Follow us on Facebook Twitter, and Pinterest.
DC Books
  • Salt & Light Devotionals
  • My Books
  • About Donna L Campbell
    • Contact
    • The Latest
    • About
  • Scripture of the Day Memes
  • Campbell Family Recipes
  • Thoughts, Poems and Randomness
  • Photography
  • Untitled

Titus 1:5-16 Your Life Speaks Volumes about Your Faith

4/19/2015

0 Comments

 
Titus Chapter 1 Verses 5-16

Paul wrote to Titus in Crete to give him instructions on the church there. In the first chapter he gives descriptions of two different types of people, those he should appoint as elders and those he should not allow to infiltrate and divide the church.

Elders are church leaders. They have a lot of responsibility on their backs and it is vitally important that they are mature Christians. The proof of their Christian walk has to be evident in their personal lives. It is something we should all endeavor toward. Our lives should be a testimony to Jesus. Our lives should speak to our faith. Verse 6 says it this way,

“if anyone is above reproach, the husband of one wife, and his children are believers and not open to the charge of debauchery or insubordination.”

Although polygamy took place, even among the fathers of our faith it is not the ideal marriage God envisions for His children. Marriage on earth, especially the Christian marriage is a picture of God’s relationship with us. It is meant to be one man and one woman in a committed, faithful and mutually monogamous relationship. So elders are required to have one wife.

His children must be believers and must not be rebellious and ill-behaved. If a man cannot live his Christianity in a manner that makes his children want to know Jesus, if he can’t even be the spiritual leader of the home how is if supposed to be the spiritual leader of a church? Our children, our spouses, and the way we conduct our private lives are the proof of our heart for God. If our private lives are a mess, if our children hate us and are drug addicted rebellious and lost then whatever mask we put on in our public lives is only a disguise for our real selves. We can’t be effective Christians leading others to Christ or maturity if we are living a façade. Verses 7-8 read,

“For an overseer, as God's steward, must be above reproach. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain, 8 but hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined.”

If we are in a leadership position we represent the church to the world. And whether we are leaders or not we always represent Jesus to them. People want to sling mud at us and sully our reputations. We should not ever give them ammunition to do so. Let them make up lies, but don’t let the dirt be the truth.

We can’t be arrogant. Jesus had all the right in the universe to be proud, yet he was the most humble man that ever lived. He was God and He washed the dirt, refuse, and dung off the feet of the disciples, He dined with people who no one dared be seen with, and He suffered the death of a criminal. We should follow His example and get our hands dirty, love others as Jesus loves us, and think of others more highly than ourselves.

We have to be like our LORD, slow to anger. And when we do get angry we have to make certain it is righteous and be very careful not to sin in that anger. Anger is an emotion that we all experience. It is not a sin, but It is a sin to let it control us, to let the fury overtake our minds and make us lose reason.

Regardless of our thoughts on alcohol whether we never touch it or drink regularly, we are commanded not to get drunk.  Getting drunk leads to sin, it leads to loss of self-control and licentiousness follows quickly. Instead we ought to be filled with The Holy Spirit whose proof is manifested in sharp contrast to alcohol.  Ephesians 5:18 reads,

“And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit,”

Galatians 5:22-23 says,

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.”

In fact if we read verses 7-8 again we see Paul is saying the elder has to bear the fruit of the Spirit. Jesus should be plainly seen in him. He is to be peaceful not violent, generous and not a servant of money, a seeker of righteousness, self-controlled. He has to be a man whose relationship with the Lord is apparent. Verse 9 describes him this way,

“He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it.”

Do we know what it is we believe as believers? We should know the Gospel, know what the Word of God says, and believe it is the truth. After we become Christians, we are not supposed to remain ignorant of God, we are supposed to grow in Him, and grow to know Him and His Word. We should be able to teach it to others. Knowing God is another sign of our maturity. Knowing what we believe is important. Otherwise any time someone comes in with a new idea, we follow it and we are tossed around like a buoy on a stormy sea. Instead of growing closer to God we move from idea to idea. One week we promote meditation, the next week we support self-punishment, and the week after we sing the glories of recognizing self-worth.

The mature Christian doesn’t allow people to come in and teach those false doctrines. The mature Christian doesn’t let his less mature brothers follow false teachings but keeps them following the truth and reprimands the one spreading the lies.

But there are many liars, many rebellious and disobedient people who come in to our fellowships. They serve money, they serve themselves, they serve the prince of this world. They cause divisions and they seek their own benefit and glory instead of the good of the church and the glory of Jesus Christ. Verses 10-11 say,

“For there are many who are insubordinate, empty talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision party. 11 They must be silenced, since they are upsetting whole families by teaching for shameful gain what they ought not to teach.”

What they teach sounds right to the less mature and ignorant. The people in Crete were telling the church they had to follow the Law of Moses. That sounds like something God would want. But when we know the truth, when we know what the scriptures say then we know that it isn’t the case. We can admonish the one spreading the lies and protect the hearts of the unenlightened.

Rebuking the one spreading lies is not easy but it is important, not only for those who will be led astray but for the one we have to rebuke. They are sinful. Their flesh is in control of their hearts. The Cretans who came into the church to endorse legalism, sensuality, or other false paths followed their flesh rather than the Spirit. But God loved them just as deeply as anyone else and so He gave the mature Christian the duty of calling them out. Verses 12-14 read,

“One of the Cretans, a prophet of their own, said, “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.” 13 This testimony is true. Therefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith, 14 not devoting themselves to Jewish myths and the commands of people who turn away from the truth.,”

We want them to be sound in the faith. We want them to devote themselves to Christ, not laws and myths. We want them to be able to lead people to Jesus not to Hell.

Verses 15-16 read,

“To the pure, all things are pure, but to the defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure; but both their minds and their consciences are defiled. 16 They profess to know God, but they deny him by their works. They are detestable, disobedient, unfit for any good work.”

A Christian doesn’t have to be concerned with worrying about what meat to eat, what days he can work, or what words he may or may not say. He is saved by grace. He has the Spirit of God inside Him and He is being transformed to Christ’s image. He bears the fruit of the Spirit. But the unsaved person doesn’t believe that Jesus grace is enough. The whole world becomes sin and everything in it will corrupt him. He says he follows God but he really follows the law. His works reveal the truth about him. His life shows the futility of his endeavor.

Look at your life, the results of your work and it will show you where your heart abides. Do you do good works to try and earn God’s favor or do you do good works because God is with you and they are the outpouring of your heart? Our lives are our witness. Our lives are the proof of our beliefs.

0 Comments

Philippians 2:12-18 Intentionally Choose Goodness

4/14/2015

0 Comments

 
Philippians Chapter 2 Verses 12-18

Do you behave differently in front of your pastor than you do when you’re with friends? Do you act another way when you are with Christians than when you are with outsiders? Who is it you are trying to impress with your character? Is it your church, your friends, your pastor, or the world? Or does it depend on who you are with? We shouldn’t be trying to impress anyone. Yet, it is natural to want to please people and to want people to like us. So maybe when we’re in church we use Christianese, speak in fortune cookie scripture or bite sized encouragements. Maybe when we’re with the lost we cuss and drink like a sailor. We should be glorifying and exalting Jesus with our genuine walk. Our everyday conduct should reflect our maturation in Christ and show the results of the Holy Spirit in us.

It doesn’t happen automatically. We do not naturally choose the Spirit over the flesh. We have to deliberately exercise the traits He is building in us. Verses 12-13 read,

“Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.”

We opt to obey, we opt to be patient, kind, and humble. We decide to speak goodness, blessings, and love. With maturity and regular exercise it becomes easier to be faithful rather than anxious, to think of others instead of focusing on ourselves, and to be thankful rather complain.  God is doing a great work in us, but He doesn’t do it against our will. Most of us are not suddenly mirror images of Jesus when we’re saved. We have to let the Holy Spirit do His work.

If we’re going to act the fool, it is better to do it in front of our fellow believers instead of the world. Let’s strive for sincere godliness in front of the lost. Our lives are a testimony to Jesus. We must purposefully choose the fruit of the spirit over the desires of the flesh. Verses 14-16 read,

“Do all things without grumbling or disputing, 15 that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, 16 holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain.”

The Lord hates grumbling and complaining, not only does it reveal how very ungrateful we are, it shows our lack of faith in God’s sovereignty. He also dislikes disparity among the believers. How can we expect the world to believe the awesomeness of God if they watch us arguing over ridiculous points and see discord among us? How can we say we share the same wonderful Spirit and be in conflict with one another? We are supposed to strive for godliness, seek the Kingdom of God, and pursue righteousness. We are expected to be lights in the dark, beacons of hope leading people to Jesus. We are not supposed to be people who claim to be Christians but act like the world or worse.

Paul pursued righteousness with passion. When he met Jesus on the road to Damascus, he didn’t go out the next day as the man we think of who wrote so much of the New Testament, spread the gospel to places far and wide, and eventually glorified Jesus in his death as much as he had in his life. Saul was changed immediately in many ways, but it took time for Paul to mature. He gave up being a Pharisee to become a tent maker, he studied under the apostles, and he studied under the Holy Spirit for fourteen years before beginning his missionary journeys.

Paul wanted the believers to know the spiritual maturity, he knew. He urged them to earnestly pursue godliness. He knew he might very well be killed for living for Jesus and he was willing. He encouraged the church to rejoice in that just as he did. He was in a dank dark underground prison and he could still rejoice, because he understood the great benefits of suffering for Christ. Verses 17-18 say,

“Even if I am to be poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrificial offering of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all. 18 Likewise you also should be glad and rejoice with me.”

Celebrate with your fellow believers the work God is doing in them and in you. Salvation takes a moment, living out salvation takes effort, and maturity takes time.

0 Comments

1 Peter 2:1-12 Jesus is Either Your Cornerstone or Your Stumbling Block

3/30/2015

0 Comments

 
1 Peter Chapter 2 Verses 1-12

It is a choice to follow Jesus and live a holy life. But it is a choice that believers want to make as we mature in the Word. That maturation doesn’t happen automatically. The fruit doesn’t just suddenly appear. The Holy Spirit purifies us through the fires we face. (1 Peter 1:6-8). He transforms us through the Word that we read, hear, and experience. Verses 1-3 read,

“So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander.2 Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation— 3 if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.”

Leaving sin behind is not easy at first. Malice, deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander are common and quite natural to the flesh. But as we continue and we long to grow, as we get to know our Lord more and more closely, we want to be like Him, not the world. We know that life in Christ is so much better than life in the world. The Lord is good! The spiritual food of His Word, intimacy with Him, and the relationship He gives us is sweeter than words can describe. We want it increasingly, progressively, and deeper.

The world can’t understand. They look at us from the outside and wonder why anyone would choose to live a life of putting sin away, of purposely choosing to walk the more difficult road of love, truth, sincerity, good will, and encouragement over natural longings of the flesh. They rejected Christ because His teachings didn’t make sense to them. What looks absurd, preposterous and unreasonable to them, is beautiful, perfect, and wise to us. It is perfectly reasonable to us, because we accepted Christ. We were given the Holy Spirit and He changes us and allows us to see the excellent and flawless truth and wisdom of the Kingdom of God.

Jesus is the foundation of that wisdom. Without Him we can’t possibly understand. Isaiah compared Him to the cornerstone a building and Peter quoted him to get across his point that we as Christians are different than the world. Verses 4-6 say,

“As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, 5 you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 6 For it stands in Scripture:

“Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone,
    a cornerstone chosen and precious,
and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.”


The cornerstone is the foundation upon which the rest of the building is constructed. It is essential and it determines the position of every other stone. Jesus is our cornerstone, our foundation and we are stones in the building with Him. Without Him, the temple would crumble. For believers Jesus is our keystone and basis. He builds us up. He makes all things possible. But for outsiders, He is a stumbling block, an obstacle which they do not understand. They disobey because they are led by the flesh and see Jesus not as God, the Lover of their souls but an offense and insult to who they are. (Verses 7-8).

We are different. We are not like the world. We see the beauty of Christ. We have tasted and seen that the Lord is good. He is essential to our being. He makes it possible to obey. He makes it possible to live lives of love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. And as we mature we do not have to struggle to manifest those characteristics, we become more like Christ so we look and act more like Him. It is still a choice to stand out from the world. We have to keep in mind we are not like the lost. We choose to obey. We choose to be founded on Love. Verses 9-10 put it this way.

“But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are God's people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.”

We should celebrate our distinctiveness. Our idiosyncrasy is the Holy Spirit alive in us. Our difference is Jesus. Our calling is holy. We are chosen by God, we belong to Him. Honoring that awesome mission and identity is not always easy. It is not easy to elect not to lie, to forgive rather than hate, or to be kind person who hates us. But we are established in Christ, filled with the Holy Spirit and chosen by the Father. We are special. We are not like the world, we are exiles among them. And we should be conspicuous. Verses 11-12 read,

“Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. 12 Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation.”

0 Comments

Colossians 4 People Should Wonder Why You're Different

3/27/2015

0 Comments

 
Picture
When we glorify Christ we stand out and others want to know how and why we can be so different. They want to know Jesus for themselves when they see Him lived out in our lives.
Colossians Chapter 4

How we act, the way we speak, and the manner of our responses to life matter. People are watching. Unbelievers are taking note. When we glorify Christ we stand out and they want to know how and why we can be so different. The Holy Spirit within us makes us distinct, and that distinction is amazing. They want to know Jesus for themselves when they see Him lived out in our lives.

But we have to make an effort. We have to put on Christ and choose to manifest the fruit of the Spirit. (Colossians 3:12). That means we ought to pray for one another that we will do those things.

Verses 2-4 read,

“Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. 3 At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison— 4 that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak.”

Notice Paul didn’t ask them to pray He would be released from prison. He certainly didn’t enjoy prison but He knew that his suffering had a purpose. He was there to share the truth of Jesus Christ with everyone he could. He asked that the door would be open, not to the prison, but for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ.

What is the mystery of Christ? It is that we have salvation, absolute forgiveness, complete redemption and full restoration through the Jesus Christ. (Colossians 1:26-29). It is a gift of grace by faith, not by works. Once saved we are given God’s Holy Spirit and He resides within us, guiding us and transforming us to Jesus’ image. (1 Timothy 3:16). One day Jesus will return and He will gather all the redeemed with Him. (1 Corinthians 50-56).

Knowing that we hold the key to someone coming to know Jesus as their Lord and Savior we should behave in a manner worthy of Him. 1 Timothy 3:15-16 reads,

“if I delay, you may know how one ought to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, a pillar and buttress of the truth. 16 Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of godliness:

He was manifested in the flesh,
    vindicated by the Spirit,
        seen by angels,
proclaimed among the nations,
    believed on in the world,
        taken up in glory.”


How is it that we should act toward unbelievers? Verses 5 reads,

“Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time.”

We should walk in wisdom, making the best use of the time. What difference will they see in us, if we act just like them, making foolish choices, speaking crudely, and filled with drunkenness instead of the Spirit?

Walking in wisdom means being led by the Spirit, using His discernment, and obeying Him.  Colossians 1:9-10 says,

“And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, 10 so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.”

Making the best use of time is important. We are here for a purpose. We are here to reveal Christ to them, to share the truth with them, and let them know there is hope in Jesus. We have to choose to spend the time we have with them, be it 3 minutes, 3 hours, or 3 days in the way the Spirit leads and not be afraid to be bold. What is more important, their salvation or whether they feel annoyed? No one knows what tomorrow will bring, no one knows the day she will die, no one knows the hour of Christ’s return. Time is of the essence. Ecclesiastes 8:6-8 reads,

“For there is a time and a way for everything, although man's trouble lies heavy on him. 7 For he does not know what is to be, for who can tell him how it will be? 8 No man has power to retain the spirit, or power over the day of death. There is no discharge from war, nor will wickedness deliver those who are given to it.”

Verse 6 says.

“Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.”

The way we speak makes a difference. If we tell vulgar stories instead of telling about the greatness and goodness of God, if our speech is peppered with judgement instead of salted with grace, then why would our answers to the big questions matter? Why would anyone even ask us the big questions?

Our lives are a testimony to Jesus. Everywhere we go, whether we want to be or not, we are Christ’s ambassadors. We are witnesses to God’s great love and ministers of the gospel. We have to always be ready to share the truth and defend the truth. 1 Peter 3:15-17 reads,

“but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, 16 having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. 17 For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God's will, than for doing evil.”

Even in suffering, we should be graceful, loving, and kind, more concerned with others than ourselves, since we know that God is with us. Paul was in prison and his concern was the ministry, he wanted to be sure that he was able to share the gospel and that the churches and friends he cared for were able to share the gospel.

Paul closed his letter to the Colossians with verses of greetings and encouragement to and from different people. Verse 12 reads,

“Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ Jesus, greets you, always struggling on your behalf in his prayers, that you may stand mature and fully assured in all the will of God.”

And verse 17 says,

“And say to Archippus, “See that you fulfill the ministry that you have received in the Lord.”

So I encourage you today, stand mature in fully assured in the will of God, fulfill the ministry you have received in the Lord, walk in wisdom, make the best use of the time, and let your speech be gracious so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.

0 Comments

Ezekiel 15 A Fruitless Vine is Barely Firewood

3/1/2015

0 Comments

 
Picture
My friend Art at the Lakeridge Winery in 2009, the grapes were still very tiny and needed tending to grow properly in to the grapes good enough to make wine.
PictureLakeridge Winery Vineyards January of 2015
Ezekiel Chapter 15

In this chapter the Lord compared Jerusalem to a vine. Verses 2-3 read,

“Son of man, how does the wood of the vine surpass any wood, the vine branch that is among the trees of the forest? 3 Is wood taken from it to make anything? Do people take a peg from it to hang any vessel on it?”

Vines grow in various places but one thing all vines have in common is their tendency to grow toward the sun. In the forest where sunlight is harder to come by vines can be quite aggressive and these kind of vines when planted in a garden or other landscape will be invasive and take over, choking out the other plants.  Most vines can’t even support themselves, they must attach to a tree, a wall or some other structure.

What good is a vine on its own? It has no useful purpose except as fuel for a fire. What if it is rescued from the fire? The partially burned vine is even less useful and still can only kindling. The Lord compared to Jerusalem to vines. He said she was good for nothing and even the fire didn’t improve her. Those whom He had rescued would still only be thrown back into the fire as tinder. Verses 6-7 put it this way,

“Therefore thus says the Lord God: Like the wood of the vine among the trees of the forest, which I have given to the fire for fuel, so have I given up the inhabitants of Jerusalem. 7 And I will set my face against them. Though they escape from the fire, the fire shall yet consume them, and you will know that I am the Lord, when I set my face against them.”

But vines are good for something when they are properly cared for. When the vinedresser plants them, when they are attached to a strong and good vine they produce fruit. Without the vinedresser and without the true vine there is no fruit. Fruitless branches are pruned and thrown into the fire before they can invade the other branches and make the entire thing unserviceable and nonproductive. In John chapter 15 verses 1-6 Jesus describes it like this,

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. 2 Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 3 Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. 4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. 5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned.”

The Israelites just wouldn’t abide in the Lord. Jerusalem saw herself as something special, above reproach and protected by God. But she refused to let the Lord be her God. She didn’t rest in Him nor depend on Him. She looked elsewhere for help and rather than be a rich vineyard full of grapes for wine and food, she was a fruitless bramble good only to fuel a fire.

We are no more special than they were. We can’t bear fruit on our own. We need to be grafted into Jesus, the True Vine. We need His righteousness to produce His fruit in us. It is the fruit of the Spirit, the harvest of goodness that shows who we are and glorifies the Lord God, our Father.

Abiding in the Jesus, doesn’t mean sweating and struggling to create fruit in ourselves. It means resting in Him and letting His righteousness, His virtue and goodness do its work in us and allowing Him to form and grow the fruit in us. John 15:7-9 read,

“If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. 9 As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love.”

Just stay in Jesus’ love. Just remain in Him. Stay faithful to Him and let Him be God. We do that by obeying Him. What are His commandments? Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and love your neighbor as yourself. (Matthew22:36-39).  Jesus simplified it for us, He said, “Love one another as I have loved you.” (John 15:12).

All vines grow toward the sun. Are you getting your sustenance to grow from the sun of this world or from the Son of God? Is your support structure a tree or the True Vine? Are you a fruitful vine? When people look at you do they see evidence of God? Is He glorified in your life or are you glorified in your life? Do you desire the ability to love as Jesus loves and receive it when you ask? Do you love others by God’s great power?

What is the fruit you should be bearing? The characteristics of Jesus, whose image you are being conformed to by the Holy Spirit. Galatians 5:22-24 read,

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. 24 And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.” 

If you aren’t bearing fruit, if God isn’t glorified in your life, then ask yourself if you are truly grafted into Jesus, if you truly depend on Him and only Him. If not then repent and ask Him to graft you in and give you life. If you are grafted in and yet you see no good fruit, maybe you are not truly abiding in Jesus. Maybe you are not loving one another as Jesus loves you. Do you have some “one-anothers” to love and be loved by? You are not the only branch on the vine. Look around and love your one-anothers.

You can’t produce your own fruit. Only the True Vine can give you what you need. Only He can produce the fruit in you. Only the Vinedresser can properly prune, trim, and shape you properly to ensure your fruit is bountiful and prime.


Picture
0 Comments

James 3 What's Down in the Well, Comes up in the Bucket. Don't Let it be Poison.

1/31/2015

0 Comments

 
James Chapter 3

Maurice Switzer said, “Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak and to remove all doubt.” That phrase echoes Proverb 17:28.

“Even a fool who keeps silent is considered wise;
    when he closes his lips, he is deemed intelligent.”


I cannot tell you how many times my yap has not only proven me to be foolish, but mean, jealous, petty, and bitter. If only I would control my tongue, I would stop showing the world the worst of me. Now that I blog and through this blog teach people, and now that I mentor some, it is more important than ever that I use the filter God gave me called a brain and exercise the spiritual fruit of love called self-control.

In the third chapter of James, James addressed the same issue.  Verses 1-2 read,

“Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness. 2 For we all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body.”

Believer, whether you set out to teach others or not, you do teach. You follow Christ and the world watches, and they judge. They judge you harshly because you claim Christ, they judge the pastors, the teachers, and church leaders even more severely. As a Christian every negative act you perform, and every negative word you speak is amplified by them so they can justify their non-belief. You and I have a responsibility to speak and act wisely so that what we do and say will not cause others to stumble or reject Jesus.

The tongue is small but powerful. Our words can build or destroy. Our words can encourage, inspire, augment, and increase. But they can more easily discourage, hurt, cut, and diminish. I have been on the receiving end of words that influenced me not to try, or hurt me deeply. I have been the speaker of those terrible words as well. James described the power of words with a few metaphors. He compared the ability to control our tongues to the bit of a horse. When a bit is placed in a horse’s mouth, the rider controls the entire animal. He also likened it to a ship’s rudder, the whole vessel is steered by the small part. We use the tongue to decide which direction we will take a conversation, a lesson, a day, and even a life.

James also compared the control of the tongue to a forest fire.  In 2012 wildfires burned 9,326,238 acres, killed 11 people, and cost millions of dollars in damage. Many wildfires are started with something as small as a dropped cigarette. (CNN, 2014). That is immense damage from one little spark. Our words are that formidable. I can tell you stories of what negative words have done to me. I can share stories of kids being teased so ruthlessly that they committed suicide. I watched a program about a woman driven to such depths of depression from a co-worker’s relentless mocking that she got a gun and shot up a grocery store killing the man who joked with her every day. (Poole, 2015). Words are potent. More potent than we who are careless with them want to think.

Verses 6-8 read,

“And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell. 7 For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind, 8 but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.”

No human being can tame the evil poison tongue. Does that mean we don’t bother? We just say whatever comes to mind whenever we think it? Absolutely not. No human can tame it. But we do not rely on our human nature for our behavior, we rely on the Holy Spirit. He is conforming us to the image of Christ and the consequence of that transformation is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.[1] The fruit of our human nature is sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, and debauchery. [2] When we follow our flesh we sin, we speak without love and self-control, we let bitterness take root and grow and sprout out of our mouths causing the terrible damage it will. But with the Holy Spirit our mouth should spring out the fruit consistent with His love. Verses 9-12 read,

“With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God.10 From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so. 11 Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and salt water? 12 Can a fig tree, my brothers, bear olives, or a grapevine produce figs? Neither can a salt pond yield fresh water.”

The old saying goes, “What’s down in the well, comes up in the bucket.” And it is true. Your mouth speaks what is in your heart and spirit. If the Spirit is there, unquenched and working, then we will glorify the Lord. If we have quenched Him, then our human nature will speak. In Matthew 12:34-36 Jesus said,

“You brood of vipers! How can you speak good, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. 35 The good person out of his good treasure brings forth good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure brings forth evil. 36 I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, 37 for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”

I cannot tell you how many careless words I have spoken. The amount of damage I have done with my vile tongue is incalculable. We must be vigilant to exercise love and self-control over the weapon of our mouths. We have to be conscientious and choose not to exercise the fruit of the flesh. We have to choose to glorify Christ. Verses 13-18 read,

“Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom. 14 But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth.15 This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. 16 For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. 17 But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. 18 And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.”

Self-control is just as important to the command to love another as any other fruit of the Spirit. It is the characteristic that lords over how we choose to behave. It is the one I too often hear excuses against and sometimes out of my own mouth. “You know how I am!” or likewise. The world may know how you are, but do they know how God is? Do they see Him when they interact with you? They should. We are supposed to exemplify Christ, for the world and for one another. I challenge you to exercise the self-control given to you by the Spirit, and choose to use your words to build, teach, encourage, inspire, and in other ways, love.

Works Cited CNN. (2014, May 16). Wildfire Facts. Retrieved from CNN: http://www.cnn.com/2013/06/21/us/wildfires-fast-facts/

Poole, T. (2015). Unravled: Supermarket Slaughter. Retrieved from IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt4341554/?ref_=tt_eps_cu_n



[1] Galatians 5:22-23


[2] Galatians 5:19-21


0 Comments

1 John 3:10-24 Haters Gonna Hate, but Brother, you Gotta Love

1/17/2015

0 Comments

 
1 John Chapter 3 Verses 10-24

How do you tell the children of God, the followers of Christ apart from the rest of the world? You see the fruition of the God’s Spirit in us through our actions. We are not saved by works, we are recognized by them. Verse 10 reads,

“By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother.”

So what is it to practice righteousness? Practicing or regularly applying and living out righteousness is done through loving one another. Verse 11 reads,

“For this is the message that you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.”

Earlier in this letter John had said he was writing to the Believers, not about a new commandment but one they had from the beginning but it had been made new because of Jesus. That commandment was to walk as Jesus walked. (1 John 2:6-8). John brought up the commandment again but this time he worded it to love one another. Certainly Jesus gave this commandment several times during His ministry. (John 13:34-35, John 15:12, 17). It is new because in loving one another we are loving as Jesus, with His Spirit, glorifying the Father and showing people to the kingdom of God. But is the same message given from the beginning, God wants a relationship with people. God wants us to love Him and love others. He never changed His message. He never changed His commandments. Love God, love others, and love one another. That is practicing righteousness.

No matter how well you exemplify Jesus and love people, the world will hate you for it. In fact the more you love, the more they will hate you. You don’t find self-worth in what others think of you, your true value is in the fact that God created you, loves you, gave up His Son for you, died for you, and lives for you. God Almighty became Abba to you by adopting you. Don’t look to the world for your value. Their hate is brought about by resentment and jealousy. They might not know they want God or need Him, but deep down they do want that relationship with God and your behavior and acceptance from God makes them hate you. Verses 12-15 read,

“We should not be like Cain, who was of the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own deeds were evil and his brother's righteous. 13 Do not be surprised, brothers, that the world hates you. 14 We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brothers. Whoever does not love abides in death.15 Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.”

The world is living dead and they need the life Jesus offers. If we love as Jesus loves, we care. We care even though they hate us and persecute us. We don’t want to leave them to death. That is tantamount to murder. That is what hate brings. The world wants us to die along with them. God wants them to live alongside us with Him.

That is a grandiose idea how do we make it practical and real? How do we love them in everyday life? Jesus laid down His life for us, we have to do the same for others. That might not mean we have to take a bullet for them (though it might). It does mean we have to be willing to sacrifice ourselves, our desires, even our needs to help others. John gave us an example of how to love another. Verses 16-18 reads,

“By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. 17 But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him? 18 Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.”

If you see your brother in need and you have what he needs, you give it to him. If you choose not to care, then can God really be in you? His needs could be food, a job, clothes, encouragement, or prayer. If we move the scope out from your brothers to others, then how can we close our hearts to the world’s need of Jesus? How can we ignore that they are lost, dead in sin, and headed for destruction?

When you do the right thing, when you actually love people as Jesus loved you, you don’t have to fight with guilt, regret, or condemnation. Psalm 85:10 says,

“Steadfast love and faithfulness meet;
    righteousness and peace kiss each other.”


And when your heart denounces and convicts you, when you realize that you haven’t loved and that God doesn’t abide in you, you can turn to God and ask Jesus into your life. God forgives sin. He will take it all away and He will not condemn you if you are in Christ. People have to reach the point of their heart convicting them if they are to ask God to make them righteous. Verses 19-20 put it this way,

“By this we shall know that we are of the truth and reassure our heart before him; 20 for whenever our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and he knows everything.”

When you live out your life in Christ, you know that He is in you and you don’t have to worry about sin keeping you from God. You know you are forgiven and God Almighty is also your Father. You can approach God and talk to Him about anything. He will give you everything you need and He will make it possible for you to live out your salvation by loving one another. Verses 21-22 read,

“Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God; 22 and whatever we ask we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him.”

How do you know? How do you have confidence in your salvation when you still wrestle with your flesh? You know the same way others know because you keep His commandments. You are not saved by works, your salvation shows in your walk and actions. And what are God’s commandments? Verse 23 tells us.

“And this is his commandment, that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us.”

Yep, that is it. Believe in the name of His Son Jesus Christ and love another, just as He commanded us. If you do that, you have no worries. You have no condemnation. You have confidence that you rest in God, and He lives in you. He gives you His Spirit. His awesome wonderful Spirit, His life, His nature, His love. Verse 24 says it like this,

 “Whoever keeps his commandments abides in God, and God in him. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit whom he has given us.”

So fellow believers, be encouraged. Sure the world hates you, but you have the Spirit of the Living God within you and He makes it possible for you to love them. It pleases Him when you love them. He gives you all you need to love them. You have Almighty God as your Papa, Daddy, Abba, your Father.

0 Comments

The Beatitudes Study. How to Find True Happiness

1/5/2015

0 Comments

 
The Beatitudes: Reasons to be happy I have decided to choose happiness. With prayer, the Holy Spirit led me to study the Beatitudes. According to Strong’s Concordance, blessed is translated from the word makarios which is defined as happy, blessed, and to be envied. The further explanation of the word is “properly, when God extends His benefits, the advantages He confers; blessed.” (Help's Ministries Inc, 2011).

The Beatitudes begin the discourse known as The Sermon on the Mount recorded in Matthew. Jesus’ teachings were groundbreaking and shook the foundations of religious establishment. The beatitudes spoke to people who were struggling, living in poverty under a tyrannical government and a religious system that catered to ritual in order to honor God, but had left God out of the equation. Jesus told them that even in those positions they could be envied and considered fortunate and that they could be happy.

That was not the common view then, and it is not the popular opinion now. Let’s read them and you will see that it doesn’t seem a happy or good thing to be in any of the situations Jesus says are advantageous. Matthew 5:1-12 reads,

“Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down, his disciples came to him.

2 And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying:

3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

4 “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.

5 “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.

6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.

7 “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.

8 “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.

9 “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.

10 “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

11 “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. 12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

This is an example of the difference between the world and the Kingdom of God. It is very different in the Kingdom of God, those outside consider us foolish, crazy, and even evil. But they don’t understand, and cannot understand until they have the Holy Spirit to help them.

How is it good to be poor in spirit, mourn, or meek? Those qualities are not desired by the world. In fact they are disdained. These traits are only possible with the Holy Spirit as He conforms to the image of Christ. It is not an easy task to want righteousness so badly that it is akin to deep hunger and desperate thirst, a need. Being merciful is, for me something I have to work hard for. Being pure in heart in a foul and sinful world is a struggle analogous to climbing a mountain. Being a peacemaker means that somehow in the middle of strife, turmoil, and conflict that one cannot only maintain his peace but bring it to others. Being persecuted for righteousness? Well we all know that is no fun.

But Jesus says these are all reasons to be happy! He says these are good things and we are blessed even to be envied for those qualities. Believer, remember Jesus words, “Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven.”

Blessed are poor in spirit “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” –Matthew 5:3

Remember that blessed is translated from the word makarios which is defined as happy, blessed, and to be envied. (Help's Ministries Inc, 2011).

This is the first of the Beatitudes. The word for poor in this verse is translated from the Greek word ptochos. The word is defined, "to crouch or cower like a beggar – properly, bent over; figuratively, deeply destitute, completely lacking resources.” (Help's Ministries Inc, 2011). It is not merely poor but absolutely in need. In a position where one has no choice but to beg because he cannot fill his need on his own.

The word spirit is translated from pneuma which means spirit, wind, or breath. (Help's Ministries Inc, 2011). It is our life force. It is ourselves as we relate to God. It is in fact the same word that is used to denote the Holy Spirit when the word is preceded by the adjective holy.

Therefore, poor in spirit means destitute of spirit, begging in humility for spiritual needs to be met. Romans 5:23-25 tells us that we are all in spiritual poverty and that Jesus provides the way to meet those needs. It reads,

“for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins.”

Although all have sinned and consequently every person needs Jesus, only some ever acknowledge the need. It is for those who concede it that the Kingdom of Heaven is given. Those people who recognize they are dependent on Jesus to meet their need, not just once but every moment of every day, who are given the joy of salvation, the joy of living in the Kingdom of Heaven even now while we walk on earth.

The more we understand how much we have sinned and how there is nothing we can do on our own, the more we admit our necessity and reliance on Jesus the more we are able to celebrate and be overjoyed at His grace and mercy. Romans 5:19-21 reads,

“For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man’s obedience many will be made righteous.

20 Moreover the law entered that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more, 21 so that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

Genuine happiness is not gained by pretending to be good. Authentic bliss is not achieved by justifying or ignoring one’s corruption. True joy is reached when we are able to recognize our sinfulness and ask Jesus, the only one who can to forgive us and make us righteous.

Choose happiness. Don’t close your eyes to your depravity, recognize it. Submit yourself to Jesus as the beggar you are and let Him freely give you the richness of His grace. Jesus turns the tears of mourning over your sin to gladness and praise for His salvation. Jesus quoted Isaiah 61 about Himself. Read verses 1-3 and see that Jesus will do it for you too.

“The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me,
    because the Lord has anointed me
to bring good news to the poor;
    he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim liberty to the captives,
    and the opening of the prison to those who are bound;
2 to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor,
    and the day of vengeance of our God;
    to comfort all who mourn;
3 to grant to those who mourn in Zion--
    to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes,
the oil of gladness instead of mourning,
    the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit;
that they may be called oaks of righteousness,
    the planting of the Lord, that he may be glorified”


Let Jesus turn your mourning to gladness, let Him give you a garment of praise instead of a faint spirit.

Blessed are those who mourn Matthew 5:4 reads,

“Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.”

The second beatitude seems almost backwardly confusing. How can someone who mourns be happy? Mourning is expressing sorrow and grief. The Greek word translated to mourn in this verse is pentheó. Strong’s concordance defines it as “to grieve over a death or a personal hope that comes to divine closure. It is manifested grief so severe it takes possession of a person and cannot be hid.” (Helps Ministries Inc, 2011). Blessed means happy and to be envied. (Help's Ministries Inc, 2011).

How can lamenting that intense be something that give you happiness or a reason to be envied? Because they will be comforted. They won’t be comforted with clichés or empty words. They will be comforted by truth and love. They are comforted by God Himself.

What was your reaction when you realized the depth of your sin compared to God’s holiness? What was your response when you grasped what Jesus had done for you? If you are like me, even now, when you consider your sin there is a deep heaviness of your soul for a moment, a sadness so deep that it should overwhelm you. But the Comforter reminds you that Jesus loves you so completely that your sinful soul was healed by the wounds of His crucifixion and that because of that you are called a Friend of God and a child of our Awesome Father. He repeats to you, “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” (Romans 8:1). He tells you again who Jesus is and what He has done. Isaiah 61:1-4 reads,

“The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me,
    because the Lord has anointed me
to bring good news to the poor;
    he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim liberty to the captives,
    and the opening of the prison to those who are bound;
2 to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor,
    and the day of vengeance of our God;
    to comfort all who mourn;
3 to grant to those who mourn in Zion--
    to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes,
the oil of gladness instead of mourning,
    the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit;
that they may be called oaks of righteousness,
    the planting of the Lord, that he may be glorified.
4 They shall build up the ancient ruins;
    they shall raise up the former devastations;
they shall repair the ruined cities,
    the devastations of many generations.”


That is not only a reason to be happy but to be overjoyed, jubilant, and celebrate. It is reason enough to praise God for eternity.

And though we sometimes feel like all hope is gone, though we ache and strain for those we’ve lost and miss, though we sometimes think we cannot endure one more struggle, He reminds us of we do have hope. Eternity is waiting for us and with us now. Some of our loved ones have died and we miss them horribly, but this life on earth is not the end. 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 reads,

“But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. 14 For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. 15 For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.17 Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord.18 Therefore encourage one another with these words.”

The lost cannot be comforted by that truth. They do not have the hope of Jesus. There are no words that can comfort them. Only Jesus can bring them the consolation and succor they desperately need. But until they acknowledge it, feel it and express it, He will wait.

Blessed are the meek Matthew 5:5 reads,

“Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.”

When I imagine the earth belonging to someone in a worldly sense, I picture people like Alexander the Great or Attila the Hun conquering countries as their own. I envision strong powerful people with armies and weapons harshly attacking others.

Yet Jesus said the meek will inherit the earth. Meekness gives me a picture completely different than conquerors such as Napoleon, I see a person of submission and weakness, a person who doesn’t fight back when he is injured. But that isn’t exactly what the Greek word for meek means. The Greek word praus is translated to meek in English, but it is more than meekness. It means exercising God's power under His control. (Help's Ministries Inc, 2011). Praus means the strength it takes to turn the other cheek. It is gentleness. It is letting God be strong instead of you.

You do not have to fight on your own. There is no way to overcome the world without Jesus. Jesus died and resurrected and He beat the enemy.  You do not win the world, Jesus did that. You will inherit the earth. It will be given to you as an heir with Christ. It is yours because God bequeathed it to you. Jesus did what we cannot do. Romans 8:1-4 says,

“There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.2 For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. 3 For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, 4 in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.”

The battle is in the future and the battle is now, but Jesus already won it. Instead of beating the air and making a weak and useless effort fighting the enemy yourself, let Jesus’ victory be yours.

John 16:33 reads,

"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."

Deuteronomy 20:4 says,

“For the LORD your God is the one who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies to give you victory."

You are in the fight! You are in the battle, but it is not your strength, weapons or abilities that are effective. It is God. Ephesians 6:10-11 reads,

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.”

When you let God be your strength you are already a victor. When you rely on what God has done for you and the gift of His never-ending grace you are a conqueror. Revelation 3:12 reads,

“The one who conquers, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God. Never shall he go out of it, and I will write on him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down from my God out of heaven, and my own new name.”

God is giving you a whole new earth. It is all yours, you’ve inherited it already. Revelation 21:1-3 reads,

“Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. 2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God”

What an amazing reason to celebrate because we are weak. It is in genuine and biblical meekness of complete reliance on God that we have victory. Jesus lived, died and resurrected for you. Vengeance is God’s. He has already written the last battle and the enemy loses. But those who are meek enough to rely on God are covered by Jesus’ blood and we are conquerors with Christ! Nothing can change that! Nothing can take the love of God from you. It may look like weakness to the world. It may look like the world is winning. But it isn’t true. Christ wins. Romans 8:35-39 reads,

“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? 36 As it is written,

“For your sake we are being killed all the day long;
    we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”


37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness

Matthew 5:6 reads,

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.”

The Greek word translated hunger is peina and it means to be hungry, needy, and desire earnestly. (Help's Ministries Inc, 2011).  The Greek word for thirst is dipsaó and it likewise means to thirst and desire earnestly. (Help's Ministries Inc, 2011). Imagine desiring righteousness as much as you want a glass of water when your mouth is parched, not just when it would be nice to have a drink but when you are thirsty, when you long for the cool water to slide down your hot throat and satisfy your need only the way water can. That is the way we should seek righteousness. Not just wanting it or thinking it would be nice, but needing it, craving it, not able to live without it as the sustenance of our souls.

Righteousness or dikaiosuné is defined as justice, justness, righteousness of which God is the source or author, God's judicial approval. (Help's Ministries Inc, 2011). Do you want God’s approval that desperately? Well, there is great news for you if you do.

Jesus said you can be happy because you will be satisfied. The Greek word for satisfy, chortazó means to feed, satisfy and fatten. (Help's Ministries Inc, 2011). You may be starving for righteousness, but Jesus will give you so much, you will be fat with it! You won’t have to be meager with goodness because Jesus will give you plenty to exercise.

Your yearning for righteousness will be fulfilled. He is the source of life, He is the source of eternal life and the only way to the Father. (John 14:6). Jesus told the Samaritan woman at the well that He was the source of living water and anyone who drank from Him would never thirst again. (John 4:14-15). Your longing for righteousness will be satisfied much deeper than you could imagine. 2 Corinthians 5:21 reads,

“For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”

In Jesus, you are righteous! In Jesus, you are righteousness! Yes, God approves of you! God loves you and Jesus made the way for you to be reconciled to the Father and be righteousness. You aren’t that old self anymore who craved self-satisfaction or worldly things. You are a new creation, you are righteous. You are blameless in the eyes of God. He doesn’t see your sin anymore, He sees your righteousness. (2 Corinthians 5:16-21).

All you have to do is ask Jesus and it is yours. Free! Done! If you sincerely want it, Jesus gives it to you. Then you will find other things happening. You will want that righteousness to be evident in your life. You will want to demonstrate your love for God by wanting to be as good as He says you are. And you will want it for other people too. And as deeply as you want it, Jesus will continue to satisfy your desire for righteousness. You will seek it out. You will pursue that need, the way you go after food and water, not as a luxury but a need. And then you will strive for it above and beyond food or water, but that is okay because Jesus also promised that if you chase God and His righteousness above all else, the rest of the stuff would fall into place. Matthew 6:31-34 reads,

“Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

34 “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.”

Do you want God’s approval? Do you want Him to say you are good? He will if you simply ask Jesus to make you right. Jesus promised to satisfy your want for goodness. In fact not just meet the need to make you rich with it.

Blessed are the merciful Matthew 5:7 reads,

“Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.”

What is it to be merciful? The Greek word used here is eleéō. It means to have pity or show mercy as it aligns with God’s truth. It is to act on God’s terms in His covenant. (Help's Ministries Inc, 2011). Merriam-Webster’s defines merciful as treating people with kindness and forgiveness, not cruel or harsh, and giving relief from suffering.

Compassion for another person in such a way that you are able to forgive their flaws and be kind to them is what being merciful is. And being merciful is not always so easy. It is something we must choose to do deliberately. It is not a natural trait, but it is a characteristic of the Spirit. (Galatians 5:22-23). It is one we can exercise because God is in us and we are operating in His covenant. It is also a quality Jesus expects us to implement. In Matthew chapter 6:14-15 Jesus said,

“For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, 15 but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”

And what right do we have not to forgive people? What right do we have not to be merciful? Ephesians 4:30-32 says,

“And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. 32 Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.”

Consider that all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. (Romans 3:23). And the wages of sin is death. (Romans 6:23). We deserve death. In fact before we came to Christ, we were dead. Ephesians 2:4-5 reads,

“But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—“

We deserve death. We deserve not to have a relationship with God. But He is rich in mercy. He chose to forgive us and not give us death. By His grace, He gave us new life and a relationship with Him.

When you elect to forgive others and show them kindness you are opting happiness. You are forgiven, God decided not to make you pay for your sins. He paid for them instead. He chooses not to bring to mind your sin any longer. He asks the same of you. God was merciful to you. He has a never-ending supply of mercy. Be merciful and God shows you mercy. All those mistakes you make, God forgives them.

Deciding to forgive others, showing them kindness and compassion, letting go of the bitterness and anger over the wrongs done to you allows you to be happy. Emptying yourself of the right to hold onto the injuries inflicted on you makes room for the Spirit. He makes it possible for you to be joyful, peaceful, and merciful.

Blessed are the pure in heart Matthew 5:8 reads,

 “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.”

The Greek word translated as pure is katharos. It means without admixture, separated, purged and therefore clean. (Help's Ministries Inc, 2011). Heart is translated from the word kardia which is defined as the affective center of our being, the inner-self, the intention that establishes who we are. (Help's Ministries Inc, 2011). So pure of heart means that our inner-self, our true self has been flushed out of everything that would make it unclean. A pure heart is forgiven, cleansed by Jesus’ blood and intends to follow Him. It is not an outward ritualistic cleanliness. God doesn’t want the outward show of looking religious. He wants the heart, the desire to follow Him in love.

In Psalm 51, David asked God for a clean heart. He knew the way to that end was the forgiveness of his sins. Verses 1-2 say,

“Have mercy on me, O God,
    according to your steadfast love;
according to your abundant mercy
    blot out my transgressions.
2 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity,
    and cleanse me from my sin!”


It is only Jesus who can cleanse your heart. It is only His blood that can forgive sins. Hebrews 10:19-22 reads,

“Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, 20 by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.”

What is it to see God? 1 John 3:2 says that one day we will see God as He is. It reads,

“Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is.”

And 1 Corinthians 13:12 reads,

“For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.”

So it is a promise of our future hope as we live in New Jerusalem in the presence of Jesus. But there is more to the promise. Every promise of eternity is also shadowed for us now in this life. One day we will see God clearly and fully, but right now we know Him incompletely. But we still seek Him. We still want to know Him and we strive know Him more deeply every day.  God wants us to know Him. He said so in Hosea 6:6

“For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice,
    the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.”


Knowing God, having a deep relationship with Him was the reason He saved us. (John 17:3). Knowing the Father is done by knowing Jesus Christ. (Colossians 1:15, John 14:6).

So how do we know God more deeply?

I’ve already established that you must have a relationship with Jesus first in order to have a relationship with God. That is done by making Jesus the Master of your life and acknowledging that only He can forgive your sins and reconcile you to God.

God will enter into you as the Holy Spirit when you ask Jesus to save you. The Holy Spirit then begins teaching you and transforming you. He shows you who He without barriers. 2 Corinthians 3:18 says,

“And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.”

And 1 Corinthians 2:6-13 reads,

“Yet among the mature we do impart wisdom, although it is not a wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are doomed to pass away. 7 But we impart a secret and hidden wisdom of God, which God decreed before the ages for our glory. 8 None of the rulers of this age understood this, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. 9 But, as it is written,

“What no eye has seen, nor ear heard,
    nor the heart of man imagined,
what God has prepared for those who love him”--


10 these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. 11 For who knows a person's thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. 12 Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God. 13 And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual.”

The Holy Spirit is God. He reveals His nature to us, He transforms us so that we reveal Him as well. That is one reason we need other Brothers and Sisters in Christ. Each one is indwelled with God and we speak to each other, teach, encourage, exhort, and edify one another through the Spirit.

We read the Bible, His word and learn more about Him. Psalm 119:105 says,

“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”

The Word of God will do work on us to purify our hearts and help us know Him more. Hebrews 4:12 says,

“For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”

One day, we will see God wholly, but for now we seek Him and get to know Him as best we can in our flesh. If we seek and ask, He will reveal and answer. Deuteronomy 4:29 says,

“But from there you will seek the Lord your God and you will find him, if you search after him with all your heart and with all your soul.”

And Matthew 7:7-8 reads,

“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.”

Is it the desire of your inner core to know God? Then you will know Him. Has your heart been cleansed by the blood of Jesus? Then you will see God.

Blessed are the peacemakers Matthew 5:9 says,

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.”

Peacemaker is from the Greek word eirénopoios. It is defined as pacific, loving peace, a peace-maker. A peacemaker, bravely declares God's terms which makes someone whole. The only time this word is used is in Matthew 5:9. (Help's Ministries Inc, 2011).

Eiréné the “peace” portion of peacemaker is defined as peace or peace of mind. Properly peace is wholeness, i.e. when all essential parts are joined together; God's gift of wholeness. It was common and still is a common Jewish farewell to invoke the peace and sense of the health of an individual. (Help's Ministries Inc, 2011).

When we look at the word that way, we see the peacemaker as one who proclaims God’s message, the gift of Jesus’ grace and salvation to the lost in order to reconcile them to the Father and bring them peace with God.

Sons of God is another term I wanted to look at more closely. The Greek word huios means son, or descendent but it means more than that too. It is defined properly, as a son by birth or adoption and figuratively anyone sharing the same nature as their Father. (Help's Ministries Inc, 2011).

It is the nature of the Father to love. Love is more than God’s nature, it is who He is. 1 John 4:8 says,

“Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.”

Because God is love, and He loves us so deeply He desires a relationship with every person. He wants us to be whole, healed in Him, no longer under the burden of sin that separates us from Him. He is patient and has withheld the final judgment so that more people will know Him. 2 Peter 3:9 says,

“The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.”

1 Timothy 2:1-7 reads,

First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, 2 for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. 3 This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.5 For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time. 7 For this I was appointed a preacher and an apostle (I am telling the truth, I am not lying), a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.

 God wants everyone to be saved. He wants us to want what He wants. He wants us to do something about it. He wants us to proclaim Jesus to the lost. He wants us to bring them the good news that they can be made whole in God.

When we act on the love of the Father, loving people as Jesus loves us, we glorify God. We are being conformed to His image and more and more we reflect His nature by displaying the outcome of that transformation that is called the fruit of the Spirit. Displaying the fruit of the Spirit, loving people as Jesus loves entails us wanting what the Father wants. It requires us affirming and proclaiming Jesus to the world so that they too can be made whole and called sons of God. Eternal life comes from glorifying God. John 17:1-4 says,

“When Jesus had spoken these words, he lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you, 2 since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. 3 And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. 4 I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do.”

Glorifying God means reflecting His image. When people see you, do they see Jesus? Do they recognize God in you? That is being called a son of God. When they interact with you, they should be interacting with the Son of God and therefore even if they don’t exactly who it is they are dealing with they will at least know you are not like the world. You share God’s nature. His nature, His being is Love. Without that love, people can’t recognize you as having the spirit of God because without that love you can’t have the Spirit of God. Remember who God is. 1 John 4:8 says,

“Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.”

 

Blessed are those who are persecuted, reviled, and maligned The final two beatitudes are similar. Matthew 5:10-12 says,

“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

11 “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. 12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

Really a person has to ask, how can we be envied or happy if we are persecuted, slandered and hated? Most true followers of Christ have dealt with vilification and loathing from people. Too many, mostly in other countries have been persecuted and even martyred for Jesus. And the problem grows. There will come a time soon when even in countries like the USA persecution will become more common and even more widely accepted than it already is.

Jesus described the end times. John, Paul, and Peter all described the end times. We can see signs of it now. But the fact is that persecution and revulsion of Christians has gone on since the church began. If you haven’t faced the hate of the world, perhaps you haven’t truly followed Christ.

Jesus told us people would hate us. John 15:18-19 says,

“If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. 19 If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.”

So let’s look at the fact that Jesus says we can be happy and envied for the persecution we will face as His followers. The word persecute in all three verses is the word diókó. Diókó is defined as to pursue, to earnestly desire to overtake, to aggressively hunt down. It is interestingly enough the same word used to describe Israel’s pursuit and passion for the Law in Romans, to describe the way we are supposed to pursue hospitality toward one another also in Romans, and the word Paul uses in Philippians chapter 3 to describe his pressing on toward the goal. But most often the word is translated with the negative connotation of persecution. (Help's Ministries Inc, 2011).

Righteousness is the same word from Matthew 5:6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.” The word dikaiosuné is defined as justice, righteousness of which God is the author. It is God’s approval. (Help's Ministries Inc, 2011).

So people who are persecuted, aggressively hunted down for God’s justice and approval are blessed because the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs. The Kingdom of Heaven is described in the gospel of Matthew by Jesus through parables. Jesus mentions it in Matthew 13:11 in answer to the disciples’ question of His use of parables. “And he answered them, “To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given.”

Those who believe in Christ are the ones who are able to have the faith and discernment to see the Kingdom of Heaven around us. A little further on in Matthew chapter 13 Jesus compares the Kingdom of Heaven to a farmer sowing good seed while his enemy secretly sows weeds in the farmer’s field. Rather than gather the weeds and risk hurting the good seed, the farmer says to wait until harvest time when the weeds will be revealed, gathered and burned. As followers of Christ we understand the secrets of the story, that false followers, false prophets, and false teachers will receive their punishment when we receive our reward.

Jesus also compared the kingdom of heaven to a mustard seed, a tiny seed which when planted grows into a plant so large it is like a tree and birds can rest in its branches. He also said it is like leaven that a woman took and hid in three measures of flour, till it was all leavened. (Matthew 13:31-33). The Kingdom of Heaven looks small yet it grows into something much bigger than imagined, something that does good for others, something that provides sustenance for many.

The kingdom of heaven can’t be perceived by those who don’t accept Jesus. But it is good, amazing, and it grows. It doesn’t stay small and inert. The Kingdom of Heaven doesn’t stay secret. It is revealed to people who are willing to hear it. And it holds great promises for believers. When Jesus was teaching us to pray in Matthew 6:9-10 He said,

“Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name.
10 Your kingdom come,
your will be done,
    on earth as it is in heaven.”


The Father’s will is done on earth just as it is in Heaven when we ask it. Heaven is not our future destination, a place we go after we die. It is where God dwells. It is here and now, all around us. And it is within us. Believers live in the Kingdom of Heaven right now and God lives in us! 1 John 4:7-16 says,

“Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. 9 In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. 10 In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 12 No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us.

13 By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. 14 And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. 15 Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. 16 So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.”

When you live out love as Jesus commanded and the Spirit enables, when you seek righteousness you manifest God. You glorify Him and people will see Him. You are living in the kingdom of Heaven and offering it to others. But so many have hard blind/deaf hearts and those people will hate you and persecute you.

The last beatitude is in Matthew 5:11-12

 “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. 12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

When you are hated because you testify that Jesus is Christ, you can be happy because you have the hope of eternity and that reward is great! In Heaven, our treasures are stored and will be bestowed on us one day when God makes a New Heaven and a New Earth and we will rejoice with God in perfection.

God tells us He saves our real treasures for us in Heaven with Him while we live on earth. In Matthew 6:1 Jesus says,

“Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven.”

He tells us not to stockpile treasures on earth because all that is just temporary. He says in verses 20-21 of the same chapter, “but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

Eternity is described for us in Revelation 21 where God will give us our reward, the treasure of crowns God has for us. (2 Timothy 4:8. James 1:12, 1 Peter 5:4).

Revelation 21: 3-4 says,

“And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. 4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”

In that New Heaven and New Earth where we will spend forever, we will be whole, sinless, completed. Hebrews 22-23 tells us we will be able to be with God without fear.

“But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering, 23 and to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect,”

So even though we are persecuted, hated, and slandered we can be happy. We should be happy. We have the Kingdom of Heaven now and we have the promise of Heaven for eternity. Persecution for righteousness, hatred for Jesus sake is proof of God’s love in you, of the Spirit of God in you, and the promise of eternity. You may cry tears of sadness and pain now, but one day God Himself will wipe those tears away and you will live forever with Him as yours and you as His.

Rejoice and be glad Believer, you have so much reason to rejoice. Celebrate and be happy! Though you are poor in spirit in desperate need of grace, you have all the riches of the kingdom of Heaven. While you mourn and grieve, you are comforted by the hope of eternity and forgiveness. Although you are meek and depend on God’s strength the world is yours. Because you hunger and thirst for righteousness, you are overflowing with it. Since you are merciful you are given mercy. Because you have a pure heart you will see God. As you are a peacemaker, you are a son of God. And even while you are persecuted and hated for righteousness and Christ, you’re reward is great. Believer, delight, cheer, and dance, you have Jesus. Jesus is all you need. No matter how weak, poor, faint, or desperate you are, Jesus is enough. No matter what you go through or how difficult your circumstances, Jesus is all you need. 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 reads,

“But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

Be blessed. Rejoice and be glad.

References:

Help's Ministries Inc. (2011). 1343. dikaiosuné. Retrieved from Biblehub; Strong's exhaustive concordance: http://biblehub.com/greek/1343.htm

Help's Ministries Inc. (2011). 1372. dipsaó. Retrieved from Biblehub; Strong's exhaustive concordance: http://biblehub.com/greek/1372.htm

Help's Ministries Inc. (2011). 1377. diókó. Retrieved from Biblehub; Strong's exhaustive concordance: http://biblehub.com/greek/1377.htm

Help's Ministries Inc. (2011). 1515. eiréné. Retrieved from Biblehub; Strong's exhaustive concordance: http://biblehub.com/greek/1515.htm

Help's Ministries Inc. (2011). 1518. eirénopoios. Retrieved from Biblehub; Strong's exhaustive concordance: http://biblehub.com/greek/1518.htm

Help's Ministries Inc. (2011). 1653. eleeó. Retrieved from Biblehub; Strong's exhaustive concordance: http://biblehub.com/greek/1653.htm

Help's Ministries Inc. (2011). 2513. katharos. Retrieved from Biblehub; Strong's exhaustive concordance: http://biblehub.com/greek/2513.htm

Help's Ministries Inc. (2011). 2588. kardia. Retrieved from Biblehub; Strong's exhaustive concordance: http://biblehub.com/greek/2588.htm

Help's Ministries Inc. (2011). 3701. makarios. Retrieved from Biblehub; Strong's exhaustive concordance: http://biblehub.com/greek/3107.htm

Help's Ministries Inc. (2011). 3983. peinaó. Retrieved from Biblehub; Strong's exhaustive concordance: http://biblehub.com/greek/3983.htm

Helps Ministries Inc. (2011). 3996. pentheó. Retrieved from Biblehub; Strong's exhaustive concordance: http://biblehub.com/greek/3996.htm

Help's Ministries Inc. (2011). 4151. pneuma. Retrieved from Biblehub; Strong's exhaustive concordance: http://biblehub.com/greek/4151.htm

Help's Ministries Inc. (2011). 4239. praus. Retrieved from Biblehub; Strong's exhaustive concordance: http://biblehub.com/greek/4239.htm

Help's Ministries Inc. (2011). 4434. ptóchos. Retrieved from Biblehub; Strong's exhaustive concordance: http://biblehub.com/greek/4434.htm

Help's Ministries Inc. (2011). 5207. huios. Retrieved from Biblehub; Strong's exhaustive concordance: http://biblehub.com/greek/5207.htm

Help's Ministries Inc. (2011). 5526. chortazó. Retrieved from Strong's Concordance: http://biblehub.com/greek/5526.htm

0 Comments

The Beatitudes Part 6 Blessed are the Merciful

1/2/2015

0 Comments

 
Picture
We continue our study of the beatitudes with Matthew 5:7.

“Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.”

What is it to be merciful? The Greek word used here is eleéō. It means to have pity or show mercy as it aligns with God’s truth. It is to act on God’s terms in His covenant. (Strong's). Merriam-Webster’s defines merciful as treating people with kindness and forgiveness, not cruel or harsh, and giving relief from suffering.

Compassion for another person in such a way that you are able to forgive their flaws and be kind to them is what being merciful is. And being merciful is not always so easy. It is something we must choose to do deliberately. It is not a natural trait, but it is a characteristic of the Spirit. (Galatians 5:22-23). It is one we can exercise because God is in us and we are operating in His covenant. It is also a quality Jesus expects us to implement. In Matthew chapter 6:14-15 Jesus said,

“For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, 15 but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”

And what right do we have not to forgive people? What right do we have not to be merciful? Ephesians 4:30-32 says,

“And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. 32 Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.”

Consider that all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. (Romans 3:23). And the wages of sin is death. (Romans 6:23). We deserve death. In fact before we came to Christ, we were dead. Ephesians 2:4-5 reads,

“But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—“

We deserve death. We deserve not to have a relationship with God. But He is rich in mercy. He chose to forgive us and not give us death. By His grace, He gave us new life and a relationship with Him.

When you elect to forgive others and show them kindness you are opting happiness. You are forgiven, God decided not to make you pay for your sins. He paid for them instead. He chooses not to bring to mind your sin any longer. He asks the same of you. God was merciful to you. He has a never-ending supply of mercy. Be merciful and God shows you mercy. All those mistakes you make, God forgives them.

Deciding to forgive others, showing them kindness and compassion, letting go of the bitterness and anger over the wrongs done to you allows you to be happy. Emptying yourself of the right to hold onto the injuries inflicted on you makes room for the Spirit. He makes it possible for you to be joyful, peaceful, and merciful.

References:

Strong's. (1987). 1653. eleeó. Retrieved from Biblehub; Strong's Concordance: http://biblehub.com/greek/1653.htm

0 Comments

Ephesians 5:1-21 Your Behavior Reflects Your Heart. (What's in the well comes up in the bucket.)

11/2/2014

0 Comments

 
Ephesians 5:1-21

Although I do not condone following a list of rules, or conforming to the image of the “Stepford Christian,” I do think that our heart condition will exhibit itself in our behavior. If we are all walking together being conformed to the image of Christ, then we will resemble one another as we resemble Jesus. There is the harvest of the Spirit, and the harvest of the flesh. I also believe that we must strive to choose which fruit will be produced.

These verses compare two types of behavior, how we as Christ Followers and imitators of God should conduct ourselves and how we should not. Our conduct has an effect on us and others.

Verses 3-4 read,

“But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints. 4 Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving.”

Dirty jokes and talk put sexually immoral thoughts in people’s minds, those thoughts if held unchecked lead to lust, and even acting on that lust. We’re better than that. We are not a bunch of sex-obsessed construction workers or hormone-ridden adolescents, we are saints, God’s children and friends, followers of Christ, and filled with the Holy Spirit.  Our behavior and words reflect our hearts. If we have Jesus in our hearts, if we have the Spirit within us, shouldn’t our behavior and words reflect Him?

Our entire lives should indicate that we are children of God. What we do in front of the church should be the same as what we do in the midst of friends and behind closed doors in secret. Verses 11-12 read,

“Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. 12 For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret.”

If you have those shameful secrets there is one sure way to eliminate them. Confess them and give them to Jesus. Appropriately sharing them with trusted Brothers or Sisters in Christ exposes them to the light. When you no longer have to hide your shame, you can repent. You will have the Spirit helping you and encouraging you and you will have your fellow believers encouraging you as well. There is no condemnation in Christ. Baring the secrets that keep you chained to sin lets the Light of Christ shine down and show you those chains can’t hold you. You applied them after Christ freed you. Sin has no power over you when the Light of Christ shines through you. Verses 13-14 read,

“But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, 14 for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says,

“Awake, O sleeper,
    and arise from the dead,
and Christ will shine on you.”

Exposing your sin brings you closer to Jesus, glorifies Him, and because of that can actually bring others to Christ.

As saints, our behavior should be based on wisdom, love and truth, not on gratifying our whims and flesh. We are the children of God. Our manner reflects Him. Glorifying God means rather than indulge our flesh we seek to please God and fulfil His desires and will. Verses 15-16 read,

“Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.”

What is the will of the God? He wants us to love one another. He wants everyone to come to a relationship with Him. He wants you to know Him deeply. When we act in accordance with His will, our demeanor will be like Him. Verses 18-21 put it like this,

“And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, 19 addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, 20 giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, 21 submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.”

This is not a list of rules to follow. 1. Address one another in psalms. Check! 2. Make melody to the Lord. Check! 3. Give thanks always. Check! It is the consequence of being filled with the Holy Spirit of being in love with Him and wanting what He wants. When we revere Christ, we not only love one another we submit to one another. We would rather satisfy one another’s wishes over our own. What is it to revere? It is show devoted deferential honor, to regard as worthy, to admire, respect and worship.

When we are filled with the Spirit rather than meet up, speak crudely, and encourage one another to sin. We meet up, greet each other in love, walk beside one another in love, and encourage one another to a deeper walk with Christ.

0 Comments
<<Previous
    Give to Salt & Light

    Donna Campbell

    As I read the Bible every day, I take what God teaches me, what He says, and write it out. I then share that with you. It gives me a deeper understanding of the Word and I hope that it will encourage you as it does me, to put your love and faith into action.

      Subscribe to Salt & Light Daily

    Submit

    Archives

    September 2020
    August 2020
    September 2019
    June 2019
    April 2019
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    June 2017
    April 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014

    Categories

    All
    1
    12000 Stadia
    1400 Miles Cubed
    1 Kings
    1 Peter
    1 Samuel
    1 Thessaloians
    1 Timothy
    260 Days
    2 Chronicles
    2 Kings
    2 Peter
    2 Samuel
    2 Thessalonians
    2 Timothy
    450 Prophets
    5 Senses
    666
    Aaron
    Abba
    Abel
    Abide
    Abigail
    Abimelech
    Abishai
    Abner
    Abomination
    Abraham
    Abram
    Absalom
    Abundant Life
    Accountability
    Accuser
    Action
    Adam
    Admonish
    Adonai
    Adonijah
    Adoption
    Adultery
    Advocate
    After God's Own Heart
    Age Of Accountability
    Agnostics
    Ahab
    Ahasurerus
    Ahaz
    Ahaziah
    Ahimelech
    A Little Lower Than The Angels
    All Have Sinned
    All Things Created
    All Things Work Together For Good
    Almighty
    Altar
    Amaziah
    Amen
    Ammonites
    Ammonites.
    Amnon
    Amon
    And Moses?
    Andrea Barringer
    Andrew
    And The Life
    And The Life.
    And The Truth
    Angels
    Anger
    Angie Majewski
    Anna Bonet
    Annoint
    Annointed
    Anoint
    Anointed
    Anointing
    Antichrist
    Antichrists
    Anti-Semitism
    Anxiety
    Apocalypse
    Apostle
    Apostle Of Love
    Apple
    Apple Of My Eye
    Approval
    Arguments
    Ark
    Ark Of The Covenant
    Armor
    Armor Of God
    Army
    Aroma
    Arrest
    Arrogance
    Artaxerxes
    Asaph
    Asceticism
    As God Is My Witness
    Asher
    Asherah
    Ask
    Ask And You Will Receive
    Ask Anything
    Assyria
    As The Deer
    Astrology
    Athaliah
    Atheists
    Athlete
    Attack
    Audio
    Audio Devotional
    Authority
    Avenge
    Avenger
    Awake
    Awesome
    Axe Head
    Azariah
    Baal
    Baal-zebub
    Babel
    Baby Food
    Babylon
    Babylon The Great
    Bad Boss
    Balaam
    Bald
    Banner
    Baptism
    Baptize
    Bathsheba
    Beacon
    Bear Iniquity
    Bear One Another's Burdens
    Beast
    Beatitudes
    Beauty
    Beauty For Ashes
    Become Like Children
    Be Doers
    Be Fruitful And Multiply
    Began A Good Work In You
    Behavior
    Be Holy As I Am Holy
    Beleive
    Belief
    Believe
    Beloved
    Ben-hadad
    Benjamin
    Be Silent And Be Thought A Fool
    Be Still And Know I Am God
    Bethel
    Betrayal
    Better Is One Day
    Bias
    Bible
    Bible Devotional
    Bible Study
    Black Lives Matter
    Blame
    Blameless
    Blasphemy
    Blasphemy Against The Holy Spirit
    Bless
    Blessed
    Blessing
    Blessings
    Bless Those Who Curse You
    Blind
    BLM
    Blood
    Blood Moon
    Boast In Christ
    Boast In Weakness
    Body Of Christ
    Bondservant
    Bones
    Borders
    Born Again
    Boss
    Boston Dad
    Bowls
    Branch
    Branches
    Bread
    Bread Of Life
    Breath
    Breathe
    Breathe Of Life
    Breath Of God
    Breath Of Life
    Breath Prayer
    Bride
    Bridegroom
    Bride Of Christ
    Bridle The Tongue
    Broken
    Broken Heart
    Brotherhood
    Brotherhood Of Man
    Brothers Of Jesus
    Burial
    Burnt Offering
    Burn Weapons
    Busy
    Busyness
    Bystanders
    By This They Will Know
    Caiaphas
    Cain
    Call On Jesus
    Call On Jesus Name
    Call On The Name Of The Lord
    Canaan
    Can't Be Good Enough
    Can't Earn Salvaiton
    Can't Serve Two Masters
    Captivity
    Cast Lots
    Cave
    Censer
    Chaff
    Chariots Of Fire
    Charity
    Cheerful Giver
    Cherished
    Cherub
    Cherubim
    Childbirth
    Child Of God
    Children
    Children Of God
    Child Sacrifice
    Choose
    Choose Life
    Chosen
    Christ
    Christian Gould
    Christianity
    Church
    Circumcision
    Circumcision Of The Heart
    Cities Of Refuge
    Citizens
    Citizens Of Heaven
    City Of David
    City Of God
    City On A Hill
    Clap
    Clean
    Clean Heart
    Cleansed
    Clothes
    Cloven
    Coexist
    Colossians
    Come
    Comfort
    Comforter
    Commandments
    Commentary
    Communion
    Community
    Compassion
    Complete
    Condemnation
    Confess
    Confession
    Confess Your Sins To One Another
    Confident
    Conform
    Conformed
    Conqueror
    Conquest
    Consciousness
    Constantly
    Contend For The Faith
    Content
    Contentment
    Continuously
    Copper
    Copper Toxicity
    Cord
    Cornerstone
    Courage
    Courts
    Covenant
    Cover
    Covet
    Covid
    Created
    Create In Me A Clean Heart
    Creation
    Creation Declares The Glory Of God
    Creator
    Crocodile
    Crop
    Crown Of Life
    Crowns
    Crucifixion
    Cry Out To God
    Culture
    Cup
    Cup Of Blood
    Cup Of Wrath
    Curse
    Curses
    Curses To Blessings
    Cutting A Covenant
    Cyrus
    Daniel
    Dark
    Darkness
    David
    Davidic Covenant
    Davidic Line
    Day Of Atonement
    Day Of Fire
    Day Of Judgment
    Day Of Wrath
    Deacon
    Dead
    Dead To The Law
    Death
    Deborah
    Decapolis
    Deceiver
    Decieved
    Deciever
    Deed
    Defend The Gospel
    Defile
    Defined
    Definition
    Delight
    Deliverer
    Demetrius
    Demon
    Demons
    Denial
    Denied
    Denise Hogan
    Deny
    Dependance
    Desires Of The Flesh
    Desires Of Your Heart
    Desperate
    Deuteronomy
    Devil
    Devotional
    Devour
    Didymus
    Die For Christ
    Diet
    Dioko
    Dioko Agape
    Diotrephes
    Disagreements
    Disappointment
    Discernment
    Disciple
    Disciples
    Disciple Whom Jesus Loved
    Discipline
    Divergent
    Divorce
    Doeg
    Doers Of The Law
    Does God Punish Evil
    Do Good
    Dominion
    Do Not Be Afraid
    Do Not Be Afraid Of Bad News
    Do Not Despise Prophecies
    Do Not Eat Blood
    Do Not Fear
    Do Not Judge
    Do Not Slander
    Do Not Speak Evil
    Do Not Worry
    Don't Reciprocate The Hate
    Door
    Doubt
    Doubting
    Dove
    Do What Jesus Did
    Dragon
    Draw Near To God
    Drink
    Drink From The Cup
    Drought
    Dung
    Dust
    Dwell
    Dwelling Place
    Eagle
    Eagles Wings
    Earth
    Earthquake
    Easter
    Eat
    Ed
    Edify
    Edom
    Eggs
    Egypt
    Elders
    Elect
    Election
    Eliakam
    Eliakim
    Elijah
    Elisha
    Elohim
    El Roi
    Elsiha
    Emery
    Emmanuel
    Empty Tomb
    Encouragement
    End Times
    Endure
    Enemies
    Enemy
    Enlarge
    Enoch
    Envy
    Eostre
    Ephesians
    Ephesians 3:20
    Ephesus
    Ephod
    Equality
    Equipped
    Equity
    Eric Vaughn Floyd
    Esau
    Eschatology
    Esther
    Eternal Gospel
    Eternal Life
    Eternity
    Ethos
    Eunuchs
    Euphrates
    Evangelism
    Eve
    Every Good And Perfect Thing
    Every Knee Shall Bow Every Tongue Confess
    Evidence
    Evil
    Evil For Good
    Evil-merodach
    Evil One
    Evil Triumphs When Good Men Do Nothing
    Exalt
    Example
    Exercise
    Exhort
    Exiles
    Exodus
    Expanded Consciousness
    Extraordinary Life
    Eye For An Eye
    Ezekiel
    Face Of God
    Faith
    Faithful
    Faith Like A Child
    Faith Not Sight
    Faith Not Works
    Faith Of A Mustard Seed
    Faith Without Works
    Fall
    False
    False Altar
    False Doctrine
    False Prophet
    False Prophets
    False Religion
    False Teachers
    Famine
    Fan Into Flame
    Farmer
    Fasting
    Fat
    Father
    Father God
    Father Of Lies
    Father's Business
    Favor
    Fear
    Feast
    Feast Of Booths
    Feast Of Tabernacles
    Feed
    Feed My Sheep
    Feeling Alone
    Feet
    Fellowship
    Fellow Worker
    Fight The Good Fight
    Filled
    Filthy Rags
    Fire
    First Beast
    Firstborn
    Firstborn Of All Creation
    Firstfruits
    First Sacrifice
    Fish
    Fishing
    Flaming Torch
    Flash Mob
    Flesh
    Flint
    Flood
    Flour And Oil
    Follow
    Follow Christ
    Follow Me
    Food
    Foolish
    Fools
    Forehead
    Foreign
    Forgive
    Forgiven
    Forgiveness
    Forgive One Another
    Forgive Them They Know Not What They Do
    Forgivness
    Forgotten
    Forhead
    Formed
    Forsaken
    For The Joy Of The Lord Is Your Strength
    Fortress
    Fortune Teller
    Forty Days
    Foundation
    Four Blood Moons
    Four Horsemen
    Four Living Creatures
    Fourteen Years
    Fragrance
    Frank Miller
    Freedom
    Freedom In Christ
    Friend
    Friend Of God
    Friendship
    Fringe
    Frogs
    From The Sea
    Fruit
    Fruit Of The Spirit
    Fruit Of The Sprit
    Fulfilled
    Full
    Future
    Gad
    Gaius
    Galatians
    Garden
    Garment
    Gehazi
    Generational Curse
    Generations
    Generous
    Genesis
    Genesis 50:20
    Genuine
    George Floyd
    Gethsemane
    Ghost
    Giant
    Giants
    Gift
    Gifts
    Gifts Of The Spirit
    G.I. Joe
    Gilgal
    Give
    Giving
    Glad
    Glorify
    Glory
    Glory Of God
    Glory Of The Lord
    Glory To Glory
    Glynda Gordon
    God
    God Almighty
    God Cares
    God Comes To Us
    God Disciplines Those He Loves
    God Doesn't Need
    God Doesn't Want Any To Perish
    God Hears
    God Hears Prayer
    God Hides His Face
    God Is Good
    God Is Light
    God Is Love
    God Is One
    God Is Peace
    God Is With Us
    God Is With You
    God Knows You
    God Loves You
    God Of Angel Armies
    God Of Hosts
    God Of Truth
    Gods
    God's Glory
    God's Image
    God's Law
    God's Nature
    God's Rest
    God's Ways Are Higher
    God's Will
    God Wants Everyone To Be Saved
    God Wants Good For You
    God Will Never Forsake You
    God With Us
    God Won't Give You More Than You Can Handle
    God Works All Things
    Gog
    Golden Calf
    Goliath
    Gomorrah
    Gone With The Wind
    Good
    Good Shepherd
    Good Works
    Gospel
    Gospel According To Shopping
    Government
    Grace
    Grace Is Sufficient
    Gracious
    Grain Offering
    Great Commission
    Greater Works
    Greatest Commandment
    Great Tribulation
    Grief
    Guard
    Guilt
    Guilt Offering
    Hades
    Hagar
    Ham
    Haman
    Hand Him Over To Satan
    Hanged On A Tree
    Hanukkah
    Hanun
    Happiness
    Happy
    Harry Rubi
    Harvest
    Hate
    Haters
    Hazael
    Head Of The Body
    Healer
    Healing
    Heart
    Heart Of Flesh
    Heart Of Spirit
    Heart Of Stone
    Heaven
    Heavens Declare The Glory Of God
    Hebrews
    Hebrews 13:5
    Hebrews 4:12
    He First Loved Us
    Heirs
    Hell
    Help
    Helper
    Heman The Ezrahite
    Hero
    Herod
    Heroes
    He Who Began A Good Work
    Hezekiah
    Hidden In The Shadow Of Your Wing
    Hidden Manna
    Hide My Face
    Hides His Face
    High Priest
    High Priestly Prayer
    Hold Your Peace
    Holiness
    Holy
    Holy City
    Holy Hill
    Holy One
    Holy Spirit
    Home
    Homosexual
    Honey
    Honor
    Honor Your Mother And Father
    Hope
    Hope Deferred
    Hopeless
    Horn
    Horn Of Salvation
    Horns Of The Altar
    Hosea 6:6
    House
    House Of David
    House Of God
    How Deep Were The Waters Of The Flood?
    How Do I Please God
    How Majestic Is Your Name
    How To Pray
    Humble
    Humilation
    Humility
    Humilty
    Hunger
    Husbands
    I AM
    I Am Statements Of Jesus
    I Am The Way
    I Can Do All Things
    Identity In Christ
    Idle
    Idleness
    Idolatry
    Idols
    If God Is For Us
    If You Were Arrested For Being A Christian Would There Be Enough Evidence To Convict You?”
    Ignorance
    Image Of Christ
    Image Of God
    Image Of Invisible God
    Image Of The Beast
    Imitate God
    Imitate Jesus
    Imitate Me
    Impartiality
    Imperishable
    Incense
    Indwell
    Inheritance
    In Jesus Name
    Injustice
    In My Name
    Inner
    Insomnia
    In Spirit And In Truth
    Intercessor
    In The World
    In The World Not Of It
    In The World Not Of The World
    Intimacy
    Invisible
    Invitation
    Isaac
    Isaiah
    Isaiah 55:11
    Isaiah 61:1 3
    Isaiah 61:1-3
    Ish-bosheth
    Ishmael
    Israel
    Issachar
    Is The LORD The Only God
    I-theism
    It Is Finsihed
    It's Not Fair
    Jabez
    Jael
    James
    James 3:1
    James 4:8
    Japheth
    Jars Of Clay
    Jealous
    Jean Piaget
    Jehoachin
    Jehoahaz
    Jehoash
    Jehoiada
    Jehoiakim
    Jehoram
    Jehoshaphat
    Jehosheba
    Jehovah
    Jehu
    Jeoahaz
    Jeremiah 29:11
    Jericho
    Jeroboam
    Jerusalem
    Jesus
    Jesus Calls You Friend
    Jesus Christ
    Jesus Is God
    Jesus Is Lord
    Jesus Is The Armor Of God
    Jesus Is The Life
    Jesus Is The Same Yesterday Today And Forever
    Jesus Is The Truth
    Jesus Is The Way
    Jesus Is The Word Of God
    Jesus Loves You
    Jesus Name
    Jesus' Name
    Jesus' Sake
    Jesus Slept
    Jewish Baptism
    Jezebel
    Jim Barringer
    Joab
    Joah
    Joash
    Job
    Joel
    John
    John 14:12
    John 15:12
    John 16:33
    John 3:16
    John 8:12
    John Hagee
    John Reeve
    John The Baptist
    Jonah
    Jonathan
    Joram
    Jordan
    Joseph
    Joseph Of Arimethea
    Joshua
    Josiah
    Joy
    Jubilee
    Judah
    Judas
    Jude
    Judge
    Judgement
    Judges
    Judge With Right Judgment
    Judgment
    Judgment Day
    Just
    Justice
    Kab
    Key
    Kill
    Kindness
    King
    Kingdom
    Kingdom Of God
    Kingdom Of Heaven
    King Of Kings
    Kings
    Kings And Queens
    Knock
    Knock And The Door Will Be Opened
    Know God
    Knowing Is Half The Battle
    Knowledge
    Kosher
    Lake Of Fire
    Lamb
    Lamb Of God
    Lamech
    Lamp
    Lampstand
    Land
    Language
    Lani Campbell
    Laodicea
    Last Day
    Last Hour
    Last Woe
    Law
    Law Brings Sin
    Law Of Christ
    Lazarus
    Laziness
    Leader
    Leaven
    Legalism
    Legion
    Legs
    Leprosy
    Let It Go
    Let My Mouth Speak The Glory Of God
    Levi
    Leviticus
    Liar
    Libertarian
    Liberty
    Lie
    Lies
    Life
    Life Abundantly
    Life After Death
    Life Of Worship
    Light
    Lighthouse
    Light Of The World
    Lion
    Lioness
    Lion Of Judah
    Listen
    Live And Let Die
    Live And Let Live
    Live For Christ
    Live Out Loud
    Living Sacrifice
    Living Water
    Locust
    Lodowick Muggleton
    Logos
    Lois And Eunice
    Loosed In Heaven
    Lord
    Lord Of Hosts
    Lord Of Lords
    Lord's Name
    Lord's Name In Vain
    Lord's Prayer
    Lord's Supper
    Lost
    Lot
    Love
    Love Abound
    Love Covers A Multitude Of Sins
    Love Feast
    Love In Action
    Love In Truth
    Love One Another
    Love One Another As Jesus Loved
    Love Others As Jesus Loves You
    Love Out Loud
    Love The Lord With All Your Heart Soul Mind And Strength
    Love Those Who Persecute
    Love Your Brother
    Love Your Enemies
    Love Your Neighbor
    Luke
    Lukewarm
    Magog
    Majestic
    Makarios
    Make
    Malachi
    Malachi 3:10
    Male Child
    Man
    Manasseh
    Manifest
    Manna
    Manslaughter
    Manure
    Mark
    Mark Of The Beast
    Marks Of A Christian
    Marriage
    Martha
    Martyrs
    Mary
    Mary And Martha
    Mary Magdalene
    Mask
    Maskil
    Mattaniah
    Matthew
    Matthew 18 Church Politics
    Matthew 5:1 12
    Matthew 5:1-12
    Matthew 6:33
    Mature
    Maturity
    May His Face Shine Upon Us
    Meal
    Meat
    Mediator
    Meditate
    Meditation
    Medium
    Meek
    Melchizedek
    Members Of One Another
    Memorial
    Memorial Offering
    Menorah
    Menses
    Mephibosheth
    Merciful
    Mercy
    Mercy Seat
    Merri Trifiro
    Messiah
    Messianic Prophecy
    Mezuzzah
    Micaiah
    Michal
    Might
    Mighty Angel
    Miktam
    Mind
    Mindfulness
    Mind Of Christ
    Ministry
    Miracles
    Miriam
    Mishael And Elzaphan
    Mission
    Missionaries
    Moab
    Moabites
    Moabites And The Ammonites.
    Money
    Mordecai
    More And More
    More Than Conquerors
    Mormon
    Morning
    Morning Star
    Moses
    Mother Ann Lee
    Mother Of Prostitutes And Of Earth's Abominations
    Mount Horeb
    Mount Seir
    Mount Zion
    Mourn
    Mourning
    Muggletonians
    Murder
    Mute
    My Father's House
    Mystery
    Mystery Of Christ
    Mystery Of God
    Mystery Of Godliness
    Mystery Of The Gospel
    Mysticism
    Naaman
    Nabal
    Naboth
    Nadab And Abihu
    Name
    Names Of God
    Naphtali
    Nathan
    Nathaniel
    Nation
    Nations
    Natural Disasters
    Nature
    Nature Of Christ
    Nebuchadnezzar
    Necromancer
    Negative
    Neighbor
    Never Go Hungry
    New Creation
    New Earth
    New Heart
    New Heaven
    New Identity
    New Jerusalem
    New Life
    New Name
    New Self
    New Song
    New-spirit
    Nicodemus
    No
    Noah
    Nob
    No Broken Bones
    No Condemnation
    No Sin In Christ
    No Tears In Heaven
    Nothing Can Separate You From The Love Of God
    Nothing Is Impossible For God
    Nothing Is Sin
    Not Iscariot
    Not Just My Mout
    Now You Know
    Number Of His Name
    Oath
    Obadiah
    Obama
    Obedience
    Obey
    Obey In Marriage
    October 21st 2015
    Offend
    Offering
    Offerings
    O God
    Oholah
    Oholibah
    Oil
    Oil Of Gladness
    Older
    Olive Trees
    Omnipresent
    On Account Of My Name
    One Another
    One Body
    One Faith
    One God
    One God Three Persons
    One Gospel
    One Lord
    Oneness
    One Spirit
    One Truth
    One With God
    Outdo One Another In Showing Honor
    Overcome
    Overcomer
    Pads
    Paganism
    Pain
    Palm
    Palm Sunday
    Parable
    Parable Of The Talents
    Parapet
    Partiality
    Partners
    Passion
    Passion Week
    Passover
    Past
    Pastor
    Patience
    Paul
    Peace
    Peacemakers
    Peace Offering
    Peace Of God
    Peace Which Surpasses Understanding
    Peace With God
    Pearls Before Swine
    Peculiar
    Peculiar People
    Peirced
    Penn Jillette
    Pentecost
    Perfect
    Perfected
    Perfect Love Casts Out Fear
    Perfume
    Persecuted
    Persecution
    Perseverence
    Perspective
    Pestilence
    Peter
    Pharaoh
    Pharisees
    Philemon
    Philippians
    Philippians 3:20
    Philippians 4:13
    Philippians 4:7
    Phillip
    Philosophy
    Pierced
    Pigs
    Pilate
    Pillar
    Plan
    Plans
    Poison
    Polycarp
    Poop
    Poor
    Poor In Spirit
    Portent
    Positive
    Possible
    Pour Out His Spirit
    Power
    Power In Their Mouths
    Power In Their Tails
    Praise
    Pray
    Pray Continuously
    Prayer
    Prayer Of A Righteous Man
    Prayer Of A Righteous Person
    Pray For Kings Presidents Rulers
    Pray For Those
    Pray Watchfully
    Pray Without Ceasing
    Preach
    Preach The Gospel
    Predestined
    Prejudice
    Prepared
    Presence
    Pride
    Priest
    Priesthood
    Priests
    Priests At Nob
    Prince
    Prince Of The Power Of The Air
    Prison
    Prisoner
    Prisoners Of War
    Private
    Problems
    Prohibition
    Promise
    Promised Land
    Promises
    Proof
    Prophecy
    Prophesy
    Prophet
    Propitiation
    Propser
    Prosperity
    Prostitute
    Protect
    Protector
    Proverbs
    Provision
    Prowling Lion
    Prune
    Pruning
    Psalm
    Psalm 119
    Psalm 23
    Psalm 34:8
    Psalm 37:4
    Psalm 91
    Psalms
    Psychic
    Punish
    Pure
    Pure In Heart
    Pure Of Heart
    Purity
    Purple
    Purpose
    Pursue
    Pursue Love
    Put Off Your Old Self
    Put On Christ
    Quarrels
    Queen
    Queen Of Sheba
    Quiet
    Rabbit
    Racism
    Radical
    Rain
    Raise From The Dead
    Rape
    Read
    Reap
    Receive
    Receiving
    Reconcile
    Redeemer
    Redemption
    Reflect
    Reflection
    Refuge
    Rehoboam
    Rejoice
    Rejoice In Suffering
    Relationship
    Religion
    Remain Silent And Be Thought A Fool
    Remember
    Render Unto Caesar
    Renewed
    Repent
    Resist
    Resist The Devil
    Ressurected
    Ressurection
    Rest
    Restoration
    Resurrected
    Resurrection
    Revelation
    Revenge
    Rich
    Richard Ruiz
    Riches
    Rich Young Ruler
    Rider On A Black Horse
    Rider On A Pale Horse
    Rider On A Red Horse
    Righteous
    Righteous Deeds
    Righteousness
    River Of Life
    Rivers Of Living Water
    Roaring Lion
    Rob
    Robbery
    Robe
    Robert Gordon
    Rock
    Rod And Staff
    Roman Road To Salvation
    Romans
    Romans 8:1
    Romans 8:28 29
    Romans 8:28-29
    Royal
    Royal Priesthood
    Ruth
    Sabaoth
    Sabbath
    Sabbatical Year
    Sacrifice
    Salt
    Salt And Light
    Salt Of The Earth
    Salvation
    Samaria
    Samaritan
    Samuel
    Sanctification
    Sanctified
    Sanhedrin
    Santa Claus
    Sarah
    Sarai
    Sardis
    Satan
    Saul
    Saved
    Saved By Christ
    Saved By Grace
    Saved By Jesus' Work Not Yours
    Savior
    Sayings
    Say No
    Scarlet
    Scoffers
    Scorching Sun
    Scripture
    Scroll
    Seal
    Sealed
    Sea Of Cast Metal
    Search Me
    Seasoned With Grace
    Second Beast
    Second Coming
    Security
    Seed
    See God
    Seek
    Seek And You Will Find
    Seek First The Kingdom Of God
    Seek God
    Self Control
    Self-control
    Self-discipline
    Self Righteous
    Self-sufficient
    Semen
    Separate
    Separated From God
    Seperate
    September 27th 2015
    Sermon On The Mount
    Serpent
    Serpent's Stone
    Servant
    Serve
    Seth
    Seven
    Seven Bowls
    Seven Plagues
    Seven Spirits
    Seven Stars
    Seventh Seal
    Seventh Trumpet
    Seven Thunders
    Seven Years
    Sex
    Sexual Immorality
    Shadow Of Your Wings
    Shakers
    Shame
    Shammah
    Share Your Faith
    She Bear
    Shebna
    Sheep
    Shem
    Sheol
    Shepherd
    Shield
    Shield Of Faith
    Shofar
    Shout
    Showbread
    Shulammite
    Shunammite
    Signs
    Silence
    Silent
    Simon
    Simon The Magician
    Simple Truth
    Sin
    Sinless
    Sin Nature
    Sin No More
    Sin Offering
    Sins
    Sin That Leads To Death
    Sister
    Sixth Trumpet
    Slave
    Slavery
    Smoking Pot
    Smyrna
    Snatch From Hell
    Sodom
    Soldier
    Soldiers
    Solid Food
    Solomon
    Son
    Song Of Moses
    Son Of God
    Sons
    Sons Andd Daughters
    Sons Of God
    Sons Of Korah
    Sons Of The Prophets
    Sons Of Thunder
    Sons Pay For Father's Sin
    Soon
    Sores
    Sorrow
    Sound Doctrine
    Sound Mind
    Soup
    Sour Grapes
    Sovereign
    Sow
    Speak And Remove All Doubt
    Speak Evil
    Spirit
    Spirit Filled
    Spirit Of Courage
    Spirit Of Fear
    Spirit Of God
    Spirit Of Life
    Spirit Of Power
    Spirit Of Truth
    Spiritual Gifts
    Spirituality
    Spiritual Milk
    Spiritual Warfare
    Stand
    Stand Fast
    Stands At The Door And Knocks
    Starvation
    Stay Awake
    Steadfast
    Steadfastness
    Stealing
    Stew
    Stewardship
    Storm
    Straight And Narrow
    Strait And Narrow
    Strength
    Strong
    Stronghold
    Struggles
    Stumbling Block
    Submission
    Submit
    Submit To One Another
    Such A Time As This
    Suffer
    Suffering
    Suffering Produces Character
    Suicide
    Sunday
    Supernatural
    Support
    Sustainer
    Swear
    Sword
    Sword Of The Spirit
    Syria
    Tabernacle
    Tamar
    Tampons
    Tarot
    Tassels
    Taste And See That The Lord Is Good
    Teacher
    Teachers
    Teaching
    Tears In Heaven
    Tempation
    Temple Of God
    Temptation
    Ten Commandments
    Ten Nations
    Tent
    Ten Tribes
    Ten Virgins
    Test
    Testimony
    Testing
    Thanksgiving
    Thanksgivng
    The Day Of The Lord
    The Devil Prowls Like A Roaring Lion
    The Devil Wears Prada
    The End
    The Enemy
    The Eye Is The Lamp Of The Body
    The Fool Says
    The God Who Sees Me
    The Joy Of The Lord
    The Lamb Is The Lamp
    The Lord Is Our Righteousness
    The Lord Is There
    The Love Of Money
    The Love Of Money Is A Root Of All Kinds Of Evils
    The Love Of Money Is The Root Of All Kinds Of Evil
    There Is A Time
    "There Is No God."
    The Rider On A White Horse
    The Testimony Of Jesus Is The Spirit Of Prophecy
    The Truth
    The Truth Will Set You Free
    The Way
    The World Will Hate You
    Thief In The Night
    Thirst
    Thomas
    Thoughts
    Thousand Generations
    Thousand Years
    Thou Shalt Not Covet
    Three
    Three Fold
    Three-Fold
    Throne Of God
    Through Him Who Strengthens Me
    Time
    Time Alone
    Timothy
    Tithe
    Titus
    Tolerance
    Tomb
    Tongue
    Tongues
    To The Third And Fourth Generaton
    Traits Of God
    Trample The Enemy
    Transform
    Transformation
    Transparent
    Treason
    Treasure
    Treasure In Heaven
    Tree
    Tree Of Knowledge Of Good And Evil
    Tree Of Life
    Trial
    Trials
    Tribulation
    Tribulations
    Trinity
    Trip
    Triumphant
    Triumphant Entry
    Troubles
    True
    True Beauty
    True Vine
    Trumpet
    Trust
    Truth
    Tsid-Kenu
    Turn The Other Cheek
    TV
    Twin
    Two Edged Sword
    Two Horns Like A Lamb
    Two Or Three Witnesses
    Two Witnesses
    Type Of Christ
    Tyrant
    Unclean
    Undefiled
    Unequally Yoked
    Unfading
    Unfair
    Union
    United
    Unity
    Universe
    Unleavened
    Unrepentant
    Unseen
    Uriah
    Uzza
    Uzzah
    Uzziah
    Valley Of Bones
    Vanessa Giorgi
    Vashti
    Veil
    Vengeance
    Vengeance Is Mine
    Veruca Salt
    Very Present Help
    Vessels
    Victory
    Video
    Vindicate
    Vindication
    Vine
    Vinedresser
    Vineyard
    Vipers
    Vow
    Vows
    Wages Of Sin Is Death
    Wait
    Walk
    Walk According To The Spirit
    Walk In The Light
    Walk In Truth
    Walk On Water
    War
    Warrior King
    Wash
    Washed By The Blood
    Watchful
    Water
    Water Of Life
    Way
    Weak
    Weaker Vessel
    Wealth
    Weary
    Weather
    Wedding
    Wedding Feast
    Wedding Garment
    Weeping
    Well With You
    Were There Blood Sacrifices Before Abraham
    What Does God Want
    What Does Seven Mean In The Bible
    What Does Three Mean In The Bible
    What Is God's Will?
    What Is The Will Of God?
    What's Down In The Well
    Wheat And Chaff
    Wheat And Tares
    Wheat And Weeds
    When God Says No
    Where Grace Abounds
    Where Two Or Three Are Gathered
    While We Were Still Sinners
    Whisper
    White
    Whitewash
    White Wash
    Who Can Be Against Us
    Whoever Believes In Me
    Who Is God
    Who Opens And No One Will Shut
    Whore
    Why
    Why Did Noah Take 7 Pairs Of Clean Animals On The Ark?
    Why Does God Let Bad Things Happen
    Why Do Evil Men Prosper
    Widow
    Widows
    Widows And Orphans
    Wife
    Wilderness
    Will
    Wind
    Windex
    Wine
    Winepress
    Wisdom
    Witch Of En-dor
    Withdraw
    Witness
    Wives
    Wives Submit To Your Husbands
    Woe
    Woman
    Wood
    Word
    Word Is A Lamp
    Word Of God
    Words
    Workmanship
    Works
    Works Of The Flesh
    World
    Worries
    Worship
    Worship In Spirit And In Truth
    Worthy
    Wounds
    Wrarfare
    Wrath
    Wrath Of The Lamb
    Xerxes
    Year Of Jubilee
    Year Of The Sabbath
    Yeast
    Yes
    Yoke
    YOLO
    Young
    Zeal
    Zebulun
    Zedekiah
    Zephaniah
    Ziba
    Zion
    Zoltar

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.