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

James 1:1-18 Choose Joy through Trials Because God’s Will for You is Good.

4/19/2016

0 Comments

 
And I will put this third into the fire,     and refine them as one refines silver,     and test them as gold is tested. They will call upon my name,     and I will answer them. I will say, ‘They are my people’;     and they will say, ‘The Lord is my God.’ Zechariah 13:9
And I will put this third into the fire, and refine them as one refines silver, and test them as gold is tested. They will call upon my name, and I will answer them. I will say, ‘They are my people’; and they will say, ‘The Lord is my God.’ Zechariah 13:9
​James 1:1-18
God doesn't send suffering to you, but He does allow you to suffer, to go through trials, and experience tribulations. There is not a person among us who has not suffered. There is probably not a person, who is not right now going through some difficult situation, has not just emerged from one, or is not about to enter one. Believer, you are not alone. Even when your suffering seems worse than anything around you, even when you think no one can or will understand, even when you give in to the lie to isolate yourself in it, you are not alone. The church, your brothers and sisters imbued with the Spirit of Jesus Christ are there, waiting to walk beside you and bear the burden with you and needing you to bear the burden with them. God is with you too. He has chosen to indwell you, to abide in you and He wants you to abide (stay and live) in Him.
One of the reasons that the Gospel of Christ spread so far, even in ancient times was because Christians were persecuted very badly. In order to save their lives, livelihoods, and lifestyles of faith, they had to leave Jerusalem and other cities. They had to leave behind family, friends, and the only faith they had ever known. This terrible maltreatment, discrimination, and oppression led to the scattering of the church, especially the Jewish Christians who could be arrested and killed for not keeping the Pharisaical law.  Verses 1-4 begin James letter to the dispersed church.
James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ,
To the twelve tribes in the Dispersion:
Greetings.
2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
In other words, go ahead and choose to be happy over the various trials you go through. Those trials, whatever they are cause you to exercise your faith. Faith allows you to persevere with resoluteness, to be even instead of not agitated, troubled, or despondent. As you walk faithfully, the Holy Spirit is conforming you to Jesus’ perfect image. That is His will for us (1 Thessalonians 4:3). What a good thing! Faith in God carries you through and grows with each step you take. What is faith? The author of Hebrews defines it this way in Hebrews 11:1-3,
Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. 2 For by it the people of old received their commendation. 3 By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible.
God spoke and created the Universe. What He speaks, is. His word is His will (desire) manifested (come to be). So we can have faith that God’s will for us will happen. God wants good things for us! He wants our sanctification. He wants us to glorify Him. He wants us to know Him, to be in a close relationship with Him. Hosea 6:6 is one of my favorite verses.
For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice,
    the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.

 
 
Zechariah 13:9 reads,
And I will put this third into the fire,
    and refine them as one refines silver,
    and test them as gold is tested.
They will call upon my name,
    and I will answer them.
I will say, ‘They are my people’;
    and they will say, ‘The Lord is my God.’

Believer, He wants these things for us, but He will never force us. He will never sanctify us against our will. If we are not willing to look at our trials with His wisdom and grow our faithfulness, steadfastness, and character, then He will not make us. Verses 5-11 read,
If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. 6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.
9 Let the lowly brother boast in his exaltation, 10 and the rich in his humiliation, because like a flower of the grass he will pass away. 11 For the sun rises with its scorching heat and withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beauty perishes. So also will the rich man fade away in the midst of his pursuits.
If we are not willing to look at the situation from a godly perspective or even ask God to show s His perspective, we will not and cannot develop the perseverance that comes from faith, because we won’t have be choosing to look through faith from God’s wise point of view. When we suffer, when we are brought low, God is really bringing us up to His image. But if we refuse and instead want to mourn the worldly things we’ve lost or pursue those worldly things instead of the kingdom of Heaven, God will let us, but we’ll fade away with no impact on the kingdom, no change in us, and no treasures in Heaven. That is why it is harder for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God than for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle; because the rich man doesn’t want to give up his comfort for suffering (Mark 10:23-25). Faith assures us that whatever we give up for the Lord will be replaced a hundred times over. In Mark 10:29-31 Jesus said, “Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands, for my sake and for the gospel, who will not receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and in the age to come eternal life.  But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”
Faith reminds us that we have eternal life. It is that hope, that knowledge of what God has done, is doing, and will do that allows us to be happy, to choose joy through the hard times and remain joyful and faithful through the easier times. Verse 12 reads,
Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.
So many of our trials, so much of our suffering is the result of our own bad choices. Choosing to be joyful through our suffering does not mean believing that God sent you temptation in order to cause you to sin so that you can suffer. When people sin against you, He lets it happen for your discipline, but He doesn’t tempt people to sin, regardless who they are. Verses 13-15 read,
Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. 14 But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. 15 Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.
I have heard people say and even believed in the past that God sends tests, that He wants me to suffer, be ill, poor, or whatever. Oh believer, God does not rain evil down on you. He will use it for your good and sanctification (Romans 8:28-30), but He doesn’t send evil, there is no evil in Him. He sends good because He is good. Verses 16-18 read,
Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers. 17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. 18 Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.
God is steadfast. God never changes. He is good and He is bringing us into His image, making us the best of His creation.
Believer, I know you suffer. God knows you suffer. But you can choose to be joyful through it because you know that it is making you like Him, complete, perfect, and the best He has (and what He has is wonderful and endlessly good). I know you suffer but take joy and if you can’t ask God to show you the situation through His eyes. God wants good for you.
0 Comments

James 1:12-27 Be a Doer, not Merely a Hearer

8/19/2015

1 Comment

 
James 1:26-27 on photo of The N'gobe Ladies in Panama by Donna Campbell
If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person's religion is worthless. Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world. James 1:26-27
James 1:12-27

When we do good things, we want to take responsibility for it. We’re quick to say, at least to ourselves, “Yes, I recycled,” “Yep, I returned the shopping cart to the store,” or “I gave money to that needy man.” But just as fast many of us do not take responsibility for our poor choices. We come up with excuses, “I was desperate,” “I had to” or “There was no other way.” But the fact is we always have a choice. There is always a way out, it may not be the easy way, but there is a way. (1 Corinthians 10:12-14).

Many times trials come with temptations. Perhaps money is tight, we don’t know how we’re going to pay the rent, the electricity and buy groceries. There is an eviction notice on the door. This trial weighs heavy on us. There are several ways we can respond to the situation. One, we can pray, trust The Lord, keep pursuing the Kingdom of God, and know that He has always taken care of us and will continue to do so. Two, we can worry, make ourselves sick and try to think of a way out. Three, which can result from the second response or not, we can get the money in some unsavory way, such as steal, write a bad check, or earn the money in a corrupt way. Faith allows us to respond by praying, trusting God, and obeying Him. Verse 12 reads,

“Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.”

Do you know God loves you? Do you know He loves you unwaveringly? No matter what you do or say, His love for you doesn’t stop. He has always come through for you. He has always brought you through. Why would this time be different? If He didn’t provide for you in the past, it is because you chose to worry and provide for yourself in a way that didn’t align with Love.

God doesn’t withhold your needs so that you will be tempted to sin in order to meet them. He allows us to go through trials so that our faith can be strengthened, so we can be more like Jesus, glorify Christ, and be a witness to His awesome powerful love. Worse than ‘the devil made me do it,’ is when people claim they failed God’s test and sinned. That excuse is a lie. God didn’t dangle the carrot of sin in front of us. We sinned because we didn’t trust God enough, we didn’t look around for Him, and we didn’t pursue Him, His will or His Kingdom. Verses 13-15 reads,

“Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. 14 But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. 15 Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.”

God is good! There is not an iota of evil in Him, not a drop of bad, nor a smidge of vice. He is perfectly righteous. (Psalm 92:15). He is love. (1 John 4:8). It is not God who tempts us, it is our misplaced desires. Rather than desire what God desires, rather than take joy in God, or consider our trials joy because we know the outcome will be Jesus’ glory, we want money, an easy life, and we want to satisfy our lust and appetites. Somehow we are deceived into thinking that life following Christ is not delightful or joyful. Put the brakes on! Think about what He has given us. He is wonderful. Verses 16-18 read,

“Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers. 17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.18 Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.”

He saved us from slavery to sin and gave us grace. He saved us from eternal death and gave us eternal life. He gives us gifts, blessings, family, and love. He transforms us and conforms us to His image. God doesn’t stop sending us gifts and blessings because He changed His mind. He withholds some gifts and blessings because we don’t want to recognize or receive them. We choose not to trust God. We choose to not have faith.

I know a woman who is in a constant state of anxiety, trouble, and flux. She wants to trust Jesus as her Lord, but she won’t give her heart to Him. She seems to enjoy drama, desperation, and difficulty. She says she follows Jesus but there is no evidence that she does. She says she trusts The Lord but she whines and grumbles over her problems and begs, borrows, and steals to meet her needs. She goes to church and hears that God will do awesome things for her, but she won’t trust Him to do it. She sees believers living lives of faith but she won’t give up her fear in order to experience The Lord. As a result she lives in a constant state of deception, grumbling, worry, and other sins. Verses 19-21 read

“Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; 20 for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God. 21 Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.”

She won’t submit to Jesus because she believes the excuses she makes for sinning. She is too full of pride to trust God. She has put her faith in money and her joy in her desires.

Following Jesus means putting our faith into action. Trusting the Lord is not just a state of mind. It is a lifestyle of obedience. Faith is exhibited not by saying we have it but by obeying God and walking in His word. James said it this way in verses 22-25,

“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.”

Doers of the word trust God, doers of the word look like Jesus. Hearers who do not do, trust themselves and money. They study themselves and try and discover how they can meet needs, overcome trouble, and save themselves. The problem with that is, we are sinful. We are not perfect. We can’t save ourselves. We forget about our sin and our inability to save ourselves and we try anyway. But if we submit to Jesus and the Word of God take root in our hearts, He saves us and transforms us. We do not look to ourselves and our own image for salvation, provision, transformation, and blessing, we look to Jesus. The longer we do that the more we look like Him.

Jesus didn’t look good, He is good. He didn’t say He loved us, He laid down His life and loved us. It is faith which saves us, but faith is always manifested in action. Love is manifested by a new character, that of Jesus. Love, peace, joy, kindness, patience, faithfulness, and self-control are seen in action and obedience not lip-service. A man is not kind because he says he’s kind. A man is kind when he acts charitably. A man does not love the Lord because he says he does. He loves the Lord with his entire being when he loves others the way Jesus loves him. Stop talking the talk and start walking the walk. Verses 26-27 say it like this,

“If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person's religion is worthless. 27 Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.”

Not giving into temptation is not a matter of saying we will not, it is not a matter of saying we trust God. It is a matter of actually trusting Him by obeying Him.

1 Comment

James 1:1-4 How Can I Count it all Joy when I Face Trials?

8/16/2015

1 Comment

 
Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. James 1:2-4 on photo of Sarah comforting Matthew at the Memorial
Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. James 1:2-4
James 1:1-4

This letter from James seems like a New Testament Proverbs. He wanted to pass along as much wisdom as he could to the persecuted and dispersed church. He was the leader of the church in Jerusalem. So he cared to pastor these people even though they were not all in Jerusalem any longer.

Verse 2 reads,

“Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds,”

Are you like me and question if you’ve read that right? Count it ALL joy when you meet trials? How can we do that? How can we view it all as joy when we experience trials? Maybe James didn’t know how hard some of this stuff would be! So maybe James didn’t know suffering.

The early church suffered persecution. Believers were dragged off tortured, imprisoned or killed. He understood suffering. Josephus, a first century historian wrote that James was stoned to death about 62 A.D. He had been the leader of the church for about thirty years by that time. So chances are James experienced many kinds of trials.

I’ve been through stuff that tore me apart, broke my heart, and made me wonder if I would ever get through it. I was supposed to be happy about the pain, the struggle, and the upward climb? How can James expect us to count it all joy when we meet trials? Why would he begin his letter with such a bizarre statement? We are not happy that we lost a loved one. We are not happy to be persecuted. We are happy because when God brings us through the trial, we will be better off. Suffering while not fun has a great purpose. Verse 3 tells us,

“for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.”

Trials test our faith. God already knows us, He doesn’t need to know how strong our faith is. We go through tests so we can find out how faithful we are. Those tests, trials, and troubles remind us about how great God is, they remind us He is with us. And when we remember how God has brought us through everything else, we can go through each new trouble with more trust. We become more steadfast. What is steadfast? It means firm, unwavering, constant, doubtless.

We’ve seen people go through difficulties and the way they respond says so much about them. Do they whine and complain? Do they crumble under the weight? Do they give up? Do they try and fix the problems? We don’t blame a person for those responses. Those are natural responses to difficulties. But as Christians we have the advantage of The Holy Spirit. We can respond supernaturally. We can take joy because we trust our Lord.

I’ve seen those steadfast and faithful people respond to troubles as well. They are not laughing, but they are calm, trusting, and can even encourage and comfort others while they should be the ones being comforted. The depth of their faith glorifies Jesus and inspires people. And glorifying Jesus is our goal. Glorify doesn’t mean to merely praise God. It means to be like Jesus, to manifest the fruit of the Spirit, the character of Christ. It is the ultimate praise and worship to be like Jesus. It is the greatest expression of love to love others as He loves us. Verse 4 says,

“And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”

One day we will be perfect and complete, we will be like Jesus. Now we strive toward that goal. We want that excellence and realization of who we can be.

Since we want to be like Jesus, we understand that each trial is an opportunity to become more faithful, more steadfast, and more like Christ. That is why and how we can count it all joy.

1 Comment

Psalm 44 Where is God in my Trials?

7/4/2015

0 Comments

 
Psalm 44

I know there are times when you feel detached from The Lord, even when you have not sinned, even when you are doing everything a good Christian does. You’re going to church, you’re spending time with Him, and you’re reading the Bible. But somehow you are still being persecuted, you are still suffering. What do you do in times like that?

What do we do when it feels like our prayers are hitting the ceiling instead of being breathed in by Holy God? We trust God. We remember all the miracles, the guidance, and the good He has done for us. We trust that He hears us and knows what is best for us. We remember the truth, God will never leave us nor forsake us. Verses 1-3 read,

“O God, we have heard with our ears,
    our fathers have told us,
what deeds you performed in their days,
    in the days of old:
2 you with your own hand drove out the nations,
    but them you planted;
you afflicted the peoples,
    but them you set free;
3 for not by their own sword did they win the land,
    nor did their own arm save them,
but your right hand and your arm,
    and the light of your face,
    for you delighted in them.”


It was not Israel that won the Promised Land for themselves. It was God Almighty who gave it to them. He defeated their enemies. It was not their strength but His. What is it in our lives that we’ve taken credit for that we should be thanking God for? What gifts and talents do we have that we have not acknowledged are from God and used them for His Kingdom? God loves us so much. He enjoys giving us blessings, fighting for us, and bringing us to the city He has promised us in eternity, New Jerusalem. When we remember all God has done for us so far and all He did for those in the past, we are reminded that we can trust Him to carry us through all our present trials and all our future hardships. Verses 4-8 read,

“You are my King, O God;
    ordain salvation for Jacob!
5 Through you we push down our foes;
    through your name we tread down those who rise up against us.
6 For not in my bow do I trust,
    nor can my sword save me.
7 But you have saved us from our foes
    and have put to shame those who hate us.
8 In God we have boasted continually,
    and we will give thanks to your name forever. Selah”


Didn’t He save us before? Didn’t He vindicate us? We can trust in His strength not ours. We can have faith in His plan instead of our own. We can believe that salvation is ours and that eternal life began the moment we submitted to Him as Lord and King. Even when we are in the midst of persecution, tribulation, and suffering we can thank God and praise Him. He used our past suffering for our good and He is using our present pain for our good, and He will use our future experience for our good.

That means that sometimes we do go through persecution, hardships, and pain. That means that sometimes God will test our faith. He doesn’t do it to punish us. He doesn’t condemn us. He strengthens us and He shows us who we have become in Him. He holds up a mirror and lets us see His reflection looking back at us with immense and stalwart love. Our Father hasn’t forgotten us, instead He let go of the bicycle. He is so proud of who we are becoming and what we are doing. If He had never let go of the bike, if He had not proven our faith we would never know we could ride that bike wherever we needed to go. Falling is not fun and the injuries it causes are painful but we get back up, we get back on, and we trust God when He tells us He will always be there with us.

The author of this psalm felt the heaviness of the ordeal he endured. He could see that God was allowing the enemies of Israel to oppress them. Verses 9-16 read,

“But you have rejected us and disgraced us
    and have not gone out with our armies.
10 You have made us turn back from the foe,
    and those who hate us have gotten spoil.
11 You have made us like sheep for slaughter
    and have scattered us among the nations.
12 You have sold your people for a trifle,
    demanding no high price for them.
13 You have made us the taunt of our neighbors,
    the derision and scorn of those around us.
14 You have made us a byword among the nations,
    a laughingstock among the peoples.
15 All day long my disgrace is before me,
    and shame has covered my face
16 at the sound of the taunter and reviler,
    at the sight of the enemy and the avenger.”


But he prayed anyway, he trusted in who God was and he remembered all God had done and promised. He didn’t stop praying because times were hard. He didn’t stop believing that God is awesome because of his pain. And he didn’t stop praying for deliverance or believing that God would save him. Verses 17-22 read,

“All this has come upon us,
    though we have not forgotten you,
    and we have not been false to your covenant.
18 Our heart has not turned back,
    nor have our steps departed from your way;
19 yet you have broken us in the place of jackals
    and covered us with the shadow of death.
20 If we had forgotten the name of our God
    or spread out our hands to a foreign god,
21 would not God discover this?
    For he knows the secrets of the heart.
22 Yet for your sake we are killed all the day long;
    we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”


These verses reflect the agony of suffering and the hope of maintaining and exercising faith. Look again at verse 19.

“yet you have broken us in the place of jackals
    and covered us with the shadow of death.”


What does the shadow of death bring to mind? Psalm 23:4 says,

“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
    I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
    your rod and your staff,
    they comfort me.”


God didn’t promise we wouldn’t walk through darkness or experience the effects of the evil of the world, but He did promise to be with us, and to use it for our good. (Hebrews 13:5, Romans 8:28-29). He did promise that our response would be a testimony to the lost. (1 Peter 2:21). In Romans chapter 8 Paul quotes verse 22 of this psalm. Let’s read a portion of that profound chapter now, Romans 8:31-39 encourages us through the worst of troubles.

“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.”

Do you see how much God loves us? He is making us better and stronger because the world will war with Him and therefore us. But we are overcomers and victors in Christ. We are united with Him and cannot be separated from Him.

God can handle our honesty. He knows whether our words and thoughts reflect our heart. Because we are indelibly intricately inseparably united with God we can be sincere about our feelings. Often times when we bare those thoughts that are born from our flesh, God reveals our hearts to us and makes it possible to repent and further solidify our faith and trust in His greatness. Don’t be afraid to ask God for help. Don’t be afraid to say, “Yo, God did you forget me?” He will remind you He has not. The psalmist wasn’t afraid to authentically ask God to rescue Him, even when his attitude seemed irreverent. Verses 23-26 read,

“Awake! Why are you sleeping, O Lord?
    Rouse yourself! Do not reject us forever!
24 Why do you hide your face?
    Why do you forget our affliction and oppression?
25 For our soul is bowed down to the dust;
    our belly clings to the ground.
26 Rise up; come to our help!
    Redeem us for the sake of your steadfast love!”


Just remember this, The Lord loves you. He loves you deeply, consistently, and without condition. You cannot earn His love. You cannot merit His favor. How do you know this? Because Jesus died for you long before you were born. He died for your salvation before you took your first breath. He loves you so much. Remember that and trust Him through all your hardships. Celebrate Jesus no matter what you suffer.

0 Comments

Psalm 43 Trust God to Carry you through Suffering and Make you More Like Him

7/3/2015

0 Comments

 
Picture






























Psalm 43

This Psalm was likely written at the same time as Psalm 42. Its theme is similar and verse 5 of this psalm is the same as the refrain of verses 5 and 11 of the previous psalm. The aforementioned psalm is about feeling far away from the Lord and this one is about being persecuted. In Countries like the America and Great Britain we do not face much persecution for our faith. But we do face some and it is getting worse. Until The Day of Judgement there will be people who hate us, people who try to hurt us and hurt our testimony. Jesus promised us that. (John 15:18-25). The author of this Psalm knew where to look during his persecution. He trusted the Lord to take care of Him and left retribution to Him as well. Verse 1 reads,

“Vindicate me, O God, and defend my cause
    against an ungodly people,
from the deceitful and unjust man
    deliver me!”


His enemies wanted to get him. They wanted nothing more than his destruction. And the author cried out to God for rescue. But the Lord didn’t rescue him immediately. God does that for us sometimes. He holds back, he waits, always with a reason, and always for our benefit. Perhaps the author needed to be strengthened, perhaps he needed his faith tested and proved, or maybe the Lord used his enemies to discipline him. God waits sometimes. And we think we will never get through the situation intact. And maybe God doesn’t want us intact. He allows us to go through the fires to purify us. 1 Peter 1:5-9 say,

“who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 6 In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 8 Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, 9 obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.”

The writer understood this, but persistent in his prayer regardless. Even Jesus repeated His prayers through His suffering. In the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus prayed three times, “My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done.”  (Matthew 26:38-44). Prayer allows us to maintain our dependence on God. It allows us to communicate with Him. We speak our hearts and God speaks His. In that communion He leads, teaches, comforts, encourages and exhorts. Verses 2-3 continue the prayer,

“For you are the God in whom I take refuge;
    why have you rejected me?
Why do I go about mourning
    because of the oppression of the enemy?


3 Send out your light and your truth;
    let them lead me;
let them bring me to your holy hill
    and to your dwelling!”


While the author longed for the comfort and safety of God to remove his trial, he still asked for God’s light and truth to lead him. He didn’t want to depend on his emotions to lead him, or his faulty wisdom to guide his decisions. He wanted God to show Him the way. Prayer, meditation on God’s Word, and reflection of our communion with God brings us nearer to Him. As we contemplate God’s Word, He comforts us. He lets us know Him more deeply and we know that even while we are persecuted and suffering that God has us, we are safe in His hands, and our future is secure in Him.

James 1:2-8 reflects on the benefits of the trials we suffer and the communion with God as we depend on Him to teach us, guide us through them, and come out looking more like Jesus with the Fruit of the Spirit.

“Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. 6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.”

Although we suffer God is always with us. And we can know it well and completely. If we know God well, we know He will make us wise, conform us to His image and bring us through. We can without a doubt praise Him and thank Him, even before the manifestation of our hope and prayers. The psalmist looked forward to praising God for the answer to his prayer. Verses 4-5 read,

“Then I will go to the altar of God,
    to God my exceeding joy,
and I will praise you with the lyre,
    O God, my God.


5 Why are you cast down, O my soul,
    and why are you in turmoil within me?
Hope in God; for I shall again praise him,
    my salvation and my God.”


No matter how low we feel, regardless of the depth of our grief or the intensity of our suffering we can rejoice, we can praise, and we can thank the Lord. He is with us. He has a purpose for all He allows us to go through. He loves us so deeply and knows us so well that we are free to trust Him with our lives, our salvation, and our hearts.


0 Comments

Psalm 34 Taste and See The Lord is Good

6/24/2015

1 Comment

 
Psalm 34

David was described as a man after God’s own heart in1 Samuel 13:14 and Acts 13:22. It is the person after God’s own heart that the Lord anoints (separates for a holy responsibility or chooses for distinction). Like David, you and I are people after God’s own heart, or at least we ought to be. It means we want to know God personally, it means we take after Him in His nature, and that we want what He wants.

Have you ever been in a dire situation and had no idea how you would be delivered from it? David was in that kind of trouble more than once. The Lord always rescued Him. Because David was a man after God’s own heart, when he was in one of those harrowing predicaments he was able to listen to The Lord and trust Him. Such was the case in 1 Samuel chapter 21 when David was brought to Achish the king of Gath. The king’s servants exclaimed what a great warrior David was. The Lord impressed on David the danger of the circumstances as the king would likely kill him in his vulnerable state and gave him a plan. David began acting as if he had lost his mind. The king saw that David was no threat and let him go. This psalm was written in celebration of The Lord’s deliverance of David. Verses 1-7 read,

“I will bless the Lord at all times;
    his praise shall continually be in my mouth.
2 My soul makes its boast in the Lord;
    let the humble hear and be glad.
3 Oh, magnify the Lord with me,
    and let us exalt his name together!


4 I sought the Lord, and he answered me
    and delivered me from all my fears.
5 Those who look to him are radiant,
    and their faces shall never be ashamed.
6 This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him
    and saved him out of all his troubles.
7 The angel of the Lord encamps
    around those who fear him, and delivers them.”


David praised the Lord, not only sometimes, not only when things were good but in every circumstance. He intended his words to always bless The Lord. That means that David never wanted his speech to bring displeasure or disagreement to God but to please Him and show others how great God was.

Notice that when David was in trouble he didn’t lean on his own strength or wit, but he sought God. God delivered him every time. Even if The Lord chose to let Him continue in his dilemma, he still gave David peace and took his fears away. God does that for us too. He may choose to allow us to go through trials, tribulations, and tests, but we do not have to fear because He is with us, surrounding us, protecting us, and delivering us from sin and death. Even in the worst of times we can smile, we can shine as we faithfully radiate the peace and love of The Lord.

It is that radiance which testifies to God’s greatness. The world can’t fathom how or why we don’t freak out. They can’t grasp how we can have such calm through the calamities we face. Philippians 4:4-7 describes it like this,

“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.”

Our lives are testimonies to God. Our lives call out to people. “Hey you oughta give this a try!” People not only wonder at our peace and joy, but at our contentment and provision. Verses 8-10 read,

“Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good!
    Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!
9 Oh, fear the Lord, you his saints,
    for those who fear him have no lack!
10 The young lions suffer want and hunger;
    but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.”


Your life is a testimony to God and it should make people curious to know Him. You have the opportunity and the obligation to share Jesus with them. Verses 11-14 put it this way,

“Come, O children, listen to me;
    I will teach you the fear of the Lord.
12 What man is there who desires life
    and loves many days, that he may see good?
13 Keep your tongue from evil
    and your lips from speaking deceit.
14 Turn away from evil and do good;
    seek peace and pursue it.”


To seek a relationship with God, to call Jesus Lord, and to repent from sin is all anyone needs to do to be saved. Yes, God delivers us from many bad situations. But the worst situation He rescues us from is that of slavery to sin and eternal death in Hell. Once that is done, there is nothing to fear in this world. God’s got us in His strong hands. He keeps in His loving heart. He leads us with His awesome Spirit. Verses 15-18 read,

“The eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous
    and his ears toward their cry.
16 The face of the Lord is against those who do evil,
    to cut off the memory of them from the earth.
17 When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears
    and delivers them out of all their troubles.
18 The Lord is near to the brokenhearted
    and saves the crushed in spirit.”


He wants to do this for us, but we have to call out. We have to realize we need Him. We have to recognize our desperate situation and let it break our hearts. We can call out to friends, the government, and the bank, but the help we might get from them is temporary and still leaves us bereft and in slavery to sin. But calling out to Jesus means He will set us free, He will save us.

We will suffer, but we will go through those tribulations with the assurance and peace of The Lord God Almighty. We go through it with the hope of eternal life. We go through it knowing we will see Jesus face to face one day. The lost on the other hand will suffer eternal death and while we celebrate in New Jerusalem we will not even remember them, it will be as if they never existed. We know The Spirit, God Himself is not only with us surrounding us but inside us as we are in Him. Jesus died on the cross to give us that gift. He rose from the dead to claim victory and freedom for us. He ascended to Heaven to give us the guarantee of salvation through The Holy Spirit. Verses 19-22 say,

“Many are the afflictions of the righteous,
    but the Lord delivers him out of them all.
20 He keeps all his bones;
    not one of them is broken.
21 Affliction will slay the wicked,
    and those who hate the righteous will be condemned.
22 The Lord redeems the life of his servants;
    none of those who take refuge in him will be condemned.”


Picture
1 Comment

Psalm 30 Joy comes in the morning, with the coming of the Son.

6/20/2015

0 Comments

 
Picture
Sing praises to the Lord, O you his saints, and give thanks to his holy name. For his anger is but for a moment, and his favor is for a lifetime. Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning. Psalm 30:4-5
Picture
You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; you have loosed my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness, that my glory may sing your praise and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give thanks to you forever! Psalm 30:11-12
Psalm 30

I know you have suffered. I know you have struggled. I know that there have been times when you felt as if The Lord was not with you. Let this Psalm be a solace to you. Let the Word be a consolation to you. Remember what He has done for you. Remember who He is and who you are in Him. Verses 1-3 read,

“I will extol you, O Lord, for you have drawn me up
    and have not let my foes rejoice over me.
2 O Lord my God, I cried to you for help,
    and you have healed me.
3 O Lord, you have brought up my soul from Sheol;
    you restored me to life from among those who go down to the pit.”


David wrote this during a time of struggle and He cried out to God during that time. But he also remembered the works God had done on his behalf. During David’s prayer, The Lord strengthened his faith and gave him reassurance by bringing to mind that He always brought him through. He reminded David that his troubles are temporary. Verses 4-6 say,

“Sing praises to the Lord, O you his saints,
    and give thanks to his holy name.
5 For his anger is but for a moment,
    and his favor is for a lifetime.
Weeping may tarry for the night,
    but joy comes with the morning.


6 As for me, I said in my prosperity,
    “I shall never be moved.”


Greif, sadness, loneliness, mourning, and anger are temporary. But joy, peace, and gladness are eternal. We suffer calamities on earth. We go through trials and tribulations while we live. The enemy attacks us throughout our lifetime. But this life is only a small part of eternity. God’s discipline is only for now. One day this earth and this heaven will be destroyed. God will make a new heaven and a new earth and we will be transformed in an instant to the perfect image of God with heavenly bodies. On that day we will be exactly who we were meant to be, whole and complete. One day we will not need to be disciplined, strengthened, or comforted. But for now, we do. Verses 7-10 read,

“By your favor, O Lord,
    you made my mountain stand strong;
you hid your face;
    I was dismayed.


8 To you, O Lord, I cry,
    and to the Lord I plead for mercy:
9 “What profit is there in my death,
    if I go down to the pit?
Will the dust praise you?
    Will it tell of your faithfulness?
10 Hear, O Lord, and be merciful to me!
    O Lord, be my helper!”


 

God makes us able. He builds our strength and our faith. There are times when we feel so capable and so strong that we depend on our own plans and our own strength instead of God. When He sees us leaning on our own abilities rather than depending on Him, He hides His face from us. He lets us try it ourselves. He uses this discipline to remind us it is not our capabilities that carry us through but Him. Sure we get the bills paid when we try it ourselves. We get by, barely. We manage. When we use our own strength we are exhausted at some point. But when we let God get us through, He does so much more than just ensure our basics and our survival. His strength is never exhausted. His love never runs out. He is eternal. His faithfulness is forever. Isaiah 40:27-31 says it this way,

“Why do you say, O Jacob,
    and speak, O Israel,
“My way is hidden from the Lord,
    and my right is disregarded by my God”?
28 Have you not known? Have you not heard?
The Lord is the everlasting God,
    the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He does not faint or grow weary;
    his understanding is unsearchable.
29 He gives power to the faint,
    and to him who has no might he increases strength.
30 Even youths shall faint and be weary,
    and young men shall fall exhausted;
31 but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength;
    they shall mount up with wings like eagles;
they shall run and not be weary;
    they shall walk and not faint.”


Believer, when you find yourself weary from the struggle ask yourself if you are really waiting for God or if you are toiling on your own power. Repent and invite the Lord to once again be your Helper. When you let God be God to you, He is. And you get to experience those eternal joys even through the suffering.

Your suffering is temporary but joy is eternal. Eternity doesn’t start the day you die. Eternity begins the moment you die to your old self and let Jesus be your Savior. The Kingdom of Heaven is not a place of clouds and castles you will go to one day after you die. It is here and now where you live and walk with God and with your brothers and sisters in Christ. It is here even in the midst of the valley of the shadow of death. Rejoice! Celebrate, even while you endure the troubles of this world. Verses 11-12 read,

“You have turned for me my mourning into dancing;
    you have loosed my sackcloth
    and clothed me with gladness,
12 that my glory may sing your praise and not be silent.
    O Lord my God, I will give thanks to you forever!”


Believer, Jesus saved you. You do not have to go through this world a mourner any longer. You have reason to rejoice. Yes, you still suffer. But when you do, look around, your brothers and sisters mourn with you. When you suffer, remember God will carry you through it. Your Redeemer will deliver you. Your Comforter will give you peace the world can’t even fathom. And He will use the suffering to make you more like Him. And so you can sing your praise, testify to the greatness of the Lord, and thank Him. You may cry for now, but you will sing His praise forever.

0 Comments

Philippians 1:12-30 Responding to Suffering.

4/12/2015

0 Comments

 
Philippians Chapter 1 Verses 12-30

Paul was in prison. Prison during Paul’s day was not a cake walk. It was deplorable. Prison was not a sentence anyone received as punishment. It was where the accused awaited trial or sentencing. And since there was no promise of a speedy trial that meant that sometimes the defendant waited for months or even years to be heard. There were no beds, no lights, and no promise of three meals a day. There were shackles and stone walls and floors. The prison Paul was believed to be kept in was dug out of solid rock and was underground. There was a manhole type opening which was used to lower prisoners, guards, and supplies. Lights were provided by lantern and fires. The Roman historian Sallust, described it this way, "[The dungeon] is sunk about twelve feet under ground. Walls secure it on every side, and over it is a vaulted roof connected with stone arches; but its appearance is disgusting and horrible, by reason of the filth, darkness and stench." Prison was no picnic for Paul and it was dangerous for those who visited him and showed him kindness. Visitors opened themselves up to interrogation by the Romans in order to gather evidence against the prisoner awaiting trial. Roman interrogation was often accompanied by beatings. Visitors were forever associated with the accused in the eyes of Rome and the public. (Fraser, n.d.).

But through his incarceration, Paul rejoiced. He was willing to suffer, not in order to be a martyr or victim, but because he knew the good that was coming out of it. Verses 11-14 read,

“I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel, 13 so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to all the rest that my imprisonment is for Christ.14 And most of the brothers, having become confident in the Lord by my imprisonment, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.”

He could have reacted selfishly, ‘poor me, pity me.’ He could have responded by telling everyone who would listen how unfair his situation was, but instead he wrote letters to the churches, he taught, he proclaimed Christ. The entire imperial guard knew Paul was there because of Jesus, some even became followers of Christ. And Christians everywhere were emboldened by Paul’s situation to spread the Gospel fearlessly. And people like Timothy and Mark, and the others who visited Paul and helped him through this time, they also had a part in encouraging the believers. They risked beatings and their reputations by ministering to Paul.

It clearly was not an easy thing to endure. Socrates and many other Roman prisoners chose to end their lives with hemlock. Archeological digs found the evidence of many suicides of prisoners. But Paul knew he couldn’t and wouldn’t take the easy way out. He bore the hardship of prison, keeping in mind the Gospel and the promise of eternity with Jesus. Verses 19-20 read,

“for I know that through your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ this will turn out for my deliverance, 20 as it is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death.”

This should be our attitude as well. Most of us will never have to suffer as deeply as did the Apostles and the other first century Christians. But some do. People across the globe are tortured, imprisoned, and killed for their faith in Jesus. The time is coming when even in America and Europe we will suffer like that for Him. Regardless of the degree, we are promised to suffer. We can respond by putting the focus of ourselves or on Jesus. We can rejoice because we know the endgame or we can moan because we want sympathy and pats on the back. Read those verses again, hold onto them, keep them in your heart and let them encourage you to respond with godliness, nobility, and faith.

What is the worst thing that will happen if we suffer so horrendously? We might die. And for the believer death is not awful, death is rewarding. Believers will be with Jesus in paradise! Living is rewarding as well. We get to keep spreading the truth, glorifying Christ, and doing His work. This was Paul’s dilemma. His agony had gotten so bad that he knew he could die. If he simply gave up in his spirit, he would pass away. Verses 21-26 put words to his predicament.

“For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. 22 If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell.23 I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better. 24 But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account. 25 Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all, for your progress and joy in the faith, 26 so that in me you may have ample cause to glory in Christ Jesus, because of my coming to you again.”

Paul knew it was not up to him to decide to be finished and die. He knew that as long as he had work to do, living for Christ was more important than dying for Christ. God would decide when Paul died, and until that time he would live a life worthy of Jesus. Paul was not alone, not only did he have the Holy Spirit with him, but he knew he had his fellow believers. His life and his reaction to his torment affected others. He knew too that his suffering was not unique. Many of the believers would suffer just as he had, and many would come to a point of questioning if life was still worth living. So he encouraged them. Verses 27-30 read,

“Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel, 28 and not frightened in anything by your opponents. This is a clear sign to them of their destruction, but of your salvation, and that from God.29 For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake, 30 engaged in the same conflict that you saw I had and now hear that I still have.”

We have a responsibility to one another and to the many lost to respond to situations in a manner that honors the Lord. We are united, standing together. Are we holding each other up? Are we remaining faithful and steadfast? Are we glorifying the Lord? And when we get to the point where we would rather die than go on for one more minute, can we look to our obligation to one another and the lost and choose to live for Jesus?

Does your response to trials and tribulations impact the Kingdom of God for the good, or does your response focus on you and even dishonor your Lord?

References:

Fraser, B. (n.d.). Prisons in Paul's world. Retrieved from Meyers Park United Methodist Church: http://www.mpumc.org/uploads/file/Prisons%20in%20Paul.pdf

0 Comments

1 Peter 4 Following Christ in His Suffering

4/3/2015

0 Comments

 
1 Peter Chapter 4

Christ suffered on the cross and we as His followers also suffer. Christ’s suffering gave us salvation. Our suffering reveals Salvation in us. Verses 1-2 read,

“Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same way of thinking, for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, 2 so as to live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passions but for the will of God.”

We are not better than Jesus. We must expect to suffer. And when we do suffer for Christ’s sake, we can rejoice. We are emulating our Lord. We are being transformed to His image. We are glorifying God so that others will know His redemption.

Verses 12-17 read,

“Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. 13 But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. 14 If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. 15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler. 16 Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name.”

Suffering has more than one purpose. While we suffer, people see us. They watch and take note of how and why we go through our situation. How is that we can rejoice and even praise God through trials? They expect us to react in a worldly way and when we don’t, they see a glimpse of God. They see the grace of Jesus lived out.

Suffering conforms us to the image of Jesus Christ. Trials and tribulations teach us to exercise the fruit of the Spirit, the gifts He gave us, and purify us. . God sees us as righteous when He looks at us, but that doesn’t mean, He doesn’t care about our behavior. We are saved by grace but that doesn’t mean we should use our liberty as a reason to look and act like the rest of the world. We are supposed to emanate the Spirit of God, not the spirits of the world. We follow the King of kings, not the prince of this world. If the saved, God’s own children can’t behave in a manner worthy of God, how can we expect the lost to ever find Jesus? Verses 17-19 read,

“For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God? 18 And

“If the righteous is scarcely saved,
    what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?”


19 Therefore let those who suffer according to God's will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good.”

We entrust our souls to the Lord. We give Him custody and authority over it. While we suffer, through good times, through joy, through sadness, and everything else we know God has charge over our souls and He will keep it for us until the Day we come into it at our completion. It will be worth more than it could have been if He hadn’t held it for us. It will be perfect.

Until that day, we are charged with doing good, with being Children of God in a world that doesn’t know Him. We are charged with doing good in a world that celebrates selfishness and debauchery. Even the fact that we don’t want to join them in decadence shocks them and gives them a reason to hate us or know us because of Jesus.

Verses 3-4 say it like this,

“For the time that is past suffices for doing what the Gentiles want to do, living in sensuality, passions, drunkenness, orgies, drinking parties, and lawless idolatry. 4 With respect to this they are surprised when you do not join them in the same flood of debauchery, and they malign you;”

We have to remember that they are lost. The reason they badmouth us is because they follow Satan and don’t even know it. They will be judged one day. They need the chance to hear the Gospel. They need a chance to call Jesus their Lord. Our behavior in good times and bad gives them a chance to hear the Truth. Verses 5-6 say it this way,

“but they will give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. 6 For this is why the gospel was preached even to those who are dead, that though judged in the flesh the way people are, they might live in the spirit the way God does.”

Their self-indulgence may give them temporary pleasure, but Jesus gives eternal life. Keep in mind. Choose your conduct with love. Do you love them enough to abstain from sin, suffer with grace, and rejoice in the Lord? Do you love them enough to give them a chance to know Jesus?

Verses 7-11 encourage us,

“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.”

Believer, you are special. You are not like the world. You are a child of the Living God, saved by Jesus and consecrated by the Holy Spirit. You are separate from the world, in it but not of it. Your life should be a witness to the truth, a living sacrifice to the Lord, and a light to salvation.

0 Comments

1 Peter 1:1-12 Rejoice in the Eternal, Imperishable, Undefilable, and Unfading Hope of Christ.

3/28/2015

0 Comments

 
1 Peter Chapter 1 Verses 1-12

Peter wrote this letter to Christians scattered across Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, modern Turkey. He calls the believers elect exiles of the Dispersion. Just as in the days of the Old Covenant when Israel was exiled to places that were not the Promised Land, their home, today during the New Covenant  believers are exiles because our Promised Land is Heaven, our home is New Jerusalem and we are exiles among the world. But we are not hopeless. We know where our home is, we know who our family and fellow pilgrims are, and we know who our Lord is. He keeps our citizenship for us. Verse 2 describes believers.

“according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in the sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and for sprinkling with his blood:

May grace and peace be multiplied to you.”

Our Father knew us and chose us from the beginning. The Spirit consecrates and purifies us. He makes it possible for us to walk in obedience to Jesus Christ who saved us by His blood. That is wonderful news. And because of that we have hope. Not some distant fantasy, but confidence we live in and with, in the everyday. Because God is with us. He loves us, sanctifies us, and saves us. That is a living hope.

Peter describes that hope beautifully in verses 3-5.

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, 5 who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.”

Jesus is alive! His life gives us life. Peter describes eternal life as an inheritance, the legacy or bequest we receive from our Father. Normally to leave an inheritance the father would die, but in this case God rose from the dead and it is through His life that we live and receive eternal life. We died to our previous life, to sin and eternal death and live as new creations, sons of God eternally. Romans 6:8-11 reads,

“Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. 9 We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. 10 For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God. 11 So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.”

Our salvation, our eternal life is kept safe for us by God. Peter describes it as imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for us.  Imperishable means permanent, eternal, and enduring. It cannot be destroyed. Undefiled means pure spotless and unpolluted. It remains perfect. It can’t be corrupted. And unfading means it can’t even lose a little of its richness or vibrancy. And it is being kept in Heaven for us. Not far from us, not for one day but for us now, since we live in the Kingdom of Heaven. It is protected and will remain safe until Jesus is fully revealed in us on The Day when we are in New Jerusalem face to face with Jesus.

That awesome hope, our eternal life, which we live now and it is guarded and protected by The Lord Almighty is what gives us reason to rejoice. Life is messy, hard, and difficult. Tragedy and calamity happen. But because we have Jesus Christ our hope, we can celebrate and be glad though all of it.

Do you realize that the precious treasure of eternal life can actually become more pure, more vibrant, and stronger? It does. It does when we go through the fires of life clinging to our Hope, rejoicing in our Peace, and remaining faithful to our Lord. Can you imagine what the world sees when you go through some awful experience and rather than break and curse God, rather than grumble and whine, you praise the Lord and allow the Spirit to build you, strengthen you, and make you more like Jesus? They see Jesus revealed in you. They hear about the awesome power of God’s Spirit. They see the proof of El Shaddai. And so do you. He becomes more concrete to you. Verses 6-9 say it this way,

“In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 8 Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, 9 obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.”

Think about what an awesome gift salvation is. There is no earning it. There is no buying it. The only way to get it is by the grace of our Father, the blood of Jesus, and the power of the Spirit. It is eternal, guaranteed, and perfect. Eternal life is a wonderful legacy. It is ours now. It can only get better, stronger, and bigger. It is an inheritance that we receive not through our Father’s death but because Jesus lives and brings us out of death. May grace and peace be multiplied to you. Bless the Lord! Praise Him forever. He is the Author and Perfecter of our faith. He is keeping it safe for us with Him, imperishable, undefiled, and unfading.

0 Comments
<<Previous
    Give to Salt & Light

    Donna Campbell

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

      Subscribe to Salt & Light Daily

    Submit

    Archives

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

    Categories

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

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.