Ephesians 1:1-23 GreetingRedemption in Christ1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, To the saints who are in Ephesus, and faithful in Christ Jesus: 2Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Redemption in Christ3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, 4just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, 5having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, 6to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved. 7In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace 8which He made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence, 9having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself, 10that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both F25 which are in heaven and which are on earth--in Him. 11In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will, 12that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory. 13In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14who F26 is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory. Prayer for Spiritual Wisdom15 Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, 16do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers: 17that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, 18the eyes of your understanding F27 being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, 19and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power 20which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, 21far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come. 22And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, 23which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.Footnotes
F25: 1:10 NU-Text and M-Text omit both.
F26: 1:14 NU-Text reads which.
F27: 1:18 NU-Text and M-Text read hearts.
~Lena’s Journalin’~
Did you know every word has a deeper meaning than what appears? Those who study the word of God find the hidden things in the word of God, that any casual observer would not see. "The saints at Ephesus…" Think of a spiritual location on your spiritual journey of growth in Christ. You’re "at" a certain place in your walk with God and there is a grace of God on you to be where you are at a certain time. Such as, a newborn Christian who has just come to know Christ, may not have all habits and worldly behaviors just "taken from them" when they come to know Christ. There is a grace from God on their lives to lead them towards change, the grace carries them towards the change, and when change is evidenced in their life they don’t really need as much grace in that area anymore. Now when new growth is being prompted in another area of their lives, again they will need God’s grace to bring them from revealing conviction, towards the Spirit-led change. The word- Ephesus means, "permitted". That’s where those saints were at as a whole in their walk with the Lord. There may have been a bit of permission to live as they lived, a grace on them to be discipled and learn as they grew and to get to that next place of growth in the spirit. I also think of permit in Matthew 18:18. There is a certain power given each human being by God on earth. Other spirit beings do not have this power on earth given to them by God. God gave this power in the Garden of Eden to Adam & Eve and Jesus reminded us of this power. It is the power of the will. The old KJV says, whatever you bind will be bound, and whatever you loose will be loosed. (both in heaven and earth- speaking of prayer decisions made towards change) The New Century Version says it this way: "I tell you the truth, the things you don't allow on earth will be the things God does not allow. And the things you allow on earth will be the things that God allows.
This is where we move from the permissive will of God, which should be leading us to the perfect will of God. Permissiveness is like grace, it is only for a time, until. Until what? Until faith comes and our minds and decisions come into alignment with His. The famous prayer of Jesus needs to become our prayer in every area of our walks with Christ- NOT my will, but YOURS (Father) be accomplished, now, not after I die, but now where I live to be an example for Christ. I bet that this fellowship of believers were young in their walks and there was grace upon them to go on to reach the place of being in the perfect will of God. That does not mean I have to attain some certain success, it means y love for Christ has developed enough through a continual walk with Him, to want to respond favorably towards His will, my will being changed to the same will as His.
How can a mere human being be holy and without blame in the sight of God? By growing their faith through exercise, by loving God with all of their hearts, by conforming their minds to the will and word of God, by being in fellowship with other believers who will teach and train them in the ways of the Lord. It’s not about having arrived, it’s about getting there on purpose and not quitting. This is the biggest part, really expounded on yesterday, that the stains of guilt are washed away with faith in the shed blood of Jesus. Not allowing sins and mistakes to keep you back from growth in Christ, but going onward, by confessing sin and receiving the cleansing of guilt and shame through faith in His ultimate sacrifice for you. This is how enemies (of your very soul) get placed underfoot. Our obedient love and our continued repentance and conformity to God’s word and will, keeps us victorious with Him, as He is so are we, as we abide (or live) in Christ.
Romans 16:19-20 19 For your obedience has become known to all. Therefore I am glad on your behalf; but I want you to be wise in what is good, and simple concerning evil. 20 And the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.
Acts 17:6 But when they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some brethren to the rulers of the city, crying out, "These who have turned the world upside down have come here too.
Friday, October 21, 2005
Wednesday, October 19, 2005
Today OUr Daily Bread (from Rock Church's Daily Reading Schedlue) Rom 16:19-20, Acts 17:6 & 2 Corinthians 5
Please, dare to read this today!
Romans 16:19-20 19 For your obedience has become known to all. Therefore I am glad on your behalf; but I want you to be wise in what is good, and simple concerning evil. 20 And the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.
Acts 17:6 But when they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some brethren to the rulers of the city, crying out, "These who have turned the world upside down have come here too.
I see the word "be" here. I love the word "be". It takes religion out of relationship. It cancels out, "putting on the face or mask or act". It stands me up against God’s enemy to win the fight. It reminds me of God and His magnificent and powerful words- "Light BE". Stop trying to "be" good or right or gracious, just DO it, BE it, no more trying. Decide today to have God crush His enemy under foot in your life by Being Christ in the earth, through obedience from faith, through knowing (un an intimate "being" way) good (who is good but God?), and shunning evil.
Listen, this is SO important.
We cannot shun any evil in anyone else’s life that we ourselves have not dealt with in our own personal lives.
Religion wants to say- shun evil! They define that thought by thinking that that means we should point evil out to everyone else showing them their sin, and to make sure no one else around them sins.
Dear God! That is deafness and blindness. The blind leading the blind! NO, it is saying. Do NOT any longer tolerate evil in your own life! Don’t allow yourself to compromise. Don’t allow wrong and ungodly thinking and action in your own soul. If you are offended by God’s word, make an adjustment. If you’ve not thought this way, you have not yet tasted of the power of a changed life in Christ. Religious thinking says we can do all kinds of sin and hide behind it by pointing out others sin. Relationship takes the word of God personally, discerns evil works inwardly and takes the blood of Jesus, applying it personally for forgiveness of that new revelation (which should be occurring almost daily.) A person like this is so powerful in God’s kingdom. So powerful. They have power because they faced their own enemies and won. David slew lions and bears in his own life before he went out and slew giants!
2 Corinthians 5:1-21
Assurance of the Resurrection
Paul's Hope of Eternal Glory
1 For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 2For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed with our habitation which is from heaven, 3if indeed, having been clothed, we shall not be found naked. 4For we who are in this tent groan, being burdened, not because we want to be unclothed, but further clothed, that mortality may be swallowed up by life. 5Now He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who also has given us the Spirit as a guarantee. 6So we are always confident, knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord. 7For we walk by faith, not by sight. 8We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord.
The Judgment Seat of Christ
9 Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him. 10For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. 11Knowing, therefore, the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are well known to God, and I also trust are well known in your consciences. 12 For we do not commend ourselves again to you, but give you opportunity to boast on our behalf, that you may have an answer for those who boast in appearance and not in heart. 13For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God; or if we are of sound mind, it is for you. 14For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died; 15and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again. 16Therefore, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer. 17Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. 18Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, 19that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation. 20Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God. 21For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
~Lena’s Journalin’~
Which part of our being is eternal, when our physical bodies die, yet the scripture is saying we live, even after we die naturally? It is our spirit being that is eternal and enters eternal life (or eternal death, which is being alive in darkness and torment forever). If we are spiritually alive unto God now, we’ve been born again by God’s Spirit through acceptance and practice of Christ death burial and resurrection, we will also be spiritually alive unto God in that eternal state of being in the "afterlife". If our spirit being is activated unto God now, we have entered eternal life now and will move into another dimension of spiritual life when we pass from this life to the next. We have communion with God now, our communion with Him leads us into a closer and closer relationship with Him, here. That closeness causes us to want to be as Him here and with Him there. We know Him and so know why we are here and that it is only for a time period. We, as Paul was, are "torn" wanting more and more of Him, which can only really be had in the heavenly realm, just because this flesh seems to keep us from that holy, pure, unfiltered communion with Him. Yet, we know we only have a brief time to fulfill His earthly mission, which will bring His desire about, which is, taking more and more into that holy communion with Him there. So we groan, knowing there’s more, both here and there. Here there is so much more of Him that could be seen, and there we will see so much more, yet because we know of Him in that place, we so desire to reveal Him in this place, because we know others can see Him as he is also. If we leave here, before our time, not as many may have the opportunity to see Him as we will and God is not selfish, so as we become as he is this desire grows more and more and more and we want to stay longer, yet we also want to GO!
Do you understand that the "original sin" was done before the garden and was bred in the garden? The root of the original sin was pride, but the original sin was rebellion. Pride led to rebellion. The rebellion was divisive and so division came into the universe! It could NOT stand in the presence of ONE God who is whole, completely full of love, all light etc. That rebellion separated everything rebellious from God and His wholeness and love. Hell was created for the fallen angles who separated themselves from God. It was their doom and punishment. Remember satan was their leader and in the choice of their will they followed the rebellion against God. The ONLY way to cancel this mess out and nullify it and bring love into its full operation was for a freewill being to say yes to God and no to the rebellion in all of its forms. Be Reconciled to God. This is where man came into the picture, a freewill being, who had the ability to say, yes and no, to God, the earth, all of the atmosphere etc. God has been informing man of spiritual things, principles of and leading to life etc since He created him. Satan has been perverting the instructions and teachings since the beginning of man. Man has the ability to bring division to unity, rebellion to obedience, as Jesus so well displayed, when He came as a demonstration of the will of God on earth. Please get this- GOD did not cause or do this! Rebellion, division, pride, caused this mess and all other messes after it. We are here to clean up the mess. Our freewill’s are the only tool we have to do this with God’s DIVINE help. We are here on a mission with God. He wants peace, love joy etc, Do we? How much? GET this please- God IS NOT any of our enemy, God’s enemy has lied to us and wants us to think so. If we think so we will not bring unity between the universe and God and instead of being going to hell, freewills will, are and have. Satan got 1/3 rd of the heavenly host to join him there in his future torment. He’s after recruits. His lies have given him more than a few. Don’t be in that number. Don’t lead other there by believing lies and please rescue others from that place! I beg you to repent of listening to lies, of cursing God, of thinking wrongly. I beg you…… It’s the time to live for the ONE who gave ALL for us, the ONE who paid an extreme price for the saving of your soul, all of your household’s and any of your friends and acquaintances you’d dare to influence.
The Lord gave me something with yesterday’s word and it has stayed with me. It is about reputation. Am I trying to uphold mine as a nice person who does not stir up any discomfort among souls who may be separated from God and their Divine purpose to lie for Christ here and now? Do I not receive the Holy Spirit in its offer to me for earthly power and display of the fullness of God because I care more about my reputation than I do God’s will? Do I hold back at all from being a Christian in behavior because the church has messed a few things up, and in pride I don’t want to be associated with the church who has messed things up, so I compromise and don’t do what I could, because of my reputation?
This is how God spoke to me- Jesus was a man, who could have had a good reputation, yet layed it down for my salvation. He died naked in front of people, He was stripped down, He was on display. All eyes of mockery were on Him. Some misunderstood and spoke against the work of God, yet He did that anyway, for them. What do I hold back in doing for God? Do I live for myself, or for Him who died for me? For Him who said there was a promise I must receive, the Holy Spirit, so I could effectively be here and look more and more like Him, or do I "serve" Him on my own terms, the way I want to?
Can I go ahead and risk my reputation here?
I want to boldly tell you your purpose.
You are a reconciler of man to Christ and to God, a restorer of truth in a world full of lies. Get on board. God has been waiting for you to awaken- YES, I’m talking to you. Arise O, sleeper, wake UP! It is past time to do and be the word of God in the earth. Don’t waste another moment of time. Earthly life is way too short! This is quite the urgent matter for you.
Romans 16:19-20 19 For your obedience has become known to all. Therefore I am glad on your behalf; but I want you to be wise in what is good, and simple concerning evil. 20 And the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.
Acts 17:6 But when they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some brethren to the rulers of the city, crying out, "These who have turned the world upside down have come here too.
I see the word "be" here. I love the word "be". It takes religion out of relationship. It cancels out, "putting on the face or mask or act". It stands me up against God’s enemy to win the fight. It reminds me of God and His magnificent and powerful words- "Light BE". Stop trying to "be" good or right or gracious, just DO it, BE it, no more trying. Decide today to have God crush His enemy under foot in your life by Being Christ in the earth, through obedience from faith, through knowing (un an intimate "being" way) good (who is good but God?), and shunning evil.
Listen, this is SO important.
We cannot shun any evil in anyone else’s life that we ourselves have not dealt with in our own personal lives.
Religion wants to say- shun evil! They define that thought by thinking that that means we should point evil out to everyone else showing them their sin, and to make sure no one else around them sins.
Dear God! That is deafness and blindness. The blind leading the blind! NO, it is saying. Do NOT any longer tolerate evil in your own life! Don’t allow yourself to compromise. Don’t allow wrong and ungodly thinking and action in your own soul. If you are offended by God’s word, make an adjustment. If you’ve not thought this way, you have not yet tasted of the power of a changed life in Christ. Religious thinking says we can do all kinds of sin and hide behind it by pointing out others sin. Relationship takes the word of God personally, discerns evil works inwardly and takes the blood of Jesus, applying it personally for forgiveness of that new revelation (which should be occurring almost daily.) A person like this is so powerful in God’s kingdom. So powerful. They have power because they faced their own enemies and won. David slew lions and bears in his own life before he went out and slew giants!
2 Corinthians 5:1-21
Assurance of the Resurrection
Paul's Hope of Eternal Glory
1 For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 2For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed with our habitation which is from heaven, 3if indeed, having been clothed, we shall not be found naked. 4For we who are in this tent groan, being burdened, not because we want to be unclothed, but further clothed, that mortality may be swallowed up by life. 5Now He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who also has given us the Spirit as a guarantee. 6So we are always confident, knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord. 7For we walk by faith, not by sight. 8We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord.
The Judgment Seat of Christ
9 Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him. 10For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. 11Knowing, therefore, the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are well known to God, and I also trust are well known in your consciences. 12 For we do not commend ourselves again to you, but give you opportunity to boast on our behalf, that you may have an answer for those who boast in appearance and not in heart. 13For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God; or if we are of sound mind, it is for you. 14For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died; 15and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again. 16Therefore, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer. 17Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. 18Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, 19that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation. 20Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God. 21For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
~Lena’s Journalin’~
Which part of our being is eternal, when our physical bodies die, yet the scripture is saying we live, even after we die naturally? It is our spirit being that is eternal and enters eternal life (or eternal death, which is being alive in darkness and torment forever). If we are spiritually alive unto God now, we’ve been born again by God’s Spirit through acceptance and practice of Christ death burial and resurrection, we will also be spiritually alive unto God in that eternal state of being in the "afterlife". If our spirit being is activated unto God now, we have entered eternal life now and will move into another dimension of spiritual life when we pass from this life to the next. We have communion with God now, our communion with Him leads us into a closer and closer relationship with Him, here. That closeness causes us to want to be as Him here and with Him there. We know Him and so know why we are here and that it is only for a time period. We, as Paul was, are "torn" wanting more and more of Him, which can only really be had in the heavenly realm, just because this flesh seems to keep us from that holy, pure, unfiltered communion with Him. Yet, we know we only have a brief time to fulfill His earthly mission, which will bring His desire about, which is, taking more and more into that holy communion with Him there. So we groan, knowing there’s more, both here and there. Here there is so much more of Him that could be seen, and there we will see so much more, yet because we know of Him in that place, we so desire to reveal Him in this place, because we know others can see Him as he is also. If we leave here, before our time, not as many may have the opportunity to see Him as we will and God is not selfish, so as we become as he is this desire grows more and more and more and we want to stay longer, yet we also want to GO!
Do you understand that the "original sin" was done before the garden and was bred in the garden? The root of the original sin was pride, but the original sin was rebellion. Pride led to rebellion. The rebellion was divisive and so division came into the universe! It could NOT stand in the presence of ONE God who is whole, completely full of love, all light etc. That rebellion separated everything rebellious from God and His wholeness and love. Hell was created for the fallen angles who separated themselves from God. It was their doom and punishment. Remember satan was their leader and in the choice of their will they followed the rebellion against God. The ONLY way to cancel this mess out and nullify it and bring love into its full operation was for a freewill being to say yes to God and no to the rebellion in all of its forms. Be Reconciled to God. This is where man came into the picture, a freewill being, who had the ability to say, yes and no, to God, the earth, all of the atmosphere etc. God has been informing man of spiritual things, principles of and leading to life etc since He created him. Satan has been perverting the instructions and teachings since the beginning of man. Man has the ability to bring division to unity, rebellion to obedience, as Jesus so well displayed, when He came as a demonstration of the will of God on earth. Please get this- GOD did not cause or do this! Rebellion, division, pride, caused this mess and all other messes after it. We are here to clean up the mess. Our freewill’s are the only tool we have to do this with God’s DIVINE help. We are here on a mission with God. He wants peace, love joy etc, Do we? How much? GET this please- God IS NOT any of our enemy, God’s enemy has lied to us and wants us to think so. If we think so we will not bring unity between the universe and God and instead of being going to hell, freewills will, are and have. Satan got 1/3 rd of the heavenly host to join him there in his future torment. He’s after recruits. His lies have given him more than a few. Don’t be in that number. Don’t lead other there by believing lies and please rescue others from that place! I beg you to repent of listening to lies, of cursing God, of thinking wrongly. I beg you…… It’s the time to live for the ONE who gave ALL for us, the ONE who paid an extreme price for the saving of your soul, all of your household’s and any of your friends and acquaintances you’d dare to influence.
The Lord gave me something with yesterday’s word and it has stayed with me. It is about reputation. Am I trying to uphold mine as a nice person who does not stir up any discomfort among souls who may be separated from God and their Divine purpose to lie for Christ here and now? Do I not receive the Holy Spirit in its offer to me for earthly power and display of the fullness of God because I care more about my reputation than I do God’s will? Do I hold back at all from being a Christian in behavior because the church has messed a few things up, and in pride I don’t want to be associated with the church who has messed things up, so I compromise and don’t do what I could, because of my reputation?
This is how God spoke to me- Jesus was a man, who could have had a good reputation, yet layed it down for my salvation. He died naked in front of people, He was stripped down, He was on display. All eyes of mockery were on Him. Some misunderstood and spoke against the work of God, yet He did that anyway, for them. What do I hold back in doing for God? Do I live for myself, or for Him who died for me? For Him who said there was a promise I must receive, the Holy Spirit, so I could effectively be here and look more and more like Him, or do I "serve" Him on my own terms, the way I want to?
Can I go ahead and risk my reputation here?
I want to boldly tell you your purpose.
You are a reconciler of man to Christ and to God, a restorer of truth in a world full of lies. Get on board. God has been waiting for you to awaken- YES, I’m talking to you. Arise O, sleeper, wake UP! It is past time to do and be the word of God in the earth. Don’t waste another moment of time. Earthly life is way too short! This is quite the urgent matter for you.
Tuesday, October 18, 2005
Today Our Daily Bread ( from Rock Church's Daily Reading Schedule) Rom 16:19-20, Acts 17:6 & 1 Cor 14
Romans 16:19-20 19 For your obedience has become known to all. Therefore I am glad on your behalf; but I want you to be wise in what is good, and simple concerning evil. 20 And the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.
Acts 17:6 But when they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some brethren to the rulers of the city, crying out, "These who have turned the world upside down have come here too.
1 Corinthians 14:1-40
Prophecy and Tongues
Principles Concerning Spiritual Gifts
1 Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy. 2For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God, for no one understands him; however, in the spirit he speaks mysteries. 3But he who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men. 4He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church. 5I wish you all spoke with tongues, but even more that you prophesied; for F43 he who prophesies is greater than he who speaks with tongues, unless indeed he interprets, that the church may receive edification.
Tongues Must Be Interpreted
6 But now, brethren, if I come to you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you unless I speak to you either by revelation, by knowledge, by prophesying, or by teaching? 7Even things without life, whether flute or harp, when they make a sound, unless they make a distinction in the sounds, how will it be known what is piped or played? 8For if the trumpet makes an uncertain sound, who will prepare for battle? 9So likewise you, unless you utter by the tongue words easy to understand, how will it be known what is spoken? For you will be speaking into the air. 10There are, it may be, so many kinds of languages in the world, and none of them is without significance. 11Therefore, if I do not know the meaning of the language, I shall be a foreigner to him who speaks, and he who speaks will be a foreigner to me. 12Even so you, since you are zealous for spiritual gifts, let it be for the edification of the church that you seek to excel. 13Therefore let him who speaks in a tongue pray that he may interpret. 14For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful. 15What is the conclusion then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with the understanding. I will sing with the spirit, and I will also sing with the understanding. 16Otherwise, if you bless with the spirit, how will he who occupies the place of the uninformed say "Amen" at your giving of thanks, since he does not understand what you say? 17For you indeed give thanks well, but the other is not edified. 18I thank my God I speak with tongues more than you all; 19yet in the church I would rather speak five words with my understanding, that I may teach others also, than ten thousand words in a tongue.
Tongues a Sign to Unbelievers
20 Brethren, do not be children in understanding; however, in malice be babes, but in understanding be mature. 21In the law it is written: "With men of other tongues and other lips I will speak to this people; And yet, for all that, they will not hear Me," F44 says the Lord. 22Therefore tongues are for a sign, not to those who believe but to unbelievers; but prophesying is not for unbelievers but for those who believe. 23Therefore if the whole church comes together in one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those who are uninformed or unbelievers, will they not say that you are out of your mind? 24But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or an uninformed person comes in, he is convinced by all, he is convicted by all. 25And thus F45 the secrets of his heart are revealed; and so, falling down on his face, he will worship God and report that God is truly among you. Order in Church Meetings26 How is it then, brethren? Whenever you come together, each of you has a psalm, has a teaching, has a tongue, has a revelation, has an interpretation.
Let all things be done for edification.
27If anyone speaks in a tongue, let there be two or at the most three, each in turn, and let one interpret. 28But if there is no interpreter, let him keep silent in church, and let him speak to himself and to God.
29Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others judge.
30But if anything is revealed to another who sits by, let the first keep silent. 31For you can all prophesy one by one, that all may learn and all may be encouraged.
32And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets. 33For God is not the author of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints. 34Let your F46 women keep silent in the churches, for they are not permitted to speak; but they are to be submissive, as the law also says. 35And if they want to learn something, let them ask their own husbands at home; for it is shameful for women to speak in church. 36Or did the word of God come originally from you? Or was it you only that it reached? 37If anyone thinks himself to be a prophet or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things which I write to you are the commandments of the Lord. 38But if anyone is ignorant, let him be ignorant. F47 39Therefore, brethren, desire earnestly to prophesy, and do not forbid to speak with tongues. 40Let all things be done decently and in order.
Footnotes
F43: 14:5 NU-Text reads and.
F44: 14:21 Isaiah 28:11, 12
F45: 14:25 NU-Text omits And thus.
F46: 14:34 NU-Text omits your.
F47: 14:38 NU-Text reads if anyone does not recognize this, he is not recognized.
Lena's Journalin'
I’m going to be brief today, generalizing- (Hallelujah, some will say!)
I pray that we will open our minds especially, to the Lord’s word today. Our heats are many times open, but our minds can get in the way of even our spiritual understanding, actually shutting God out and the word He gives us to help us grow up in our faith walk, will be hindered by human logic. Where the Word of God is concerned, human logic needs to be set aside. Here the word today by His spirit, not by a stigma set upon the Charismatic church, or something you saw (that’s a natural sense too) on TV, or heard a disgruntled person say.
It is quite the shame, when God’s word is brought to nothing (nullified) by human logic and rumors and hurts and misunderstandings, etc.Do you not realize that it is the enemy’s ploy to take the Word of God and misinterpret it, misconstrue it, etc? (think Eve, garden, serpent, "Hath God said?") That was his ploy from the day he saw Man in God’s image. He hates God’s image.
Ya know how the verses above say, "He speaks unto God and not to men?" Well, many times what we say that men hear is misunderstood or misinterpreted, even within ourselves we may not know how to express our deep love for God or proclaim His pure unadulterated word to Him in prayer.
Our Father longs for us to speak to Him after His image and likeness. That means He longs for us to speak as he does to Him, when we commune with Him. He longs to hear His voice reflected in our prayers, or in our conversations. Do you think He desires to hear all of the world’s woes, as though He does not already know of them? He is looking for men and women who will speak as He speaks. In darkness they speak and light comes. "Light Be", and light is. In deep woe, speak life and it happens.
Speaking in a tongue that only God can give us utterance of is speaking as God speaks. Do we think he speaks English? Well He does, when he wants to come "down" to our level and speak like us to edify us. How do we "rise up" to His "level" and speak to Him as He speaks edifying Him? When we speak I a heavenly, unknown to us tongue, when we trust Him enough to yield our tongue to Him and allow Him to take our tongue and do with it as He desires, we show we really desire intimate pure communication with Him. If we are willing to yield to something so heavenly, we cannot even understand it in natural thinking, what can keep us from being obedient to what He tells us in English to say or do? If one can get past the barrier of their minds and yield their body to the "control" of God’s spirit-willingly, what will hinder them from changing their own natural world, allowing God in on everything?
When I say control, don’t get uptight. I mean you willingly GIVE God the control. You allow Him as you desire. You yield, He doesn’t take. His very personality is not to take, but to give. This is a gift he gives, we can take it, or leave it, and we do. God IS a gentleman in character. He won’t make you become as he is, nor will He make you speak as He does. It is up to you. Completely up to you.
Rom 12:1
I beg you by the mercy of God, give your whole spirit, soul and body up to the use of God’s will in the earth.
Turn your world upside down - edify yourself and God by praying in the spirit.
Acts 17:6 But when they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some brethren to the rulers of the city, crying out, "These who have turned the world upside down have come here too.
1 Corinthians 14:1-40
Prophecy and Tongues
Principles Concerning Spiritual Gifts
1 Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy. 2For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God, for no one understands him; however, in the spirit he speaks mysteries. 3But he who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men. 4He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church. 5I wish you all spoke with tongues, but even more that you prophesied; for F43 he who prophesies is greater than he who speaks with tongues, unless indeed he interprets, that the church may receive edification.
Tongues Must Be Interpreted
6 But now, brethren, if I come to you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you unless I speak to you either by revelation, by knowledge, by prophesying, or by teaching? 7Even things without life, whether flute or harp, when they make a sound, unless they make a distinction in the sounds, how will it be known what is piped or played? 8For if the trumpet makes an uncertain sound, who will prepare for battle? 9So likewise you, unless you utter by the tongue words easy to understand, how will it be known what is spoken? For you will be speaking into the air. 10There are, it may be, so many kinds of languages in the world, and none of them is without significance. 11Therefore, if I do not know the meaning of the language, I shall be a foreigner to him who speaks, and he who speaks will be a foreigner to me. 12Even so you, since you are zealous for spiritual gifts, let it be for the edification of the church that you seek to excel. 13Therefore let him who speaks in a tongue pray that he may interpret. 14For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful. 15What is the conclusion then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with the understanding. I will sing with the spirit, and I will also sing with the understanding. 16Otherwise, if you bless with the spirit, how will he who occupies the place of the uninformed say "Amen" at your giving of thanks, since he does not understand what you say? 17For you indeed give thanks well, but the other is not edified. 18I thank my God I speak with tongues more than you all; 19yet in the church I would rather speak five words with my understanding, that I may teach others also, than ten thousand words in a tongue.
Tongues a Sign to Unbelievers
20 Brethren, do not be children in understanding; however, in malice be babes, but in understanding be mature. 21In the law it is written: "With men of other tongues and other lips I will speak to this people; And yet, for all that, they will not hear Me," F44 says the Lord. 22Therefore tongues are for a sign, not to those who believe but to unbelievers; but prophesying is not for unbelievers but for those who believe. 23Therefore if the whole church comes together in one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those who are uninformed or unbelievers, will they not say that you are out of your mind? 24But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or an uninformed person comes in, he is convinced by all, he is convicted by all. 25And thus F45 the secrets of his heart are revealed; and so, falling down on his face, he will worship God and report that God is truly among you. Order in Church Meetings26 How is it then, brethren? Whenever you come together, each of you has a psalm, has a teaching, has a tongue, has a revelation, has an interpretation.
Let all things be done for edification.
27If anyone speaks in a tongue, let there be two or at the most three, each in turn, and let one interpret. 28But if there is no interpreter, let him keep silent in church, and let him speak to himself and to God.
29Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others judge.
30But if anything is revealed to another who sits by, let the first keep silent. 31For you can all prophesy one by one, that all may learn and all may be encouraged.
32And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets. 33For God is not the author of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints. 34Let your F46 women keep silent in the churches, for they are not permitted to speak; but they are to be submissive, as the law also says. 35And if they want to learn something, let them ask their own husbands at home; for it is shameful for women to speak in church. 36Or did the word of God come originally from you? Or was it you only that it reached? 37If anyone thinks himself to be a prophet or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things which I write to you are the commandments of the Lord. 38But if anyone is ignorant, let him be ignorant. F47 39Therefore, brethren, desire earnestly to prophesy, and do not forbid to speak with tongues. 40Let all things be done decently and in order.
Footnotes
F43: 14:5 NU-Text reads and.
F44: 14:21 Isaiah 28:11, 12
F45: 14:25 NU-Text omits And thus.
F46: 14:34 NU-Text omits your.
F47: 14:38 NU-Text reads if anyone does not recognize this, he is not recognized.
Lena's Journalin'
I’m going to be brief today, generalizing- (Hallelujah, some will say!)
I pray that we will open our minds especially, to the Lord’s word today. Our heats are many times open, but our minds can get in the way of even our spiritual understanding, actually shutting God out and the word He gives us to help us grow up in our faith walk, will be hindered by human logic. Where the Word of God is concerned, human logic needs to be set aside. Here the word today by His spirit, not by a stigma set upon the Charismatic church, or something you saw (that’s a natural sense too) on TV, or heard a disgruntled person say.
It is quite the shame, when God’s word is brought to nothing (nullified) by human logic and rumors and hurts and misunderstandings, etc.Do you not realize that it is the enemy’s ploy to take the Word of God and misinterpret it, misconstrue it, etc? (think Eve, garden, serpent, "Hath God said?") That was his ploy from the day he saw Man in God’s image. He hates God’s image.
Ya know how the verses above say, "He speaks unto God and not to men?" Well, many times what we say that men hear is misunderstood or misinterpreted, even within ourselves we may not know how to express our deep love for God or proclaim His pure unadulterated word to Him in prayer.
Our Father longs for us to speak to Him after His image and likeness. That means He longs for us to speak as he does to Him, when we commune with Him. He longs to hear His voice reflected in our prayers, or in our conversations. Do you think He desires to hear all of the world’s woes, as though He does not already know of them? He is looking for men and women who will speak as He speaks. In darkness they speak and light comes. "Light Be", and light is. In deep woe, speak life and it happens.
Speaking in a tongue that only God can give us utterance of is speaking as God speaks. Do we think he speaks English? Well He does, when he wants to come "down" to our level and speak like us to edify us. How do we "rise up" to His "level" and speak to Him as He speaks edifying Him? When we speak I a heavenly, unknown to us tongue, when we trust Him enough to yield our tongue to Him and allow Him to take our tongue and do with it as He desires, we show we really desire intimate pure communication with Him. If we are willing to yield to something so heavenly, we cannot even understand it in natural thinking, what can keep us from being obedient to what He tells us in English to say or do? If one can get past the barrier of their minds and yield their body to the "control" of God’s spirit-willingly, what will hinder them from changing their own natural world, allowing God in on everything?
When I say control, don’t get uptight. I mean you willingly GIVE God the control. You allow Him as you desire. You yield, He doesn’t take. His very personality is not to take, but to give. This is a gift he gives, we can take it, or leave it, and we do. God IS a gentleman in character. He won’t make you become as he is, nor will He make you speak as He does. It is up to you. Completely up to you.
Rom 12:1
I beg you by the mercy of God, give your whole spirit, soul and body up to the use of God’s will in the earth.
Turn your world upside down - edify yourself and God by praying in the spirit.
Monday, October 17, 2005
Today Our Daily Bread ( From Rock Church's Daily Reading Schedule) Rom 16:19-20, Acts 17:6 & 1 Cor 2
Romans 16:19-20 19 For your obedience has become known to all. Therefore I am glad on your behalf; but I want you to be wise in what is good, and simple concerning evil. 20 And the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.
Acts 17:6 But when they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some brethren to the rulers of the city, crying out, "These who have turned the world upside down have come here too.
What kind of wisdom do we think brings us to this place of being victorious over GOD’s (and because of covenant, our) enemy? There are many kinds of wisdom. The only wisdom that will bring the enemy of our souls to defeat is the wisdom from above. How does one get that wisdom? From God, of course! (Silly question, huh?) How does one get wisdom from God? James 1 says, he asks it of God. Proverbs says one must desire it and seek after it with all he is. Man seeks other types of wisdom, even pays to "get it", how much more the wisdom of God? It is worth getting, yes for your benefit, but the greater "reason" would be to give God what is due Him, the total defeat of His enemy, which fights and wars against our flesh and our God-given assignments on the earth! The Lord wants to see us trample his influence under our own feet. Wisdom says, apply God’s word to your daily life, the life you live out day in and day out. The word says "get wisdom", then do that. Apply yourself to that task, daily. What can you do today to Do God’s word? Let’s ready today’s scripture and find out. Pull something out to apply today, and do it, you’ll be well on your way, to gaining wisdom. Amen.
1 Cor 2 :1-16
Christ Crucified
Spiritual Wisdom
1 And I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the testimony F1 of God. 2For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. 3I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling. 4And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human F2 wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, 5that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.
Spiritual Wisdom
6 However, we speak wisdom among those who are mature, yet not the wisdom of this age, nor of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. 7But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory, 8which none of the rulers of this age knew; for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. 9But as it is written:
"Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him." F3 10But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God.
11For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. 12Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God. 13These things we also speak, not in words which man's wisdom teaches but which the Holy F4 Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. 14But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. 15But he who is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is rightly judged by no one. 16For "who has known the mind of the LORD that he may instruct Him?" F5 But we have the mind of Christ.
Footnotes
F1: 2:1 NU-Text reads mystery.
F2: 2:4 NU-Text omits human.
F3: 2:9 Isaiah 64:4
F4: 2:13 NU-Text omits Holy.
F5: 2:16 Isaiah 40:13
~Lena’s Journalin’~
Last night we are at a dinner show with family and at some point in the night, I was daydreaming., in my mind’s eye, I saw the word "FAITH" spelled out in animated letters. It was a nice light, yet bright green color, kind of florescent. They were almost like gel- I wish I could spell them here like that, anyway, I saw all kinds of living sprouts shooting upwards out from the tops of the letters and the letters were moving, almost dancing or swaying w/ the wind, or happiness or something. (I’ve obviously watched too much Sesame Street in my days!) Anyway, the thought that instantly came my way, was, your faith is growing! It’s growing, growing, growing! Is my faith in my own ability? Which quickly runs out? Or is my faith in God and the ability of His word to change me and my situations and circumstances? Hmmm? I can have naturally based faith, but that is not the same as the God kind of faith, the faith in something only God can deliver my way. Let that faith grow, and its growth and progress depends on exercising my faith, starting small, believe God for what you cannot do without His help, then thank Him that he is the only one who can and will, and believe it. Back up your faith with faith filled words, showing God you really do trust Him. Doubt steals from faith, and will not allow it to grow, it aborts faith before it even has a chance to acclimate to the soil of our hearts. Faith is not wishful thinking, it is believing God with faith action.The knowing of God cannot happen through "figuring Him out." Have you ever "just known something?" How did you "know"? How did you come to "know" Jesus is The WAY, The TRUTH, and The LIFE? How did you get from knowing about Him or a few things about Him that you’d heard, to knowing Him? I can tell you, God set you up to "know" Him. He planted a seed of the knowledge of Him in you, here a little, there a little. You heard about Jesus a few different times and from a few different sources. That was when the digging process began to happen in your heart. Words of life were planted in you by those who already knew Him. This could have been words in passing (like billboards or signs), or it could have been prayers of someone who knows you, or you could have visited church or been around a Christian who was bold enough to voice their faith to you. Maybe something in your life became really uncomfortable and you began to wonder who you really are and why you are here. Suddenly the seeds broke forth and sprouted. You began to seek truth, you began to seek love, you also began to ask questions in your heart. Your spirit became thirsty for water to drink. Your questions led you this way and that way, on a search for "God". When you heard truth you bore witness inside of your heart to the words you heard and you "knew" they were truth. (Truth had been planted in you, and maybe you did not know it whenever it had happened, but the truth inside of you from even when you were a small child, was activated and when you heard truth later on it was like water to dry ground.) You couldn’t "figure it out", yet you knew it was true. Your spirit confirmed spiritual eternal life.
You can only be born again in your spirit, your soul will later want to be informed of "what has happened to me", kind of thing. Your spirit became alive to God first and made alive by the activity of the word in your life. This is how spiritual life is maintained and grown. It is not by "figuring it out" with human understanding. Many get in this rut in Christianity and they have not progressed in faith very far, because their growth has been stunted by having to know about so much of God and His ways. Seek to Know truth, the person of God, then allow Him to renew your mind by His word. The best way to get to really know who God is, is by His spirit. God is a spirit, those who worship Him, must do so by His spirit (and in truth). Jesus left this earth and asked His disciples to wait, till they went on with their purpose and call, till they received what they’d need to walk through death, heal the sick( in spirit, soul & body), preach the gospel, live as a Christ-like one (remember God is a spirit). He said they’d need His spirit, which was what would help them to be as He is and who He was in the earth. God had a plan for man from the very beginning of time. That plan was that man would be like Him. This cannot be learned, except by His spirit. When we disregard the indwelling or infilling of God’s spirit, we disregard Him. He is all 3 in 1, Father, spirit, son. We receive Jesus and in so doing we receive the Father, but have we received His spirit? If not, Why not? I can tell you why not. God’s enemy is in very big trouble when there is more than one person in any time period who will be like Christ was. The enemy knows the power potential in people who have God’s spirit alive inside of them, so alive that it cannot help but overflow. The enemy knows what the earth would be like if people would give themselves to God’s work and yield to His will. He knows the power of God and the effectiveness we’d have as Untied Christians in earth. So, the enemy (even religious ones – remember Pharisees?) lies to us, as much as we allow him to, in our human reason and we receive part of God, but not all. If he can keep us reasoning out our faith he knows we won’t be as effective and he’s real happy with that.
Acts 17:6 But when they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some brethren to the rulers of the city, crying out, "These who have turned the world upside down have come here too.
What kind of wisdom do we think brings us to this place of being victorious over GOD’s (and because of covenant, our) enemy? There are many kinds of wisdom. The only wisdom that will bring the enemy of our souls to defeat is the wisdom from above. How does one get that wisdom? From God, of course! (Silly question, huh?) How does one get wisdom from God? James 1 says, he asks it of God. Proverbs says one must desire it and seek after it with all he is. Man seeks other types of wisdom, even pays to "get it", how much more the wisdom of God? It is worth getting, yes for your benefit, but the greater "reason" would be to give God what is due Him, the total defeat of His enemy, which fights and wars against our flesh and our God-given assignments on the earth! The Lord wants to see us trample his influence under our own feet. Wisdom says, apply God’s word to your daily life, the life you live out day in and day out. The word says "get wisdom", then do that. Apply yourself to that task, daily. What can you do today to Do God’s word? Let’s ready today’s scripture and find out. Pull something out to apply today, and do it, you’ll be well on your way, to gaining wisdom. Amen.
1 Cor 2 :1-16
Christ Crucified
Spiritual Wisdom
1 And I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the testimony F1 of God. 2For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. 3I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling. 4And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human F2 wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, 5that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.
Spiritual Wisdom
6 However, we speak wisdom among those who are mature, yet not the wisdom of this age, nor of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. 7But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory, 8which none of the rulers of this age knew; for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. 9But as it is written:
"Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him." F3 10But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God.
11For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. 12Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God. 13These things we also speak, not in words which man's wisdom teaches but which the Holy F4 Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. 14But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. 15But he who is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is rightly judged by no one. 16For "who has known the mind of the LORD that he may instruct Him?" F5 But we have the mind of Christ.
Footnotes
F1: 2:1 NU-Text reads mystery.
F2: 2:4 NU-Text omits human.
F3: 2:9 Isaiah 64:4
F4: 2:13 NU-Text omits Holy.
F5: 2:16 Isaiah 40:13
~Lena’s Journalin’~
Last night we are at a dinner show with family and at some point in the night, I was daydreaming., in my mind’s eye, I saw the word "FAITH" spelled out in animated letters. It was a nice light, yet bright green color, kind of florescent. They were almost like gel- I wish I could spell them here like that, anyway, I saw all kinds of living sprouts shooting upwards out from the tops of the letters and the letters were moving, almost dancing or swaying w/ the wind, or happiness or something. (I’ve obviously watched too much Sesame Street in my days!) Anyway, the thought that instantly came my way, was, your faith is growing! It’s growing, growing, growing! Is my faith in my own ability? Which quickly runs out? Or is my faith in God and the ability of His word to change me and my situations and circumstances? Hmmm? I can have naturally based faith, but that is not the same as the God kind of faith, the faith in something only God can deliver my way. Let that faith grow, and its growth and progress depends on exercising my faith, starting small, believe God for what you cannot do without His help, then thank Him that he is the only one who can and will, and believe it. Back up your faith with faith filled words, showing God you really do trust Him. Doubt steals from faith, and will not allow it to grow, it aborts faith before it even has a chance to acclimate to the soil of our hearts. Faith is not wishful thinking, it is believing God with faith action.The knowing of God cannot happen through "figuring Him out." Have you ever "just known something?" How did you "know"? How did you come to "know" Jesus is The WAY, The TRUTH, and The LIFE? How did you get from knowing about Him or a few things about Him that you’d heard, to knowing Him? I can tell you, God set you up to "know" Him. He planted a seed of the knowledge of Him in you, here a little, there a little. You heard about Jesus a few different times and from a few different sources. That was when the digging process began to happen in your heart. Words of life were planted in you by those who already knew Him. This could have been words in passing (like billboards or signs), or it could have been prayers of someone who knows you, or you could have visited church or been around a Christian who was bold enough to voice their faith to you. Maybe something in your life became really uncomfortable and you began to wonder who you really are and why you are here. Suddenly the seeds broke forth and sprouted. You began to seek truth, you began to seek love, you also began to ask questions in your heart. Your spirit became thirsty for water to drink. Your questions led you this way and that way, on a search for "God". When you heard truth you bore witness inside of your heart to the words you heard and you "knew" they were truth. (Truth had been planted in you, and maybe you did not know it whenever it had happened, but the truth inside of you from even when you were a small child, was activated and when you heard truth later on it was like water to dry ground.) You couldn’t "figure it out", yet you knew it was true. Your spirit confirmed spiritual eternal life.
You can only be born again in your spirit, your soul will later want to be informed of "what has happened to me", kind of thing. Your spirit became alive to God first and made alive by the activity of the word in your life. This is how spiritual life is maintained and grown. It is not by "figuring it out" with human understanding. Many get in this rut in Christianity and they have not progressed in faith very far, because their growth has been stunted by having to know about so much of God and His ways. Seek to Know truth, the person of God, then allow Him to renew your mind by His word. The best way to get to really know who God is, is by His spirit. God is a spirit, those who worship Him, must do so by His spirit (and in truth). Jesus left this earth and asked His disciples to wait, till they went on with their purpose and call, till they received what they’d need to walk through death, heal the sick( in spirit, soul & body), preach the gospel, live as a Christ-like one (remember God is a spirit). He said they’d need His spirit, which was what would help them to be as He is and who He was in the earth. God had a plan for man from the very beginning of time. That plan was that man would be like Him. This cannot be learned, except by His spirit. When we disregard the indwelling or infilling of God’s spirit, we disregard Him. He is all 3 in 1, Father, spirit, son. We receive Jesus and in so doing we receive the Father, but have we received His spirit? If not, Why not? I can tell you why not. God’s enemy is in very big trouble when there is more than one person in any time period who will be like Christ was. The enemy knows the power potential in people who have God’s spirit alive inside of them, so alive that it cannot help but overflow. The enemy knows what the earth would be like if people would give themselves to God’s work and yield to His will. He knows the power of God and the effectiveness we’d have as Untied Christians in earth. So, the enemy (even religious ones – remember Pharisees?) lies to us, as much as we allow him to, in our human reason and we receive part of God, but not all. If he can keep us reasoning out our faith he knows we won’t be as effective and he’s real happy with that.
Sunday, October 16, 2005
Today Our Daily Bread (from Rock Church's Daily reading schedule)- Rom 16:19-20, Acts 17:6 & 1 Cor 1
Romans 16:19-20 19 For your obedience has become known to all. Therefore I am glad on your behalf; but I want you to be wise in what is good, and simple concerning evil. 20 And the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.
Acts 17:6 But when they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some brethren to the rulers of the city, crying out, "These who have turned the world upside down have come here too.
Isn’t the declaration here funny? "These have turned the world upside down and have come here too!" I guess to them "world" was not where they were at, it must have been outside of that. It’s time to center in and have YOUR specific world "turned upside down!"
1 Cor 1:1-31
Greeting
Divisions in the Church Condemned
1 Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother, 2To the church of God which is at Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all who in every place call on the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours: 3Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Spiritual Gifts at Corinth4 I thank my God always concerning you for the grace of God which was given to you by Christ Jesus, 5that you were enriched in everything by Him in all utterance and all knowledge, 6even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you, 7so that you come short in no gift, eagerly waiting for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ, 8who will also confirm you to the end, that you may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Sectarianism Is Sin10 Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. 11For it has been declared to me concerning you, my brethren, by those of Chloe's household, that there are contentions among you. 12Now I say this, that each of you says, "I am of Paul," or "I am of Apollos," or "I am of Cephas," or "I am of Christ." 13Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? 14I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius, 15lest anyone should say that I had baptized in my own name. 16Yes, I also baptized the household of Stephanas. Besides, I do not know whether I baptized any other. 17For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of no effect.
Christ the Power and Wisdom of God
R13 18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19For it is written: "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, And bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent." F92 20Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? 21For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. 22For Jews request a sign, and Greeks seek after wisdom; 23but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks F93 foolishness, 24but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men. Glory Only in the Lord26 For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called.
27But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; 28and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are , 29that no flesh should glory in His presence. 30But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God--and righteousness and sanctification and redemption-- 31that, as it is written, "He who glories, let him glory in the LORD." F94
Footnotes
F92: 1:19 Isaiah 29:14
F93: 1:23 NU-Text reads Gentiles.
F94: 1:31 Jeremiah 9:24
Show cross-references
R13: cf. Is. 29:14
Lena’s Journalin’~
Can we be in one big group, yet divided by contention? Or Can we be in many smaller "groups", yet be united? Yes to both. I was noticing the words inside of "contention", contend- meaning to fight against, yet there is another word in the same root which is completely the opposite and opposing force- "content" as in "being content". Division is bred with contest and unity comes with content-ion (as in being content). So, if I’m not content, I’m divided, and in order to be "unified" I must contend with division and oppose it with actions of contentment. Paul was actually speaking to humans here, but they’d been born again of God’s (unifying) spirit. He was telling them to be of one mind, one judgement, perfectly (or completely or wholly) joined together. Is that possible?
Let’s skip down to vs.’ 27-28. God chose foolish ways to do this work, on purpose, because we are combating the natural mindedness of natural man. Notice he says,, "and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are". The things that are not, (or don’t seem to be- to the natural mind), like health, unity, peace, happiness…to bring to nothing the things, that "are" or at least to the natural mind seem to be, like dis-contention, division, war, etc.. Doesn’t it seem foolish to the natural mind that peace and the deliberate decision to have and keep it, would combat war? Doesn’t war combat war? Doesn’t it seem foolish in thought that being content in any situation would combat division? Doesn’t separation combat that? (That only brings temporary relief.) In a win & lose society, in a prideful over-ruling society, yes, but in God’s kingdom, no. LOVE conquers all, not by being the winner or the one who is right, but by giving up one’s rights for ONE. What is not is in the "impossible" to the natural mind realm and the things that are, is in the possible to the natural mind realm. The impossible can be brought to possibility through faith in action.
How does the spirit of ONE come to rule? At and through the cross.
I am crucified with Christ nevertheless I live- yet it is not I who lives, but Christ who lives in me. I live by the faith of the Son of God who died and gave His life for me. I do not die a natural death on a cross daily, but I put my old flesh natured man and all its desires that war against the progress of God’s life in me, away. I actually let it die in exchange for what He did for me to live out my life now on earth for His will to be accomplished. I stay here in the physical body I have been given by God and I live as Him here. I don’t live out the rest of my days just doing what I’d like to do, or what I think I "right" to do or "good" to do. I study His word to find out His will and do that instead. If He says Love those you’ve felt are your enemies, I do it, because it is not about me, it is about showing more of His ways in the earth through a deliberate physical manifestation. Christ in made. God putting flesh on again.
Acts 17:6 But when they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some brethren to the rulers of the city, crying out, "These who have turned the world upside down have come here too.
Isn’t the declaration here funny? "These have turned the world upside down and have come here too!" I guess to them "world" was not where they were at, it must have been outside of that. It’s time to center in and have YOUR specific world "turned upside down!"
1 Cor 1:1-31
Greeting
Divisions in the Church Condemned
1 Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother, 2To the church of God which is at Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all who in every place call on the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours: 3Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Spiritual Gifts at Corinth4 I thank my God always concerning you for the grace of God which was given to you by Christ Jesus, 5that you were enriched in everything by Him in all utterance and all knowledge, 6even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you, 7so that you come short in no gift, eagerly waiting for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ, 8who will also confirm you to the end, that you may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Sectarianism Is Sin10 Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. 11For it has been declared to me concerning you, my brethren, by those of Chloe's household, that there are contentions among you. 12Now I say this, that each of you says, "I am of Paul," or "I am of Apollos," or "I am of Cephas," or "I am of Christ." 13Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? 14I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius, 15lest anyone should say that I had baptized in my own name. 16Yes, I also baptized the household of Stephanas. Besides, I do not know whether I baptized any other. 17For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of no effect.
Christ the Power and Wisdom of God
R13 18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19For it is written: "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, And bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent." F92 20Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? 21For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. 22For Jews request a sign, and Greeks seek after wisdom; 23but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks F93 foolishness, 24but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men. Glory Only in the Lord26 For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called.
27But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; 28and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are , 29that no flesh should glory in His presence. 30But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God--and righteousness and sanctification and redemption-- 31that, as it is written, "He who glories, let him glory in the LORD." F94
Footnotes
F92: 1:19 Isaiah 29:14
F93: 1:23 NU-Text reads Gentiles.
F94: 1:31 Jeremiah 9:24
Show cross-references
R13: cf. Is. 29:14
Lena’s Journalin’~
Can we be in one big group, yet divided by contention? Or Can we be in many smaller "groups", yet be united? Yes to both. I was noticing the words inside of "contention", contend- meaning to fight against, yet there is another word in the same root which is completely the opposite and opposing force- "content" as in "being content". Division is bred with contest and unity comes with content-ion (as in being content). So, if I’m not content, I’m divided, and in order to be "unified" I must contend with division and oppose it with actions of contentment. Paul was actually speaking to humans here, but they’d been born again of God’s (unifying) spirit. He was telling them to be of one mind, one judgement, perfectly (or completely or wholly) joined together. Is that possible?
Let’s skip down to vs.’ 27-28. God chose foolish ways to do this work, on purpose, because we are combating the natural mindedness of natural man. Notice he says,, "and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are". The things that are not, (or don’t seem to be- to the natural mind), like health, unity, peace, happiness…to bring to nothing the things, that "are" or at least to the natural mind seem to be, like dis-contention, division, war, etc.. Doesn’t it seem foolish to the natural mind that peace and the deliberate decision to have and keep it, would combat war? Doesn’t war combat war? Doesn’t it seem foolish in thought that being content in any situation would combat division? Doesn’t separation combat that? (That only brings temporary relief.) In a win & lose society, in a prideful over-ruling society, yes, but in God’s kingdom, no. LOVE conquers all, not by being the winner or the one who is right, but by giving up one’s rights for ONE. What is not is in the "impossible" to the natural mind realm and the things that are, is in the possible to the natural mind realm. The impossible can be brought to possibility through faith in action.
How does the spirit of ONE come to rule? At and through the cross.
I am crucified with Christ nevertheless I live- yet it is not I who lives, but Christ who lives in me. I live by the faith of the Son of God who died and gave His life for me. I do not die a natural death on a cross daily, but I put my old flesh natured man and all its desires that war against the progress of God’s life in me, away. I actually let it die in exchange for what He did for me to live out my life now on earth for His will to be accomplished. I stay here in the physical body I have been given by God and I live as Him here. I don’t live out the rest of my days just doing what I’d like to do, or what I think I "right" to do or "good" to do. I study His word to find out His will and do that instead. If He says Love those you’ve felt are your enemies, I do it, because it is not about me, it is about showing more of His ways in the earth through a deliberate physical manifestation. Christ in made. God putting flesh on again.
Saturday, October 15, 2005
Today Our Daily Bread (from Rock Church's Daily Reading schedule) Rom 16:19-20, Acts 17:6 & Romans 12
Romans 16:19-20 19 For your obedience has become known to all. Therefore I am glad on your behalf; but I want you to be wise in what is good, and simple concerning evil. 20 And the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.
Acts 17:6 But when they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some brethren to the rulers of the city, crying out, "These who have turned the world upside down have come here too.
The church here was crying out, the people’s were crying out, the earth was crying out. Notice how most people don’t like change, yet they need it so desperately? Yesterday, I wrote of a back being out of alignment. It hurts because it is out of alignment, but it also hurts to touch it to see if it can be put back in aligmnment, then it also hurts when put in alignment and sometimes a bit after. The body was trying to put it back, but because of the severity of the misalignment it could not do the work alone, when efforts were made to realign, by an outer force, the body had tried to adjust to the new "(dis)-order" and found that adjusting to the disorder helped the pain leel. Yet in adjusting to the disorder, there would be pain in returning to order, in fact there would have to be force to get the order back! Do you see the similitudes here? The earth feels the same way and so do you. It is not fun to have change, but it is necessary, very necessary. Just as the person having that back adjustment, cries are heard when the disorder happened and cries are heard when the order is "enforced." The earth is groaning and travailing for order, the Divine order of God! We cry out, the church cries out, the world cries out for God’s people to rise up and be, to rise up and turn this world back right side up!
Romans 12:1-21
Living Sacrifices to God
Christians Should Lead Transformed Lives
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.
Serve God with Spiritual Gifts3 For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith. 4For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, 5so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another. 6Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith; 7or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching; 8he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.
Behave Like a Christian
9 Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good. 10Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another; 11not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; 12rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer; 13distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality. 14Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. 16Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion. 17Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. 18If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. 19Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, "Vengeance is Mine, I will repay," F63 says the Lord. 20Therefore "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; If he is thirsty, give him a drink; For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head." F64 21Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Footnotes
F63: 12:19 Deuteronomy 32:35
F64: 12:20 Proverbs 25:21, 22
Lena’s Journalin’
Dear Ones, Is God and inflicting pain on us? Does He just want us to hurt? No, He is not cruel and unusual. He is our Father! Does a Father ever discipline (I mean in a good way, to lead one towards change)his child, and the child feel pain or the sense of being uncomfortable, for a season? The reason the word requires change of us and entreats and commands us is it is our tutor and guide towards the ways of truth, towards the living out of eternal life and the eternal blessings that life gives both us and those who we influence. If we surrender to His work that changes us as we offer ourselves to Him, we’ll find His grace has equipped us to be able to do what he has asked of us, there’s a supernatural boost of help to those who through faith see what God is asking, and by faith ask for His help to do it, with an obedient and loving heart of desire to do His will. Some of this grace is displayed in gifts He gives to lead us to where we could not go without this grace. We really can only barely live as God has asked us to on our own natural strength. This is the beauty of God’s word and will. We have to have His help to fulfill it. It is impossible to do His will alone without His help. When we refuse His help, we are saying. "I’m good enough and strong enough without your help." Can I tell you something? That is a two years old’s response to help. It is time to grow up and take the spiritual gifts God has given us to lie out our spiritual life. Pride is a great hindrance to receptivity of His gifts. Pride would say to God, "Oh no thank you, I’m fine like I am" or "Oh I don’t really need that for today, I know better." Excuse me! This is God telling us what we need here! How can we listen to natural men explain God’s gifts away? That astounds me. It is a pride issue. Remember ( gospel msg) what happens when pride arises? Division, Idolatry, Sin, DEATH! Are we alive in Christ? Then, receive the grace He’s given to go to higher heights of growth in faith and eternal life.Let’s please join together is stomping out a religious spirit in America. Instead of our enemy putting our backs or the back of the body of Christ out of line, let’s be the ones who throw His out!
Hypocrisy has become a stigma in Christianity in the USA. People use it as an excuse to hate the Lord’s Body. When people stand before God, Hypocrisy will not be a valid excuse for not loving and becoming a part of Jesus’ body! But listen, church, can I challenge you? What if you do not call yourself a Christian "anymore". What if your life is the only thing that tells others you are truly a Christian? What if what you say, tells others you are a Christian? Have you ever had someone ask, "Are you a Christian?" Remember "Christian" means One who is Like Christ. The world is tired of us saying and not doing or being. They want us to prove it. I challenge you to take a person, any person and lead them to Christ, by living as an example of Christ. Befriending them and showing them with your everyday, at home, at work, at school life, that you are Christ’s. To be living proof of His love, of His power, of His grace. To say to one, follow me, as I follow Christ. That’s powerful. That responsible. So, what if we fall, or stumble or make mistakes? Show that person and prove to them that there is forgiveness in wholehearted lived out repentance! Show them what to do when you fall down or stumble or are attacked. Do you crumble (because you did not receive God’s spiritual gifts to be strong in His might and ability, or do you go to God again? It’s up to you, and God is depending on your willingness to live like He would right here right now!
Acts 17:6 But when they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some brethren to the rulers of the city, crying out, "These who have turned the world upside down have come here too.
The church here was crying out, the people’s were crying out, the earth was crying out. Notice how most people don’t like change, yet they need it so desperately? Yesterday, I wrote of a back being out of alignment. It hurts because it is out of alignment, but it also hurts to touch it to see if it can be put back in aligmnment, then it also hurts when put in alignment and sometimes a bit after. The body was trying to put it back, but because of the severity of the misalignment it could not do the work alone, when efforts were made to realign, by an outer force, the body had tried to adjust to the new "(dis)-order" and found that adjusting to the disorder helped the pain leel. Yet in adjusting to the disorder, there would be pain in returning to order, in fact there would have to be force to get the order back! Do you see the similitudes here? The earth feels the same way and so do you. It is not fun to have change, but it is necessary, very necessary. Just as the person having that back adjustment, cries are heard when the disorder happened and cries are heard when the order is "enforced." The earth is groaning and travailing for order, the Divine order of God! We cry out, the church cries out, the world cries out for God’s people to rise up and be, to rise up and turn this world back right side up!
Romans 12:1-21
Living Sacrifices to God
Christians Should Lead Transformed Lives
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.
Serve God with Spiritual Gifts3 For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith. 4For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, 5so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another. 6Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith; 7or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching; 8he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.
Behave Like a Christian
9 Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good. 10Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another; 11not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; 12rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer; 13distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality. 14Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. 16Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion. 17Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. 18If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. 19Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, "Vengeance is Mine, I will repay," F63 says the Lord. 20Therefore "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; If he is thirsty, give him a drink; For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head." F64 21Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Footnotes
F63: 12:19 Deuteronomy 32:35
F64: 12:20 Proverbs 25:21, 22
Lena’s Journalin’
Dear Ones, Is God and inflicting pain on us? Does He just want us to hurt? No, He is not cruel and unusual. He is our Father! Does a Father ever discipline (I mean in a good way, to lead one towards change)his child, and the child feel pain or the sense of being uncomfortable, for a season? The reason the word requires change of us and entreats and commands us is it is our tutor and guide towards the ways of truth, towards the living out of eternal life and the eternal blessings that life gives both us and those who we influence. If we surrender to His work that changes us as we offer ourselves to Him, we’ll find His grace has equipped us to be able to do what he has asked of us, there’s a supernatural boost of help to those who through faith see what God is asking, and by faith ask for His help to do it, with an obedient and loving heart of desire to do His will. Some of this grace is displayed in gifts He gives to lead us to where we could not go without this grace. We really can only barely live as God has asked us to on our own natural strength. This is the beauty of God’s word and will. We have to have His help to fulfill it. It is impossible to do His will alone without His help. When we refuse His help, we are saying. "I’m good enough and strong enough without your help." Can I tell you something? That is a two years old’s response to help. It is time to grow up and take the spiritual gifts God has given us to lie out our spiritual life. Pride is a great hindrance to receptivity of His gifts. Pride would say to God, "Oh no thank you, I’m fine like I am" or "Oh I don’t really need that for today, I know better." Excuse me! This is God telling us what we need here! How can we listen to natural men explain God’s gifts away? That astounds me. It is a pride issue. Remember ( gospel msg) what happens when pride arises? Division, Idolatry, Sin, DEATH! Are we alive in Christ? Then, receive the grace He’s given to go to higher heights of growth in faith and eternal life.Let’s please join together is stomping out a religious spirit in America. Instead of our enemy putting our backs or the back of the body of Christ out of line, let’s be the ones who throw His out!
Hypocrisy has become a stigma in Christianity in the USA. People use it as an excuse to hate the Lord’s Body. When people stand before God, Hypocrisy will not be a valid excuse for not loving and becoming a part of Jesus’ body! But listen, church, can I challenge you? What if you do not call yourself a Christian "anymore". What if your life is the only thing that tells others you are truly a Christian? What if what you say, tells others you are a Christian? Have you ever had someone ask, "Are you a Christian?" Remember "Christian" means One who is Like Christ. The world is tired of us saying and not doing or being. They want us to prove it. I challenge you to take a person, any person and lead them to Christ, by living as an example of Christ. Befriending them and showing them with your everyday, at home, at work, at school life, that you are Christ’s. To be living proof of His love, of His power, of His grace. To say to one, follow me, as I follow Christ. That’s powerful. That responsible. So, what if we fall, or stumble or make mistakes? Show that person and prove to them that there is forgiveness in wholehearted lived out repentance! Show them what to do when you fall down or stumble or are attacked. Do you crumble (because you did not receive God’s spiritual gifts to be strong in His might and ability, or do you go to God again? It’s up to you, and God is depending on your willingness to live like He would right here right now!
Friday, October 14, 2005
Today Our Daily Bread (from Rock Church's daily Readings) Rom 16:19-20, Acts 17:6 & Romans 1
This is my 2nd re-do today. Please pray I will press through no matter, what the computer is doing to my stuff!
Romans 16:19-20 19 For your obedience has become known to all. Therefore I am glad on your behalf; but I want you to be wise in what is good, and simple concerning evil. 20 And the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.
Acts 17:6 But when they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some brethren to the rulers of the city, crying out, "These who have turned the world upside down have come here too.
You will find both wisdom and simplicity in the passages below. Remember wisdom is knowledge applied. Do not be deceived, a man who hears the word and does not do the word has deceived Himself and has forgotten, or does not yet know, who he is.
Romans 1:1-32
Greeting
Paul's Ministry of the Gospel of Christ
1 Paul, a bondservant of Jesus Christ,
called to be an apostle,
separated to the gospel of God 2which He promised before through His prophets in the Holy Scriptures, 3concerning His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who was born of the seed of David according to the flesh, 4and declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead.
5Through Him we have received grace and apostle-ship for obedience to the faith among all nations for His name, 6among whom you also are the called of Jesus Christ;
7To all who are in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Desire to Visit Rome
8 First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world. 9For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of His Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers, 10making request if, by some means, now at last I may find a way in the will of God to come to you. 11For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift, so that you may be established-- 12that is, that I may be encouraged together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me. 13Now I do not want you to be unaware, brethren, that I often planned to come to you (but was hindered until now), that I might have some fruit among you also, just as among the other Gentiles. 14I am a debtor both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to wise and to unwise. 15So, as much as is in me, I am ready to preach the gospel to you who are in Rome also.
The Just Live by Faith
16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, F114 for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. 17For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, "The just shall live by faith." F115
God's Wrath on Unrighteousness
18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, 19because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. 20For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, 21because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22Professing to be wise, they became fools, 23and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man--and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things. 24Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, 25who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. 26For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. 27Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due. 28And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; 29being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, F116 wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, 30backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, F117 unmerciful; 32who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them.
Footnotes
F114: 1:16 NU-Text omits of Christ.
F115: 1:17 Habakkuk 2:4
F116: 1:29 NU-Text omits sexual immorality.
F117: 1:31 NU-Text omits unforgiving.
~ Lena’s Journalin’~
Let’s erase some old religious thinking today. What do you think Apostle means? Do you think Paul & the 12 Disciples/Apostles were it?
Let’s look at the definition of "Apostle"- a delegate, messenger, one sent forth with orders.
Now, by definition, who would you say is an Apostle, or a potential Apostle, of the faith of the Lord Jesus Christ?
Can I answer that one with you? Every one who is alive!
Does that surprise you? It shouldn’t, especially if you read "The Gospel Message" I posted the other day. Apostle-ship was given to man by God, when God set man on the earth and Co-MISSIONED him, or gave him a very strong partnership "assignment".
About 10 years ago we used to talk and write a lot about angels all around us, angels on assignment etc. What about "Man on assignment", what about "man a messenger of God"? That’s the original mandate, and the destiny & purpose for man on earth. Jesus left the same mandate before He ascended to heaven, after His resurrection. Note vs 6, where Paul says "we" have received the grace and apostle-ship. Yes, it is appointed us by God, have we received the appointment?
Don’t you always like to know, "why"? God also wants us to know, "why". What would you say would be a good "reason" to receive the Holy Spirit and His gifts that are available to us through Christ? Paul writes the reason, so we can be established in our faith. Our faith is supernatural, how can we walk out our faith on physical strength alone? Where do we get the power to keep our faith and in so doing, be a witness, and an apostle for our Lord? Only by the supernatural empowerment of God’s own Holy Spirit, who is our Teacher and Helper.
The truth MUST be proclaimed and every man has a mandate to do so whether he has accepted it or not. He has a responsibility before God to have shared the Gospel message, by His life force. This is the reason the earth is groaning and in pain. This is the reason the wrath of God is released in the earth. God’s heart cries out for each man to know who God is and in so doing, know who he himself is. That is where blessing lies. If that does not happen and earth does not heed the call of God, it is out of order and will try to get back to order, which may take great pains. (think of a back out of alignment- the muscles go to great pains to actually put the back bones back in order. That hurts like crazy, but it is working to bring disorder back to order, and if out of order in the first place, it could be pianful to get it back in order.) Suppressing or ignoring the truth of God and His earthly mandate is very dangerous, We will all stand before God and there will be no excuses. We may as well awaken and eliminate all excuses now. There really is NO valid excuse. Really. Even to say, "no one took time to share with me", is not an excuse. God has shared the universe with us, in all of its workings. They speak loudly of Him, loud enough to lead us to seek Him, everyday. We’ve got to take the response-ability off of others (that’s called blame) and take it on ourselves. Do you see the earth’s groanings? Do you hear its desperate cry? It is calling those who can at all hear the Genesis mandate and the Great Commission to work, and to active duty. There is no time to waste, not a moment, in fact the urgency to help use time other has wasted is an awareness I have, yet I know I can only do my part and so I answer God’s call. Have you answered His call?Ther is NO time to waste, none at all.
Romans 16:19-20 19 For your obedience has become known to all. Therefore I am glad on your behalf; but I want you to be wise in what is good, and simple concerning evil. 20 And the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.
Acts 17:6 But when they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some brethren to the rulers of the city, crying out, "These who have turned the world upside down have come here too.
You will find both wisdom and simplicity in the passages below. Remember wisdom is knowledge applied. Do not be deceived, a man who hears the word and does not do the word has deceived Himself and has forgotten, or does not yet know, who he is.
Romans 1:1-32
Greeting
Paul's Ministry of the Gospel of Christ
1 Paul, a bondservant of Jesus Christ,
called to be an apostle,
separated to the gospel of God 2which He promised before through His prophets in the Holy Scriptures, 3concerning His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who was born of the seed of David according to the flesh, 4and declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead.
5Through Him we have received grace and apostle-ship for obedience to the faith among all nations for His name, 6among whom you also are the called of Jesus Christ;
7To all who are in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Desire to Visit Rome
8 First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world. 9For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of His Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers, 10making request if, by some means, now at last I may find a way in the will of God to come to you. 11For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift, so that you may be established-- 12that is, that I may be encouraged together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me. 13Now I do not want you to be unaware, brethren, that I often planned to come to you (but was hindered until now), that I might have some fruit among you also, just as among the other Gentiles. 14I am a debtor both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to wise and to unwise. 15So, as much as is in me, I am ready to preach the gospel to you who are in Rome also.
The Just Live by Faith
16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, F114 for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. 17For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, "The just shall live by faith." F115
God's Wrath on Unrighteousness
18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, 19because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. 20For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, 21because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22Professing to be wise, they became fools, 23and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man--and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things. 24Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, 25who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. 26For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. 27Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due. 28And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; 29being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, F116 wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, 30backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, F117 unmerciful; 32who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them.
Footnotes
F114: 1:16 NU-Text omits of Christ.
F115: 1:17 Habakkuk 2:4
F116: 1:29 NU-Text omits sexual immorality.
F117: 1:31 NU-Text omits unforgiving.
~ Lena’s Journalin’~
Let’s erase some old religious thinking today. What do you think Apostle means? Do you think Paul & the 12 Disciples/Apostles were it?
Let’s look at the definition of "Apostle"- a delegate, messenger, one sent forth with orders.
Now, by definition, who would you say is an Apostle, or a potential Apostle, of the faith of the Lord Jesus Christ?
Can I answer that one with you? Every one who is alive!
Does that surprise you? It shouldn’t, especially if you read "The Gospel Message" I posted the other day. Apostle-ship was given to man by God, when God set man on the earth and Co-MISSIONED him, or gave him a very strong partnership "assignment".
About 10 years ago we used to talk and write a lot about angels all around us, angels on assignment etc. What about "Man on assignment", what about "man a messenger of God"? That’s the original mandate, and the destiny & purpose for man on earth. Jesus left the same mandate before He ascended to heaven, after His resurrection. Note vs 6, where Paul says "we" have received the grace and apostle-ship. Yes, it is appointed us by God, have we received the appointment?
Don’t you always like to know, "why"? God also wants us to know, "why". What would you say would be a good "reason" to receive the Holy Spirit and His gifts that are available to us through Christ? Paul writes the reason, so we can be established in our faith. Our faith is supernatural, how can we walk out our faith on physical strength alone? Where do we get the power to keep our faith and in so doing, be a witness, and an apostle for our Lord? Only by the supernatural empowerment of God’s own Holy Spirit, who is our Teacher and Helper.
The truth MUST be proclaimed and every man has a mandate to do so whether he has accepted it or not. He has a responsibility before God to have shared the Gospel message, by His life force. This is the reason the earth is groaning and in pain. This is the reason the wrath of God is released in the earth. God’s heart cries out for each man to know who God is and in so doing, know who he himself is. That is where blessing lies. If that does not happen and earth does not heed the call of God, it is out of order and will try to get back to order, which may take great pains. (think of a back out of alignment- the muscles go to great pains to actually put the back bones back in order. That hurts like crazy, but it is working to bring disorder back to order, and if out of order in the first place, it could be pianful to get it back in order.) Suppressing or ignoring the truth of God and His earthly mandate is very dangerous, We will all stand before God and there will be no excuses. We may as well awaken and eliminate all excuses now. There really is NO valid excuse. Really. Even to say, "no one took time to share with me", is not an excuse. God has shared the universe with us, in all of its workings. They speak loudly of Him, loud enough to lead us to seek Him, everyday. We’ve got to take the response-ability off of others (that’s called blame) and take it on ourselves. Do you see the earth’s groanings? Do you hear its desperate cry? It is calling those who can at all hear the Genesis mandate and the Great Commission to work, and to active duty. There is no time to waste, not a moment, in fact the urgency to help use time other has wasted is an awareness I have, yet I know I can only do my part and so I answer God’s call. Have you answered His call?Ther is NO time to waste, none at all.
Thursday, October 13, 2005
Today Our Daily Bread (from Rock Church's Daily Readings)Rom 16:19-20, Acts 17:6 & Acts Ch 17
Romans 16:19-20 19 For your obedience has become known to all. Therefore I am glad on your behalf; but I want you to be wise in what is good, and simple concerning evil. 20 And the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.
Acts 17:6 But when they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some brethren to the rulers of the city, crying out, "These who have turned the world upside down have come here too.
Ya know how certain people are known for their disobedience? Or their hyperactivity, or other negative characteristics? Especially people’s children? Well folks, we are God’s children, How are we representing Him? As He is or as we are? That’s all about how much of His image is becoming us, how much of His image we are allowing to impact, be imprinted on and in and exercised continually in and through us. Do you know the most effective way of learning is to teach? To do or apply what you are taught? This is why in doing, not just hearing the word we are blessed in what we do! We not only are blessed, but we bless God, because His image is allowed to be manifested in and through us and He is glorified in our human flesh! We again, turn our world upside down. (The reason it needs to be turned upside down is, it has been turned wrongside up, the right side needs to be "turned up" in our own lies first, then we can help others to get that same motion going!)
Acts 17:1-34
Preaching Christ at Thessalonica
Paul at Thessalonica, Berea, and Athens
1 Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews. 2Then Paul, as his custom was, went in to them, and for three Sabbaths reasoned with them from the Scriptures, 3explaining and demonstrating that the Christ had to suffer and rise again from the dead, and saying, "This Jesus whom I preach to you is the Christ." 4And some of them were persuaded; and a great multitude of the devout Greeks, and not a few of the leading women, joined Paul and Silas.
Assault on Jason's House
5 But the Jews who were not persuaded, becoming envious, F72 took some of the evil men from the marketplace, and gathering a mob, set all the city in an uproar and attacked the house of Jason, and sought to bring them out to the people. 6But when they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some brethren to the rulers of the city, crying out, "These who have turned the world upside down have come here too. 7Jason has harbored them, and these are all acting contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying there is another king--Jesus." 8And they troubled the crowd and the rulers of the city when they heard these things. 9So when they had taken security from Jason and the rest, they let them go.
Ministering at Berea
10 Then the brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea. When they arrived, they went into the synagogue of the Jews. 11These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so. 12Therefore many of them believed, and also not a few of the Greeks, prominent women as well as men. 13But when the Jews from Thessalonica learned that the word of God was preached by Paul at Berea, they came there also and stirred up the crowds. 14Then immediately the brethren sent Paul away, to go to the sea; but both Silas and Timothy remained there. 15So those who conducted Paul brought him to Athens; and receiving a command for Silas and Timothy to come to him with all speed, they departed.
The Philosophers at Athens
16 Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was provoked within him when he saw that the city was given over to idols. 17Therefore he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and with the Gentile worshipers, and in the marketplace daily with those who happened to be there. 18Then F73 certain Epicurean and Stoic philosophers encountered him. And some said, "What does this babbler want to say?" Others said, "He seems to be a proclaimer of foreign gods," because he preached to them Jesus and the resurrection. 19And they took him and brought him to the Areopagus, saying, "May we know what this new doctrine is of which you speak? 20For you are bringing some strange things to our ears. Therefore we want to know what these things mean." 21For all the Athenians and the foreigners who were there spent their time in nothing else but either to tell or to hear some new thing.
Addressing the Areopagus
22 Then Paul stood in the midst of the Areopagus and said, "Men of Athens, I perceive that in all things you are very religious; 23for as I was passing through and considering the objects of your worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Therefore, the One whom you worship without knowing, Him I proclaim to you: 24God, who made the world and everything in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands. 25Nor is He worshiped with men's hands, as though He needed anything, since He gives to all life, breath, and all things. 26And He has made from one blood F74 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, 27so that they should seek the Lord, in the hope that they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us; 28for in Him we live and move and have our being, as also some of your own poets have said, "For we are also His offspring.' 29Therefore, since we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Divine Nature is like gold or silver or stone, something shaped by art and man's devising. 30Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent, 31because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead." 32And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked, while others said, "We will hear you again on this matter." 33So Paul departed from among them. 34However, some men joined him and believed, among them Dionysius the Areopagite, a woman named Damaris, and others with them.
Footnotes
F72: 17:5 NU-Text omits who were not persuaded; M-Text omits becoming envious.
F73: 17:18 NU-Text and M-Text add also.
F74: 17:26 NU-Text omits blood.
~Lena’s Journalin’~
Notice the biggest resistance the new believers are having, at this time, comes from the immovable, unchanging, pride-filled, religious world. When I say religion, I’m not speaking of God life in practice. I’m talking about a kingdom of man, a social entity that may have begun on Godly principles and mandates, but in it’s continuance men did not follow Christ’s rule, God’s plans, they stayed where they were comfy cozy and any disruption brought an upheaval of emotion. Don’t rock MY boat, the key word there is "my". It’s God’s boat and He can rock it whenever He so pleases, if it is really His boat!Have you ever made an announcement to yourself, like this one? "There is another King?" Something about man, something inside of man (actually placed there by God, but subject to alteration or perversion) says, "RULE". The thing is we are to rule with God and for God and with and for His work and His will. That would mean serving Him and checking in about things as rulers in council do. The thing is, satan wanted to overrule God and so that temptation is out there, to be your own ruler, your own person, do your own will, insist on independence, etc. All of these can be dangerous if we do not rule with God, and serve Him. So what do we do when we are making all kinds of decisions apart from God and His word? Tell yourself, "There IS another King!" Ever tell others, "There is another King"? That doesn’t always go over too well in a prideful situation, but in a place where misery and persecution is it would be a good announcement to make.
Can I tell you something today? God has been seeking you out. He’s been knocking at the door of your heart and life for years now. He’s been waiting for you to at least acknowledge that He’s there, but of course He wants you to open that door and allow Him to come in and not only for a brief visit, as in times past, but to live there in you, to be totally 100% involved in your life. He’s ready for you to seek Him. He’s been seeking you for a long time (even before you were born, He knew you and called you forth by name. God’s grace has been on your life to preserve you for Himself in this time, but it will not always strive with every man, because time runs out and even life ends and none of us knows when it will end, remember we may act like it, but we are not the King and the one who knows how long life is.It is time for all living men everywhere to repent. Repent does not mean, say a prayer of rescue, Oh God rescue me from this present danger that’s upon me, help me out of this trouble Lord or even, Lord save me from my behaviors. No, it means I acknowledge by my new way of living that there is another King. I allow Him to rule me. My life changes because of it. I was not centered on the thoughts of His kingdom or of what he wanted from me and now I am. I used to live for me, now I lie for Him. I used to do whatever I desired, whatever made me feel good and whole, I saved myself from trouble as well as I could (and at times, I did very well- thank you. Being "saved" does NOT mean saying a prayer with someone in hopes that when I die I won’t go to hell (we call that fire insurance). Being saved means , being born again, being changed, made new by the blood of Jesus continually. Not a one time deal, a lifetime (eternal lifetime) deal. He gave His life for me. I give my life for Him, daily, not skipping one day. That is repentance. It is time to seek the Lord. If not for anyone else, do this for your kids. You are doing a lot of things for your kids, but how many are everlasting things, that they’ll take with them if and when they die? Will your lifestyle save their souls? Will you have left them with eternal blessings or passed on to them the sins of your fathers and of your own life? You may have despised that when your parents and grandparents did that to you, the only way to not do the same is to repent and be eternally continuously changed.
One more nugget for today. It is so important to our continual spiritual life to flourish and even grow, that we learn the word, study the word and most of all live the word! The passage here says, they searched the scripture daily to see if these things were so. Do you just take another’s word for it? Or do you seek God for yourself? Are you still being fed (that’s fine and even great when you’re only a youngster, but there is a time to grow and feed yourself.) 1 Cor 6:2 NOW IS the TIME! Today is the Day!
Acts 17:6 But when they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some brethren to the rulers of the city, crying out, "These who have turned the world upside down have come here too.
Ya know how certain people are known for their disobedience? Or their hyperactivity, or other negative characteristics? Especially people’s children? Well folks, we are God’s children, How are we representing Him? As He is or as we are? That’s all about how much of His image is becoming us, how much of His image we are allowing to impact, be imprinted on and in and exercised continually in and through us. Do you know the most effective way of learning is to teach? To do or apply what you are taught? This is why in doing, not just hearing the word we are blessed in what we do! We not only are blessed, but we bless God, because His image is allowed to be manifested in and through us and He is glorified in our human flesh! We again, turn our world upside down. (The reason it needs to be turned upside down is, it has been turned wrongside up, the right side needs to be "turned up" in our own lies first, then we can help others to get that same motion going!)
Acts 17:1-34
Preaching Christ at Thessalonica
Paul at Thessalonica, Berea, and Athens
1 Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews. 2Then Paul, as his custom was, went in to them, and for three Sabbaths reasoned with them from the Scriptures, 3explaining and demonstrating that the Christ had to suffer and rise again from the dead, and saying, "This Jesus whom I preach to you is the Christ." 4And some of them were persuaded; and a great multitude of the devout Greeks, and not a few of the leading women, joined Paul and Silas.
Assault on Jason's House
5 But the Jews who were not persuaded, becoming envious, F72 took some of the evil men from the marketplace, and gathering a mob, set all the city in an uproar and attacked the house of Jason, and sought to bring them out to the people. 6But when they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some brethren to the rulers of the city, crying out, "These who have turned the world upside down have come here too. 7Jason has harbored them, and these are all acting contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying there is another king--Jesus." 8And they troubled the crowd and the rulers of the city when they heard these things. 9So when they had taken security from Jason and the rest, they let them go.
Ministering at Berea
10 Then the brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea. When they arrived, they went into the synagogue of the Jews. 11These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so. 12Therefore many of them believed, and also not a few of the Greeks, prominent women as well as men. 13But when the Jews from Thessalonica learned that the word of God was preached by Paul at Berea, they came there also and stirred up the crowds. 14Then immediately the brethren sent Paul away, to go to the sea; but both Silas and Timothy remained there. 15So those who conducted Paul brought him to Athens; and receiving a command for Silas and Timothy to come to him with all speed, they departed.
The Philosophers at Athens
16 Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was provoked within him when he saw that the city was given over to idols. 17Therefore he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and with the Gentile worshipers, and in the marketplace daily with those who happened to be there. 18Then F73 certain Epicurean and Stoic philosophers encountered him. And some said, "What does this babbler want to say?" Others said, "He seems to be a proclaimer of foreign gods," because he preached to them Jesus and the resurrection. 19And they took him and brought him to the Areopagus, saying, "May we know what this new doctrine is of which you speak? 20For you are bringing some strange things to our ears. Therefore we want to know what these things mean." 21For all the Athenians and the foreigners who were there spent their time in nothing else but either to tell or to hear some new thing.
Addressing the Areopagus
22 Then Paul stood in the midst of the Areopagus and said, "Men of Athens, I perceive that in all things you are very religious; 23for as I was passing through and considering the objects of your worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Therefore, the One whom you worship without knowing, Him I proclaim to you: 24God, who made the world and everything in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands. 25Nor is He worshiped with men's hands, as though He needed anything, since He gives to all life, breath, and all things. 26And He has made from one blood F74 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, 27so that they should seek the Lord, in the hope that they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us; 28for in Him we live and move and have our being, as also some of your own poets have said, "For we are also His offspring.' 29Therefore, since we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Divine Nature is like gold or silver or stone, something shaped by art and man's devising. 30Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent, 31because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead." 32And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked, while others said, "We will hear you again on this matter." 33So Paul departed from among them. 34However, some men joined him and believed, among them Dionysius the Areopagite, a woman named Damaris, and others with them.
Footnotes
F72: 17:5 NU-Text omits who were not persuaded; M-Text omits becoming envious.
F73: 17:18 NU-Text and M-Text add also.
F74: 17:26 NU-Text omits blood.
~Lena’s Journalin’~
Notice the biggest resistance the new believers are having, at this time, comes from the immovable, unchanging, pride-filled, religious world. When I say religion, I’m not speaking of God life in practice. I’m talking about a kingdom of man, a social entity that may have begun on Godly principles and mandates, but in it’s continuance men did not follow Christ’s rule, God’s plans, they stayed where they were comfy cozy and any disruption brought an upheaval of emotion. Don’t rock MY boat, the key word there is "my". It’s God’s boat and He can rock it whenever He so pleases, if it is really His boat!Have you ever made an announcement to yourself, like this one? "There is another King?" Something about man, something inside of man (actually placed there by God, but subject to alteration or perversion) says, "RULE". The thing is we are to rule with God and for God and with and for His work and His will. That would mean serving Him and checking in about things as rulers in council do. The thing is, satan wanted to overrule God and so that temptation is out there, to be your own ruler, your own person, do your own will, insist on independence, etc. All of these can be dangerous if we do not rule with God, and serve Him. So what do we do when we are making all kinds of decisions apart from God and His word? Tell yourself, "There IS another King!" Ever tell others, "There is another King"? That doesn’t always go over too well in a prideful situation, but in a place where misery and persecution is it would be a good announcement to make.
Can I tell you something today? God has been seeking you out. He’s been knocking at the door of your heart and life for years now. He’s been waiting for you to at least acknowledge that He’s there, but of course He wants you to open that door and allow Him to come in and not only for a brief visit, as in times past, but to live there in you, to be totally 100% involved in your life. He’s ready for you to seek Him. He’s been seeking you for a long time (even before you were born, He knew you and called you forth by name. God’s grace has been on your life to preserve you for Himself in this time, but it will not always strive with every man, because time runs out and even life ends and none of us knows when it will end, remember we may act like it, but we are not the King and the one who knows how long life is.It is time for all living men everywhere to repent. Repent does not mean, say a prayer of rescue, Oh God rescue me from this present danger that’s upon me, help me out of this trouble Lord or even, Lord save me from my behaviors. No, it means I acknowledge by my new way of living that there is another King. I allow Him to rule me. My life changes because of it. I was not centered on the thoughts of His kingdom or of what he wanted from me and now I am. I used to live for me, now I lie for Him. I used to do whatever I desired, whatever made me feel good and whole, I saved myself from trouble as well as I could (and at times, I did very well- thank you. Being "saved" does NOT mean saying a prayer with someone in hopes that when I die I won’t go to hell (we call that fire insurance). Being saved means , being born again, being changed, made new by the blood of Jesus continually. Not a one time deal, a lifetime (eternal lifetime) deal. He gave His life for me. I give my life for Him, daily, not skipping one day. That is repentance. It is time to seek the Lord. If not for anyone else, do this for your kids. You are doing a lot of things for your kids, but how many are everlasting things, that they’ll take with them if and when they die? Will your lifestyle save their souls? Will you have left them with eternal blessings or passed on to them the sins of your fathers and of your own life? You may have despised that when your parents and grandparents did that to you, the only way to not do the same is to repent and be eternally continuously changed.
One more nugget for today. It is so important to our continual spiritual life to flourish and even grow, that we learn the word, study the word and most of all live the word! The passage here says, they searched the scripture daily to see if these things were so. Do you just take another’s word for it? Or do you seek God for yourself? Are you still being fed (that’s fine and even great when you’re only a youngster, but there is a time to grow and feed yourself.) 1 Cor 6:2 NOW IS the TIME! Today is the Day!
Wednesday, October 12, 2005
Today Our Daily Bread ( from Rock Church's Daily Readings) Rom 16:19-20, Acts 17:6 & Psalm 24
Romans 16:19-20 19 For your obedience has become known to all. Therefore I am glad on your behalf; but I want you to be wise in what is good, and simple concerning evil. 20 And the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.
Acts 17:6 But when they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some brethren to the rulers of the city, crying out, "These who have turned the world upside down have come here too.
It seems the religious persecutors were seeking to persecute these, looking for them. How did they know who to persecute? I’ve heard the saying, "If we had persecution of Christians here, would there be enough evidence to convict you?." We might need to become more obvious, more distinct, more visible in our walk and our outward witness.
Psalm 24:1-10
The King of Glory and His Kingdom A Psalm of David. 1 The earth is the LORD's, and all its fullness, The world and those who dwell therein.
2For He has founded it upon the seas, And established it upon the waters.
3Who may ascend into the hill of the LORD? Or who may stand in His holy place?
4He who has clean hands and a pure heart, Who has not lifted up his soul to an idol, Nor sworn deceitfully. 5He shall receive blessing from the LORD, And righteousness from the God of his salvation.
6This is Jacob, the generation of those who seek Him, Who seek Your face. Selah
7Lift up your heads, O you gates! And be lifted up, you everlasting doors! And the King of glory shall come in.
8Who is this King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, The LORD mighty in battle.
9Lift up your heads, O you gates! Lift up, you everlasting doors! And the King of glory shall come in.
10Who is this King of glory? The LORD of hosts, He is the King of glory. Selah
~ Lena's Journalin'~
This Psalm is a musical song. In the song and the tune of it, it has pauses or interludes, where the singers wait at that section and think either of what was just sung or what will be sung next. "Selah" is like saying- don’t leave that thought too quickly! Stay here a moment and enjoy the music and the thoughts expressed by it. Boy if we did that with life sometimes. Just wait as you pass by the front walkway and look at what is here for us to enjoy the music of (birds are singing, wind is blowing- Thank God! Flowers are blooming, the sun is rising…Selah)
When this psalmist speaks of gates and doors he is speaking of people who can receive or reject the coming of the Lord into their lives, they can ignore Him when He calls them or they can open their hearts to His call (doors). The psalmist is prophesying and praying that each man would open up to the Lord and His desired work in them. Do you realize we are God’s proud work? But there is an element we do not usually think of and that is, He desires us to work, not just Him doing a work on or in us. He'’ really waiting on us to do His works in the earth, opening others doors and windows of opportunity for His spirit to live in men and to bring more men into the work.
Who can ascend? Please do not see that as, "Yeah I knew it, I had to be all cleaned up and good before I could serve God and that’s exactly why I don’t or won’t." You do have to be clean to face God without being consumed by His pure awesome presence, BUT you cannot do anything to make yourself that clean or that good! Ever, so if you think that way you are never coming to God, that’s true. We can only come to God by the blood of Jesus, which cleanses us from ALL our sins. It is not a work we do or even can do. It’s too big, too huge. That’s almost on purpose, it show the impossibility of being able to made ourseles clean without God’s help. We need God and HE needs us! REALLY. So He provided a way for us to be able to come to Him as we are now, to be forever changed. Jesus is THE WAY, the TRUTH and the LIFE. There is NO other WAY to God. What’s so awesome about that is, it is the best and easiest way ever. Some feel the weight of their sins and the heaviness of the penalty for their sins, in a pay it back system, they feel hopeless and ashamed, like they could never even think of approaching God because of who they are or what they’ve done. That is so true, but know that even a lie makes one not able to approach God. Sin is sin, unrighteousness is unrighteousness. We’re either made right with God or not and we cannot pay for our wrong doings! Period, no matter how hard they are to pay for. Let the blood of Jesus pay for them. He already did. When you get that one you will have swung wide the eternal doors to welcome in God’s love and life in you.
Do you realize who this King of Glory is? He’s a king that became a poor man to save you. He’s the God of the universe who came and put on humanness in all its vulnerability and risk. He knew that and did it anyway, because of His extreme love for you. He knew you might reject Him, but He took that chance anyway, to make the impossible happen. What was headed to hell, was now turned to heaven. This King moved heaven, earth and hell’s gates for you! Do you know Him? He’s the LORD, strong and mighty. WOW. Did you get that one? He went to hell (for 3 days and nights) for you! Are you convinced of His great love extended towards you yet?
Acts 17:6 But when they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some brethren to the rulers of the city, crying out, "These who have turned the world upside down have come here too.
It seems the religious persecutors were seeking to persecute these, looking for them. How did they know who to persecute? I’ve heard the saying, "If we had persecution of Christians here, would there be enough evidence to convict you?." We might need to become more obvious, more distinct, more visible in our walk and our outward witness.
Psalm 24:1-10
The King of Glory and His Kingdom A Psalm of David. 1 The earth is the LORD's, and all its fullness, The world and those who dwell therein.
2For He has founded it upon the seas, And established it upon the waters.
3Who may ascend into the hill of the LORD? Or who may stand in His holy place?
4He who has clean hands and a pure heart, Who has not lifted up his soul to an idol, Nor sworn deceitfully. 5He shall receive blessing from the LORD, And righteousness from the God of his salvation.
6This is Jacob, the generation of those who seek Him, Who seek Your face. Selah
7Lift up your heads, O you gates! And be lifted up, you everlasting doors! And the King of glory shall come in.
8Who is this King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, The LORD mighty in battle.
9Lift up your heads, O you gates! Lift up, you everlasting doors! And the King of glory shall come in.
10Who is this King of glory? The LORD of hosts, He is the King of glory. Selah
~ Lena's Journalin'~
This Psalm is a musical song. In the song and the tune of it, it has pauses or interludes, where the singers wait at that section and think either of what was just sung or what will be sung next. "Selah" is like saying- don’t leave that thought too quickly! Stay here a moment and enjoy the music and the thoughts expressed by it. Boy if we did that with life sometimes. Just wait as you pass by the front walkway and look at what is here for us to enjoy the music of (birds are singing, wind is blowing- Thank God! Flowers are blooming, the sun is rising…Selah)
When this psalmist speaks of gates and doors he is speaking of people who can receive or reject the coming of the Lord into their lives, they can ignore Him when He calls them or they can open their hearts to His call (doors). The psalmist is prophesying and praying that each man would open up to the Lord and His desired work in them. Do you realize we are God’s proud work? But there is an element we do not usually think of and that is, He desires us to work, not just Him doing a work on or in us. He'’ really waiting on us to do His works in the earth, opening others doors and windows of opportunity for His spirit to live in men and to bring more men into the work.
Who can ascend? Please do not see that as, "Yeah I knew it, I had to be all cleaned up and good before I could serve God and that’s exactly why I don’t or won’t." You do have to be clean to face God without being consumed by His pure awesome presence, BUT you cannot do anything to make yourself that clean or that good! Ever, so if you think that way you are never coming to God, that’s true. We can only come to God by the blood of Jesus, which cleanses us from ALL our sins. It is not a work we do or even can do. It’s too big, too huge. That’s almost on purpose, it show the impossibility of being able to made ourseles clean without God’s help. We need God and HE needs us! REALLY. So He provided a way for us to be able to come to Him as we are now, to be forever changed. Jesus is THE WAY, the TRUTH and the LIFE. There is NO other WAY to God. What’s so awesome about that is, it is the best and easiest way ever. Some feel the weight of their sins and the heaviness of the penalty for their sins, in a pay it back system, they feel hopeless and ashamed, like they could never even think of approaching God because of who they are or what they’ve done. That is so true, but know that even a lie makes one not able to approach God. Sin is sin, unrighteousness is unrighteousness. We’re either made right with God or not and we cannot pay for our wrong doings! Period, no matter how hard they are to pay for. Let the blood of Jesus pay for them. He already did. When you get that one you will have swung wide the eternal doors to welcome in God’s love and life in you.
Do you realize who this King of Glory is? He’s a king that became a poor man to save you. He’s the God of the universe who came and put on humanness in all its vulnerability and risk. He knew that and did it anyway, because of His extreme love for you. He knew you might reject Him, but He took that chance anyway, to make the impossible happen. What was headed to hell, was now turned to heaven. This King moved heaven, earth and hell’s gates for you! Do you know Him? He’s the LORD, strong and mighty. WOW. Did you get that one? He went to hell (for 3 days and nights) for you! Are you convinced of His great love extended towards you yet?
Tuesday, October 11, 2005
The Gospel Message told to you TODAY
~ The Gospel Message ~
I’m gonna take a few moments here to do this word- of Mark 16:19-20
The Gospel
The word I believe and I live
Because I love you, and I know of your end if you are without becoming one who believes and lives!
God’s story for you…..
LONGGGGG ago way up in the heavenly realm, was worship, pure, holy, ONE with God, worship. Lots of activity. LOVE everywhere, everything was about God everywhere and in everything. Every move, every plan, every action, every thought, etc was ONE with the "Harmony" of Heaven, which was God, Father, Son & Holy Spirit. ONE was undivided, whole.
ONE day, opposition arose in the heavens. Where there was ONLY ONE, TWO showed its face, presented its-self. A worshiper, one who WAS ONE, stood up in pride against ONE and made a declaration that ONE was not desired. ONLY ONE could "stand" in heaven! So, TWO left heaven, taking 1/3rd of its host of worshippers, who WERE ONE, away to TWO. (Isa 1, Ez. 28, etc)
In ONE are always answers to "problems", always. That’s the nature of ONE. Plus the Lord God; Father, Son & Holy Spirit, own ALL of the universe, all belongs to Him (plural). He made all and created ALL. The place of TWO was only temporary, because TWO cannot stand as ONE, nor could it take the place of or stand in the way of ONE. The answer was salvation, making of the TWO - ONE.
The TWO had fallen from heaven, to earth.
The earth is the Lord’s, so there had to be ONE. (Ps 24:1)
God (ALL 3 persons of) made of earth’s substance His first part of the answer. He made man (ONE) and took out of man Eve TWO,(get a visual picture here of what had already happened, it’s like a review of sorts, in a visible - to the eye- way. Also take note of who or what was already on earth- had fallen to earth, and was observing God’s work being done in that place of TWO).
God says, Let the TWO become ONE! He’s not only speaking to Adam & Eve, He’s speaking to His and their enemies. He’s speaking to the heavens and the earth, to the universe, to ages and generations. He’s saying what will stand for all time- ONE!
God’s Words are true, every other contrary word is a lie. TWO is a lie. There is no eternally natured truth in its character.
So, the enemy of God (TWO), hated this remedy being declared in the place he was thinking was now his, to rule in, to reign upon, where darkness was, how dare there be light! But God is Light and in Him is NO darkness at all. In utter darkness God was there with His plan to execute His plans. In that place where confusion and catastrophe manifested He made man (plural). Satan hated man, man looked JUST LIKE God, and satan hated God (ONE) and God’s plans. Satan decided to interfere. He had the right to, he could interfere, he lived here. The earth was his territory to do as he so pleased (for a season in eternal time.) God who is LOVE, gave man choices, He loved man unconditionally and eternally and had great hope that man would be as God was, response to that extension of pure holy love. God had a plan, which wholly included man, and gave man the choice whether to join in on the plan and participate in it or not. The success of the plan actually depended upon man choosing to respond in ONENESS with God, because choice was what made TWO, in order for TWO to really become ONE again, TWO had to choose ONE above any other choice given. God gave the tools of choice, instructions on how to make the choice and was there for the choice, but man had to choose to make ONE stand in the place of TWO on earth as well as in heaven.
As we stated before, satan knew/knows God and chose to hate God and fight God intending to win. Though he knows his doom, he feels he can torment a loving God along the way, somehow paying Him back for the effects of his own choices. Satan did not have power over God though he desired it. God established power on earth and gave it to man, man could give it to whomever he chose. The only manifest power satan could have on earth is what man, deemed by God, would choose to give Him!
In that place man chose. He did not choose ONE, he chose TWO. On earth, he chose TWO, a kingdom of TWO. He was persuaded by lies rather than truth to choose TWO over ONE. Remember the earth is the Lord’s….Remember The TWO shall become ONE, Remember God’s words stand true through eternity of time. Remember TWO cannot stand in ONE, so there was still a part of THE ANSWER to be revealed, to unfold, in earth as it was in heaven.
Time passed, about 4,000 human years passed. Man found he did not do well in TWO and things were not all that fine as the liar had said they would be. Man found he missed God and even the thought of ONE clung to his inner soul. He was constantly wandering from place to place to find himself, to find rest, to find food, to find who he was and what he was here for. He forgot, it was SO long ago, in the light of earthly years. Darkness was hovering over the earth, and THEN a light shined out of the Darkness!
That light was God, but God had taken from Himself a portion of Himself (think God took Eve from Adam), and made of that portion of Himself of the substance of earth, and earthly nature, of earthly flesh, became a man. This man was called Yeshusa and he came from a small town called Nazareth. He was the plan for TWO, He was the man of ONE. Out of God Himself, He took ONE part or portion and sent Him to earth, because TWO cannot stand. By now darkness was grievous, the effects of catastrophe was all around. Men had died, the earth was under the pains of TWO and cried out with groanings that were so deep they could not be uttered for ONE! " JESUS, are YOU, THE ONE?"
We all know at least portions of the story of the life of Christ, a man sent to earth by God to live, teach, die, be raised up, and ascend to heaven again, victorious over TWO in the earth realm and really in the universe.
He went to hell after he died and stripped satan of his power that Adam freely and willfully gave him. The Word says he took the keys of death, hell & the grave. So, He has the keys to life and to ONE. Now we are back at the place Adam was, if we accept what He did for us, if we get an understanding of what he did for us that we could never ever do for ourselves, we can be made new as Adam was new. We can be born again, with a clean slate to follow God’s plan. The thing is we have a choice. Satan will blind us to the choice, lie to us about the choice, entice us away from the choice (humanism does a good job at this), because satan is still doomed, and now there is a power given back to man, to bring ONE to earth, as it is in heaven. Satan hates God, satan hates us, (no matter if we are saved, or accept the gospel message or not) all he wants is to spit in the face of God and say, "SEE". They don’t/won’t LOVE YOU back! They’d rather listen to me than YOU, they’d rather die with me and spend eternity in torturous torment, than to be with YOU, watch them choose!
Have you ever read Duet, where God is pleading with us and he says, here is what happens when you obey and here’s what happens when you disobey, but here’s how you obey, please choose LIFE, for YOU and YOUR children, YOUR grandchildren, for many, many more generations to come? Choose Life!
That cry from the heart of God is still here calling us and crying out for us today! It will not stop till we either reject it completely or our hearts stop beating while we still had a chance to choose life.
I want to be bold enough to tell you, that if you wait out your whole life and DO not choose Jesus early on, and even if you wait any length of time, and you die soon after that acceptance of Christ; you, and all of the angelic hosts of God, will be celebrating your choice of life. BUT, you will have great regrets of "wasted time" that you did not, in turn, give this message to at least your family and then also to those who would give it for those who would come after you and after them. I promise you there will be an instant revelation of what could have been, and a joining with the grief of God’s heart over one soul lost in this world.
1 Cor 6:2
PLEASE I beg you, DO NOT waste another day of this earthly life, receive Jesus, believe Jesus and live for Jesus, preach this message everywhere! Make Jesus’ prayer in John 17 come true- father, make us ONE, as You and I are ONE. THIS IS crushing satan and all his rebellious plans underfoot! Romans 16:19-20
I am on a mission with God, becoming ONE with God, on purpose, with purpose, to allow the God of peace who will quickly, through my obedient life actions, crush satan under my feet, as well as Jesus’ feet that have already crushed him of his legal power on earth. (Peace is - ONE, division and every form of its unrighteous work in everyday life is - TWO) I have a purpose and a plan, as God had from the beginning, to bring ONE to earth as it is in heaven.
Wanna come?
Follow me, as I follow Christ. I’ll be glad to lead you to Him.
I Love You, but as I tell my kids, most of ALL GOD LOVES YOU!
I’m gonna take a few moments here to do this word- of Mark 16:19-20
The Gospel
The word I believe and I live
Because I love you, and I know of your end if you are without becoming one who believes and lives!
God’s story for you…..
LONGGGGG ago way up in the heavenly realm, was worship, pure, holy, ONE with God, worship. Lots of activity. LOVE everywhere, everything was about God everywhere and in everything. Every move, every plan, every action, every thought, etc was ONE with the "Harmony" of Heaven, which was God, Father, Son & Holy Spirit. ONE was undivided, whole.
ONE day, opposition arose in the heavens. Where there was ONLY ONE, TWO showed its face, presented its-self. A worshiper, one who WAS ONE, stood up in pride against ONE and made a declaration that ONE was not desired. ONLY ONE could "stand" in heaven! So, TWO left heaven, taking 1/3rd of its host of worshippers, who WERE ONE, away to TWO. (Isa 1, Ez. 28, etc)
In ONE are always answers to "problems", always. That’s the nature of ONE. Plus the Lord God; Father, Son & Holy Spirit, own ALL of the universe, all belongs to Him (plural). He made all and created ALL. The place of TWO was only temporary, because TWO cannot stand as ONE, nor could it take the place of or stand in the way of ONE. The answer was salvation, making of the TWO - ONE.
The TWO had fallen from heaven, to earth.
The earth is the Lord’s, so there had to be ONE. (Ps 24:1)
God (ALL 3 persons of) made of earth’s substance His first part of the answer. He made man (ONE) and took out of man Eve TWO,(get a visual picture here of what had already happened, it’s like a review of sorts, in a visible - to the eye- way. Also take note of who or what was already on earth- had fallen to earth, and was observing God’s work being done in that place of TWO).
God says, Let the TWO become ONE! He’s not only speaking to Adam & Eve, He’s speaking to His and their enemies. He’s speaking to the heavens and the earth, to the universe, to ages and generations. He’s saying what will stand for all time- ONE!
God’s Words are true, every other contrary word is a lie. TWO is a lie. There is no eternally natured truth in its character.
So, the enemy of God (TWO), hated this remedy being declared in the place he was thinking was now his, to rule in, to reign upon, where darkness was, how dare there be light! But God is Light and in Him is NO darkness at all. In utter darkness God was there with His plan to execute His plans. In that place where confusion and catastrophe manifested He made man (plural). Satan hated man, man looked JUST LIKE God, and satan hated God (ONE) and God’s plans. Satan decided to interfere. He had the right to, he could interfere, he lived here. The earth was his territory to do as he so pleased (for a season in eternal time.) God who is LOVE, gave man choices, He loved man unconditionally and eternally and had great hope that man would be as God was, response to that extension of pure holy love. God had a plan, which wholly included man, and gave man the choice whether to join in on the plan and participate in it or not. The success of the plan actually depended upon man choosing to respond in ONENESS with God, because choice was what made TWO, in order for TWO to really become ONE again, TWO had to choose ONE above any other choice given. God gave the tools of choice, instructions on how to make the choice and was there for the choice, but man had to choose to make ONE stand in the place of TWO on earth as well as in heaven.
As we stated before, satan knew/knows God and chose to hate God and fight God intending to win. Though he knows his doom, he feels he can torment a loving God along the way, somehow paying Him back for the effects of his own choices. Satan did not have power over God though he desired it. God established power on earth and gave it to man, man could give it to whomever he chose. The only manifest power satan could have on earth is what man, deemed by God, would choose to give Him!
In that place man chose. He did not choose ONE, he chose TWO. On earth, he chose TWO, a kingdom of TWO. He was persuaded by lies rather than truth to choose TWO over ONE. Remember the earth is the Lord’s….Remember The TWO shall become ONE, Remember God’s words stand true through eternity of time. Remember TWO cannot stand in ONE, so there was still a part of THE ANSWER to be revealed, to unfold, in earth as it was in heaven.
Time passed, about 4,000 human years passed. Man found he did not do well in TWO and things were not all that fine as the liar had said they would be. Man found he missed God and even the thought of ONE clung to his inner soul. He was constantly wandering from place to place to find himself, to find rest, to find food, to find who he was and what he was here for. He forgot, it was SO long ago, in the light of earthly years. Darkness was hovering over the earth, and THEN a light shined out of the Darkness!
That light was God, but God had taken from Himself a portion of Himself (think God took Eve from Adam), and made of that portion of Himself of the substance of earth, and earthly nature, of earthly flesh, became a man. This man was called Yeshusa and he came from a small town called Nazareth. He was the plan for TWO, He was the man of ONE. Out of God Himself, He took ONE part or portion and sent Him to earth, because TWO cannot stand. By now darkness was grievous, the effects of catastrophe was all around. Men had died, the earth was under the pains of TWO and cried out with groanings that were so deep they could not be uttered for ONE! " JESUS, are YOU, THE ONE?"
We all know at least portions of the story of the life of Christ, a man sent to earth by God to live, teach, die, be raised up, and ascend to heaven again, victorious over TWO in the earth realm and really in the universe.
He went to hell after he died and stripped satan of his power that Adam freely and willfully gave him. The Word says he took the keys of death, hell & the grave. So, He has the keys to life and to ONE. Now we are back at the place Adam was, if we accept what He did for us, if we get an understanding of what he did for us that we could never ever do for ourselves, we can be made new as Adam was new. We can be born again, with a clean slate to follow God’s plan. The thing is we have a choice. Satan will blind us to the choice, lie to us about the choice, entice us away from the choice (humanism does a good job at this), because satan is still doomed, and now there is a power given back to man, to bring ONE to earth, as it is in heaven. Satan hates God, satan hates us, (no matter if we are saved, or accept the gospel message or not) all he wants is to spit in the face of God and say, "SEE". They don’t/won’t LOVE YOU back! They’d rather listen to me than YOU, they’d rather die with me and spend eternity in torturous torment, than to be with YOU, watch them choose!
Have you ever read Duet, where God is pleading with us and he says, here is what happens when you obey and here’s what happens when you disobey, but here’s how you obey, please choose LIFE, for YOU and YOUR children, YOUR grandchildren, for many, many more generations to come? Choose Life!
That cry from the heart of God is still here calling us and crying out for us today! It will not stop till we either reject it completely or our hearts stop beating while we still had a chance to choose life.
I want to be bold enough to tell you, that if you wait out your whole life and DO not choose Jesus early on, and even if you wait any length of time, and you die soon after that acceptance of Christ; you, and all of the angelic hosts of God, will be celebrating your choice of life. BUT, you will have great regrets of "wasted time" that you did not, in turn, give this message to at least your family and then also to those who would give it for those who would come after you and after them. I promise you there will be an instant revelation of what could have been, and a joining with the grief of God’s heart over one soul lost in this world.
1 Cor 6:2
PLEASE I beg you, DO NOT waste another day of this earthly life, receive Jesus, believe Jesus and live for Jesus, preach this message everywhere! Make Jesus’ prayer in John 17 come true- father, make us ONE, as You and I are ONE. THIS IS crushing satan and all his rebellious plans underfoot! Romans 16:19-20
I am on a mission with God, becoming ONE with God, on purpose, with purpose, to allow the God of peace who will quickly, through my obedient life actions, crush satan under my feet, as well as Jesus’ feet that have already crushed him of his legal power on earth. (Peace is - ONE, division and every form of its unrighteous work in everyday life is - TWO) I have a purpose and a plan, as God had from the beginning, to bring ONE to earth as it is in heaven.
Wanna come?
Follow me, as I follow Christ. I’ll be glad to lead you to Him.
I Love You, but as I tell my kids, most of ALL GOD LOVES YOU!
Today Our (Rock Church) Daily Bread- Rom 16:19-20, Acts 17:6 & Mark 16 +++ (see next post)
Romans 16:19-20 19 For your obedience has become known to all. Therefore I am glad on your behalf; but I want you to be wise in what is good, and simple concerning evil. 20 And the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.
Acts 17:6 But when they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some brethren to the rulers of the city, crying out, "These who have turned the world upside down have come here too.
Who drug them outside of the city? Outside of the place of exchange and population, outside of the places of great opportunity to have further influence? Who did that? The religious leaders. Those who tried to uphold a reputation for themselves. Those who’d exalted their own words above God’s. Those who were in places of influence for their own kingdom and plans. Jesus had come to tear down religious walls. Walls that men had built that were keeping God out. He came to expose hidden works of darkness in the individual persons and in His church (the present day system) as a whole. He was redefining HIS church, His bride, His lover; A Lover of God and people, not a lover of themselves and their own glory. That’s who threw His followers out of the city, who threw Him out. Remember how they tried to toss Him over the cliff, and how He’d said to Saul, "YOU are persecuting ME", even though Saul was persecuting believers and Jesus wasn’t even on the earth anymore? Jesus is on the earth now in His Body of belieers and satan uses the same tactics throughout the ages, you will see resistance to the next forward moves of God, not usually from the world, for the move is to reach the world, but from the complacent, self-serving religious world.
Mark 16 :1-20
He Is RisenThe Risen and Ascended ChristR82
1 Now when the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, that they might come and anoint Him. 2Very early in the morning, on the first day of the week, they came to the tomb when the sun had risen. 3And they said among themselves, "Who will roll away the stone from the door of the tomb for us?" 4But when they looked up, they saw that the stone had been rolled away--for it was very large. 5And entering the tomb, they saw a young man clothed in a long white robe sitting on the right side; and they were alarmed. 6But he said to them, "Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He is risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid Him. 7But go, tell His disciples--and Peter--that He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him, as He said to you." 8So they went out quickly F82 and fled from the tomb, for they trembled and were amazed. And they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.
Mary Magdalene Sees the Risen LordR83
9 Now when He rose early on the first day of the week, He appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom He had cast seven demons. 10She went and told those who had been with Him, as they mourned and wept. 11And when they heard that He was alive and had been seen by her, they did not believe.
Jesus Appears to Two DisciplesR84
12 After that, He appeared in another form to two of them as they walked and went into the country. 13And they went and told it to the rest, but they did not believe them either.
The Great CommissionR85
14 Later He appeared to the eleven as they sat at the table; and He rebuked their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they did not believe those who had seen Him after He had risen. 15And He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. 16He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. 17And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; 18they F83 will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover."
Christ Ascends to God's Right HandR86
19 So then, after the Lord had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God. 20And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs. Amen. F84
Footnotes
F82: 16:8 NU-Text and M-Text omit quickly.
F83: 16:18 NU-Text reads and in their hands they will.
F84: 16:20 Verses 9-20 are bracketed in NU-Text as not original. They are lacking in Codex Sinaiticus and Codex Vaticanus, although nearly all other manuscripts of Mark contain them.
Show cross-references
R82: Matt. 28:1-8; Luke 24:1-12; John 20:1-10
R83: Matt. 28:9, 10; John 20:11-18
R84: Luke 24:13-35
R85: Matt. 28:16-20; Luke 24:44-49; Acts 1:6-8
R86: Luke 24:50-53
Lena's Journalin'
(to The Rock Church's Daily Bread)
This might seem odd, but I’m drawn to the word "spices" today. Its meaning is "aroma", "that which is offered up, raised up, lifted up, applied to the use of, raise up and move from its place." It seemed that these women were ready to apply what they’d heard. He’d anointed them with every word He’d ever spoken to them, and now they were going to lift Him up, to move out of the place they were in and apply what they’d heard. THAT"S where the anointing will flow. Were they possibly in tune with the spirit of Christ, because He’d so imparted His spirit inside of them, that they somehow "knew" He was to arise and they were there to either agree and call for it in prayer, or at least witness it? Are you ever surprised when what you believe appears? Does it ever amaze you, even though you knew it was gonna happen? Have you ever sensed it would come to pass, but had no idea how and were so overwhelmed in how it came to pass?
I’ve recently read a small book on the necessity of breaking curses. One area he spoke of was the denial of Christ that His disciple Peter participated in. The author (Ben King), speaks of the words we say coming back on us. He takes us to John 21 where Jesus sits with Peter over a "communion" meal, both of them knowing full well that Peter had "slipped up big time!" Jesus led him to take back every denying word he’d spoken, by asking him 3 times "Do you love Me?" Jesus was on a mission to cancel every curse Peter had spoken against God and to nullify the power behind those spoken words. He also took a deliberate action towards reversing the effects of those words against Peter and against everyone Peter would influence in his generation and in others to come after him, as words and their effects are FAR reaching, much further than we see or realize. Look here, as the angel told these women to Go tell, he said, "Go tell the disciples, AND Peter…" Was Peter not a disciple? Or was he? He’d denied Christ. And they’d not yet had a chance to sit together and have this Jn 21 communion concerning the nullifying of Peter’s sin. WOW!
I so believe everything God does has purpose and is on purpose. Who He 1st appeared to, who He last appeared to etc.
I’ve seen God in His word and see Him daily. I’ve seen God in others. I’ve seen Him in nature. I’m telling of His appearing to me, in great hopes that others will believe also. How long will people hear and still not believe enough to live for Christ? I just pray if I keep talking, living and appearing as He appears, as I anoint Him, as I continue to write of His appearing, somehow, someday those who He is leading to take Him as Lord, will do so. Every word or actions will be worth it when they do. Wouldn’t you do anything to save a soul from eternal hell? Jesus did that for us, and He’s not even asking us to be beaten and crucified. He’s asking us to lie where we are with who we are around, for and as Him. Examples in the earth right now.
How many times does it take to hear about Him, to see those who’ve seen Him, to accept the invitations to be with Him? Until faith comes! The religious world has created such hardness of heart. It has been satan’s tool. God’s "church" manipulated in the devil’s hand! People used by God’s enemy against God! Arise up oh Body of Christ and be willing to visibly LIVE for Jesus, don’t just say it, do it! Maybe they won’t be as hindered from coming to see who he really is, the Savior of their world.
Acts 17:6 But when they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some brethren to the rulers of the city, crying out, "These who have turned the world upside down have come here too.
Who drug them outside of the city? Outside of the place of exchange and population, outside of the places of great opportunity to have further influence? Who did that? The religious leaders. Those who tried to uphold a reputation for themselves. Those who’d exalted their own words above God’s. Those who were in places of influence for their own kingdom and plans. Jesus had come to tear down religious walls. Walls that men had built that were keeping God out. He came to expose hidden works of darkness in the individual persons and in His church (the present day system) as a whole. He was redefining HIS church, His bride, His lover; A Lover of God and people, not a lover of themselves and their own glory. That’s who threw His followers out of the city, who threw Him out. Remember how they tried to toss Him over the cliff, and how He’d said to Saul, "YOU are persecuting ME", even though Saul was persecuting believers and Jesus wasn’t even on the earth anymore? Jesus is on the earth now in His Body of belieers and satan uses the same tactics throughout the ages, you will see resistance to the next forward moves of God, not usually from the world, for the move is to reach the world, but from the complacent, self-serving religious world.
Mark 16 :1-20
He Is RisenThe Risen and Ascended ChristR82
1 Now when the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, that they might come and anoint Him. 2Very early in the morning, on the first day of the week, they came to the tomb when the sun had risen. 3And they said among themselves, "Who will roll away the stone from the door of the tomb for us?" 4But when they looked up, they saw that the stone had been rolled away--for it was very large. 5And entering the tomb, they saw a young man clothed in a long white robe sitting on the right side; and they were alarmed. 6But he said to them, "Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He is risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid Him. 7But go, tell His disciples--and Peter--that He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him, as He said to you." 8So they went out quickly F82 and fled from the tomb, for they trembled and were amazed. And they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.
Mary Magdalene Sees the Risen LordR83
9 Now when He rose early on the first day of the week, He appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom He had cast seven demons. 10She went and told those who had been with Him, as they mourned and wept. 11And when they heard that He was alive and had been seen by her, they did not believe.
Jesus Appears to Two DisciplesR84
12 After that, He appeared in another form to two of them as they walked and went into the country. 13And they went and told it to the rest, but they did not believe them either.
The Great CommissionR85
14 Later He appeared to the eleven as they sat at the table; and He rebuked their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they did not believe those who had seen Him after He had risen. 15And He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. 16He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. 17And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; 18they F83 will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover."
Christ Ascends to God's Right HandR86
19 So then, after the Lord had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God. 20And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs. Amen. F84
Footnotes
F82: 16:8 NU-Text and M-Text omit quickly.
F83: 16:18 NU-Text reads and in their hands they will.
F84: 16:20 Verses 9-20 are bracketed in NU-Text as not original. They are lacking in Codex Sinaiticus and Codex Vaticanus, although nearly all other manuscripts of Mark contain them.
Show cross-references
R82: Matt. 28:1-8; Luke 24:1-12; John 20:1-10
R83: Matt. 28:9, 10; John 20:11-18
R84: Luke 24:13-35
R85: Matt. 28:16-20; Luke 24:44-49; Acts 1:6-8
R86: Luke 24:50-53
Lena's Journalin'
(to The Rock Church's Daily Bread)
This might seem odd, but I’m drawn to the word "spices" today. Its meaning is "aroma", "that which is offered up, raised up, lifted up, applied to the use of, raise up and move from its place." It seemed that these women were ready to apply what they’d heard. He’d anointed them with every word He’d ever spoken to them, and now they were going to lift Him up, to move out of the place they were in and apply what they’d heard. THAT"S where the anointing will flow. Were they possibly in tune with the spirit of Christ, because He’d so imparted His spirit inside of them, that they somehow "knew" He was to arise and they were there to either agree and call for it in prayer, or at least witness it? Are you ever surprised when what you believe appears? Does it ever amaze you, even though you knew it was gonna happen? Have you ever sensed it would come to pass, but had no idea how and were so overwhelmed in how it came to pass?
I’ve recently read a small book on the necessity of breaking curses. One area he spoke of was the denial of Christ that His disciple Peter participated in. The author (Ben King), speaks of the words we say coming back on us. He takes us to John 21 where Jesus sits with Peter over a "communion" meal, both of them knowing full well that Peter had "slipped up big time!" Jesus led him to take back every denying word he’d spoken, by asking him 3 times "Do you love Me?" Jesus was on a mission to cancel every curse Peter had spoken against God and to nullify the power behind those spoken words. He also took a deliberate action towards reversing the effects of those words against Peter and against everyone Peter would influence in his generation and in others to come after him, as words and their effects are FAR reaching, much further than we see or realize. Look here, as the angel told these women to Go tell, he said, "Go tell the disciples, AND Peter…" Was Peter not a disciple? Or was he? He’d denied Christ. And they’d not yet had a chance to sit together and have this Jn 21 communion concerning the nullifying of Peter’s sin. WOW!
I so believe everything God does has purpose and is on purpose. Who He 1st appeared to, who He last appeared to etc.
I’ve seen God in His word and see Him daily. I’ve seen God in others. I’ve seen Him in nature. I’m telling of His appearing to me, in great hopes that others will believe also. How long will people hear and still not believe enough to live for Christ? I just pray if I keep talking, living and appearing as He appears, as I anoint Him, as I continue to write of His appearing, somehow, someday those who He is leading to take Him as Lord, will do so. Every word or actions will be worth it when they do. Wouldn’t you do anything to save a soul from eternal hell? Jesus did that for us, and He’s not even asking us to be beaten and crucified. He’s asking us to lie where we are with who we are around, for and as Him. Examples in the earth right now.
How many times does it take to hear about Him, to see those who’ve seen Him, to accept the invitations to be with Him? Until faith comes! The religious world has created such hardness of heart. It has been satan’s tool. God’s "church" manipulated in the devil’s hand! People used by God’s enemy against God! Arise up oh Body of Christ and be willing to visibly LIVE for Jesus, don’t just say it, do it! Maybe they won’t be as hindered from coming to see who he really is, the Savior of their world.
Monday, October 10, 2005
Our Daily Bread as prescribed from Our Rock Church Pastor- Rom 16:19-20, Acts 17:6 & Matthew 24
Romans 16:19-20 19 For your obedience has become known to all. Therefore I am glad on your behalf; but I want you to be wise in what is good, and simple concerning evil. 20 And the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.
Acts 17:6 But when they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some brethren to the rulers of the city, crying out, "These who have turned the world upside down have come here too.
Do we really realize the impact of obedience on the earth? Disobedience turned the world we live in and participate in, upside down from being rightside up. What can and will change and reverse that curse and in so reversing automatically crush satan under foot?
Obedience. So why do we so readily disobey and so hesitantly obey? Because it is a strong and powerful force. We’ve thought it to only be an action, but it is a weapon, a tool, a force. When I see things like this, there is a certain righteous almost anger that rises in me to purposely obey God, so that satan will manifestly be crushed under our feet here on earth as a demonstration of joining forces with God who has taken His Son Jesus and through obedience, has done the work of victory, for us. We don’t have to work it out, we just need to join obedient forces who are for us.
Matthew 24:1-51
Jesus Predicts the Destruction of the Temple
Destruction of the Temple Foretold
R98 1 Then Jesus went out and departed from the temple, and His disciples came up to show Him the buildings of the temple. 2And Jesus said to them, "Do you not see all these things? Assuredly, I say to you, not one stone shall be left here upon another, that shall not be thrown down."
The Signs of the Times and the End of the Age
R99 3 Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, "Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?" 4And Jesus answered and said to them: "Take heed that no one deceives you. 5For many will come in My name, saying, "I am the Christ,' and will deceive many. 6And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all F130 these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. 7For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, F131 and earthquakes in various places. 8All these are the beginning of sorrows. 9"Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name's sake. 10And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another. 11Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. 12And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. 13But he who endures to the end shall be saved. 14And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come. The Great TribulationR100 15 "Therefore when you see the "abomination of desolation,' F132 spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place" (whoever reads, let him understand), 16"then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. 17Let him who is on the housetop not go down to take anything out of his house. 18And let him who is in the field not go back to get his clothes. 19But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! 20And pray that your flight may not be in winter or on the Sabbath. 21For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be. 22And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect's sake those days will be shortened. 23"Then if anyone says to you, "Look, here is the Christ!' or "There!' do not believe it. 24For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. 25See, I have told you beforehand. 26"Therefore if they say to you, "Look, He is in the desert!' do not go out; or "Look, He is in the inner rooms!' do not believe it. 27For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. 28For wherever the carcass is, there the eagles will be gathered together.
The Coming of the Son of Man
R101 29 "Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 30Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. 31And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
The Parable of the Fig Tree
R102 32 "Now learn this parable from the fig tree: When its branch has already become tender and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near. 33So you also, when you see all these things, know that it F133 is near--at the doors! 34Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place. 35Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.
No One Knows the Day or Hour
R103 36 "But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, F134 but My Father only. 37But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. 38For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, 39and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. 40Then two men will be in the field: one will be taken and the other left. 41Two women will be grinding at the mill: one will be taken and the other left. 42Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour F135 your Lord is coming. 43But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into. 44Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect. The Faithful Servant and the Evil Servant
R104 45 "Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his master made ruler over his household, to give them food in due season? 46Blessed is that servant whom his master, when he comes, will find so doing. 47Assuredly, I say to you that he will make him ruler over all his goods. 48But if that evil servant says in his heart, "My master is delaying his coming,' F136 49and begins to beat his fellow servants, and to eat and drink with the drunkards, 50the master of that servant will come on a day when he is not looking for him and at an hour that he is not aware of, 51and will cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Footnotes
F130: 24:6 NU-Text omits all.
F131: 24:7 NU-Text omits pestilences.
F132: 24:15 Daniel 11:31; 12:11
F133: 24:33 Or He
F134: 24:36 NU-Text adds nor the Son.
F135: 24:42 NU-Text reads day.
F136: 24:48 NU-Text omits his coming.
Show cross-references
R98: Mark 13:1, 2; Luke 21:5, 6
R99: Mark 13:3-13; Luke 21:17-19
R100: Mark 13:14-23; Luke 17:23, 24, 37; 21:20-24
R101: Mark 13:24-27; Luke 21:25-28
R102: Mark 13:28-31; Luke 21:29-33
R103: Mark 13:32-37; Luke 17:26, 27, 34, 35; 21:34-36
R104: Luke 12:41-48
Lena’s Journalin’
Why would Jesus say that the temple would be thrown down? Because it was a natural and literal temple made with hands, and earthly dwelling place. When all is said and done it will disappear and not stand. Ever seen ruins of cities and buildings past? How natural disasters or time have taken their toll on naturally erected facilities? Jesus saw eternity and how men put years and years and years of work and effort, time, money, into one earthly building and then concentrate their worship to it, on it, at it, and in the light of eternal life it is nothing at all. He was trying to give them a clue of where their work, efforts, etc should be concentrated. Scripture tells us over and over again, that God’s desire is to dwell in Temples made without human hands (that’s people by the way) and so our efforts should be as concentrated on people, and our worship steered to God, and in "working on" and "investing our lives in" people, we will be worshipping God. Can you imagine how these Jesus was speaking to may have felt when he said this? I bet they were angry at Him for revealing it to them. I know how I felt the days when I realized that so much of what I’d done thus far was so naturally concentrated. It was a great revelation to me and brought a bit of despair, but it also brought me into focus, and steered my life completely around facing eternal mindedness. I deal with that natural minded tendency everyday in our world, but I know how to steer my mind back to Him and His will and work.
He who endures to the end will be saved. That does not mean you live to tell about it, it means you don’t lose your faith over it! You won’t give it up for an easier road or pleasures you’ve missed out on. This is the contrast of religious Christianity, which satan accepts, by the way. Religious Christianity says, I can say the "sinner’s prayer", believing on Jesus and what he did, I can accept what he did as true, but live my life as I was living, for my self and my own family, for our own goals and desires, not being required to change at all, just adapt that belief into who I already am and what I already do. THAT is a lie! And that is NOT salvation. Our faith is given us to live out forever, forever beginning the day we’re born again. We change kingdoms and kings. We’re no longer our king, satan is no longer our king (that means ruler, the one we follow the rules of) Jesus is our king. We serve the order of His kingdom. When one is Born again, they become a citizen of God’s kingdom, even while still here on earth. EVERYTHING changes, nothing even resembles who or what we were or were involved in. THAT truth is part of the pain and suffering of changing citizenship. The other king wants our citizenship, but we’ve now committed it to God. There’s a strong pull to "win" us back. BUT we’re NOT going back, we’re staying in His Lordship forever! ALL of the context here is giving us a well informed projection into our eternal future and the reasons why we’d want to rescue others from the eternal doom or bring them into the eternal joy that will be in the end. Don’t ever allow yourself to put things off, especially the call of God to come to Him. It is SO critical! So crucial. You do not know when your end will be, ever. You can’t put salvation off. You are messing with God and with satan when you do. Life is but a vapor and you do not know when it will end for you. You are a fool to think you can defy time and God. WAKE UP (1 Cor 6:2). Arise and join the reapers of His harvest, or you may have nothing to preserve your days. It is a very serious time. Purpose preserves life….unless God has given you a person who prays for you often or who sticks with you until you receive Him or you yourself are serving Him, you are in enemy territory and there is NO guarantee of the length of your life. Thank God for praying grandmothers, mothers, fathers friends etc. They’ve seen an eternal purpose for you and won’t let go till you see it too.
Acts 17:6 But when they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some brethren to the rulers of the city, crying out, "These who have turned the world upside down have come here too.
Do we really realize the impact of obedience on the earth? Disobedience turned the world we live in and participate in, upside down from being rightside up. What can and will change and reverse that curse and in so reversing automatically crush satan under foot?
Obedience. So why do we so readily disobey and so hesitantly obey? Because it is a strong and powerful force. We’ve thought it to only be an action, but it is a weapon, a tool, a force. When I see things like this, there is a certain righteous almost anger that rises in me to purposely obey God, so that satan will manifestly be crushed under our feet here on earth as a demonstration of joining forces with God who has taken His Son Jesus and through obedience, has done the work of victory, for us. We don’t have to work it out, we just need to join obedient forces who are for us.
Matthew 24:1-51
Jesus Predicts the Destruction of the Temple
Destruction of the Temple Foretold
R98 1 Then Jesus went out and departed from the temple, and His disciples came up to show Him the buildings of the temple. 2And Jesus said to them, "Do you not see all these things? Assuredly, I say to you, not one stone shall be left here upon another, that shall not be thrown down."
The Signs of the Times and the End of the Age
R99 3 Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, "Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?" 4And Jesus answered and said to them: "Take heed that no one deceives you. 5For many will come in My name, saying, "I am the Christ,' and will deceive many. 6And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all F130 these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. 7For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, F131 and earthquakes in various places. 8All these are the beginning of sorrows. 9"Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name's sake. 10And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another. 11Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. 12And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. 13But he who endures to the end shall be saved. 14And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come. The Great TribulationR100 15 "Therefore when you see the "abomination of desolation,' F132 spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place" (whoever reads, let him understand), 16"then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. 17Let him who is on the housetop not go down to take anything out of his house. 18And let him who is in the field not go back to get his clothes. 19But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! 20And pray that your flight may not be in winter or on the Sabbath. 21For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be. 22And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect's sake those days will be shortened. 23"Then if anyone says to you, "Look, here is the Christ!' or "There!' do not believe it. 24For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. 25See, I have told you beforehand. 26"Therefore if they say to you, "Look, He is in the desert!' do not go out; or "Look, He is in the inner rooms!' do not believe it. 27For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. 28For wherever the carcass is, there the eagles will be gathered together.
The Coming of the Son of Man
R101 29 "Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 30Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. 31And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
The Parable of the Fig Tree
R102 32 "Now learn this parable from the fig tree: When its branch has already become tender and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near. 33So you also, when you see all these things, know that it F133 is near--at the doors! 34Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place. 35Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.
No One Knows the Day or Hour
R103 36 "But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, F134 but My Father only. 37But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. 38For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, 39and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. 40Then two men will be in the field: one will be taken and the other left. 41Two women will be grinding at the mill: one will be taken and the other left. 42Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour F135 your Lord is coming. 43But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into. 44Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect. The Faithful Servant and the Evil Servant
R104 45 "Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his master made ruler over his household, to give them food in due season? 46Blessed is that servant whom his master, when he comes, will find so doing. 47Assuredly, I say to you that he will make him ruler over all his goods. 48But if that evil servant says in his heart, "My master is delaying his coming,' F136 49and begins to beat his fellow servants, and to eat and drink with the drunkards, 50the master of that servant will come on a day when he is not looking for him and at an hour that he is not aware of, 51and will cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Footnotes
F130: 24:6 NU-Text omits all.
F131: 24:7 NU-Text omits pestilences.
F132: 24:15 Daniel 11:31; 12:11
F133: 24:33 Or He
F134: 24:36 NU-Text adds nor the Son.
F135: 24:42 NU-Text reads day.
F136: 24:48 NU-Text omits his coming.
Show cross-references
R98: Mark 13:1, 2; Luke 21:5, 6
R99: Mark 13:3-13; Luke 21:17-19
R100: Mark 13:14-23; Luke 17:23, 24, 37; 21:20-24
R101: Mark 13:24-27; Luke 21:25-28
R102: Mark 13:28-31; Luke 21:29-33
R103: Mark 13:32-37; Luke 17:26, 27, 34, 35; 21:34-36
R104: Luke 12:41-48
Lena’s Journalin’
Why would Jesus say that the temple would be thrown down? Because it was a natural and literal temple made with hands, and earthly dwelling place. When all is said and done it will disappear and not stand. Ever seen ruins of cities and buildings past? How natural disasters or time have taken their toll on naturally erected facilities? Jesus saw eternity and how men put years and years and years of work and effort, time, money, into one earthly building and then concentrate their worship to it, on it, at it, and in the light of eternal life it is nothing at all. He was trying to give them a clue of where their work, efforts, etc should be concentrated. Scripture tells us over and over again, that God’s desire is to dwell in Temples made without human hands (that’s people by the way) and so our efforts should be as concentrated on people, and our worship steered to God, and in "working on" and "investing our lives in" people, we will be worshipping God. Can you imagine how these Jesus was speaking to may have felt when he said this? I bet they were angry at Him for revealing it to them. I know how I felt the days when I realized that so much of what I’d done thus far was so naturally concentrated. It was a great revelation to me and brought a bit of despair, but it also brought me into focus, and steered my life completely around facing eternal mindedness. I deal with that natural minded tendency everyday in our world, but I know how to steer my mind back to Him and His will and work.
He who endures to the end will be saved. That does not mean you live to tell about it, it means you don’t lose your faith over it! You won’t give it up for an easier road or pleasures you’ve missed out on. This is the contrast of religious Christianity, which satan accepts, by the way. Religious Christianity says, I can say the "sinner’s prayer", believing on Jesus and what he did, I can accept what he did as true, but live my life as I was living, for my self and my own family, for our own goals and desires, not being required to change at all, just adapt that belief into who I already am and what I already do. THAT is a lie! And that is NOT salvation. Our faith is given us to live out forever, forever beginning the day we’re born again. We change kingdoms and kings. We’re no longer our king, satan is no longer our king (that means ruler, the one we follow the rules of) Jesus is our king. We serve the order of His kingdom. When one is Born again, they become a citizen of God’s kingdom, even while still here on earth. EVERYTHING changes, nothing even resembles who or what we were or were involved in. THAT truth is part of the pain and suffering of changing citizenship. The other king wants our citizenship, but we’ve now committed it to God. There’s a strong pull to "win" us back. BUT we’re NOT going back, we’re staying in His Lordship forever! ALL of the context here is giving us a well informed projection into our eternal future and the reasons why we’d want to rescue others from the eternal doom or bring them into the eternal joy that will be in the end. Don’t ever allow yourself to put things off, especially the call of God to come to Him. It is SO critical! So crucial. You do not know when your end will be, ever. You can’t put salvation off. You are messing with God and with satan when you do. Life is but a vapor and you do not know when it will end for you. You are a fool to think you can defy time and God. WAKE UP (1 Cor 6:2). Arise and join the reapers of His harvest, or you may have nothing to preserve your days. It is a very serious time. Purpose preserves life….unless God has given you a person who prays for you often or who sticks with you until you receive Him or you yourself are serving Him, you are in enemy territory and there is NO guarantee of the length of your life. Thank God for praying grandmothers, mothers, fathers friends etc. They’ve seen an eternal purpose for you and won’t let go till you see it too.
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