too busy building my own walls and castle dreams and not tending to Yours. I purpose to lay down my life as You laid Yours down for me and my world. I won’t make my own way in life, I make way for You, I deposit my life trust in You and I expect You to take care of everything I and my family will ever need. Show me more of Your ways Lord, teach me Your pathways, and help me stay on track, not looking at what I must do to take care of me and mine, but what can I do to further care for what You care for, and in so doing I give and it shall be given me.” Amen.
Without these kinds of faith-filled prayers our ventures are dead ventures and will not work. Our pastor just preached about faith and said, what is not of faith is sin. We in America, like formulas and obligations and all we’ve gotten from that is religion, another rote obligation. We even like obligation and at least this one is a good obligation, it motivates us to be good.
Now, God is not looking for good works, though He is looking for works of faith! He’s calling us into a passionate driving relationship to move and rock our present world that is crying out for a revolutionary change.
Patience is the proof of trust. If we trust God we have patience. Those who have problems with patience are either very excited or do not trust. If we really see what God has told us and know Him well enough to know He’ll accomplish His word that we stand on and that we will not budge off of, we’ll have no problem “waiting”. This is the tool the enemy uses to get us to quit. If we quit we’ll possibly never see what we originally saw in the spirit and may never attain it either. The staying is for our faith. If we uproot our faith before its time it’ll die and it will not be able to bring forth fruit. Once the enemy sees we are immoveable the battle is about over. Patience is the process of this work. Will you stay or will you quit? Do you really mean it or just wish for it? Wishing doesn’t go anywhere with God nor does it move out of His enemies.
Did you mean what you said when you started this course? Did you mean it when you confessed Jesus as Lord of your life? That means you no longer rule your own life, you were bought by Him with His blood. He paid for you and then you said, yes I want to follow you. That’s a vow, a promise, before God- not men, God.
Yes, yes. No no. Now, as never before, it is a time to make and keep commitments, not contracts, commitments, especially those made in and to the Lord!
Follow through, follow Him. He’ll make you a fisher of men, whether you want to or not. His want to will become yours too.
Sickness comes into opened doors, or are attacks of enemies.
Is there a difference? Illness is not a test from God. The more involved we are in the will of God the more authority we will exercise over it. Pray, Pray, alone, with others, with elders, with oil, Pray.
Daily Repetitive Verses -
John 17:15 I'm not asking you to take them out of the world but to protect them from the evil one.
Thursday, October 12, 2006
Col 4 What a price to Pay? Yes true, it is high...
Scripture selections are taken from the Rock Church Daily Bread Reading schedule for each month. “Lena’s Journalin’” are Lena’s comments on the specific passages from her Daily Journal.
If the e-mail text you receive is encrypted at all, just scroll down to the end of all of the text and click on Lena’s Journalin’ , which will take you directly to the web-page where you will be able to read the text quite clearly in it’s purposed form.
Colossians 4:1-18 -
1You slave owners must be just and fair to your slaves. Remember that you also have a Master—in heaven.
An Encouragement for Prayer
2Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart. 3Don't forget to pray for us, too, that God will give us many opportunities to preach about his secret plan—that Christ is also for you Gentiles. That is why I am here in chains. 4Pray that I will proclaim this message as clearly as I should.
5Live wisely among those who are not Christians, and make the most of every opportunity. 6Let your conversation be gracious and effective so that you will have the right answer for everyone.
Paul's Final Instructions and Greetings
7Tychicus, a much loved brother, will tell you how I am getting along. He is a faithful helper who serves the Lord with me. 8I have sent him on this special trip to let you know how we are doing and to encourage you. 9I am also sending Onesimus, a faithful and much loved brother, one of your own people. He and Tychicus will give you all the latest news.
10Aristarchus, who is in prison with me, sends you his greetings, and so does Mark, Barnabas's cousin. And as you were instructed before, make Mark welcome if he comes your way. 11Jesus (the one we call Justus) also sends his greetings. These are the only Jewish Christians among my co-workers; they are working with me here for the Kingdom of God. And what a comfort they have been!
12Epaphras, from your city, a servant of Christ Jesus, sends you his greetings. He always prays earnestly for you, asking God to make you strong and perfect, fully confident of the whole will of God. 13I can assure you that he has agonized for you and also for the Christians in Laodicea and Hierapolis.
14Dear Doctor Luke sends his greetings, and so does Demas. 15Please give my greetings to our Christian brothers and sisters F12 at Laodicea, and to Nympha and those who meet in her house.
16After you have read this letter, pass it on to the church at Laodicea so they can read it, too. And you should read the letter I wrote to them. 17And say to Archippus, "Be sure to carry out the work the Lord gave you."
18Here is my greeting in my own handwriting—PAUL. Remember my chains. May the grace of God be with you.
FOOTNOTES: F12: Greek brothers.
Copyright Statement: Holy Bible, The New Living Translation
~ Lena’s Journalin’~
This is written from the true heart of the Father God. The Lord may cause man to rule over men, and culture and times may even have men in position over those who are enslaved (not always because the men enslaved them necessarily, but because they are enslaved- i.e. prisoners, or people who are bound in sin even). It is not the ruler’s portion to punish and condemn. Our portion, as men, is as stewards of the souls that ultimately belong to God, we lead them to righteousness. Yes they are living in the consequences of their sins, but we don’t have to “rub it in”. They can serve their time as unto the Lord, giving their life’s service in great appreciation to Him, for they can know all He gave for them.
Even parents, must know their position of parenting is before God as stewards of the spiritual souls 1st. Above any physical or mental training, the stewardship of the spirit-man is the number one.
Why do you think there’s so much confusion and such walls up against the message of the gospel? It started at home. What messages were preached there, or not preached? IF a parent raises their child as stewards of the message of the Lordship of Christ, the struggle would be removed. We who preach go into ungoverned homes and right the wrong rule. This is a root work. It is hard work, because it is the work of the hidden root systems, it is trench work, there must be a breakthrough. That breaking through will only come through prayer.
The #1 requirement of any parent before God is spiritual stewardship. When a person has a child, that person has taken on the responsibility of the stewardship of saving that human soul. If physical or mental domineering takes away from that, we’ve been unjust and unfair to that which is entrusted to us. We will all give an account for how well we each led others to Christ. Especially those of our own household. Most of a parents or a caregiver’s domineerance should be vented in spiritual warfare against the enemies of their household in prayer and in the spirit, loving the humans with an unconditional love. For it is the goodness of God that leads men to repent. A man’s rule, a woman’s rule as a parent need s to start above the rooftops of the home, before the enemies try to get inside. If they see evidence of invasion, they fight and war in prayer, in the spirit and kick the enemies out of the house!
Because of the bondages men are under, other men suffer willingly, to free them. In this passage I see many forms of suffering for the gospel message to be brought to others who are suffering, though they may not have physical chains on them. Those who count Him worthy are wiling ot wear physical chains that those who wear spiritual ones may go free. I see the cost of earning freedom for others, and the price these men, by revelation of His great love, are willing to pay.
"Be sure to carry out the work the Lord gave you."
At what expense though? How much does it cost, how much will it cost me personally? On your knees you’ll get to the place you can see the price that was paid and you’ll see yours is only a portion no matter how large it seems. You can’t really see it in any other position. It’s the knees and on the face that one can see this deeply into the heart of God.
Daily Repetitive Verses -
John 17:15 I'm not asking you to take them out of the world but to protect them from the evil one.
If the e-mail text you receive is encrypted at all, just scroll down to the end of all of the text and click on Lena’s Journalin’ , which will take you directly to the web-page where you will be able to read the text quite clearly in it’s purposed form.
Colossians 4:1-18 -
1You slave owners must be just and fair to your slaves. Remember that you also have a Master—in heaven.
An Encouragement for Prayer
2Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart. 3Don't forget to pray for us, too, that God will give us many opportunities to preach about his secret plan—that Christ is also for you Gentiles. That is why I am here in chains. 4Pray that I will proclaim this message as clearly as I should.
5Live wisely among those who are not Christians, and make the most of every opportunity. 6Let your conversation be gracious and effective so that you will have the right answer for everyone.
Paul's Final Instructions and Greetings
7Tychicus, a much loved brother, will tell you how I am getting along. He is a faithful helper who serves the Lord with me. 8I have sent him on this special trip to let you know how we are doing and to encourage you. 9I am also sending Onesimus, a faithful and much loved brother, one of your own people. He and Tychicus will give you all the latest news.
10Aristarchus, who is in prison with me, sends you his greetings, and so does Mark, Barnabas's cousin. And as you were instructed before, make Mark welcome if he comes your way. 11Jesus (the one we call Justus) also sends his greetings. These are the only Jewish Christians among my co-workers; they are working with me here for the Kingdom of God. And what a comfort they have been!
12Epaphras, from your city, a servant of Christ Jesus, sends you his greetings. He always prays earnestly for you, asking God to make you strong and perfect, fully confident of the whole will of God. 13I can assure you that he has agonized for you and also for the Christians in Laodicea and Hierapolis.
14Dear Doctor Luke sends his greetings, and so does Demas. 15Please give my greetings to our Christian brothers and sisters F12 at Laodicea, and to Nympha and those who meet in her house.
16After you have read this letter, pass it on to the church at Laodicea so they can read it, too. And you should read the letter I wrote to them. 17And say to Archippus, "Be sure to carry out the work the Lord gave you."
18Here is my greeting in my own handwriting—PAUL. Remember my chains. May the grace of God be with you.
FOOTNOTES: F12: Greek brothers.
Copyright Statement: Holy Bible, The New Living Translation
~ Lena’s Journalin’~
This is written from the true heart of the Father God. The Lord may cause man to rule over men, and culture and times may even have men in position over those who are enslaved (not always because the men enslaved them necessarily, but because they are enslaved- i.e. prisoners, or people who are bound in sin even). It is not the ruler’s portion to punish and condemn. Our portion, as men, is as stewards of the souls that ultimately belong to God, we lead them to righteousness. Yes they are living in the consequences of their sins, but we don’t have to “rub it in”. They can serve their time as unto the Lord, giving their life’s service in great appreciation to Him, for they can know all He gave for them.
Even parents, must know their position of parenting is before God as stewards of the spiritual souls 1st. Above any physical or mental training, the stewardship of the spirit-man is the number one.
Why do you think there’s so much confusion and such walls up against the message of the gospel? It started at home. What messages were preached there, or not preached? IF a parent raises their child as stewards of the message of the Lordship of Christ, the struggle would be removed. We who preach go into ungoverned homes and right the wrong rule. This is a root work. It is hard work, because it is the work of the hidden root systems, it is trench work, there must be a breakthrough. That breaking through will only come through prayer.
The #1 requirement of any parent before God is spiritual stewardship. When a person has a child, that person has taken on the responsibility of the stewardship of saving that human soul. If physical or mental domineering takes away from that, we’ve been unjust and unfair to that which is entrusted to us. We will all give an account for how well we each led others to Christ. Especially those of our own household. Most of a parents or a caregiver’s domineerance should be vented in spiritual warfare against the enemies of their household in prayer and in the spirit, loving the humans with an unconditional love. For it is the goodness of God that leads men to repent. A man’s rule, a woman’s rule as a parent need s to start above the rooftops of the home, before the enemies try to get inside. If they see evidence of invasion, they fight and war in prayer, in the spirit and kick the enemies out of the house!
Because of the bondages men are under, other men suffer willingly, to free them. In this passage I see many forms of suffering for the gospel message to be brought to others who are suffering, though they may not have physical chains on them. Those who count Him worthy are wiling ot wear physical chains that those who wear spiritual ones may go free. I see the cost of earning freedom for others, and the price these men, by revelation of His great love, are willing to pay.
"Be sure to carry out the work the Lord gave you."
At what expense though? How much does it cost, how much will it cost me personally? On your knees you’ll get to the place you can see the price that was paid and you’ll see yours is only a portion no matter how large it seems. You can’t really see it in any other position. It’s the knees and on the face that one can see this deeply into the heart of God.
Daily Repetitive Verses -
John 17:15 I'm not asking you to take them out of the world but to protect them from the evil one.
Wednesday, October 11, 2006
Phil 4 Let's All Give Thanks in Prayer!
Scripture selections are taken from the Rock Church Daily Bread Reading schedule for each month. “Lena’s Journalin’” are Lena’s comments on the specific passages from her Daily Journal.
If the e-mail text you receive is encrypted at all, just scroll down to the end of all of the text and click on Lena’s Journalin’ , which will take you directly to the web-page where you will be able to read the text quite clearly in it’s purposed form.
Phillipians 4:1-23
Be Anxious for Nothing; Think These Thoughts1 Therefore, my beloved and longed-for brethren, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, beloved. Be United, Joyful, and in Prayer 2 I implore Euodia and I implore Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord. 3And F51 I urge you also, true companion, help these women who labored with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the Book of Life. 4Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! 5Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. 6Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Meditate on These Things 8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy--meditate on these things. 9The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you. Philippian Generosity 10 But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at last your care for me has flourished again; though you surely did care, but you lacked opportunity. 11Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: 12I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. 13I can do all things through Christ F52 who strengthens me. 14Nevertheless you have done well that you shared in my distress. 15Now you Philippians know also that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church shared with me concerning giving and receiving but you only. 16For even in Thessalonica you sent aid once and again for my necessities. 17Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that abounds to your account. 18Indeed I have all and abound. I am full, having received from Epaphroditus the things sent from you, a sweet-smelling aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well pleasing to God. 19And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. 20Now to our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen. Greeting and Blessing 21 Greet every saint in Christ Jesus. The brethren who are with me greet you. 22All the saints greet you, but especially those who are of Caesar's household. 23The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. F53 Amen.
Footnotes F51: 4:3 NU-Text and M-Text read Yes. F52: 4:13 NU-Text reads Him who. F53: 4:23 NU-Text reads your spirit.
~Lena’s Journalin’~
Today will be short. Some say PTL, Hey I just gave ya a reason to swing those hips, jump and shout and twirl about- huh? J
Anyway, one real point I see for us all today, is that when we choose to give thanks, when we choose to rejoice, when we choose God’s thoughts, and we choose Praise, we come outside of what our natural man is screaming and daily calling us to do, think and be and we look up to a higher than us place, a life that we do not see with our natural eyes, but a life that our inner man, the deepest part of our very created beings scream out for daily. That eternal life and all that causes that true life of God in us to grow and flourish, that life that begins when we really see Him.
Happiness does not just happen, joy is not just born, it is made by conscious decisions of each day. Today I choose to rejoice in ALL things, not just what I see, but what He’d desire I see.
This is so vital to the continuity of spiritual, eternal life. This is the war we daily fight. To say No to lies, to say no to feelings, to say no to teachings the world has raised us up in and with a decision of our will act upon the truth of God’s Word that we know inside of the deepest part of us is truth, saying YES to GOD!
Tell your circumstances- Jesus is LORD, Tell your feelings- Jesus is Lord, tell them all- Jesus is LORD! Jesus is Lord of me! As for me and my ( own body) house, we (body soul and spirit) will serve the LORD! Amen
Give Thanks Today, that’s how we enter in to His gates.Open up Ye gates, let’s let the King of Glory come through!
Daily Repetitive Verses -
John 17:15 I'm not asking you to take them out of the world but to protect them from the evil one.
If the e-mail text you receive is encrypted at all, just scroll down to the end of all of the text and click on Lena’s Journalin’ , which will take you directly to the web-page where you will be able to read the text quite clearly in it’s purposed form.
Phillipians 4:1-23
Be Anxious for Nothing; Think These Thoughts1 Therefore, my beloved and longed-for brethren, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, beloved. Be United, Joyful, and in Prayer 2 I implore Euodia and I implore Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord. 3And F51 I urge you also, true companion, help these women who labored with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the Book of Life. 4Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! 5Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. 6Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Meditate on These Things 8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy--meditate on these things. 9The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you. Philippian Generosity 10 But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at last your care for me has flourished again; though you surely did care, but you lacked opportunity. 11Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: 12I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. 13I can do all things through Christ F52 who strengthens me. 14Nevertheless you have done well that you shared in my distress. 15Now you Philippians know also that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church shared with me concerning giving and receiving but you only. 16For even in Thessalonica you sent aid once and again for my necessities. 17Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that abounds to your account. 18Indeed I have all and abound. I am full, having received from Epaphroditus the things sent from you, a sweet-smelling aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well pleasing to God. 19And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. 20Now to our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen. Greeting and Blessing 21 Greet every saint in Christ Jesus. The brethren who are with me greet you. 22All the saints greet you, but especially those who are of Caesar's household. 23The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. F53 Amen.
Footnotes F51: 4:3 NU-Text and M-Text read Yes. F52: 4:13 NU-Text reads Him who. F53: 4:23 NU-Text reads your spirit.
~Lena’s Journalin’~
Today will be short. Some say PTL, Hey I just gave ya a reason to swing those hips, jump and shout and twirl about- huh? J
Anyway, one real point I see for us all today, is that when we choose to give thanks, when we choose to rejoice, when we choose God’s thoughts, and we choose Praise, we come outside of what our natural man is screaming and daily calling us to do, think and be and we look up to a higher than us place, a life that we do not see with our natural eyes, but a life that our inner man, the deepest part of our very created beings scream out for daily. That eternal life and all that causes that true life of God in us to grow and flourish, that life that begins when we really see Him.
Happiness does not just happen, joy is not just born, it is made by conscious decisions of each day. Today I choose to rejoice in ALL things, not just what I see, but what He’d desire I see.
This is so vital to the continuity of spiritual, eternal life. This is the war we daily fight. To say No to lies, to say no to feelings, to say no to teachings the world has raised us up in and with a decision of our will act upon the truth of God’s Word that we know inside of the deepest part of us is truth, saying YES to GOD!
Tell your circumstances- Jesus is LORD, Tell your feelings- Jesus is Lord, tell them all- Jesus is LORD! Jesus is Lord of me! As for me and my ( own body) house, we (body soul and spirit) will serve the LORD! Amen
Give Thanks Today, that’s how we enter in to His gates.Open up Ye gates, let’s let the King of Glory come through!
Daily Repetitive Verses -
John 17:15 I'm not asking you to take them out of the world but to protect them from the evil one.
Tuesday, October 10, 2006
Acts 12 Pray Until Something Happens....
Scripture selections are taken from the Rock Church Daily Bread Reading schedule for each month. “Lena’s Journalin’” are Lena’s comments on the specific passages from her Daily Journal.
If the e-mail text you receive is encrypted at all, just scroll down to the end of all of the text and click on Lena’s Journalin’ , which will take you directly to the web-page where you will be able to read the text quite clearly in it’s purposed form.
Acts 12:1-25 -
James Is Killed and Peter Is Imprisoned
1About that time King Herod Agrippa F61 began to persecute some believers in the church. 2He had the apostle James (John's brother) killed with a sword. 3When Herod saw how much this pleased the Jewish leaders, he arrested Peter during the Passover celebration F62 4and imprisoned him, placing him under the guard of four squads of four soldiers each. Herod's intention was to bring Peter out for public trial after the Passover. 5But while Peter was in prison, the church prayed very earnestly for him.
Peter's Miraculous Escape from Prison
6The night before Peter was to be placed on trial, he was asleep, chained between two soldiers, with others standing guard at the prison gate. 7Suddenly, there was a bright light in the cell, and an angel of the Lord stood before Peter. The angel tapped him on the side to awaken him and said, "Quick! Get up!" And the chains fell off his wrists. 8Then the angel told him, "Get dressed and put on your sandals." And he did. "Now put on your coat and follow me," the angel ordered.
9So Peter left the cell, following the angel. But all the time he thought it was a vision. He didn't realize it was really happening. 10They passed the first and second guard posts and came to the iron gate to the street, and this opened to them all by itself. So they passed through and started walking down the street, and then the angel suddenly left him.
11Peter finally realized what had happened. "It's really true!" he said to himself. "The Lord has sent his angel and saved me from Herod and from what the Jews were hoping to do to me!"
12After a little thought, he went to the home of Mary, the mother of John Mark, where many were gathered for prayer. 13He knocked at the door in the gate, and a servant girl named Rhoda came to open it. 14When she recognized Peter's voice, she was so overjoyed that, instead of opening the door, she ran back inside and told everyone, "Peter is standing at the door!"
15"You're out of your mind," they said. When she insisted, they decided, "It must be his angel."
16Meanwhile, Peter continued knocking. When they finally went out and opened the door, they were amazed. 17He motioned for them to quiet down and told them what had happened and how the Lord had led him out of jail. "Tell James and the other brothers what happened," he said. And then he went to another place.
18At dawn, there was a great commotion among the soldiers about what had happened to Peter. 19Herod Agrippa ordered a thorough search for him. When he couldn't be found, Herod interrogated the guards and sentenced them to death. Afterward Herod left Judea to stay in Caesarea for a while.
The Death of Herod Agrippa
20Now Herod was very angry with the people of Tyre and Sidon. So they sent a delegation to make peace with him because their cities were dependent upon Herod's country for their food. They made friends with Blastus, Herod's personal assistant, 21and an appointment with Herod was granted. When the day arrived, Herod put on his royal robes, sat on his throne, and made a speech to them. 22The people gave him a great ovation, shouting, "It is the voice of a god, not of a man!"
23Instantly, an angel of the Lord struck Herod with a sickness, because he accepted the people's worship instead of giving the glory to God. So he was consumed with worms and died.
24But God's Good News was spreading rapidly, and there were many new believers.
25When Barnabas and Saul had finished their mission in Jerusalem, they returned to Antioch, taking John Mark with them.
FOOTNOTES:F61: Greek Herod the king. He was the nephew of Herod Antipas and a grandson of Herod the Great. F62: Greek the days of unleavened bread.
Copyright Statement: Holy Bible, The New Living Translation
~ Lena’s Journalin’~
The name Herod, means “heroic”, also “seen” as in outwardly fashionable, and to run one’s attentions towards, also “see” as in use of the 5 senses, to perceive (as in: I believe and reply only on what I see, I lust after what I see, I go after what my eye sees/wants).
Doesn’t sound all that extreme does it? But it is extreme, for self exaltation again is the very enemy of God and is the very root of sin that satan himself displayed right before being banished from God’s presence. In it lies a spirit of murder and abortion. Herod was living out a generation curse, a call, a lineage of self exaltation. Inside of self exaltation is the spirit of death. In Christ we die to self and live for the purposes of God. This opposes being “heroic”. The very spirit of Pharaoh and of Hitler was in him.
His mission is to destroy the gospel message however it may; to nullify the Genesis mandate and Great Commission in their effectiveness and the desire to be a part of a whole family of people who would carry it out.
What a horrid position to be in or to become subjected to. Can you imagine having a newborn ripped from your hands and killed before your eyes, because a general order was given? What can one do when this spirit is unleashed by its obedient servants in a day or time or hour? Who is exempt from its execution, but those who seek the Lord Most High.
PRAY, PUSH (Pray Until Something Happens). Prayer is the only remedy, and breaking the back of this stronghold can only be done through concentrated prayer, meaning it takes agreement of a company of believers to move this type of principality. How desperate would you be to have someone, anyone, assemble with you to break this back if you are the mother or father of a 1 year old? How would you feel if no one had or took time to join your prayer meeting? For those who do come, you are praying they’ll be in faith and authoritative in their requests and in their mountain moving power!
This is how God feels about the assembly of His people. He has dire needs to be executed in the earth. He’s been calling prayer meetings for 2000+ years! He has needs that only He can accomplish here, only we can permit Him to, as a company of witnesses agree for Him to do His will.
What we allow here is allowed, what we don’t (move to allow) allow is not allowed here. We’re earth’s governors and ministers. God set us here to open our mouths and execute His words. He gave us tools and we must either use them or allow them to sit unused, thus mountains stay put!
We can’t blame God for that, He set up an order, one of human rule. What they really want, He helps them get, as long as it is in line with His words, He helps it come to pass.
He said, “Adam, you rule, your world, and Adam did”. He says the same to us, “Lena, you rule your world”, and I do. I can say “Ya know, I’m so tired of this job, I don’t even want it anymore” and I become unthankful to God who provided me the job, I murmur, I complain, I begrudge, I lose the business, or no more business seems to come my way anymore. I may think the season for what I do is over. No, I just ruled my world, with my words, like God taught me to. It didn’t turn out so good, what did I expect? What I allow was allowed, what I wanted I got. Lena, you go ahead and rule, be responsible. Guess what? Once I find out I can change my world again, with my words, and best of all with His; I can repent, change, turn my world back around, uproot complaints in Jesus name, speak blessings over my business, rule, allow.
Pastor Jennifer came and was with the G-12 and shared this passage of scripture. She said we are in as serious a time as these were, yet we may not perceive it or see it, if we look naturally. She pointed out that through prayer the miraculous happened, Peter was loosed from his chains in the prison, because of the assembled agreed prayers of the saints. Notice after his chains were loosed he was given instructions from the angel, to get his clothes on! That may seem funny, BUT who had to decide to do the dressing of his body and walk out of there to who knows what? Peter! Peter would allow or not allow himself to take responsibility for his freedom. He might have felt a certain amount of comfort in his bondage. He did not know what lieth at wait outside of the prison doors, now did he? He had to trust God in the walking out of his freedom. The messenger of the word came and showed him the way of freedom, told him what to do, he had to decide to do it.
The saints were praying, expecting their prayers to bring change, change came, even quicker than they expected! Peter had to decide to walk it out, so do we.
With prayer and the walking out of faith and spreading the gospel we are responsible over something very holy- God’s word, God’s will, God’s plans!
Peter put on his clothes, followed where he was led, and showed up as the answer of someone’s prayers thus bringing great glory to God. When we subject ourselves to His will, He is glorified, when we stay in the acting out of our own, we might be glorified for a time, but the time is short-lived and not worth a whole lot of weight. Glory actually means weight! Responsibility=weight.
Nothing, absolutely NOTHING is impossible with God, NOTHING. The freewill of rebellion can hold back His blessings from us personally, but NOTHING is impossible with God. Even a perverted heroic self centered spirit can be brought low in a moment’s time. What is so tragic about it, is all of the person’s days and the opportunities they had to glorify God are over, they choose themselves over the glorification of God!
God had had enough, the earth had had enough, the saints had had enough and decided to PUSH, Herod was consumed. His vile spirit was dealt with by God.
Daily Repetitive Verses -
John 17:15 I'm not asking you to take them out of the world but to protect them from the evil one.
If the e-mail text you receive is encrypted at all, just scroll down to the end of all of the text and click on Lena’s Journalin’ , which will take you directly to the web-page where you will be able to read the text quite clearly in it’s purposed form.
Acts 12:1-25 -
James Is Killed and Peter Is Imprisoned
1About that time King Herod Agrippa F61 began to persecute some believers in the church. 2He had the apostle James (John's brother) killed with a sword. 3When Herod saw how much this pleased the Jewish leaders, he arrested Peter during the Passover celebration F62 4and imprisoned him, placing him under the guard of four squads of four soldiers each. Herod's intention was to bring Peter out for public trial after the Passover. 5But while Peter was in prison, the church prayed very earnestly for him.
Peter's Miraculous Escape from Prison
6The night before Peter was to be placed on trial, he was asleep, chained between two soldiers, with others standing guard at the prison gate. 7Suddenly, there was a bright light in the cell, and an angel of the Lord stood before Peter. The angel tapped him on the side to awaken him and said, "Quick! Get up!" And the chains fell off his wrists. 8Then the angel told him, "Get dressed and put on your sandals." And he did. "Now put on your coat and follow me," the angel ordered.
9So Peter left the cell, following the angel. But all the time he thought it was a vision. He didn't realize it was really happening. 10They passed the first and second guard posts and came to the iron gate to the street, and this opened to them all by itself. So they passed through and started walking down the street, and then the angel suddenly left him.
11Peter finally realized what had happened. "It's really true!" he said to himself. "The Lord has sent his angel and saved me from Herod and from what the Jews were hoping to do to me!"
12After a little thought, he went to the home of Mary, the mother of John Mark, where many were gathered for prayer. 13He knocked at the door in the gate, and a servant girl named Rhoda came to open it. 14When she recognized Peter's voice, she was so overjoyed that, instead of opening the door, she ran back inside and told everyone, "Peter is standing at the door!"
15"You're out of your mind," they said. When she insisted, they decided, "It must be his angel."
16Meanwhile, Peter continued knocking. When they finally went out and opened the door, they were amazed. 17He motioned for them to quiet down and told them what had happened and how the Lord had led him out of jail. "Tell James and the other brothers what happened," he said. And then he went to another place.
18At dawn, there was a great commotion among the soldiers about what had happened to Peter. 19Herod Agrippa ordered a thorough search for him. When he couldn't be found, Herod interrogated the guards and sentenced them to death. Afterward Herod left Judea to stay in Caesarea for a while.
The Death of Herod Agrippa
20Now Herod was very angry with the people of Tyre and Sidon. So they sent a delegation to make peace with him because their cities were dependent upon Herod's country for their food. They made friends with Blastus, Herod's personal assistant, 21and an appointment with Herod was granted. When the day arrived, Herod put on his royal robes, sat on his throne, and made a speech to them. 22The people gave him a great ovation, shouting, "It is the voice of a god, not of a man!"
23Instantly, an angel of the Lord struck Herod with a sickness, because he accepted the people's worship instead of giving the glory to God. So he was consumed with worms and died.
24But God's Good News was spreading rapidly, and there were many new believers.
25When Barnabas and Saul had finished their mission in Jerusalem, they returned to Antioch, taking John Mark with them.
FOOTNOTES:F61: Greek Herod the king. He was the nephew of Herod Antipas and a grandson of Herod the Great. F62: Greek the days of unleavened bread.
Copyright Statement: Holy Bible, The New Living Translation
~ Lena’s Journalin’~
The name Herod, means “heroic”, also “seen” as in outwardly fashionable, and to run one’s attentions towards, also “see” as in use of the 5 senses, to perceive (as in: I believe and reply only on what I see, I lust after what I see, I go after what my eye sees/wants).
Doesn’t sound all that extreme does it? But it is extreme, for self exaltation again is the very enemy of God and is the very root of sin that satan himself displayed right before being banished from God’s presence. In it lies a spirit of murder and abortion. Herod was living out a generation curse, a call, a lineage of self exaltation. Inside of self exaltation is the spirit of death. In Christ we die to self and live for the purposes of God. This opposes being “heroic”. The very spirit of Pharaoh and of Hitler was in him.
His mission is to destroy the gospel message however it may; to nullify the Genesis mandate and Great Commission in their effectiveness and the desire to be a part of a whole family of people who would carry it out.
What a horrid position to be in or to become subjected to. Can you imagine having a newborn ripped from your hands and killed before your eyes, because a general order was given? What can one do when this spirit is unleashed by its obedient servants in a day or time or hour? Who is exempt from its execution, but those who seek the Lord Most High.
PRAY, PUSH (Pray Until Something Happens). Prayer is the only remedy, and breaking the back of this stronghold can only be done through concentrated prayer, meaning it takes agreement of a company of believers to move this type of principality. How desperate would you be to have someone, anyone, assemble with you to break this back if you are the mother or father of a 1 year old? How would you feel if no one had or took time to join your prayer meeting? For those who do come, you are praying they’ll be in faith and authoritative in their requests and in their mountain moving power!
This is how God feels about the assembly of His people. He has dire needs to be executed in the earth. He’s been calling prayer meetings for 2000+ years! He has needs that only He can accomplish here, only we can permit Him to, as a company of witnesses agree for Him to do His will.
What we allow here is allowed, what we don’t (move to allow) allow is not allowed here. We’re earth’s governors and ministers. God set us here to open our mouths and execute His words. He gave us tools and we must either use them or allow them to sit unused, thus mountains stay put!
We can’t blame God for that, He set up an order, one of human rule. What they really want, He helps them get, as long as it is in line with His words, He helps it come to pass.
He said, “Adam, you rule, your world, and Adam did”. He says the same to us, “Lena, you rule your world”, and I do. I can say “Ya know, I’m so tired of this job, I don’t even want it anymore” and I become unthankful to God who provided me the job, I murmur, I complain, I begrudge, I lose the business, or no more business seems to come my way anymore. I may think the season for what I do is over. No, I just ruled my world, with my words, like God taught me to. It didn’t turn out so good, what did I expect? What I allow was allowed, what I wanted I got. Lena, you go ahead and rule, be responsible. Guess what? Once I find out I can change my world again, with my words, and best of all with His; I can repent, change, turn my world back around, uproot complaints in Jesus name, speak blessings over my business, rule, allow.
Pastor Jennifer came and was with the G-12 and shared this passage of scripture. She said we are in as serious a time as these were, yet we may not perceive it or see it, if we look naturally. She pointed out that through prayer the miraculous happened, Peter was loosed from his chains in the prison, because of the assembled agreed prayers of the saints. Notice after his chains were loosed he was given instructions from the angel, to get his clothes on! That may seem funny, BUT who had to decide to do the dressing of his body and walk out of there to who knows what? Peter! Peter would allow or not allow himself to take responsibility for his freedom. He might have felt a certain amount of comfort in his bondage. He did not know what lieth at wait outside of the prison doors, now did he? He had to trust God in the walking out of his freedom. The messenger of the word came and showed him the way of freedom, told him what to do, he had to decide to do it.
The saints were praying, expecting their prayers to bring change, change came, even quicker than they expected! Peter had to decide to walk it out, so do we.
With prayer and the walking out of faith and spreading the gospel we are responsible over something very holy- God’s word, God’s will, God’s plans!
Peter put on his clothes, followed where he was led, and showed up as the answer of someone’s prayers thus bringing great glory to God. When we subject ourselves to His will, He is glorified, when we stay in the acting out of our own, we might be glorified for a time, but the time is short-lived and not worth a whole lot of weight. Glory actually means weight! Responsibility=weight.
Nothing, absolutely NOTHING is impossible with God, NOTHING. The freewill of rebellion can hold back His blessings from us personally, but NOTHING is impossible with God. Even a perverted heroic self centered spirit can be brought low in a moment’s time. What is so tragic about it, is all of the person’s days and the opportunities they had to glorify God are over, they choose themselves over the glorification of God!
God had had enough, the earth had had enough, the saints had had enough and decided to PUSH, Herod was consumed. His vile spirit was dealt with by God.
Daily Repetitive Verses -
John 17:15 I'm not asking you to take them out of the world but to protect them from the evil one.
Monday, October 09, 2006
Luke 18 How much we believe shows in what we do or don't or will or won't do
Scripture selections are taken from the Rock Church Daily Bread Reading schedule for each month. “Lena’s Journalin’” are Lena’s comments on the specific passages from her Daily Journal.
If the e-mail text you receive is encrypted at all, just scroll down to the end of all of the text and click on Lena’s Journalin’ , which will take you directly to the web-page where you will be able to read the text quite clearly in it’s purposed form.
Luke 18:1-43 -
Story of the Persistent Widow
1One day Jesus told his disciples a story to illustrate their need for constant prayer and to show them that they must never give up. 2"There was a judge in a certain city," he said, "who was a godless man with great contempt for everyone. 3A widow of that city came to him repeatedly, appealing for justice against someone who had harmed her. 4The judge ignored her for a while, but eventually she wore him out. 'I fear neither God nor man,' he said to himself, 5'but this woman is driving me crazy. I'm going to see that she gets justice, because she is wearing me out with her constant requests!'"
6Then the Lord said, "Learn a lesson from this evil judge. 7Even he rendered a just decision in the end, so don't you think God will surely give justice to his chosen people who plead with him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? 8I tell you, he will grant justice to them quickly! But when I, the Son of Man, return, how many will I find who have faith?"
Story of the Pharisee and Tax Collector
9Then Jesus told this story to some who had great self-confidence and scorned everyone else: 10"Two men went to the Temple to pray. One was a Pharisee, and the other was a dishonest tax collector. 11The proud Pharisee stood by himself and prayed this prayer: 'I thank you, God, that I am not a sinner like everyone else, especially like that tax collector over there! For I never cheat, I don't sin, I don't commit adultery, 12I fast twice a week, and I give you a tenth of my income.'
13"But the tax collector stood at a distance and dared not even lift his eyes to heaven as he prayed. Instead, he beat his chest in sorrow, saying, 'O God, be merciful to me, for I am a sinner.' 14I tell you, this sinner, not the Pharisee, returned home justified before God. For the proud will be humbled, but the humble will be honored."
Jesus Blesses the Children
15One day some parents brought their little children to Jesus so he could touch them and bless them, but the disciples told them not to bother him. 16Then Jesus called for the children and said to the disciples, "Let the children come to me. Don't stop them! For the Kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 17I assure you, anyone who doesn't have their kind of faith will never get into the Kingdom of God."
The Rich Man
18Once a religious leader asked Jesus this question: "Good teacher, what should I do to get eternal life?"
19"Why do you call me good?" Jesus asked him. "Only God is truly good. 20But as for your question, you know the commandments: 'Do not commit adultery. Do not murder. Do not steal. Do not testify falsely. Honor your father and mother.' F84 "
21The man replied, "I've obeyed all these commandments since I was a child."
22"There is still one thing you lack," Jesus said. "Sell all you have and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me." 23But when the man heard this, he became sad because he was very rich.
24Jesus watched him go and then said to his disciples, "How hard it is for rich people to get into the Kingdom of God! 25It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of God!"
26Those who heard this said, "Then who in the world can be saved?"
27He replied, "What is impossible from a human perspective is possible with God."
28Peter said, "We have left our homes and followed you."
29"Yes," Jesus replied, "and I assure you, everyone who has given up house or wife or brothers or parents or children, for the sake of the Kingdom of God, 30will be repaid many times over in this life, as well as receiving eternal life in the world to come."
Jesus Again Predicts His Death
31Gathering the twelve disciples around him, Jesus told them, "As you know, we are going to Jerusalem. And when we get there, all the predictions of the ancient prophets concerning the Son of Man will come true. 32He will be handed over to the Romans to be mocked, treated shamefully, and spit upon. 33They will whip him and kill him, but on the third day he will rise again."
34But they didn't understand a thing he said. Its significance was hidden from them, and they failed to grasp what he was talking about.
Jesus Heals a Blind Beggar
35As they approached Jericho, a blind beggar was sitting beside the road. 36When he heard the noise of a crowd going past, he asked what was happening. 37They told him that Jesus of Nazareth was going by. 38So he began shouting, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!" 39The crowds ahead of Jesus tried to hush the man, but he only shouted louder, "Son of David, have mercy on me!"
40When Jesus heard him, he stopped and ordered that the man be brought to him. 41Then Jesus asked the man, "What do you want me to do for you?" "Lord," he pleaded, "I want to see!"
42And Jesus said, "All right, you can see! Your faith has healed you." 43Instantly the man could see, and he followed Jesus, praising God. And all who saw it praised God, too.
FOOTNOTES:F84: Exod 20:12-16; Deut 5:16-20.
Copyright Statement: Holy Bible, The New Living Translation
~ Lena’s Journalin’~
Do we wear the enemy out or does he wear us out? Do we persist, really want what we ask for in prayer, or do we give up and give in quickly to doubt, unbelief and tiredness? How much we pursue is in direct proportion to the importance of the prayer need and true desire we have for faith.
What kind of faith is childlike faith? It is simple, trusting, humble, accepting. Its trust just moves it to action. You tell a kid and they believe you and they go do it.
If we believe that giving up things makes an investment into eternity, we’d be more willing to give up spending at least so much time on things, wouldn’t we? Maybe we don’t believe it, or we believe it in theory possibly, but not when it comes down to doing it. "What is impossible from a human perspective is possible with God."
Remember this verse today. Let’s change our perspective from human perspective to God perspective. If we believe all things are possible, what hinders us? Maybe we think they are possible to someone else, but not us. They are possible, and they are opportunities for God’s glory, but we are the ones who choose to grasp a hold or not. When we behave as the widow woman, we believe. Then God knows how important it is to us, and that we really want it. One big question I’ve asked myself lately, how much do I want to see the Lord Glorified? Enough to persist through in faith?
The number one enemy of our faith walk is the first of the 10 commandments- it has to do with other gods. Really another god- that god is self will. My will exalted above God’s. When I hesitate to obey His word, my will is exalted above His. When I choose to keep my stuff as first priority, or I am intimidated from sharing my faith, and so I keep my faith to myself, I’ve exalted my will above His. When Jesus died he showed us just how powerful our wills to be exalted above God’s will is. The suffering He went through was due to the fruits of a self exalted will.
Most of our suffering stays inside of our minds, that’s the place of the contemplation of the will.
But they didn't understand a thing he said. Its significance was hidden from them, and they failed to grasp what he was talking about.
Why are things hidden? We’ve not really wanted to know them, or we would’ve been willing to hear and do them. If we are not willing to do them, then why should we know them? God doesn’t give car keys to 5 year olds.
Those who want to see must be serious about seeing, believing what they see, and adding action to their faith, be as this man….
he began shouting, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!" 39The crowds ahead of Jesus tried to hush the man, but he only shouted louder, "Son of David, have mercy on me!"
Do the crowds have to shut you up? Are you a herald, even with your life force? If we don’t shout aloud even the rocks will cry out.
Ain’t no rock gonna cry in my place….
Daily Repetitive Verses -John 17:15 I'm not asking you to take them out of the world but to protect them from the evil one.
If the e-mail text you receive is encrypted at all, just scroll down to the end of all of the text and click on Lena’s Journalin’ , which will take you directly to the web-page where you will be able to read the text quite clearly in it’s purposed form.
Luke 18:1-43 -
Story of the Persistent Widow
1One day Jesus told his disciples a story to illustrate their need for constant prayer and to show them that they must never give up. 2"There was a judge in a certain city," he said, "who was a godless man with great contempt for everyone. 3A widow of that city came to him repeatedly, appealing for justice against someone who had harmed her. 4The judge ignored her for a while, but eventually she wore him out. 'I fear neither God nor man,' he said to himself, 5'but this woman is driving me crazy. I'm going to see that she gets justice, because she is wearing me out with her constant requests!'"
6Then the Lord said, "Learn a lesson from this evil judge. 7Even he rendered a just decision in the end, so don't you think God will surely give justice to his chosen people who plead with him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? 8I tell you, he will grant justice to them quickly! But when I, the Son of Man, return, how many will I find who have faith?"
Story of the Pharisee and Tax Collector
9Then Jesus told this story to some who had great self-confidence and scorned everyone else: 10"Two men went to the Temple to pray. One was a Pharisee, and the other was a dishonest tax collector. 11The proud Pharisee stood by himself and prayed this prayer: 'I thank you, God, that I am not a sinner like everyone else, especially like that tax collector over there! For I never cheat, I don't sin, I don't commit adultery, 12I fast twice a week, and I give you a tenth of my income.'
13"But the tax collector stood at a distance and dared not even lift his eyes to heaven as he prayed. Instead, he beat his chest in sorrow, saying, 'O God, be merciful to me, for I am a sinner.' 14I tell you, this sinner, not the Pharisee, returned home justified before God. For the proud will be humbled, but the humble will be honored."
Jesus Blesses the Children
15One day some parents brought their little children to Jesus so he could touch them and bless them, but the disciples told them not to bother him. 16Then Jesus called for the children and said to the disciples, "Let the children come to me. Don't stop them! For the Kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 17I assure you, anyone who doesn't have their kind of faith will never get into the Kingdom of God."
The Rich Man
18Once a religious leader asked Jesus this question: "Good teacher, what should I do to get eternal life?"
19"Why do you call me good?" Jesus asked him. "Only God is truly good. 20But as for your question, you know the commandments: 'Do not commit adultery. Do not murder. Do not steal. Do not testify falsely. Honor your father and mother.' F84 "
21The man replied, "I've obeyed all these commandments since I was a child."
22"There is still one thing you lack," Jesus said. "Sell all you have and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me." 23But when the man heard this, he became sad because he was very rich.
24Jesus watched him go and then said to his disciples, "How hard it is for rich people to get into the Kingdom of God! 25It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of God!"
26Those who heard this said, "Then who in the world can be saved?"
27He replied, "What is impossible from a human perspective is possible with God."
28Peter said, "We have left our homes and followed you."
29"Yes," Jesus replied, "and I assure you, everyone who has given up house or wife or brothers or parents or children, for the sake of the Kingdom of God, 30will be repaid many times over in this life, as well as receiving eternal life in the world to come."
Jesus Again Predicts His Death
31Gathering the twelve disciples around him, Jesus told them, "As you know, we are going to Jerusalem. And when we get there, all the predictions of the ancient prophets concerning the Son of Man will come true. 32He will be handed over to the Romans to be mocked, treated shamefully, and spit upon. 33They will whip him and kill him, but on the third day he will rise again."
34But they didn't understand a thing he said. Its significance was hidden from them, and they failed to grasp what he was talking about.
Jesus Heals a Blind Beggar
35As they approached Jericho, a blind beggar was sitting beside the road. 36When he heard the noise of a crowd going past, he asked what was happening. 37They told him that Jesus of Nazareth was going by. 38So he began shouting, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!" 39The crowds ahead of Jesus tried to hush the man, but he only shouted louder, "Son of David, have mercy on me!"
40When Jesus heard him, he stopped and ordered that the man be brought to him. 41Then Jesus asked the man, "What do you want me to do for you?" "Lord," he pleaded, "I want to see!"
42And Jesus said, "All right, you can see! Your faith has healed you." 43Instantly the man could see, and he followed Jesus, praising God. And all who saw it praised God, too.
FOOTNOTES:F84: Exod 20:12-16; Deut 5:16-20.
Copyright Statement: Holy Bible, The New Living Translation
~ Lena’s Journalin’~
Do we wear the enemy out or does he wear us out? Do we persist, really want what we ask for in prayer, or do we give up and give in quickly to doubt, unbelief and tiredness? How much we pursue is in direct proportion to the importance of the prayer need and true desire we have for faith.
What kind of faith is childlike faith? It is simple, trusting, humble, accepting. Its trust just moves it to action. You tell a kid and they believe you and they go do it.
If we believe that giving up things makes an investment into eternity, we’d be more willing to give up spending at least so much time on things, wouldn’t we? Maybe we don’t believe it, or we believe it in theory possibly, but not when it comes down to doing it. "What is impossible from a human perspective is possible with God."
Remember this verse today. Let’s change our perspective from human perspective to God perspective. If we believe all things are possible, what hinders us? Maybe we think they are possible to someone else, but not us. They are possible, and they are opportunities for God’s glory, but we are the ones who choose to grasp a hold or not. When we behave as the widow woman, we believe. Then God knows how important it is to us, and that we really want it. One big question I’ve asked myself lately, how much do I want to see the Lord Glorified? Enough to persist through in faith?
The number one enemy of our faith walk is the first of the 10 commandments- it has to do with other gods. Really another god- that god is self will. My will exalted above God’s. When I hesitate to obey His word, my will is exalted above His. When I choose to keep my stuff as first priority, or I am intimidated from sharing my faith, and so I keep my faith to myself, I’ve exalted my will above His. When Jesus died he showed us just how powerful our wills to be exalted above God’s will is. The suffering He went through was due to the fruits of a self exalted will.
Most of our suffering stays inside of our minds, that’s the place of the contemplation of the will.
But they didn't understand a thing he said. Its significance was hidden from them, and they failed to grasp what he was talking about.
Why are things hidden? We’ve not really wanted to know them, or we would’ve been willing to hear and do them. If we are not willing to do them, then why should we know them? God doesn’t give car keys to 5 year olds.
Those who want to see must be serious about seeing, believing what they see, and adding action to their faith, be as this man….
he began shouting, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!" 39The crowds ahead of Jesus tried to hush the man, but he only shouted louder, "Son of David, have mercy on me!"
Do the crowds have to shut you up? Are you a herald, even with your life force? If we don’t shout aloud even the rocks will cry out.
Ain’t no rock gonna cry in my place….
Daily Repetitive Verses -John 17:15 I'm not asking you to take them out of the world but to protect them from the evil one.
Sunday, October 08, 2006
Jude Guard That precious priceless faith
Scripture selections are taken from the Rock Church Daily Bread Reading schedule for each month. “Lena’s Journalin’” are Lena’s comments on the specific passages from her Daily Journal.
If the e-mail text you receive is encrypted at all, just scroll down to the end of all of the text and click on Lena’s Journalin’ , which will take you directly to the web-page where you will be able to read the text quite clearly in it’s purposed form.
Jude 1:1-25 -
Greetings from Jude
1This letter is from Jude, a slave of Jesus Christ and a brother of James. I am writing to all who are called to live in the love of God the Father and the care of Jesus Christ.
2May you receive more and more of God's mercy, peace, and love.
The Danger of False Teachers
3Dearly loved friends, I had been eagerly planning to write to you about the salvation we all share. But now I find that I must write about something else, urging you to defend the truth of the Good News. F1 God gave this unchanging truth once for all time to his holy people. 4I say this because some godless people have wormed their way in among you, saying that God's forgiveness allows us to live immoral lives. The fate of such people was determined long ago, for they have turned against our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.
5I must remind you—and you know it well—that even though the Lord F2 rescued the whole nation of Israel from Egypt, he later destroyed every one of those who did not remain faithful. 6And I remind you of the angels who did not stay within the limits of authority God gave them but left the place where they belonged. God has kept them chained in prisons of darkness, waiting for the day of judgment. 7And don't forget the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah and their neighboring towns, which were filled with sexual immorality and every kind of sexual perversion. Those cities were destroyed by fire and are a warning of the eternal fire that will punish all who are evil.
8Yet these false teachers, who claim authority from their dreams, live immoral lives, defy authority, and scoff at the power of the glorious ones. F3 9But even Michael, one of the mightiest of the angels, did not dare accuse Satan of blasphemy, but simply said, "The Lord rebuke you." (This took place when Michael was arguing with Satan about Moses' body.) 10But these people mock and curse the things they do not understand. Like animals, they do whatever their instincts tell them, and they bring about their own destruction. 11How terrible it will be for them! For they follow the evil example of Cain, who killed his brother. Like Balaam, they will do anything for money. And like Korah, they will perish because of their rebellion.
12When these people join you in fellowship meals celebrating the love of the Lord, they are like dangerous reefs that can shipwreck you. F4 They are shameless in the way they care only about themselves. They are like clouds blowing over dry land without giving rain, promising much but producing nothing. They are like trees without fruit at harvesttime. They are not only dead but doubly dead, for they have been pulled out by the roots. 13They are like wild waves of the sea, churning up the dirty foam of their shameful deeds. They are wandering stars, heading for everlasting gloom and darkness.
14Now Enoch, who lived seven generations after Adam, prophesied about these people. He said,
"Look, the Lord is coming with thousands of his holy ones.
15 He will bring the people of the world to judgment. He will convict the ungodly of all the evil things they have done in rebellion and of all the insults that godless sinners have spoken against him." F5
16These people are grumblers and complainers, doing whatever evil they feel like. They are loudmouthed braggarts, and they flatter others to get favors in return.
A Call to Remain Faithful
17But you, my dear friends, must remember what the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ told you, 18that in the last times there would be scoffers whose purpose in life is to enjoy themselves in every evil way imaginable. 19Now they are here, and they are the ones who are creating divisions among you. They live by natural instinct because they do not have God's Spirit living in them.
20But you, dear friends, must continue to build your lives on the foundation of your holy faith. And continue to pray as you are directed by the Holy Spirit. F6 21Live in such a way that God's love can bless you as you wait for the eternal life that our Lord Jesus Christ in his mercy is going to give you. 22Show mercy to those whose faith is wavering. 23Rescue others by snatching them from the flames of judgment. There are still others to whom you need to show mercy, but be careful that you aren't contaminated by their sins. F7
A Prayer of Praise
24And now, all glory to God, who is able to keep you from stumbling, and who will bring you into his glorious presence innocent of sin and with great joy. 25All glory to him, who alone is God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Yes, glory, majesty, power, and authority belong to him, in the beginning, now, and forevermore. Amen.
~ Lena’s Journalin’~
What is this life and the warfare of it about? It is about faith, having faith in God our Father, the Lord Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit. THAT is what natural and eternal life are about, for our God is the God of faith, faith moves God, faith pleases God and nothing is impossible to him who believes by faith in His words.
Faith is the substance of things hoped for (hope here means - expectation of good) and the evidence of what is not yet seen.
Everything we now see was once invisible to our natural eyes, even you were once invisible, but were made visible, framed in by faith. Some things were put here by God’s own faith, and some things He had men form by their faith in His world, the principles of His world, the elements of it, and the operation of His word and the elements of it. When we bring unseen things out into our visible world this is pleasing to God because we are acting, being and creating, just like Him.
So, again, what is the enemy of God after? Our faith. Now if you knew you had an enemy and you knew he was on his way to your house, what’d you do? Prepare, get on guard, take up weaponry, etc.
There is an enemy of our souls roaring about and seeking whose faith he is able to devour. Is that faith as precious to you as say the things in your own house? It is to God. If we lose faith, especially faith in God, where are we but lost, eternally lost?
So we are to be on guard. Jude gives us plenty of awareness, almost like a briefing of what is coming against and after our faith, how it shows up, what form it takes on, what masks it wears, then he says one way to keep your faith strong enough to win this battle is to pray in the Holy Spirit! Amen.
Ya know there are many ways to pray. Jude knows that even prayers can be in error and be ineffective in guarding our faith. Ineffective prayers are prayers offered in the flesh or in the soul. Like begging or wishing prayers. Begging and wishing with God does not go very far. Remember it is faith that moves God. Now if we know that begging and wishing cause absolutely nothing to change, and all they do is cause us to feel a tiny bit less pressure, for we vented off some steam, then would we not want to pray in a more effective way to get the “job” done? Jude has given us Divinely natured instructions for a more effective prayer life.
Let me ask you, why prayer anyway? Well as we teach our children, prayer is talking with God for the building of relationship. There are many different kinds of prayers. Some petition, some intercede, some are for conversations sake. There is another that declares into the seen realm that which has not yet been seen by human eyes.
Such as, your son or daughter leaves home pre-maturely, goes off in the prodigal way, is feeling their “oats”, headed down a wrong pathway, headed for destruction. You see that, they think they are having fun, no biggie. In order to reverse the direction they’ve decided to head, you tell them they should take another roadway, they pretty much laugh in your face telling you they know full well what they are doing and don’t plan to take “your” road, thank you. In order that they are not destroyed, for you as a parent see the pathway that leads to destruction, for you yourself may have gone that way before, you “see” it ahead, but you do not want them to continue that way. Talking to them did not change the situation. Prayer will, if it is the prayer of the faith of a very insistent parent.
This parent-intercessor must “see” the desired path and through faith call that unseen (for now) directive into the seen world. Usually only God’s power can bring this person “home” to the place of a wholehearted faith in Christ and into eternal life’s security, so we summons that power, we call for His strength, we call for help, reinforcements in the spirit, even angelic hosts as ministers for those who are destined for salvation to come rally to this cause. If we cry and whine, we may as well plan to watch them fall into a few holes, for only our faith in what God has already said about the situation will change the situation! We search to find words of destiny from God’s word, like “our children are not brought forth for trouble”, or “all of our children will be taught by the Lord and their (eternal) peace will be great”….etc. Speaking how we feel about it does nothing for it, but declaring their desired godly end by the power of the words of God which formed our very world, will. Even the worlds were framed by the words of God! Faith in the word of God will frame our world, in fact even faith in other things frames our world! What’s your world looking like? Time to change the picture, make it a picture pleasing to the Lord, change what is or seems to be, to be what He wants it to be, through faith.
FOOTNOTES:F1: Greek to contend for the faith. F2: Some manuscripts read Jesus. F3: The glorious ones are probably evil angels. F4: Or they are contaminants among you, or they are stains. F5: The quotation comes from the Apocrypha: Enoch 1:9. F6: Greek Pray in the Holy Spirit. F7: Greek mercy, hating even the clothing stained by the flesh.
Copyright Statement: Holy Bible, The New Living Translation
And you beloved building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost! Jude 20 NKJV
Daily Repetitive Verses -
John 17:15 I'm not asking you to take them out of the world but to protect them from the evil one.
If the e-mail text you receive is encrypted at all, just scroll down to the end of all of the text and click on Lena’s Journalin’ , which will take you directly to the web-page where you will be able to read the text quite clearly in it’s purposed form.
Jude 1:1-25 -
Greetings from Jude
1This letter is from Jude, a slave of Jesus Christ and a brother of James. I am writing to all who are called to live in the love of God the Father and the care of Jesus Christ.
2May you receive more and more of God's mercy, peace, and love.
The Danger of False Teachers
3Dearly loved friends, I had been eagerly planning to write to you about the salvation we all share. But now I find that I must write about something else, urging you to defend the truth of the Good News. F1 God gave this unchanging truth once for all time to his holy people. 4I say this because some godless people have wormed their way in among you, saying that God's forgiveness allows us to live immoral lives. The fate of such people was determined long ago, for they have turned against our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.
5I must remind you—and you know it well—that even though the Lord F2 rescued the whole nation of Israel from Egypt, he later destroyed every one of those who did not remain faithful. 6And I remind you of the angels who did not stay within the limits of authority God gave them but left the place where they belonged. God has kept them chained in prisons of darkness, waiting for the day of judgment. 7And don't forget the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah and their neighboring towns, which were filled with sexual immorality and every kind of sexual perversion. Those cities were destroyed by fire and are a warning of the eternal fire that will punish all who are evil.
8Yet these false teachers, who claim authority from their dreams, live immoral lives, defy authority, and scoff at the power of the glorious ones. F3 9But even Michael, one of the mightiest of the angels, did not dare accuse Satan of blasphemy, but simply said, "The Lord rebuke you." (This took place when Michael was arguing with Satan about Moses' body.) 10But these people mock and curse the things they do not understand. Like animals, they do whatever their instincts tell them, and they bring about their own destruction. 11How terrible it will be for them! For they follow the evil example of Cain, who killed his brother. Like Balaam, they will do anything for money. And like Korah, they will perish because of their rebellion.
12When these people join you in fellowship meals celebrating the love of the Lord, they are like dangerous reefs that can shipwreck you. F4 They are shameless in the way they care only about themselves. They are like clouds blowing over dry land without giving rain, promising much but producing nothing. They are like trees without fruit at harvesttime. They are not only dead but doubly dead, for they have been pulled out by the roots. 13They are like wild waves of the sea, churning up the dirty foam of their shameful deeds. They are wandering stars, heading for everlasting gloom and darkness.
14Now Enoch, who lived seven generations after Adam, prophesied about these people. He said,
"Look, the Lord is coming with thousands of his holy ones.
15 He will bring the people of the world to judgment. He will convict the ungodly of all the evil things they have done in rebellion and of all the insults that godless sinners have spoken against him." F5
16These people are grumblers and complainers, doing whatever evil they feel like. They are loudmouthed braggarts, and they flatter others to get favors in return.
A Call to Remain Faithful
17But you, my dear friends, must remember what the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ told you, 18that in the last times there would be scoffers whose purpose in life is to enjoy themselves in every evil way imaginable. 19Now they are here, and they are the ones who are creating divisions among you. They live by natural instinct because they do not have God's Spirit living in them.
20But you, dear friends, must continue to build your lives on the foundation of your holy faith. And continue to pray as you are directed by the Holy Spirit. F6 21Live in such a way that God's love can bless you as you wait for the eternal life that our Lord Jesus Christ in his mercy is going to give you. 22Show mercy to those whose faith is wavering. 23Rescue others by snatching them from the flames of judgment. There are still others to whom you need to show mercy, but be careful that you aren't contaminated by their sins. F7
A Prayer of Praise
24And now, all glory to God, who is able to keep you from stumbling, and who will bring you into his glorious presence innocent of sin and with great joy. 25All glory to him, who alone is God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Yes, glory, majesty, power, and authority belong to him, in the beginning, now, and forevermore. Amen.
~ Lena’s Journalin’~
What is this life and the warfare of it about? It is about faith, having faith in God our Father, the Lord Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit. THAT is what natural and eternal life are about, for our God is the God of faith, faith moves God, faith pleases God and nothing is impossible to him who believes by faith in His words.
Faith is the substance of things hoped for (hope here means - expectation of good) and the evidence of what is not yet seen.
Everything we now see was once invisible to our natural eyes, even you were once invisible, but were made visible, framed in by faith. Some things were put here by God’s own faith, and some things He had men form by their faith in His world, the principles of His world, the elements of it, and the operation of His word and the elements of it. When we bring unseen things out into our visible world this is pleasing to God because we are acting, being and creating, just like Him.
So, again, what is the enemy of God after? Our faith. Now if you knew you had an enemy and you knew he was on his way to your house, what’d you do? Prepare, get on guard, take up weaponry, etc.
There is an enemy of our souls roaring about and seeking whose faith he is able to devour. Is that faith as precious to you as say the things in your own house? It is to God. If we lose faith, especially faith in God, where are we but lost, eternally lost?
So we are to be on guard. Jude gives us plenty of awareness, almost like a briefing of what is coming against and after our faith, how it shows up, what form it takes on, what masks it wears, then he says one way to keep your faith strong enough to win this battle is to pray in the Holy Spirit! Amen.
Ya know there are many ways to pray. Jude knows that even prayers can be in error and be ineffective in guarding our faith. Ineffective prayers are prayers offered in the flesh or in the soul. Like begging or wishing prayers. Begging and wishing with God does not go very far. Remember it is faith that moves God. Now if we know that begging and wishing cause absolutely nothing to change, and all they do is cause us to feel a tiny bit less pressure, for we vented off some steam, then would we not want to pray in a more effective way to get the “job” done? Jude has given us Divinely natured instructions for a more effective prayer life.
Let me ask you, why prayer anyway? Well as we teach our children, prayer is talking with God for the building of relationship. There are many different kinds of prayers. Some petition, some intercede, some are for conversations sake. There is another that declares into the seen realm that which has not yet been seen by human eyes.
Such as, your son or daughter leaves home pre-maturely, goes off in the prodigal way, is feeling their “oats”, headed down a wrong pathway, headed for destruction. You see that, they think they are having fun, no biggie. In order to reverse the direction they’ve decided to head, you tell them they should take another roadway, they pretty much laugh in your face telling you they know full well what they are doing and don’t plan to take “your” road, thank you. In order that they are not destroyed, for you as a parent see the pathway that leads to destruction, for you yourself may have gone that way before, you “see” it ahead, but you do not want them to continue that way. Talking to them did not change the situation. Prayer will, if it is the prayer of the faith of a very insistent parent.
This parent-intercessor must “see” the desired path and through faith call that unseen (for now) directive into the seen world. Usually only God’s power can bring this person “home” to the place of a wholehearted faith in Christ and into eternal life’s security, so we summons that power, we call for His strength, we call for help, reinforcements in the spirit, even angelic hosts as ministers for those who are destined for salvation to come rally to this cause. If we cry and whine, we may as well plan to watch them fall into a few holes, for only our faith in what God has already said about the situation will change the situation! We search to find words of destiny from God’s word, like “our children are not brought forth for trouble”, or “all of our children will be taught by the Lord and their (eternal) peace will be great”….etc. Speaking how we feel about it does nothing for it, but declaring their desired godly end by the power of the words of God which formed our very world, will. Even the worlds were framed by the words of God! Faith in the word of God will frame our world, in fact even faith in other things frames our world! What’s your world looking like? Time to change the picture, make it a picture pleasing to the Lord, change what is or seems to be, to be what He wants it to be, through faith.
FOOTNOTES:F1: Greek to contend for the faith. F2: Some manuscripts read Jesus. F3: The glorious ones are probably evil angels. F4: Or they are contaminants among you, or they are stains. F5: The quotation comes from the Apocrypha: Enoch 1:9. F6: Greek Pray in the Holy Spirit. F7: Greek mercy, hating even the clothing stained by the flesh.
Copyright Statement: Holy Bible, The New Living Translation
And you beloved building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost! Jude 20 NKJV
Daily Repetitive Verses -
John 17:15 I'm not asking you to take them out of the world but to protect them from the evil one.
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