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The Battlefield of the Mind: Fighting the War

10/23/2017

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Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.  Philippians 4:8
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. Philippians 4:8
​I’m taking a small detour from our current study of Romans to study where God has been leading me lately and to explore what He is saying to me. I know if He has something important to say to me, it could be significant for you as well, my cherished family. I believe, at least it is true for me that much of the battle I fight is in the mind. It is in my mind that I fight to stay on this path following Jesus and not my own flesh. It is in my mind that I fight to maintain my identity in Christ and not fall victim to the lies about who I’ve believed myself to be, was told I am, and who I used to be. So, let’s begin by reading Philippians 4:8-9
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. 9 What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.
What are the thoughts you are meditating on? What is the mantra you repeat as you walk? What are the ideas vacillating in your head? Are you concerned with how to feed your family, how to pay the electricity bill, where the rent will come from? Are those thoughts consistent with what God says we ought to think about? Are they true? They may feel that way, but Cherished, they are not true. Jesus said, “Why do you worry about these things? Look at the birds and the flowers. They don’t lift a finger to meet their needs and God takes care of them. How much more does He love you and how much more will He take care of you? People who don’t know God worry about all that.  Your Father knows what you need. You can trust Him to take care of you. All you need to do is seek His Kingdom and Righteousness first, all those other things will be given to you.” (Paraphrased Matthew 6:25-34).
What is it you are spending your time thinking about and focusing on? Give it the litmus test. Is it true? Is it honorable? Is it just? Is it pure, lovely, or commendable? Is there excellence in it? Is it worthy of praise? If yes, then think about it. If yes meditate on it but of not, then toss that thought out and choose something that is. What can your “go to” thought be about then? What or who answers a yes to every single question in the verse? The Lord. Jesus is true, in fact He is The Truth and the Way (John 14:6). Jesus is honorable as Revelation 4:11 says
Worthy are you, our Lord and God,
    to receive glory and honor and power,
for you created all things,
    and by your will they existed and were created.

He is just! Deuteronomy 32:4 says,
The Rock, his work is perfect,
    for all his ways are justice.
A God of faithfulness and without iniquity,
    just and upright is he.

He is pure (1 John 3:3). And oh, Jesus is lovely! He is love (1 John 4:8), and that love is an attractive attribute calling people to recognize Him and come to Him 1 John 4:7-12 in The Message reads,
My beloved friends, let us continue to love each other since love comes from God. Everyone who loves is born of God and experiences a relationship with God. The person who refuses to love doesn’t know the first thing about God, because God is love—so you can’t know him if you don’t love. This is how God showed his love for us: God sent his only Son into the world so we might live through him. This is the kind of love we are talking about—not that we once upon a time loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to clear away our sins and the damage they’ve done to our relationship with God.
11-12 My dear, dear friends, if God loved us like this, we certainly ought to love each other. No one has seen God, ever. But if we love one another, God dwells deeply within us, and his love becomes complete in us—perfect love!
That is excellence! He is superior to all, anything, and everyone. Psalm 145:1-3 says it this way,
I will extol you, my God and King,
    and bless your name forever and ever.
2 Every day I will bless you
    and praise your name forever and ever.
3 Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised,
    and his greatness is unsearchable.

So, God, our Father, the Son, and His Holy Spirit is worthy of your thoughts and meditation. Think on these things. Also, what we know, we can, and should think about, what we are encouraged to think about that answers yes to our questions is the Word of God. The Word of God is Jesus and also God’s proclamations, scripture which like Jesus is God’s will manifested and demonstrated for us. He put His will on paper for us and it is alive and purposeful (Hebrews 4:12). Look back at Philippians 4:9. “What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.” We learn and receive and hear by the word of Christ (Romans 10:17). That word often comes through one another as we walk this path together. Colossians 3:16-17 reads,
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Yes, the battle often takes place in the mind and we are told to guard it, to not allow the fight to take place there. Proverbs 4:20-27 has this to say,
My son, be attentive to my words;
    incline your ear to my sayings.
21 Let them not escape from your sight;
    keep them within your heart.
22 For they are life to those who find them,
    and healing to all thei] flesh.
23 Keep your heart with all vigilance,
    for from it flow the springs of life.
24 Put away from you crooked speech,
    and put devious talk far from you.
25 Let your eyes look directly forward,
    and your gaze be straight before you.
26 Ponder the path of your feet;
    then all your ways will be sure.
27 Do not swerve to the right or to the left;
    turn your foot away from evil.

And going back to Philippians 4 the verses just prior to the where we began remind us, it is not we but He who does the guarding as we meditate or rejoice on the things of God, turning our worries to prayer, praise, and thanksgiving. Philippians 4:4-7 read,
Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. 5 Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; 6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Be aware of your thought life, it can and will affect your actions, walk, and growth. In Luke 6:45, Jesus said,
The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.
Are your thoughts not in alignment with Philippians 4:8? Pray. Praise God. Thank Him. Turn your mind to Him. Do not let your thoughts run away and put turmoil into your heart; take your thoughts captive to obey Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5).
Much of the battle takes place in the mind, and it is very real. But that is nothing for you to be afraid of, Cherished. Ephesians 6:17 give you a defensive and offensive weapon for the fight, “the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” Jesus does not leave you alone for the fight. Isaiah 59:16-17 describe Jesus living, interceding and fighting for you.
He saw that there was no man,
    and wondered that there was no one to intercede;
then his own arm brought him salvation,
    and his righteousness upheld him.
17 He put on righteousness as a breastplate,
    and a helmet of salvation on his head;
he put on garments of vengeance for clothing,
    and wrapped himself in zeal as a cloak.

What does it look like for you to fight this battle? Meditating on God’s Word, pursuing God’s kingdom and Righteousness is not a busy thing. God said, “Be still and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10). He said that He would fight for us and we only have to be still. (Exodus 14:14). That doesn’t mean do nothing, it means remember He is God and He has us. It means meditate on Him, know Him, and hear and obey the Word and so be conformed to the image of Christ. James 1:22-25 reads,
But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. 24 For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. 25 But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.
 
Being a doer of the Word does not mean running around doing works to earn God’s favor, it is obedience to His Word, submitting to who He says He is and you are. You already have His favor. He loves you. His gifts, blessings, and salvation are freely given. He does the fighting, the calling, the saving, and the sanctifying. Romans 8:29-39 says it this way,
For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.
31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be[i]against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? 33 Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.35 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.
My Cherished Brothers and Sisters, do not let your thought life go unchecked. Maybe for now, no one can see the devastating effects of your dark mind, but the results will spill out of your mouth and into your life. Take control of those thoughts and obey your Lord. “Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things” Let the God of peace be with you. Let Him exude from you. Let Him transform you. Let Him renew your mind (Romans 12:2).
I will close with this, The greatest commandment and what all the law and prophets depend on is this, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself” (Luke 10:27, Matthew 22:36-40). Therefore, to take control of your thought life and meditate on God, His Word, and the good things in Creation is to love God.
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His Word is not Far Off

6/12/2017

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But the word is very near you. It is in your mouth and in your heart, so that you can do it. Deuteronomy 30:14
But the word is very near you. It is in your mouth and in your heart, so that you can do it. Deuteronomy 30:14
​Believer, I want to encourage you today with this brief reminder.
Deuteronomy 30:9-14 promises
The Lord your God will make you abundantly prosperous in all the work of your hand, in the fruit of your womb and in the fruit of your cattle and in the fruit of your ground. For the Lord will again take delight in prospering you, as he took delight in your fathers, 10 when you obey the voice of the Lord your God, to keep his commandments and his statutes that are written in this Book of the Law, when you turn to the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul.
11 “For this commandment that I command you today is not too hard for you, neither is it far off. 12 It is not in heaven, that you should say, ‘Who will ascend to heaven for us and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it?’13 Neither is it beyond the sea, that you should say, ‘Who will go over the sea for us and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it?’ 14 But the word is very near you. It is in your mouth and in your heart, so that you can do it.”
And Believer Jesus already came to fulfill the Law and the Prophets (Matthew 5:17) He also said all the law hinged on two commandments. Matthew 22:36-40 reads,
“Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” 37 And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. 38 This is the great and first commandment.39 And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. 40 On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”
And as you note in Deuteronomy, that commandment is easy for us because He has already put His word in our mouths and hearts.
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What Do Oil and Lamps Have to do With Jesus Second Coming?

2/7/2017

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In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” Matthew 5:16
In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” Matthew 5:16
​After Jesus told the disciples about the signs of the End Times and the sign that would herald the Great Tribulation, He told this parable in Matthew 25:1-12.
Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. 2 Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. 3 For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, 4 but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. 5 As the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and slept. 6 But at midnight there was a cry, ‘Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’ 7 Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps. 8 And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ 9 But the wise answered, saying, ‘Since there will not be enough for us and for you, go rather to the dealers and buy for yourselves.’ 10 And while they were going to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was shut. 11 Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open to us.’ 12 But he answered, ‘Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.’ 13 Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.
Once again, Jesus advises us to be wise, to be prepared for the Bridegroom, who is Jesus Himself, when He comes. In the prophecy we read about the abomination of desolation, it is the ones who know God, the wise who will stand firm, understand, help others to understand and endure (Daniel 11:32-35).
All ten virgins fell asleep, but the wise virgins could because they were prepared. They had oil for their lamps. They knew to listen for the sound of the shofar which announced the bridegroom’s arrival and when they heard that trumpet sound, they would be awake, with lamps lit, waiting for Him to take them into the wedding feast.
The foolish virgins were not ready with oil for their lamps. They assumed that they had time to get the oil. Perhaps they didn’t look to see that their lamps needed oil. But when it came down to it and the shofar announced the bridegroom was coming, they assumed the wise virgins would give them the oil, they should have gotten for themselves. But the wise virgins couldn’t provide oil for the foolish, it was something the virgins had to purchase for themselves.
Because they waited until after the Bridegroom had announced His coming to go get their oil, they missed the wedding feast, were not allowed to enter, and were informed that He didn’t know them. Jesus ended the parable with the commendation to “watch.”
What does it mean to have oil for our lamps? First we will look at what the lamps represent.  In Revelation Jesus addressed seven actual churches which represented the world-wide church with all our attributes and our deficits. The seven lampstands representing the seven churches surrounded Jesus in John’s Heavenly vision. Revelation 1:12-20 read,
Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking to me, and on turning I saw seven golden lampstands,13 and in the midst of the lampstands one like a son of man, clothed with a long robe and with a golden sash around his chest. 14 The hairs of his head were white, like white wool, like snow. His eyes were like a flame of fire, 15 his feet were like burnished bronze, refined in a furnace, and his voice was like the roar of many waters. 16 In his right hand he held seven stars, from his mouth came a sharp two-edged sword, and his face was like the sun shining in full strength.
17 When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his right hand on me, saying, “Fear not, I am the first and the last, 18 and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades. 19 Write therefore the things that you have seen, those that are and those that are to take place after this. 20 As for the mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand, and the seven golden lampstands, the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.
Lamps and lampstands are the visible church. The light of the lamps (we the church) points to Jesus. The oil represents anointing, the magistracy and ministry, the power and the administration of the power of Jesus. So the oil must be present to shine and let the world see Jesus through His people. In Matthew 5:14-16 Jesus said,
“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.15 Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”
We must shine before men and to shine we need oil, the anointing to glorify God by works, actions, and demonstrations of God’s love, power, and mercy.  We often use the word anointed as a description of being set aside or consecrated, but in truth anointing is oil being poured over someone or something to dedicate it doe a specific job. Isaiah 61:1-3 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.

 
The Lord compares His Holy Spirit to oil. Jesus was anointed by the Holy Spirit on Him to for the magistracy and ministry described in these verses. In Acts chapter 10 Peter preached the Gospel and in verse 38 he spoke about Jesus being anointed with the Holy Spirit, once again comparing Him to oil. Acts 10:37-38 says,
 you yourselves know what happened throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee after the baptism that John proclaimed: 38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.
 
Having oil in our lamps, being “saved” and “having” the Holy Spirit is not enough, the wise virgins trimmed their wicks, they lit their lamps so that the oil burned and the lamps shone. We have to be anointed with the Holy Spirit, (meaning baptized in Him) and manifesting His fruit and His gifts. He gave us gifts to be used in magistracy (that is power) and ministry (that is administering and using that power to glorify God). We are magistrates, administrators of power and ministers, agents of power. This idea is reflected in Peter’s encouragement to the church in 1 Peter 4:7-11
The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers. 8 Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. 9 Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. 10 As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace: 11 whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
Joel 2 talks about how the Holy Spirit will be poured out in those days. His activity, His works will be increasingly seen as we, the church light our filled lamps and use His gifts to glorify God. Joel 2:27-32 reads,
You shall know that I am in the midst of Israel,
    and that I am the Lord your God and there is none else.
And my people shall never again be put to shame.

28 “And it shall come to pass afterward,
    that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh;
your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
    your old men shall dream dreams,
    and your young men shall see visions.
29 Even on the male and female servants
    in those days I will pour out my Spirit.

30 “And I will show wonders in the heavens and on the earth, blood and fire and columns of smoke. 31 The sun shall be turned to darkness, and the moon to blood, before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes. 32 And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved. For in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be those who escape, as the Lord has said, and among the survivors shall be those whom the Lord calls.
We can see this beginning to happen now and His activity through His sons and daughters, old, young, male, female, poor, and rich. We are the light of the world and we are meant to shine. Shining requires the oil of the Holy Spirit.
We will study more about the increase of the Holy Spirit as He pours Himself out over this generation. Today, examine your life. Is the Holy Spirit plainly evident in your life? What is your gift and are you using it for God’s glory? If not, don’t be surprised that you don’t know God the way others do, after all if your lamp isn’t filled with oil and shining, Jesus doesn’t know you.
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Will You Recognize the Season of the End Times?

1/31/2017

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 “From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts out its leaves, you know that summer is near. So also, when you see all these things, you know that He is near, at the very gates. Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.” Matthew 24:32-35
“From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts out its leaves, you know that summer is near. So also, when you see all these things, you know that He is near, at the very gates. Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.” Matthew 24:32-35
​I am so excited to begin this series to help us each to understand the End Times more clearly and fearlessly as prophesied in the Scriptures, God’s Word. Some of us look to the end times with hope and proper fear of the LORD, others look to that time with great fear of what they do not understand. Some of us think God is taking too long and we long for it now. But remember, God has a reason for His timing and a reason He wants us to understand His plan.  2 Peter 3:1-10 reads,
This is now the second letter that I am writing to you, beloved. In both of them I am stirring up your sincere mind by way of reminder,2 that you should remember the predictions of the holy prophets and the commandment of the Lord and Savior through your apostles, 3 knowing this first of all, that scoffers will come in the last days with scoffing, following their own sinful desires. 4 They will say, “Where is the promise of his coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things are continuing as they were from the beginning of creation.” 5 For they deliberately overlook this fact, that the heavens existed long ago, and the earth was formed out of water and through water by the word of God, 6 and that by means of these the world that then existed was deluged with water and perished. 7 But by the same word the heavens and earth that now exist are stored up for fire, being kept until the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly.
8 But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 9 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. 10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed.
 
There are hundreds of places I could start but after prayer I have chosen to start with Jesus teaching the disciples about those days. In Matthew 24 Jesus is speaking with the twelve. Verses 3-8 read,
“As he sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?” 4 And Jesus answered them, “See that no one leads you astray. 5 For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will lead many astray. 6 And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet. 7 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these are but the beginning of the birth pains.”
So, first Jesus warns “For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will lead many astray.”
I pray we won’t be like the Jewish leaders, most of the Pharisees, Sadducees, scribes, lawyers, and priests of Jesus’ day. Though, they had and knew scripture, they missed recognizing Jesus. Though, some knew it was Him, they rejected the idea because of their pride. They worshiped the Law not the God who made the Law. We must know who Jesus is to recognize Him when He returns. We already know that when He returns it will not be as a man wandering the desert, or organizing a group to gather on a mountain as some have done and others believed. No! He will return in the clouds, in glory! He will be unmistakable. In verses 23-27 Jesus explains it,
Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There he is!’ do not believe it. 24 For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect. 25 See, I have told you beforehand. 26 So, if they say to you, ‘Look, he is in the wilderness,’ do not go out. If they say, ‘Look, he is in the inner rooms,’ do not believe it. 27 For as the lightning comes from the east and shines as far as the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.
Mark 13:24-27 describes it this way,
 “But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, 25 and the stars will be falling from heaven, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken. 26 And then they will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory.27 And then he will send out the angels and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven.”
John described Jesus’ return in Revelation 1:4-8
John to the seven churches that are in Asia:
Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne, 5 and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth.
To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood 6 and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. 7 Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him. Even so. Amen.
8 “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the LORD God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”
When Jesus returns, there will be no mistaking Him, but it will be too late for those who have not chosen to accept His redemption; payment will be due. Each person will either pay for his sins with his own blood and eternal death where there is, as Jesus described, weeping and gnashing of teeth (Luke 13:28, Mtt 8:12, Mtt 13:42 and 50, Mtt 22:13,Mtt 24:51, Mtt 25:30) or he will have accepted Jesus blood payment and receive eternal life, where Jesus will wipe every tear and there will be no pain (Revelation 21:4). So it is important that we understand the truth, recognize the signs that will warn us that the End Times are here and that The Day of the LORD, which is the day when Jesus returns and brings judgement to the nations, is near. If we’re afraid, if we’re ignorant of the facts, or we are passive about the truth, we will miss the chance to bring people to Christ, lead them to understanding and ease their fears about what to expect.
In verses 6-8 of Matthew 24 which we are reading today Jesus gave the next signs to watch for. He said, “And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are but the beginning of the birth pains.” Wars are increasing, rumors that wars will break out are increasing. Just the other day I heard someone say that the U.S. will have to go to war against North Korea if the president passes the laws he wants to pass. That is a rumor of war. Social media, online news services, radio, and television all contribute to this increase in rumor of wars. There are many wars across the globe and that will only increase. This, Jesus says, is not the end yet, it is the beginning of the end, the birth pains. There are more signs.
Persecution of Christians will be grow, Christians will be turned in for following Christ, for speaking the truth and spreading the Gospel. Matthew 24:9-14 exhorts Christians to be aware.
Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name's sake. 10 And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. 11 And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. 12 And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. 13 But the one who endures to the end will be saved. 14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.
Many Christians will let the persecution and tribulation cause them to fall away, to give in to false doctrines, follow false prophets, and false teachers. They will betray those who were once considered close friends, brothers, and sisters. Just as Jesus was betrayed by his close friend, Judas before his crucifixion(Psalm 41:9, John 13:18), many Christians will be betrayed and handed over to be imprisoned, tortured, and perhaps killed for their faith. Some will let their love, the demonstration and manifestation of Jesus through His Holy Spirit grow cold because of all the sin in the world. I’ve seen this beginning to happen. The crime, the nearly daily mass shootings such as The Pulse club in Orlando and the Bataclan Theatre in Paris, sex trafficking and drugs cause people to lose their passion for Christ, to look to the world and despair for themselves rather than look to Jesus and cry out for justice for the lost and the victims. When that happens they start considering the doubts the thief puts in their minds, “Why would God do this?” Oh, Dear Mourning Friend, God didn’t do it, broken and sinful man did it. But it’s not all doom and gloom; look at Jesus’ encouragement to us. First, if we persevere, if we do not fall away from faith and give into the pressures of persecution, betrayal, and despair we will be saved. On the Day of the LORD, we will be taken up with Jesus and resurrected if we are sleeping (physically dead but not eternally), and be united with our Bridegroom, Christ Jesus.
What a joy that day will be for us! It is the hope that keeps us able to endure and empowers us to be patient. But my lovely family, we cannot merely consider ourselves, there are so many who are lost, who can’t see the love of God because no one has shown them the love of Christ, helped them hear the call of the Father, or demonstrated to them the beauty of the Holy Spirit. He loves them. And so he also encourages us in Matthew 24:14 as a result of our endurance, salvation, and hope,
And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.
On the Day of the LORD, every knee will bow and every tongue confess Jesus is Lord. But not everyone will be bent and confessing in awe-filled worship; some will be bent in terror and confessing too late as they realize their fate. Listen to the way that the LORD-God describes it to Isaiah in Isaiah 45:22-25.
“Turn to me and be saved,
    all the ends of the earth!
    For I am God, and there is no other.
23 By myself I have sworn;
    from my mouth has gone out in righteousness
    a word that shall not return:
‘To me every knee shall bow,
    every tongue shall swear allegiance.’

24 “Only in the Lord, it shall be said of me,
    are righteousness and strength;
to him shall come and be ashamed
    all who were incensed against him.
25 In the Lord all the offspring of Israel
    shall be justified and shall glory.”

 
In the fourteenth chapter of Paul’s letter to the Romans, verses 7-12 he exhorted them to unity, edification, and support of one another and said,
“For none of us lives to himself, and none of us dies to himself. 8 For if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord's.9 For to this end Christ died and lived again, that he might be Lord both of the dead and of the living.
10 Why do you pass judgment on your brother? Or you, why do you despise your brother? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God; 11 for it is written,
“As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me,
    and every tongue shall confess[to God.”

12 So then each of us will give an account of himself to God.
 
You are responsible for the life you lead. You are responsible for living a life worthy of the high price Jesus paid for it. But you aren’t alone in the world. There are lost waiting to hear the good news of Jesus. There are brothers falling away. There are sisters whose love is growing cold. Is your life a testimony to Jesus? Are you collaborating with God and fulfilling His will that none should perish? We will answer for what we did and what we did not do.
 
There are more warning signs we should learn so that we will recognize the season of the End Times. Though Jesus said, “But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only” (Matthew 24:36). We are commanded to know the season by the signs we have been told about throughout the Bible.  In Matthew 24:32-35 Jesus said,
“From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts out its leaves, you know that summer is near. 33 So also, when you see all these things, you know that he is near, at the very gates. 34 Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place. 35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.”
 
 
We are starting to see the signs come to pass, though not every one of them has yet, it may be that we are the generation or our children or grandchildren, but people, get ready, Jesus is coming!
Matthew 24 includes more signs we will look at tomorrow. Some of these signs are increasing on the earth, some are coming soon. But it is imperative that we understand without fear of the enemy but fear of the LORD as He so lovingly lets us in on His great plan. And Brothers and Sisters, the end is a happy one. Even if the narrative has its ups and downs, the story one of steady hope and enduring love. Do not be afraid, The LORD your God is with you.
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Life of David Part 17: The Curse of Sin Defeated with Forgiveness

9/3/2016

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 Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus, Acts 3:19-20
Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus, Acts 3:19-20
Yesterday we read about David’s sin with Bathsheba, his repentance and his punishment. The Lord forgave David, completely but he still had to deal with the curse (the consequences) of his sin. Our sins do not go without consequences. God forgives and though we must deal with the curse of sin, God will still bless us. The curse cannot overcome or win over God’s blessings, ever.
After David and Bathsheba’s son died, God blessed them by giving them. Solomon 2 Samuel 12:24-25 describes the special love the Lord had for Solomon.
Then David comforted his wife, Bathsheba, and went in to her and lay with her, and she bore a son, and he called his name Solomon. And the Lord loved him 25 and sent a message by Nathan the prophet. So he called his name Jedidiah, because of the LORD.
 
Jedidiah means beloved of the LORD. He was a special blessing for David and Bathsheba after losing their first son. God continued to bless David as He gave him the royal city of Ammon called Rabbah, the Ammonite crown, and eventually all of Ammon. But David’s sin had resulted in a curse 2 Samuel 12:10-12 records that curse.
“Now therefore the sword shall never depart from your house, because you have despised me and have taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your wife.’11 Thus says the Lord, ‘Behold, I will raise up evil against you out of your own house. And I will take your wives before your eyes and give them to your neighbor, and he shall lie with your wives in the sight of this sun. 12 For you did it secretly, but I will do this thing before all Israel and before the sun.’”
Today we see some of that curse come to pass. 2 Samuel 13 records the tale of David’s son Amnon and his desire for his half-sister Tamar. Amnon’s cousin and close friend Jonadab came up with a plan and carried it out. Amnon pretended to be ill and asked David to send him Tamar to cook for him. She did as her father requested. When she made food for her brother, he refused to eat. He sent everyone out of the house and asked Tamar to feed him in his bedroom. But when she went in to do that, Amnon raped her. His lust became hatred and he sent his sister out of the house to live in shame. Verses 18-22 continue the account.
Now she was wearing a long robe with sleeves, for thus were the virgin daughters of the king dressed. So his servant put her out and bolted the door after her. 19 And Tamar put ashes on her head and tore the long robe that she wore. And she laid her hand on her head and went away, crying aloud as she went.
20 And her brother Absalom said to her, “Has Amnon your brother been with you? Now hold your peace, my sister. He is your brother; do not take this to heart.” So Tamar lived, a desolate woman, in her brother Absalom's house.21 When King David heard of all these things, he was very angry. 22 But Absalom spoke to Amnon neither good nor bad, for Absalom hated Amnon, because he had violated his sister Tamar.
Absalom was angry. He was furious with Amnon but since Amnon was the firstborn son, David would not punish him and so he was angry with his father as well. He repressed his fury as he plotted his revenge. Two years passed and Absalom saw his chance for vengeance. He was having the sheepshearers come and there would be a party to celebrate. He invited his family but David would not consent to having the entire family there. Absalom finally convinced David to let Amnon and the rest of his brothers and half-brothers attend.
When Amnon was drunk, Absalom commanded his servant kill his brother. The rest of his brothers saw it and fled for their lives. Absalom had not been able to kill his father but he had killed the man who raped and shamed his sister.
But the news that reached David was much different. He heard that every one of his sons had been killed. He was in agony, but his nephew Jonadab told him that only Amnon was dead and that Absalom had repaid him for Tamar’s rape. Verses 34-39 resume the story.
But Absalom fled. And the young man who kept the watch lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, many people were coming from the road behind him by the side of the mountain. 35 And Jonadab said to the king, “Behold, the king's sons have come; as your servant said, so it has come about.” 36 And as soon as he had finished speaking, behold, the king's sons came and lifted up their voice and wept. And the king also and all his servants wept very bitterly.
37 But Absalom fled and went to Talmai the son of Ammihud, king of Geshur. And David mourned for his son day after day. 38 So Absalom fled and went to Geshur, and was there three years. 39 And the spirit of the king longed to go out to Absalom, because he was comforted about Amnon, since he was dead.
 
David had lost Amnon and now he had lost Absalom. He longed to reunite with Absalom and tell him he was forgiven, but how could he? Absalom would be killed if he came back to Jerusalem. Joab saw David’s grief-stricken heart and wanted to help him. 2 Samuel 14 picks up the account. Joab got the help of a wise woman and told her to dress and behave like a mourning woman and told her what to say to the king. She told him a story about her two sons, one who killed the other exiled and threatened with death. Verses 11-17 reads,
 Then she said, “Please let the king invoke the Lord your God, that the avenger of blood kill no more, and my son be not destroyed.” He said, “As the Lordlives, not one hair of your son shall fall to the ground.”
12 Then the woman said, “Please let your servant speak a word to my lord the king.” He said, “Speak.” 13 And the woman said, “Why then have you planned such a thing against the people of God? For in giving this decision the king convicts himself, inasmuch as the king does not bring his banished one home again. 14 We must all die; we are like water spilled on the ground, which cannot be gathered up again. But God will not take away life, and he devises means so that the banished one will not remain an outcast. 15 Now I have come to say this to my lord the king because the people have made me afraid, and your servant thought, ‘I will speak to the king; it may be that the king will perform the request of his servant. 16 For the king will hear and deliver his servant from the hand of the man who would destroy me and my son together from the heritage of God.’ 17 And your servant thought, ‘The word of my lord the king will set me at rest,’ for my lord the king is like the angel of God to discern good and evil. The Lord your God be with you!”
She began by reminding David of his power in God. David had the position and right to carry out God’s will and to make judgements and decisions in God’s name. David was moved by her story. He was also a very smart man and recognized Joab in her words and understood he could bring Absalom home again. As God had forgiven David, he could forgive his son as well.
David had to live the curse of his sin but he could overcome it through the LORD. God forgives. And David forgave as well. We have no right to withhold forgiveness from anyone considering all we were forgiven for. In Matthew 6:14-15 Jesus said it this way,
For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
Forgiveness overcomes the curse of sins. Jesus’ blood overcomes all sin and His Resurrection overcame death. We pursue God’s heart, we put on the new self which is the image of Christ and we will experience conquering the curse of our sins with the blessing of salvation in Christ. 1 Corinthians 15:55-58 reads,
When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written:
“Death is swallowed up in victory.”
55 “O death, where is your victory?
    O death, where is your sting?”

56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
58 Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.
So David forgave Absalom and allowed him to come back to Jerusalem, though he was not allowed in the king’s presence. He still owed a debt of blood for Amnon. He himself had never asked for forgiveness or shown remorse for the murder of his brother. But he wanted to be in the household of the king again.
He didn’t want it because he longed to be with his father, he wanted it because he assumed he would been next in line to be king. He was vain and self-obsessed and wanted to live like a prince again. We will continue this thrilling chronicle tomorrow.
Today, remember that sin has consequences; the curse of sin is real. But Jesus overcame sin and death. His forgiveness is our blessing. Sin separated us from God, but forgiveness opens the way for us to be reconciled to Him. Repent, believe, and confess and we become the sons and daughters of the King of kings through the Holy Spirit. Acts 2:38 reads,
And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
​
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God’s Traits Part 5: God’s Righteousness

7/30/2016

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Your righteousness is like the mountains of God; your judgments are like the great deep; man and beast you save, O Lord. Psalm 36:6
Your righteousness is like the mountains of God; your judgments are like the great deep; man and beast you save, O Lord. Psalm 36:6
​God’s Traits Part 5: God’s Righteousness
The righteousness of God is one of the most significant traits of God. It can also one of the most indefinable or difficult to describe. God’s righteousness is not the same as His holiness and different from His goodness. Yet we very often think of the three synonymously. [i] The Old Testament or Hebrew word is צְדָקָה transliterated as tsedaqah and it means “the quality of being morally right or justifiable.” The New Testament word is δικαιοσύνη, ης, ἡ transliterated as dikaiosuné. It means “justice, justness, righteousness, righteousness of which God is the source or author, but practically: a divine righteousness.” The righteousness of God is virtually synonymous with His justice. In fact, sometimes the words are translated as righteousness and others as justice. To say that God is righteous means He always does what it right or just without fail or bias. God is our measure for righteousness because He is righteousness. 1 Samuel 2:2-3 reads,
There is none holy like the Lord:
    for there is none besides you;
    there is no rock like our God.
3 Talk no more so very proudly,
    let not arrogance come from your mouth;
for the Lord is a God of knowledge,
    and by him actions are weighed.

 
About Religion defined Righteousness as “the state of moral perfection required by God to enter heaven.” Well then, we are all doomed! Because we know we fall short of moral perfection. Ecclesiastes 7:20 confirms the bad news.
Surely there is not a righteous man on earth who does good and never sins.
So what is the answer for man? How do we attain righteousness if it impossible for us? Well of course, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” (Matthew 19:26).
 In Paul’s letter to the Romans, he explained how God’s righteousness was available apart from the law. The Law was taken out of the equation for righteousness and instead along with the Prophets, points to the only way to it, Jesus Christ. Paul described it like this in Romans 3:21-26,
But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— 22 the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: 23 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. 26 It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.
What that means is Jesus took all our wrongs and moral shortcomings off of us and put them on himself. He paid the price (death per Romans 6:23) required to settle the debt with God and we were credited with righteousness, moral perfection. Imagine it as shopping. Let’s say you want a necklace called righteousness. You would also like the matching bracelet called eternal life. But your credit isn’t good enough. You have sin on your debit record and that has to be paid for before you can have that necklace. Jesus paid your debt with His blood. Then He gave you His necklace, righteousness as if you had paid for it. Even though you had nothing left, He credited it to your account. On top of that, when Jesus resurrected and conquered death, He gave you the matching bracelet of eternal life. That is the Gospel of Jesus Christ for shopaholics.
It is God’s goodness and His love which moves Him to give us His righteousness.  Let’s explore more about God’s righteousness, how it is revealed and manifested and how it should affect us.
Consider what just means, since as we have learned it is tantamount to righteousness. If a person is just it means he will evaluate situations with all the information from all sides and will judge without partiality based on that information. Psalm 119:137-144 reads,
Righteous are you, O Lord,
    and right are your rules.
138 You have appointed your testimonies in righteousness
    and in all faithfulness.
139 My zeal consumes me,
    because my foes forget your words.
140 Your promise is well tried,
    and your servant loves it.
141 I am small and despised,
    yet I do not forget your precepts.
142 Your righteousness is righteous forever,
    and your law is true.
143 Trouble and anguish have found me out,
    but your commandments are my delight.
144 Your testimonies are righteous forever;
    give me understanding that I may live.

 
This passage has so much to say about righteousness. First, the psalmist shows the connection of righteousness to God’s rules. Everything God does is perfect and comes from His nature of justice. So in wanting to be righteous, a person would follow God’s rules. Although those who do not know God do not even consider God’s words, believers can rejoice in them because we know God’s words, His promises, covenants and rules are perfect and true. God’s righteousness is eternal it will never end and we can rejoice in that.
God does absolutely nothing outside of His righteousness. We may from time to time put our righteousness aside to take a part in some selfishness, pride, or self-righteousness, but our loving perfect God never does. Everything He does is right. We see it in His kindness toward us. There are so many of us crying out to Him all the time. We need Him constantly and He never tires of meeting our needs, saving us, and making us more. Psalm 145:14-20 reads,
The Lord upholds all who are falling
    and raises up all who are bowed down.
15 The eyes of all look to you,
    and you give them their food in due season.
16 You open your hand;
    you satisfy the desire of every living thing.
17 The Lord is righteous in all his ways
    and kind in all his works.

18 The Lord is near to all who call on him,
    to all who call on him in truth.
19 He fulfills the desire of those who fear him;
    he also hears their cry and saves them.
20 The Lord preserves all who love him,
    but all the wicked he will destroy.

 
Why doesn’t our Great and Mighty God get tired of our constant neediness? Because He is Righteous, He is Just. He has all the information. He knows who we are and that we cannot do it without Him. It pleases Him when we grow in the Spirit (Romans 8:8-11). It is His will for us to be spiritually mature (1 Thessalonians 4:3).
His righteousness cannot stand for us to be hurt while the wicked prosper. In our imperfection we want vengeance now, and we call it justice. We want those who hurt us to suffer the consequences thinking it will make us feel better. But God is so righteous that He is giving those who haven’t come to know Him yet, the same chance we had. He is giving them time before He finally judges the earth in His Righteousness. 2 Peter 3:7-10 reads,
But by the same word the heavens and earth that now exist are stored up for fire, being kept until the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly.8 But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 9 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. 10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed.
There are lost out there, imperfect just like you, but they blind to their own imperfection and blind to the salvation that awaits them in Jesus Christ. We don’t have to hope for the day when they will finally pay. One day they will pay and their lives will be exposed or on that day Jesus will pay and their lives will be exposed. You and I then also need to remember that on that day the truth comes out and our lives will be revealed. We will either drink from the cup of wrath or we will drink from the cup of eternal life with Christ. There will be no more wickedness, sin, sadness or death there. Are you living a righteous life or is it more of a self-righteous life? Do you love people enough to trust God? 2 Peter 3:11-13 reads,
Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness, 12 waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set on fire and dissolved, and the heavenly bodies will melt as they burn! 13 But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.
We are told to seek God’s righteousness (Matthew 6:33). That means is not natural for any of us to exhibit that perfect rightness. We are to pursue it for ourselves and for others. God has all the information, He knows everything (Job 37:16, Psalm 147:5). We do not. We can just trust judgement to God and keep pursing His love, His kingdom, and His Righteousness.


[i] Deffinbaugh, B. (2004, May 18). The Righteousness of God. Retrieved from Bible.Org: https://bible.org/seriespage/6-righteousness-god
 
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Traits of God Part 3: He is Always with Us

7/28/2016

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Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you. Deuteronomy 31:6
Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you. Deuteronomy 31:6
 Traits of God Part 3: He is Always with Us
Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you. Deuteronomy 31:6
Have you ever felt alone? I know I have. There are so many times I have felt completely alone, even in the midst of people. I have at times given into the lie that I had no one, but when I choose to listen to the Lord instead of the enemy’s propaganda, He reminded me that He is with me and He will never leave me. He also opened my eyes to show me the people He had placed in my life. How often have I repented for falling for the deception? But even with my consistent sin, God is with me, loving me, transforming me, and holding me. Believer, it is the same for you. You may feel alone, but you are not. You have God in so many wonderful ways and you have the worldwide body of Christ.
As Jesus was about to ascend to Heaven, He gave us an important job, a commission. It is recorded in Matthew 28:18-20.
And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
 
Although He was leaving to return to Heaven, He was not leaving us. He was sending His Spirit to indwell believers and be with us always, to the end of the age. God chose to dwell, to live and stay in you. He loves you. He has made you holy. You belong to Him and He takes that very seriously. 1 Corinthians 3:16-17 reads,
Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you? 17 If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him. For God's temple is holy, and you are that temple.
God fights for you! He is with you and nothing anyone does can make Him leave you. People who do not know love, will try to make you feel as alone as they feel. The enemy will try and make you think you are on your own. Circumstances may make you feel deserted. But it is not true for follower of Jesus. He is always with you and nothing can take you away from Him. Romans 8:37-39 encourages us with the truth.
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.
 
He is not with you passively, just hanging by your side and watching apathetically. He is within you and He is working. He goes before you (Deuteronomy 31:8). He is listening (1 John 5:14). He cares. And He is keeping you safe and protected. In Isaiah 41:8-10 the Lord is speaking to Israel and to the faithful through the ages.
But you, Israel, my servant,
    Jacob, whom I have chosen,
    the offspring of Abraham, my friend;
9 you whom I took from the ends of the earth,
    and called from its farthest corners,
saying to you, “You are my servant,
    I have chosen you and not cast you off”;
10 fear not, for I am with you;
    be not dismayed, for I am your God;
I will strengthen you, I will help you,
    I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

 
The times we are living in are turbulent, chaotic, and might be frightening for some. But as Spirit filled followers of Jesus Christ, we do not have to add to the bedlam. We can have a peace the world cannot understand, that we may not even understand (Philippians 4:4-7). How can we praise God and thank Him in the midst of the mayhem? We can because we know who God is and what He has said and we believe Him. Psalm 46 reads,
God is our refuge and strength,
    a very present help in trouble.
2 Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way,
    though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea,
3 though its waters roar and foam,
    though the mountains tremble at its swelling.   Selah

4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
    the holy habitation of the Most High.
5 God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved;
    God will help her when morning dawns.
6 The nations rage, the kingdoms totter;
    he utters his voice, the earth melts.
7 The Lord of hosts is with us;
    the God of Jacob is our fortress.   Selah

8 Come, behold the works of the Lord,
    how he has brought desolations on the earth.
9 He makes wars cease to the end of the earth;
    he breaks the bow and shatters the spear;
    he burns the chariots with fire.
10 “Be still, and know that I am God.
    I will be exalted among the nations,
    I will be exalted in the earth!”
11 The Lord of hosts is with us;
    the God of Jacob is our fortress.   Selah

 
The God of Angel Armies is with you! Picture yourself walking in this world and in the Kingdom of God simultaneously. The desperate, war-torn, and blind world sees you walking peacefully among the ruins and they can’t comprehend your peace. The reason you have peace is because you know about the troops of fearsome angels surrounding you and the Warrior King, Jesus Christ on His great white horse leading them (Revelation 19:11-16). The reason you have peace is because you know God is inside you. You have peace because you know the Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead is living in you (Romans 8:11). You have peace because you know God is sustaining you with His hand (Isaiah 41:13). 
I can hear some of you saying, “That’s great, God is with me, but I am still lonely. I need people!” Believer, you don’t have to be alone or lonely. You are a part of the body of Christ. You are a member of a global family.  God is indwelling your fellow believers just as He indwells you. You share some significant commonalities with the community of faith. Ephesians 4:4-6 reads,
There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. 
There is one body of Christ, not many throughout the world. We are one body. We have one Spirit. He is in each of us and He is working toward the same goal for each and all. We have one Lord, Jesus Christ. We have one faith because there is one truth, not many. We may let denominations divide us, but we should not allow that to happen because we have one faith. We have one baptism. That means we are all saved by the same Gospel, our sins were forgiven by the same blood, and we all had to repent of sin. We have one God. My God is no different than your God unless your god is not the One True Living God who is called I Am (Isaiah 44:6, Exodus 3:14). We have one Father and He is sovereign over all of us, works through each and all of us, and in each of us. Romans 12:4-8 reads,
For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, 5 so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. 6 Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; 7 if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; 8 the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.
 
Believers, we are commanded to be active members of the body of Christ, using our gifts to serve each other and allowing God to be over and work through and in all of us. We are members of one another, we belong to each other as much as we belong to God. Are you a functioning serving member of the body? Then don’t believe the lie that you are alone. Look around at your brothers and sisters, they love you if they love God. If you are not an effective working member of the body, then do something to change it and you will see you are not alone. You don’t have to be. You are a member of the body, a child of the LORD and if you choose not to reach out to your fellow believers, is it their fault for not comforting you or befriending you?
Do not fall for the deception that you are alone. Call out to God and draw near to Him and you will find He is right there with you. Reach out to your family in Christ and be the person God created you to be.
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Traits of God Part 1: Love

7/26/2016

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Give thanks to the God of heaven,     for his steadfast love endures forever. Psalm 136:26 On photo of Shining Sun by Angie  Majewski
Give thanks to the God of heaven, for his steadfast love endures forever. Psalm 136:26 On photo of Shining Sun by Angie Majewski
​Today we begin our study regarding the traits of God. The first characteristic that comes to mind for many is God’s love. That is not surprising since God is love.  1 John 4:8 reads,
Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.
When we put that verse into context we see even more about why love is such a significant aspect of who God is. 1 John 4:7-13 reads,
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.
Without God, we cannot truly love, because love is from God. God proved his love, demonstrated it to us, when the Father sent His only Son so that we could live. John 3:16-17 says it this way,
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.
 
We didn’t earn that salvation, we didn’t love God and He decided to reward that love. No, He loved us first, before we even heard of Him. He loved us before we were born. He loved us and came into the world to pay the price of our sin so we could live and so we could know Him. We didn’t have to stop sinning first before He loved us. He loved us already. Romans 5:6-11 in The Message describes it like this,
Christ arrives right on time to make this happen. He didn’t, and doesn’t, wait for us to get ready. He presented himself for this sacrificial death when we were far too weak and rebellious to do anything to get ourselves ready. And even if we hadn’t been so weak, we wouldn’t have known what to do anyway. We can understand someone dying for a person worth dying for, and we can understand how someone good and noble could inspire us to selfless sacrifice. But God put his love on the line for us by offering his Son in sacrificial death while we were of no use whatever to him.
9-11 Now that we are set right with God by means of this sacrificial death, the consummate blood sacrifice, there is no longer a question of being at odds with God in any way. If, when we were at our worst, we were put on friendly terms with God by the sacrificial death of his Son, now that we’re at our best, just think of how our lives will expand and deepen by means of his resurrection life! Now that we have actually received this amazing friendship with God, we are no longer content to simply say it in plodding prose. We sing and shout our praises to God through Jesus, the Messiah!
One thing that this relationship with God allows is our transformation to be like Jesus. Look back to 1 John 4:11-13, it reads,
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.
 
The Father loves us so much, He sent His Son to give us life. Jesus loved us so much He was willing to die for us. The Holy Spirit loves us so much He is enmeshed with us to transform us into the image of Christ. If God loves us so much, we ought to be able to love each other, especially since his Spirit is in us making it possible. It is through our love of one another that people will recognize Jesus in us. It is through our loving that people will come to call on Jesus and be saved. John 13:34-35 reads,
A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. 35 By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.
 
God’s love is pretty amazing. His love is perfect. It is something we all aspire to while we are here on this earth. And if we are able to love the way God loves, we won’t break any of God’s laws (Matthew 22:38-40). But how does God love? What is perfect love? I know you think you’ve read 1 Corinthians 13:4-8a a million times, but read it again. Consider each phrase and ask yourself if you live up God-love or if you fall short in some areas. And know this, we all fall short of God’s perfection, but He loves us enough to forgive us by Jesus’ blood (Romans 3:23-25).
Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant5 or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; 6 it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. 7 Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 8 Love never ends.
 
God’s love is powerful. It saves, as we have read above. 1 John 4:15-21 describes some of what God’s love does.
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. 17 By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as he is so also are we in this world. 18 There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love. 19 We love because he first loved us. 20 If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. 21 And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother.
 
We abide in Jesus and are perfected (we are made more and more like Jesus). We gain confidence and know that we have nothing to dread on Judgement Day. God’s love casts out fear. We have nothing to be afraid of and nothing to worry about. Romans 8:37-39 says,
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.
 
Isn’t that awesome? Nothing can separate you from God’s love! Nothing can make God stop loving you. Not the devil, not another person, and not you. NOTHING! So today Believer, consider God’s love, bask in it and thank Him for His everlasting and steadfast complete love. And most of, pass it along to others.
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1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 – 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11 The Encouragement of Jesus’ Return

7/22/2016

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Behold, I am coming like a thief! Blessed is the one who stays awake, keeping his garments on, that he may not go about naked and be seen exposed! Revelation 16:15 Photo by Lani Campbell
Behold, I am coming like a thief! Blessed is the one who stays awake, keeping his garments on, that he may not go about naked and be seen exposed! Revelation 16:15 Photo by Lani Campbell
​1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 – 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11
Our world is becoming ever increasingly chaotic and violent. The violence, the wickedness, and the chaos are nothing new but now it is being broadcast across televisions, tablets, computers, and phones almost as it happens. We are bombarded with horrific images and sickening stories of terrible and heartbreaking events all day and every day. It seems each day we wake up to a new tragedy and by the time night falls we’ve heard about another catastrophe.
For many of us the dreadful condition of this world makes us look to the hope of Jesus Christ. We hold onto Him and our future of eternity with Him in New Jerusalem. And for many people, whether they understand the end times or only know the distorted myths of the end times we believe that The Day of the Lord is near. The church in Thessalonica believed that Jesus was coming back any day. That is for the most part a great attitude for us to have. We should be ready and living as if he is coming back any minute, because we don’t know the time, we only know the seasons and the signs.  While the Thessalonians should have been living with the expectation of Jesus’ return, Paul wanted to clarify some things for them. So he wrote to them to elucidate the truth about Jesus second coming. Verses 13-15 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.
 
Paul uses the word asleep to refer to those who have physically died. This language though confusing to us now, was clear to the people in the church of that day, it was early Christianese and described that for the Christian physical death is a temporary state similar to falling asleep. We will wake up one day and we will rise with Christ to eternal life. All of those of us who are still alive, won’t miss out either, we’ll be right behind our brothers, sisters, fathers, mothers, and ancestors going to spend eternity united with one another and Christ in the paradise of New Jerusalem. As we all rise up together, Jesus will descend to meet us in the air. Can you picture it? Try as I might, I don’t think my imagination can capture anything close to what it will be like. Verses 16-18 describe it,
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.
At the voice of an archangel and the blast of the shofar Christ will descend and the dead in Christ will rise first, all those we love and miss, all those we never knew, all those we’ve heard about and would love to know will rise first and then we will be caught up with them in the clouds. We’ll meet the Lord together and from then on we will be perfectly united with Him. Truly I cannot even fathom what it will be like, but I know it will be wonderful. There is a reason we have named this event the rapture. Who could imagine a more blissful, ecstatic, joyful happening?
When we are tired, when we suffer, when we don’t know why we keep going on this earth, we are to encourage each other with the description of this day. That means we have to love and trust each other enough to share when we are hurting, suffering, and tired. I know so many of you are exhausted and not sure how you will go on even one more day. I know so many of you are hurting and need some hope. My beloved brothers and sisters, consider this day. We may still be alive when Jesus comes to take us home, or we may have passed on by then. But it is coming. It is not a fairytale. It is not something any man made up to make himself rich. In fact the men who wrote these scriptures all were imprisoned and tortured for writing them. Many were martyred for declaring these words to be true. They wrote what the Holy Spirit told them to write and they were glad to lay down their lives for the sake of the Gospel. That is how we know this is real. Different men in different locations all were told the same things. The many visions they were given coincide with one another. That is how we know it’s true.
When is He coming? Will it be today? Tomorrow? Next year? In three years? Or in three thousand years? Jesus said He would come back but He didn’t say when. In John 14:1-3 Jesus encouraged the disciples with this promise,
“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. 2 In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.”
 
He told them how to get there by following Him. John 14:6-7 reads,
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.”
 
But He could not say when. Matthew 24:36 reads,
But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only.
 
Matthew 24 does give us many signs to help know when the time is coming close and I suggest you read it. When you do, it may sound a lot like the world we live in today. Don’t let that frighten you. Don’t let it make you believe every false prophet who stands up. Let it inspire more research so you will be more aware of the signs, the times, and the events, so you will be ready and can help get others ready as well. This is what Paul had to say about it in 1 Thessalonians Chapter 5 verses 1-3.
Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need to have anything written to you. 2 For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. 3 While people are saying, “There is peace and security,” then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.
 
This gives a very scary and dark scenario but the Christian has nothing to be afraid of. We want to be aware for those who are not saved that their fate is not only dark it is terrifying. But while The Day of the Lord will terrible for the lost it will be heaven, literal Heaven for believers. For the lost the day will come on so suddenly they won’t know up from down. For Christians we are aware of what’s happening, we have the signs, we are aware of what season we are in. Like a pregnant woman going into labor should not be shocked that her pregnancy has reached its end, so we should not be surprised that our days on earth have reached their terminus. Verses 4-8 encourages believers to be aware and ready.
But you are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief. 5 For you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness. 6 So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober. 7 For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, are drunk at night. 8 But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation.
 
A pregnant woman prepares. She makes a place for her baby to sleep. She packs a bag for the birthing center and talks with professionals about her birth plan. She makes sure every knows what to do when the time comes. Though she does not know the exact day or hour, she has an idea of the week and she is ready in case it is earlier than she thought. So we don’t know exactly when Jesus is coming but we stay prepared, ready, and alert.
What does it mean to be ready? We are practicing righteousness, we are exercising faith and love. We are walking in salvation. In Matthew 25 Jesus tells a couple of parables. One is known as the Ten Virgins. They are brides waiting for their bridegroom to come and take them to the wedding feast. Some stay awake with their lamps ready, wicks trimmed, bowls full of oil, and lit. Some fall asleep and run short of oil, while they are gone buying more, the Bridegroom comes and they miss Him (Matthew 25:1-12). That story is about being dressed properly in salvation and walking in the fullness of the Holy Spirit (the oil and light of the lamp).
Later in Matthew 25 Jesus talks about the final judgement and explains to us what it is we ought to be doing do be ready for Him. Matthew 25:31-46 in The Message reads,
31-33 “When he finally arrives, blazing in beauty and all his angels with him, the Son of Man will take his place on his glorious throne. Then all the nations will be arranged before him and he will sort the people out, much as a shepherd sorts out sheep and goats, putting sheep to his right and goats to his left.
34-36 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Enter, you who are blessed by my Father! Take what’s coming to you in this kingdom. It’s been ready for you since the world’s foundation. And here’s why:
I was hungry and you fed me,
I was thirsty and you gave me a drink,
I was homeless and you gave me a room,
I was shivering and you gave me clothes,
I was sick and you stopped to visit,
I was in prison and you came to me.’

37-40 “Then those ‘sheep’ are going to say, ‘Master, what are you talking about? When did we ever see you hungry and feed you, thirsty and give you a drink? And when did we ever see you sick or in prison and come to you?’ Then the King will say, ‘I’m telling the solemn truth: Whenever you did one of these things to someone overlooked or ignored, that was me—you did it to me.’
41-43 “Then he will turn to the ‘goats,’ the ones on his left, and say, ‘Get out, worthless goats! You’re good for nothing but the fires of hell. And why? Because--
I was hungry and you gave me no meal,
I was thirsty and you gave me no drink,
I was homeless and you gave me no bed,
I was shivering and you gave me no clothes,
Sick and in prison, and you never visited.’

44 “Then those ‘goats’ are going to say, ‘Master, what are you talking about? When did we ever see you hungry or thirsty or homeless or shivering or sick or in prison and didn’t help?’
45 “He will answer them, ‘I’m telling the solemn truth: Whenever you failed to do one of these things to someone who was being overlooked or ignored, that was me—you failed to do it to me.’
46 “Then those ‘goats’ will be herded to their eternal doom, but the ‘sheep’ to their eternal reward.”
 
The Lord has great plans for us both on this earth and on the New Earth. His plans for us now involve feeding His sheep. But His plans for us then involve something totally different! Luke 12:35-40 reads,
“Stay dressed for action and keep your lamps burning, 36 and be like men who are waiting for their master to come home from the wedding feast, so that they may open the door to him at once when he comes and knocks. 37 Blessed are those servants whom the master finds awake when he comes. Truly, I say to you, he will dress himself for service and have them recline at table, and he will come and serve them. 38 If he comes in the second watch, or in the third, and finds them awake, blessed are those servants! 39 But know this, that if the master of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have left his house to be broken into. 40 You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.”
 
Read verses 37-38 again,
Blessed are those servants whom the master finds awake when he comes. Truly, I say to you, he will dress himself for service and have them recline at table, and he will come and serve them. 
 
Can you imagine it? Jesus doing that for us? Of course you can if you know who Jesus is. He did it for the Disciples before His last Passover with them as He taught them what love really is. John 13:3-5 reads,
Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going back to God, 4 rose from supper. He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around his waist. 5 Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him.
 
We have so much joy awaiting us. Jesus will comfort us, He will wipe away every tear, there will be no more death, and no more grieving (Revelation21:14). We are intended, designed, and ordained for eternal union with the Lord. Verses 9-11 read,
For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, 10 who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him. 11 Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.
 
So I will leave you with that today. Be awake, be ready. Be about your Father’s business. Encourage one another and one another up, just as you are doing. 
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1 Thessalonians 4:1-12 Please God More and More

7/21/2016

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And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment Philippians 1:9
And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment Philippians 1:9
​1 Thessalonians 4:1-12
What is a life pleasing to God? As followers of Christ for? We desire to please God, but what is it that pleases Him? Today’s devotional answers that question. I’ve got good news, it is not a difficult thing to please God, who loves you so much. And wat God wants is not a secret. Verses 1-2 read,
Finally, then, brothers, we ask and urge you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God, just as you are doing, that you do so more and more. 2 For you know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus.
 
What is it that God wants? He wants us to walk in His commandments. Leviticus 26:3-4 reads,
If you walk in my statutes and observe my commandments and do them, 4 then I will give you your rains in their season, and the land shall yield its increase, and the trees of the field shall yield their fruit.
This passage goes on to talk about all the great things God will do for us if we would only walk in His commandments. Before Jesus ascended to Heaven, He left the apostles and disciples instructions for what He wanted from them and from us, He gave us what we call the Great Commission. A commission is an assignment, an official job or directive to be carried out. Our commission is recorded in Matthew 28:18-20.
“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
 
This is the job we have been given. Some of us do this, some of us don’t. Most of us leave this job to a few of us. Maybe we don’t feel qualified to go make disciples, maybe we don’t know what or how to teach them because we don’t know what Jesus commanded us to do. So let’s look at some of what Jesus commanded and taught us. Clearly we can’t cover everything in a morning devotional. But I trust you read your Bible every day and you will continue to read Jesus instructions for your life. The gospel of John is a great place to begin and Matthew chapters 5-7 are a great place to study. This is what we call the Sermon on the Mount and it can teach you things that will knock your world upside down. So this morning I will look at just a few of Jesus’ commandments for us. First we will read what Jesus said was the greatest commandment. He said there were actually two commandments to be obeyed because they are like one another, meaning that obeying one means we need to obey both. Matthew 22:37-40
And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. 38 This is the great and first commandment. 39 And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. 40 On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”
He said that all the law and prophets, the entirety of Scripture was dependent on these two commandments. If we keep these two commandments we are pleasing God and we are walking in God’s commandments. I know though there are people who can get hung up on loving your neighbor. Who is your neighbor? (He answered this question in the parable of the Good Samaritan) They get caught up on the loving yourself part and elevate that above everything else the commandment says. Jesus know people would do that too. So He simplified the command for us. He took out he question of who our neighbor is, He took out the question of what it means to love. In John 15:12-17 Jesus said,
“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command you.15 No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. 17 These things I command you, so that you will love one another.”
Some of the other commandments Jesus gave us that help us to be disciples and teach others to be disciples are to take the Lord’s Supper (Luke 22:18-20). Pray (Matthew 21:13). Wait for His return (Matthew 24:42-44). And take care of the church, and the poor and those in need (John 21:15-16, Matthew 21:31-40). But above all of these commandments we are commanded to love as Jesus loves.
Following these commandments does more than we can imagine. They are key to making disciples of others but they also further our walk with God and please Him in a way that goes beyond our obedience. Verses 3-8 read,
For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality; 4 that each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor, 5 not in the passion of lust like the Gentiles who do not know God; 6 that no one transgress and wrong his brother in this matter, because the Lord is an avenger in all these things, as we told you beforehand and solemnly warned you. 7 For God has not called us for impurity, but in holiness. 8 Therefore whoever disregards this, disregards not man but God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you.
 
It is God’s will for us to be sanctified. That means we become more and more righteous like Jesus, holy and noticeably different from the world. To not become more like Jesus, to stay where we are is to transgress, that is do wrong against our brothers and sisters. And who in the world will care to be like someone who is no different than they are?
How are we sanctified? How do we know if we are progressing forward in our walk with Jesus? How is your self-control? Is it better than it was yesterday? Can you leave that chocolate, cigarette, sex, or whatever your vice is, alone? Can you say no to it and mean it? Your self-control and ability not to give in to your passions and stomach are a thermometer of your maturity (sanctification) in Christ. We should always be moving forward. Verse one said we ought to be doing so more and more. Another thermometer of our sanctification is how we are keeping Jesus commandment to love one another. Verses 9-10 read,
Now concerning brotherly love you have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love one another, 10 for that indeed is what you are doing to all the brothers throughout Macedonia. But we urge you, brothers, to do this more and more,
 
Paul urges us to love one another more and more. Remember love is not just a mushy gushy feeling. You can tell me you love me all you want but unless there is some tangible evidence, unless there is some action on your part, your “love” means nothing to me. So are we loving more and more? Are we laying down our lives more and more? Are we giving, providing, bearing one another’s burdens, and supporting one another more and more? James 2:14-17 describes it this way,
What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? 17 So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.
 
Our tangible love, our ever-increasing sanctification, our faith is exhibited in the lives we lead. People shouldn’t look at our lives and think we are the same as they are Partying in the world or that we concerned with filling or lusts, desperate to fill our stomachs, or worried about anything. They should look at us and see quiet goodness, people who love another so that we have no unmet needs, people who are rejoicing in the Lord. Verses 11-12 read,
and to aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we instructed you, 12 so that you may walk properly before outsiders and be dependent on no one.
 
This is what pleases God. Are we becoming more and more like Jesus every day? Are we loving one another more and more every day? Are we living quiet respectful lives which give people in the world nothing to accuse us of? If not, then right now, right here is the perfect time and place to start becoming more and more.
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    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.

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