In the end; whether by man's weapons of warfare; or God's supernatural destruction using perhaps volcanoes and other natural events to bring about destruction by fire and hail and earthquakes man is rarer than the "gold of Ophir" ( Isaiah 13:17).
In light of current events it isn't entirely implausible that due to political correctness and the efforts for one world "peace" that nuclear weapons could be curbed and once again horses literally could be used in warfare; as is mentioned once again in Revelation 19 in Armageddon. It seems in this event that air and sea weaponry is either not used or very insignificant; particularly in referring to the crossing over of the Euphrates as being a prime event. Many nations don't have a very sophisticated or extensive airplane or ship capability today in that part of the world; and those that do probably will be wiped out in the earlier Ezekiel 38 campaign.
As I said in the outset; where we are now has no guarantees but prayer is something we should bring to worldwide events as well as to individual situations. No doubt judgment has been delayed because the Lord heard our cry and allowed us to intercede through the Spirit much as Moses did to avoid God wiping out everyone at the time and starting over again. The biggest thing to watch out for is what Thessalonians calls "peace and safety (or security). There has to be enough APPARENT progress made in that area to fool the world through Antichrist. This would probably involve overthrow of many if not all of today's worldwide political structures that have long failed to deliver or at least complete overhaul. The existing structure will never be trustworthy enough at this point to sway the masses toward this Beast; he must appear to give everyone what they want and make them think they have actually achieved their "humanitarian" humanistic utopia of total freedom. Ultimately God and Christ are made to be the enemy.
Blind Faith - Luke 5:5 And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net.
It's amazing that when we are led by The Spirit of God we are sometimes led to do things that would not normally make sense to us: the truth is, when following Jesus, trust, faith and obedience are the necessary or key elements required to bring us to a place or state of victory. Peter was an experienced Fisherman and had ample knowledge of the sea to know it made no sense returning to fish, but that word he used NEVERTHELESS sent doubt ,worry and fear out of the door leading Peter and his Fishermen team straight into a place of victory. It's ok to question God if in doubt, its even ok to make a request like Gideon Judges 6:36-40, ut it's not ok to disobey the voice of God because it doesn't make sense to you.
Satan's machinations: PART TWO (further study on Satan's affect on us as individuals)
Part Two: The battle of the mind.
In my last post; I ran out of space again; but was getting into the verse where Jesus told Satan to get behind him when Peter was stating that basically going to the cross was not fit for Jesus to do. This shows how Christ expects us as His disciples to rely totally on the Spirit to allow the flesh to be dead. Luke 4:8 is the other verse where Jesus says this to Satan after the temptations in the wilderness. We see a difference between Peter then and after Pentecost as Jesus foretold after he denied knowing him. In all fairness since ALL the disciples ran off their fear for their lives superseded their love for Christ. This truly shows how only trust in the Spirit of God will enable us to face death with courage should it be in the time and place God has chosen. As I have said before it is the end of a life of obedience that Christ and in fact all the Disciples except for John met their fate; the spiritual man grows and matures through self denial and service to that point.
Our thought processes are determined merely by our old man at birth. Thus characteristic behaviors and routines develop which tend to linger with us even post salvation. There are; of course the affects of nurturing vs cruel parents; abundance or poverty in youth which the Lord is aware of but also weigh in on the enemy's game plan. Of course with the mind along with everything else the enemy attacks us with the easiest thing to do is be determined to TRUST God and reject any thought which isn't captive to His (God's) will ( 2 Corinthians 10:5); compare with 2 Timothy 2:26. We learn to recognize the enemy's patterns after hopefully only a few similar assaults at our weakest points. We learn to discern the Spirit of God which is outside of self from Satan's devices; which always appeals to the flesh and exalting self. RUN IF IT GOES AGAINST SCRIPTURE!
The Bible is not any book on our natural world. Dinosaurs ammonites all have their place. God is a Spirit and God's kingdom has its own rules as there are rules for grammar. Any one who would move in a polite society and wants to be looked up speaks as a cultured well educated person.So don'be drawn by atheists whose little knowledge is from Science that is incomplete. After Galileo they want only proof so they shall keep on driving a square block in round hole. Faith with works is simply trust in our Savior Lord and work as he would want us.
If one has the Son he has the Father as well. So understand the word of God by the indwelling Spirit and it is the only way.
Mathew 18:20 says "For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them."
A relationship with Christ Is not private, but communal, and the center of a person's relationship with Jesus is in the church. (Not necessarily the local Church but in the presence of other believers.
Read Hebrews 10:16-25.
We are to respond to his invitation and follow Jesus' example of how to live and treat others, giving him first place in your daily life.
A Desciples is someone who follows one's teachings.
In our rebirth Christ gave us his Spirit to guide us out of darkness.
Christ is faithful and said he will never leave you so your faith should be in his work on the cross not your baptism.
We pray to God for strength and wisdom and turn from the things that hinder us.
A Christian can not continue in sin!
God is love but he also is a righteous Judge.
He is rich in mercy forgiving iniquity, transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty;
Our salvation hangs on God's promise once we have believed on his son, Christ Jesus!
Have you truly trusted him in his finish work on the cross?
If so we are persuaded to love his precepts the Brothern.
This upper room has been prepared for a special occasion. Who had it prepared for Jesus? In the Gospel of St John Jesus assured his disciples, "And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also."( John 14:3). "For every house is builded by some man; but he that built all things is God." (He.3:4) As with the colt for his Son to go to Jerusalem God had provided all thing for life and godliness for his Son. God had appointed himas the heir of all things.
When Jesus said of foxes having holes and the birds their nests he was stating his own case as a man. In the world each one is so particular to flaunt their fashionable address God chose the upper room, and the Spirit has not given as one except that whatever God chose was in his Power and glory.
Jesus assured "My Father and I are one" and wherever he walked and abode signaled his Father to testify. "Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."(1:11). Psalmist refers to this relationship of the Father. "If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there." (Ps.139:8)
The Last supper enacted in that upper room evokes for us the same betrayal when Satan betrayed the trust of the Most High. For this reason Jesus refersto Judas as the son of perdition. "While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled." ( John 17:12)
We have several instances where what are presented before us is a kangaroo word in terms of the eternal Word. Thus the alabaster box is a kangaroo word for the woman who prepared the body of the Son for his burial. Ezekiel thus ingesting the roll that God gave him becomes a double for the Son. "Son of man, eat that thou findest; eat this roll, and go speak unto the house of Israel."(Ez.3:1)
Proverbs 3:5-6 tells us to trust in the Lord and lean not on your own understanding, but acknowledge the Lord and He will direct your paths. Surely our Creator should know what is best for us; and we should have enough examples of past saints and sinners to guide us and keep us on the straight and narrow path ( 2 Timothy 3:16). Giving up all to follow Him is something that certainly takes trust; that is for God to provide basic needs and the fact that there is heavenly rewards for temporal suffering. Those living as the Disciples did would certainly need encouragement such as found in the Book of Hebrews where it says that we MUST believe He is a rewarder of those who do His will ( Hebrews 11:6). Understanding that comes from above is what allows us to believe that Christ is truly God in the flesh ( Matt. 16:17). God's wisdom through the Spirit unlocks scripture and reveals to us eternal truths about individuals as well as the fate of nations. Many hard to read scriptures have meanings cleared up with cross references; and meditating on the Word day and night helps us to bring these things to mind for our own edification and witnessing to others "in and out of season" ( 2 Tim 4:2).
A general rule of thumb is that there is no (or shouldn't be) any line of demarcation between our "spiritual" lives involving various religious duties and the rest of our work and recreational interests. There is no good substitute for daily scripture studies accompanied by prayer; but there has to be more than just head knowledge. Continuing on the subject of TRUST; other people as well need to be able to see evidence of Christ "on display" in our character and interactions before they go for deeper understanding on spiritual matters. Therefore; we must be living out what we believe and naturally be dividing the Word correctly ( 2 Tim. 2:15). In upcoming posts I will try to demonstrate how to effectively read scripture and put it to use.
"Now therefore restore the man his wife; for he is a prophet, and he shall pray for thee, and thou shalt live: and if thou restore her not, know thou that thou shalt surely die, thou, and all that are thine." Genesis 20:7 KJV
(even in the midst of Abraham's deceit God intervened and protected both him and his wife Sarah)
"No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD." Isaiah 54:17 KJV
(my learning from this is to trust God, as in the scriptures:)
"Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding." Proverbs 3:5 KJV
"Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us. Selah." Psalms 62:8 KJV
"He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool: but whoso walketh wisely, he shall be delivered." Proverbs 28:26 KJV
"The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?" Jeremiah 17:9 KJV
"What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder." Here the man in question is Adam. By making him a living soul he is set down in the Lucan genealogy as the son of God. On day six he was blessed and placed all his creation under his hands (Ge.1:28-29). 'Male and female created him sets him in terms of his will stated as a forerunner of Christ and his bride. Only after He sanctified the day seven Eve, was taken out of his ribs. Later He brought all his creation for his review and no helpmeet was found from them. Only then God set about creating flesh of his flesh and bone of his bones. The everlasting covenant between God and Man gives us a final separation, as with Day and Night and waters above and below the firmament and it is a precursor for the ministry of reconciliation for the Word become flesh. It is to this St Paul refers, "For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church." (Ep.5:29. )Christ and his body is therefore implied in day Six. Creation of Eve in the following chapter thus creates a family tree connecting Jesus Christ to Adam in Luke Ch.3.
The breath of God made all the difference to Adam who was formed of the ground. He correctly guessed his calling and did not find anyone worthy from without. He was created in 'his likeness' which is the head. For this reason Jesus referred the deep sleep of Adam was precursor to his own death. He as the word become flesh made himself chaste. Compare his saying, "and there be eunuchs, which have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven's sake. He that is able to receive it, let him receive it."(Matt.19:12) With Jesus Christ came grace and truth. What God has joined together referred to his own case. In human likeness he nourished and cherished what God had entrusted him with. His prayer makes it clear. ( John 17:11-12)
Here we have two aspects of life where sin controls circumstances of man's world. We shall come to the other man's riches reigning uppermost whereas God covered him with glory and honor in the beginning; so much so Adam and Eve were naked and yet they felt no shame at all. Wealth of a sinful man's inventive mind, in terms of a sentient life did not exist at all.
The man who came running to Jesus must not have come on the spur of the moment. A good life for a fine mind can hold a deadening effect when one sees at every turn the squalor and misery of lives floating about. It is like a healthy man chained to a almost a decaying corpse. Does it not spoil his sleep though he has a comfortable bed to sleep on? He may have kept a good table with rich viands and possessed thoroughbreds in his stables and lived in the midst of objet d'art, and he may have even tried not to succumb to its lure. He would only know how his soul has been left bound so he hastened to Jesus in a moral dilemma. Only when the moment of truth demanded him to declare where he stood in terms of eternal life, "And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions".(v.22)
The Spirit repeats thrice in vv.23-25 Jesus makes a general observation; secondly with regards to those who would want an abiding life as branches to the true Vine. " Children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God!"(v.24)
"Who then can be saved?/And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible."(vv.26-27) Grace is required to negotiate between true riches and other man's riches.
On the other hand true riches of man has been established between God and Man and the blessings are allowed to whosoever trusted the Son unreservedly. Besides God sanctified the day Seven and would send him to the world in fullness of time.
"And he sent him away to his house, saying, Neither go into the town, nor tell it to any in the town."
Jesus laid his hand upon the blind man second time and his answer establishes that he was the Christ, the Son of God. His laying hand is very similar to the shadow, an example we have seen in the Acts of the Apostles.(5:15) The shadow of Peter doubling for ' under the shadow of the Almighty." By sending him away Jesus was commanding to live by faith in God who as the Psalmist confesses, "in him will I trust."(Ps.91:1-2).In other words he was ordained to live serving Him so he was to seek fellowship elsewhere and not with the unbelievers. "Lay hands suddenly on no man, neither be partaker of other men's sins: keep thyself pure./...Some men's sins are open beforehand, going before to judgment; and some men they follow after."(1 Ti.5:22,24)
Calling was universal as the Marriage of the King's Son tells us. "Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage./ So those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good: and the wedding was furnished with guests."(Matt.22:9-10). But without righteousness no one will be admitted.
Kingdom of God is not about quantity but of life everlasting. "For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost./For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men."(Ro.14:17-18)
Jesus at the end of the parable said,"For many are called, but few are chosen."(Matt.22:14). God knows who are his which has no expiry date. In his Son God has foreseen them and the word of God shall see it is fulfilled "But I tell you of a truth, many widows were in Israel in the days of Elias, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, when great famine was throughout all the land."( Luke 4:25) See the tag of Three and a half?
There is no need to apologize you have not stirred up anything, I agree with you on 2 Peter 1:20-21 Scripture, the word of God is not the author's or prophet's interpretation or understanding of what God relayed to them through the Holy Spirit. Every word in Scripture is from God, not man, and can be cherished and trusted.
My understanding of a discussion is two or more people in respect and love share their understanding of a subject. If someone asks a question, they are asking for the understanding of the subject of someone else to reach a decision or to exchange understandings asked of the person.
Truth is only given to us through the Spirit of Truth that Jesus sends to us from the Father, which proceedeth from the Father, John 15:26. You may see the earth was destroyed by the sin of Satan between Gen. 1:1 and 1:2, my understanding that produces two beginnings of the earth and the universe as Scripture tells us in Genesis 1. God has no beginning, the angels had a beginning, and the angels saw and shouted for joy at the beginning of this earth and universe Job 38. We may not agree on some points but that is ok.
I will pray for a job to be provided to you that will allow you to work in peace of mind and heart My son also suffers from anxiety and depression and has panic attacks from stressful situations also. Finding the right fit job has been an ongoing journey for him. He is 34. His first baby is due in May and he just began a new job this week. So, if you could pray for him I would appreciate that. His name is also Kevin.
Kevin, I want to declare to you that your sins are all forgiven in Jesus Christ when He died in our place. This forgiveness is given to us as a gift and we can be assured that we are forgiven when we embrace Him and His work of salvation in faith. So, you say your faith is weak, yet you do believe the gospel. You do not need to have but simple faith in what He has done and declared in the Scriptures. He died and rose for you to provide forgiveness and salvation unto those who believe on Him.
I am so glad you have shared your needs on this site. It is always a good thing to ask others to pray for oneself. So, be blessed by the Lord today and trust that He hears our prayers, knows our desires and every need and will bring answers that are the best for us.
The last part of the first stanza of the song "He knows my name" from the 2014 "If We're Honest" album of Francesca Battestelli states this:
True to who You are
You saw my heart
And made
Something out of nothing
We really can't disengage the concept of the comprehension that we have nothing to offer but a "broken and contrite heart" as Psalm 51:8 states when we first come to a saving faith. God Himself grants repentance ( 2 Tim. 2:25 and 2 places in Acts) but this results in our heartfelt plea for God's mercy. In the same logic salvation isn't a one way street. Realizing our own unworthiness and helplessness is what unregenerate man cannot or will not concede in this lifetime as we see illustrated in Jeremiah 18:12. Man finds ways to justify demon worship as giving them something; of course we see a perfect example in Acts 19:25-28 for example where a whole town spent an afternoon rioting; or in 1 Kings 18:28 with the so called "prophetic contest" between idols and the true and living God.
This illustration of what theologians title "Irresistable Grace" (not my favorite term) seems to fit here. Some could say that our response of realization of our sins; along with a verbal affirmation ( Romans 10:9-12) is a choice we make; rather than a response to the Spirit's prompting. I would agree as to the general search for truth that some have may come first for many; although we can't rule out a "Damascus Road" sort of conversion today either. In the mindset of unregenerate man; to be controlled or "possessed" by the Holy Spirit which results in a predictable response makes us robots and is a frightening concept in "losing our individual freedom of choice"; etc. Man's logic doesn't consider that our Creator should have ownership or mastery over His own created beings and of course we can struggle even as believers in trusting God to see us through the trials of life. This ties into the verse in Luke 17:33-37 in regard to really living when we lose our life
Job 13:15 states: Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him.
In 1 Kings 13; we see a story of an unnamed prophet who God slayed after disobeying the command not to eat or drink or go back the way he came after a fellow prophet lied to him; later the word of God came through that same prophet foretelling his burial won't be with the other ancestors and he died after leaving the meal; mauled by a lion who then stood next to his natural pray a donkey by the body. It is understood that the Spirit wasn't indwelling as it is today permanently with believers; but it would seem this man was disciplined by the Lord rather than going to hell. The same principle is stated in 1 Corinthians 11:30 where it talks about taking the Lord's supper unworthily (interestingly related to a meal taken wrongly as well).
My general point here is that there are many out there who claim we can "lose our salvation". We forget the many verses that contradict this which I won't get into right now; because there are so many others that seem to justify this concept. I have already discussed at length many times the idea of God chastising those He loves (and the opposite fact that we are all illegitimate sons if not ( Heb. 12:8).) What I am saying now is that the dying process begins at the day of our salvation and continues throughout our "sanctification" process. The outer evidence of this comes from the fruit in our hearts and is tied into our behaviors; attitudes; words; praises; service; etc. The world has it's own way of "sacrifice" whether as dramatic as "stigmata" or some kind of outer manifestation that appears like the wounds of Christ on their body (certainly demonic); or acts of contrition; service; etc. I don't want to force the terminology realted to the 5 points of Calvin to make my point. I do want to suggest that when God begins a work He completes it. Let us learn the lessons from scripture and take them to heart.
Hello Jessica: It sounds like you have been a really good person all your life, although I'm not sure what kind of "social justice" you have been an advocate/activists for, but I'm sure you have done your best to help people. I understand you now want Justise from God for this terrible wrong that has been done to you. First, I'd like to ask: do you BELIEVE in God and Jesus only, or are you a forgiven, justified, regenerated, new birth child of God because you have repented to Jesus and Jesus only and accepted Christ as your Savior? If not please read the book of John and 1st, 2nd, 3rd Peter and pray and ask Jesus into your heart. If you have never done this, if you "believe" in God because of the denomination you in and believe a doctrine, which doesn't teach a one-on-one relationship with Jesus Christ then I can understand why this prayer has not been answered answered for you, however, if you are a true child of God, you must trust Him to handle this situation in His time and His way. By fretting over this situation you are not allowing God to have His way. It is a sign to Him that you don't trust Him to take care of this for you. I'd like to give you three scriptures that I hope will help you besides the books I mentioned above.
Dear Christian Brother hello my name is Jaz and I'm new here . I've just read your message and it's so true . When I was a child I was told all kind of things about God by my family . As an adult I was shocked when I read the Bible for the first time to discover that so many things I had been told were not in the Bible . Sometimes the complete opposite ! It's so important for us to read the Bible for ourselves and not trust what people tell us to be true . God speaks for Himself in the Bible . We must pray for eyes and ears and open hearts and minds so we can come to know Him as He is and as He has revealed Himself to be in His Word . Our salvation is the most important thing and we must put our trust in God and in His Word not in how others interpret His Word . He has given us the Spirit of Truth we must be thankful for that and use it to read the Bible for ourselves .
Concluding thoughts for now on misuse of scripture.
Remembering the Pharisees shows us a prime example of how not to use scripture. Mark 7:11 is exhibit one in this subject matter; where for financial gain the needs of a parent were said to be avoided and was used in their logic to exonerate themselves for what was "dedicated to God". Psalm 105:15 stating to do no harm to God's anointed ones or prophets has also been mishandled by the "prosperity" preachers in particular and could of course be used by any cult leaders who are false prophets.
Again we know how much Satan knows scripture. Anything that can be used to tickle men's ears and misused such as God's promises for blessings being boiled down to presumption of financial gain for all of God's people is made even more insane when attempting to justify such logic with other scriptures. Jesus was clearly a man of sorrows as Isaiah prophesied; and was essentially homeless; or at least a full time missionary along with the disciples; fully dependent on God for provisions. If He could state that we shouldn't concern ourselves with food and clothing ( Matthew 6:25) it is more than a stretch to entrust him for a Lamborghinis or jet plane. Note that Jesus didn't even mention SHELTER; and also indicated that the Son of Man has no place to lay His head ( Matt. 8:20). No point going further on that subject!
A further consideration ties in with what I mentioned about the Pharisees in regard to making scriptures legalistic to maintain pride. This used to be more popular when parents were strict with children two and three generations ago. It still occurs in some denominations today under a guise of "holiness" but seen for what it is when Christ's love isn't on display. We can list all day long what we don't do or don't permit; but we also need to realize that it is the love of Christ that constrains us and draws people in ( 2 Cor. 5:14; John 12:32).
in short; scripture is truth unless used for another agenda
Heresies did not occur happenstance; but their knowledge of good and evil is still where the fall of man left it. Eve let truth given to her aside and let the counsel of the serpent, that seemed better' decide. She let the context determine if it is good or evil. Thus the context of glory of this world has created in them a contextual truth so they serve both God and mammon. If Adam was not trustworthy with the glory and true riches let him as the Parable of the Shred Steward tells,"for the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light./And I say unto you, Make to yourselves friends of the mammon of unrighteousness; that, when ye fail, they may receive you into everlasting habitations./ He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much."( Luke 16:8-11)
Jesus was ever dutiful Son who would while hanging on the cross entrusted the care of his mother to John, "When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son!/Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home."( John 19:26-27). By literal approach how false teachers consistently strip passages of their pith and serve the husks instead. This is one example. Covenant between God and Man entrusts man with His creation and does he care?
God had prepared a worm as he a great fish to instruct Prophet Jonah. At the end of the book He tells Jonah,"And should not I spare Nineveh, that great city, wherein are more than sixscore thousand persons that cannot discern between their right hand and their left hand; and also much cattle?"( Jonah 4:11) Family of man is incomplete without this same care for His creation. The Four beasts in heaven is a memorial.
Pilgrims in 1630 settled in the Americas to make a New Canaan. However it was like sewing old garment to the new in the manner the divine Will was shortchanged. Salt crystal is made up of chlorine and sodium which by themselves have their distinctive characteristics. Sodium is metal, and corrosive while chlorine is a gas and poisonous. How billions of these atoms are precisely arranged by force keeping the formation gives the table salt its savor. In the manner culture wars have dogged the country tells making a family or nation without fulfilling the will of the Father is a non-starter. "And no man putteth new wine into old bottles: else the new wine doth burst the bottles, and the wine is spilled, and the bottles will be marred: but new wine must be put into new bottles."(2:22)
In this passage the Spirit is setting two sets of families each representing the world of the Spirit and of the body. In the former world familial relationship is pendent to the covenant between God and Man, The latter is symbolic of heaven but in keeping with the body formed of the dust, it is the union of dust to dust and ashes to ashes. "For when they shall rise from the dead, they neither marry, nor are given in marriage; but are as the angels which are in heaven."(12:25; Matt.22:30). Resurrection of the dead is restoration of the covenant to its former glory where Power and glory of God renders the Man his throne so "and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God."(Re.21:3)
Thus the saying of Jesus refers to the world of the Spirit,"But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren./And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven."(Matt.23:8-9)
In marriage man and woman leave their parents and they shall be one flesh, "And if ye have not been faithful in that which is another man's, who shall give you that which is your own?"( Luke 16:12; Ge.2:23)
This was provisioned for in the covenant. In Ge.1:28-29 we are shown what our Father in heaven had entrusted them with His creation. "And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth." This was entrusted with man in his Son. It is to this God willed and the covenant exists, and as a proof sent his only begotten Son to the world in fulness of time.
As the key verse states there is no gender difference. Only those who do the will of God.
The supremacy of God is unrivaled. All that is belongs to Him. " Ps. 24:1 the earth is the Lord's and the fulness thereof, the world and all that dwell therein".
1 Chr.29:11 "Thine O, Lord is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty; for all that is in heaven and earth is thine; thine is the kingdom, and thou art exalted as head above all."
God reigns as the supreme sovereign of all creation. He is the maker of heaven and earth, all that is seen and unseen, even the powers, principalities, dominions, rulers in high places are ruled by Him.
In the consummation when Jesus returns, ALL things will be given to Jesus and then Jesus will conquer the final enemy death, and then He will turn ALL things over to His Father for a reign that lasts forever. ( 1 Cor 15:24-28)
I love this doxology often added at the end of the Lord's prayer.
"For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory forever and ever Amen."
It is foolish for anyone to think they can or try to thwart God's will and purposes. Satan was foolish and continues in his folly forever because he did not wanted to be ruled by God. We should be careful not to fall into rebellion against God's rule in our lives. It is for our best that we submit to Him in everything in every way. We are really powerless in light of His greatness. And we know that He is the "only wise God" and the only one who is truly good.
So we can trust Him and not lose heart when things are allowed to happen in our lives that are painful, difficult, perplexing, or cause us to despair or doubt. We remember that Jesus is familiar with our weakness and infirmities and is our great High Priest, perfect in every way to not only mediate for us but is perfect and can help us in the best way in all circumstances.
Prima facie one is likely to assume that Evangelist Matthew as one of the twelve is more likely to be advantaged over Mark as one given a ringside view of Jesus, his life, passion death and resurrection. The generation of Mark was farther from controversies whipped up for and against the man but what he had set off, the visible form of worship and attitudes unusual in the prevailing moral laxity the nascent church was gaining strength despite all odds. Mark however was among the stalwarts like Simon Peter and Paul and also early convert.
The Spirit having taken a hand over both Matthew and Mark has set down the truth regardless of the time lapse. How can he not present the Word become flesh but with authority so his truth sanctifies to which no scholarship of man is equal. Without any hesitation we can say that Mark as a faithful believer benefits from the Holy Ghost as other canonical gospel writers to set what is true. The risen Christ said, "And, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world." Given the truth set in inward parts whosoever thus equipped it is fit to the job.
As a disciple the Spirit entrusted St Matthew to delineate the preeminence of Jesus Christ; so with a large canvass at his disposal the risen Christ caps his Gospel with these stirring words of comfort, "All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth." As having overcome death for believers both heaven and earth are reconciled in a believer by his assurance: St Mark is as inspired as he but his is like lapidary work, focusing more on his inner life, prayer life for instance
After mentioning his temptation in the wilderness we have this verse: 'And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed(1:35)'. (6:31-32)(6:34)
Psalm 22 gives us a graphic account of the agony of Jesus on the cross. Jesus knew well that he was hung up not only on two wooden crossbeams but also between his deity and humanity,- and St Luke pithily sums it up: "For I say unto you, that this that is written must yet be accomplished in me, And he was reckoned among the transgressors: for the things concerning me have an end." ( Luke 22:37). Gospel of St Luke does well in dwelling on the Man component while John and Matthew give us the Alpha aspect of Christ.
Ps. 22:6-9 " But I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised of the people./All they that see me laugh me to scorn: they shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying,/He trusted on the Lord that he would deliver him: let him deliver him, seeing he delighted in him." Isaiah also refers more or less the same. "He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him;"(Is.53:3)
In real time he was despised and they 'laugh me to scorn'. "And they that passed by reviled him, wagging their heads,/And saying, Thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, save thyself. If thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross." while some, "let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe him." Chief priest befitting their holier-than- thou stance, "He trusted in God; let him deliver him now, if he will have him: for he said, I am the Son of God."
"He was despised, and we esteemed him not." His death did not mean much to the man on the street other than a spectacle of three 'malefactors'. Unless one makes 'the word' in his heart as the truth God has planted and unless you daily care for it do you think you would have been any different than the passersby? We are marvelously created and set on two timescales and blessed in his Son to be his witnesses.
Love is patient; love is kind. ( 1 Corinthians 13:4-8). This section of scripture gets into all of the attributes of true love which characterizes "agape" which is the deepest kind of love which we can experience coming from heaven itself. Every other type of human affection is stereotyped by a particular relationship; but cannot stand the test of time truly without the Lord's love being in the mix. "Storge" for instance is defined as a type of familiar bond; which I would think describes a kinship with family members.
This is often flipped as to the responsibility and frustrations of a parent for a child then later on for a caretaker as myself the burden of assisting family members losing their physical stamina; mental acuity; as well as the emotional volatility that can result from such deterioration. fThere is another term for "self love" which up until now I am unfamiliar with called "philautia" which I suspect is retlated to "philia" which is a sort of plutonic affection (without eros) for others. As a Christian; of course we are instructed to die to self and live out the new life of Christ; nonetheless the law itself says to love your neighbor as yourself ( Leviticus 19:18 as well as quoted in the Gospels. There are other passages that state we should care for our wives as our own body ( Ephesians 5:29).
What is necessary; of course is to honor what God has given us stewardship over; whether it is our own bodies; our finances; marriages; or anything else the Lord has given us. Trusting God to provide; as well as guide us through self deprivation; fasting; and suffering even leading to death needs to be done trusting that God has the best ultimately even if it means martyrdom in terms of our eternity. This allows us to have the proper commitment to others entrusted to our care as well as having a love for the brothers and sisters both in our midst and abroad preaching the Good News. We need to trust God in maintaining what He has provided for us
The Parable is with regards to managing the kingdom of God. "And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability." The Lord entrusted his goods to his servants in a casual haphazard manner but with careful manner. In his estimation he made manifest his grace. "For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith./For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office." (Ro.12:3-4).
The servants who prospered added five talents and two talents respectively tapped on their understanding of the Lord's way of doing business and made use of his contacts and traded on his behalf. So they were concerned with pleasing their Lord acording to the measure of faith. Faith is power and its increase is in applying the skills learned in their association with their master. Whether five or two their industry brought joy unto him. "His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord."
The servant who was given one talent was called to account in his turn. He used his reason than faith which made the Lord make available 'as though his hands' were for him the initial capital to the market place. It was as good as gold, his liquid assets ready to work. His rational faculties made him fear. Returning the one talent back he said, "And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine."(v.25)
His wickedness was to think with his reason where faith was required. Injury he did to 'the hand of the lord' by hiding it in the ground. He calls him therefore, "Thou wicked and slothful servant."
" Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh."
The driver is "faith" which activates his body, spirit and soul and when God breathed into the nostrils of man so no one may say he is an exception. The parable of the foolish virgins inform their failure was in quenching the spirit, the oil in their lamps. Without trimming the wick and all other motions are waste of time. Either they replenished their store or let it go waste. They were like the unprofitable servant who simply did not put the one talent he was entrusted with, to work for the glory of his Lord. The wise virgins gathered with the Lord were blessed to be found ready. "For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath."(13:12)
The bride hath made herself ready. The bride is distinct from the five foolish virgins who shall be shut out from the joy in heaven. "Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us./But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not. "(vv.11-12) "Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready."(Re.19:7)
Either Or is rooted in the very first separation. "And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness." (Ge.1:4) Based on this your labor in your field or at home shall not deliver you. Jesus refers to the antediluvian world
" But as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be."
But selection shall follow the divine Will (Ge.1:4)
"Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left./ Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left./ Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come."(24:37-42)
In 2016 we heard a televangelist asking for a Jet Falcon for his missionary tours. His explanation was, "I really believe that if Jesus was physically on the Earth today he wouldn't be riding a donkey," he said. "Think about that for a minute. He'd be in an aeroplane preaching the gospel all over the world." Jesus explained the quality of servants, "So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do."( Luke 17:10) We are commanded to do a certain task and we set out to do them trusting fully in His promises.
The Gentile kings have a custom, and it perpetuates the master servant distinction. Regarding the tribute money Jesus posed this question,"What thinkest thou, Simon? of whom do the kings of the earth take custom or tribute? of their own children, or of strangers?/ Peter saith unto him, Of strangers. Jesus saith unto him, Then are the children free." (17:25-26) The earth lieth in wickedness because Satan's ploy has worked well with man who would serve both God and mammon with little success. Jesus set the reward of everlasting life for those who are led by the Spirit.
"The disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his lord./It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord." (10:24-25). Simon Peter towards the end wanted to know, " Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed thee; what shall we have therefore?/And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel."(19:27-28)
Certainly. the USA has so much to give credit for but politics everywhere is the art of the impossible made to look possible. Whichever government Russia UK or China may follow it is same. Satan has drawn a shroud over man who says, "I will" God has made the US prove what they vow,"In God we Trust".
In the previous post I mentioned Wehrner von Braun. His group consisted of 120 + scientists and not 20 as I mentioned.
Finally in my youth I grew up reading the lives of so many, Truman, Thoreau among so many. But at the fag end of my life scales have fallen off my eyes and glory of man is like grass.
In the end; whether by man's weapons of warfare; or God's supernatural destruction using perhaps volcanoes and other natural events to bring about destruction by fire and hail and earthquakes man is rarer than the "gold of Ophir" ( Isaiah 13:17).
In light of current events it isn't entirely implausible that due to political correctness and the efforts for one world "peace" that nuclear weapons could be curbed and once again horses literally could be used in warfare; as is mentioned once again in Revelation 19 in Armageddon. It seems in this event that air and sea weaponry is either not used or very insignificant; particularly in referring to the crossing over of the Euphrates as being a prime event. Many nations don't have a very sophisticated or extensive airplane or ship capability today in that part of the world; and those that do probably will be wiped out in the earlier Ezekiel 38 campaign.
As I said in the outset; where we are now has no guarantees but prayer is something we should bring to worldwide events as well as to individual situations. No doubt judgment has been delayed because the Lord heard our cry and allowed us to intercede through the Spirit much as Moses did to avoid God wiping out everyone at the time and starting over again. The biggest thing to watch out for is what Thessalonians calls "peace and safety (or security). There has to be enough APPARENT progress made in that area to fool the world through Antichrist. This would probably involve overthrow of many if not all of today's worldwide political structures that have long failed to deliver or at least complete overhaul. The existing structure will never be trustworthy enough at this point to sway the masses toward this Beast; he must appear to give everyone what they want and make them think they have actually achieved their "humanitarian" humanistic utopia of total freedom. Ultimately God and Christ are made to be the enemy.
It's amazing that when we are led by The Spirit of God we are sometimes led to do things that would not normally make sense to us: the truth is, when following Jesus, trust, faith and obedience are the necessary or key elements required to bring us to a place or state of victory. Peter was an experienced Fisherman and had ample knowledge of the sea to know it made no sense returning to fish, but that word he used NEVERTHELESS sent doubt ,worry and fear out of the door leading Peter and his Fishermen team straight into a place of victory. It's ok to question God if in doubt, its even ok to make a request like Gideon Judges 6:36-40, ut it's not ok to disobey the voice of God because it doesn't make sense to you.
Part Two: The battle of the mind.
In my last post; I ran out of space again; but was getting into the verse where Jesus told Satan to get behind him when Peter was stating that basically going to the cross was not fit for Jesus to do. This shows how Christ expects us as His disciples to rely totally on the Spirit to allow the flesh to be dead. Luke 4:8 is the other verse where Jesus says this to Satan after the temptations in the wilderness. We see a difference between Peter then and after Pentecost as Jesus foretold after he denied knowing him. In all fairness since ALL the disciples ran off their fear for their lives superseded their love for Christ. This truly shows how only trust in the Spirit of God will enable us to face death with courage should it be in the time and place God has chosen. As I have said before it is the end of a life of obedience that Christ and in fact all the Disciples except for John met their fate; the spiritual man grows and matures through self denial and service to that point.
Our thought processes are determined merely by our old man at birth. Thus characteristic behaviors and routines develop which tend to linger with us even post salvation. There are; of course the affects of nurturing vs cruel parents; abundance or poverty in youth which the Lord is aware of but also weigh in on the enemy's game plan. Of course with the mind along with everything else the enemy attacks us with the easiest thing to do is be determined to TRUST God and reject any thought which isn't captive to His (God's) will ( 2 Corinthians 10:5); compare with 2 Timothy 2:26. We learn to recognize the enemy's patterns after hopefully only a few similar assaults at our weakest points. We learn to discern the Spirit of God which is outside of self from Satan's devices; which always appeals to the flesh and exalting self. RUN IF IT GOES AGAINST SCRIPTURE!
The Bible is not any book on our natural world. Dinosaurs ammonites all have their place. God is a Spirit and God's kingdom has its own rules as there are rules for grammar. Any one who would move in a polite society and wants to be looked up speaks as a cultured well educated person.So don'be drawn by atheists whose little knowledge is from Science that is incomplete. After Galileo they want only proof so they shall keep on driving a square block in round hole. Faith with works is simply trust in our Savior Lord and work as he would want us.
If one has the Son he has the Father as well. So understand the word of God by the indwelling Spirit and it is the only way.
Mathew 18:20 says "For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them."
A relationship with Christ Is not private, but communal, and the center of a person's relationship with Jesus is in the church. (Not necessarily the local Church but in the presence of other believers.
Read Hebrews 10:16-25.
We are to respond to his invitation and follow Jesus' example of how to live and treat others, giving him first place in your daily life.
A Desciples is someone who follows one's teachings.
In our rebirth Christ gave us his Spirit to guide us out of darkness.
Christ is faithful and said he will never leave you so your faith should be in his work on the cross not your baptism.
We pray to God for strength and wisdom and turn from the things that hinder us.
A Christian can not continue in sin!
God is love but he also is a righteous Judge.
He is rich in mercy forgiving iniquity, transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty;
Our salvation hangs on God's promise once we have believed on his son, Christ Jesus!
Have you truly trusted him in his finish work on the cross?
If so we are persuaded to love his precepts the Brothern.
Keep reading his word and obey him.
God bless.
This upper room has been prepared for a special occasion. Who had it prepared for Jesus? In the Gospel of St John Jesus assured his disciples, "And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also."( John 14:3). "For every house is builded by some man; but he that built all things is God." (He.3:4) As with the colt for his Son to go to Jerusalem God had provided all thing for life and godliness for his Son. God had appointed himas the heir of all things.
When Jesus said of foxes having holes and the birds their nests he was stating his own case as a man. In the world each one is so particular to flaunt their fashionable address God chose the upper room, and the Spirit has not given as one except that whatever God chose was in his Power and glory.
Jesus assured "My Father and I are one" and wherever he walked and abode signaled his Father to testify. "Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."(1:11). Psalmist refers to this relationship of the Father. "If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there." (Ps.139:8)
The Last supper enacted in that upper room evokes for us the same betrayal when Satan betrayed the trust of the Most High. For this reason Jesus refersto Judas as the son of perdition. "While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled." ( John 17:12)
We have several instances where what are presented before us is a kangaroo word in terms of the eternal Word. Thus the alabaster box is a kangaroo word for the woman who prepared the body of the Son for his burial. Ezekiel thus ingesting the roll that God gave him becomes a double for the Son. "Son of man, eat that thou findest; eat this roll, and go speak unto the house of Israel."(Ez.3:1)
Proverbs 3:5-6 tells us to trust in the Lord and lean not on your own understanding, but acknowledge the Lord and He will direct your paths. Surely our Creator should know what is best for us; and we should have enough examples of past saints and sinners to guide us and keep us on the straight and narrow path ( 2 Timothy 3:16). Giving up all to follow Him is something that certainly takes trust; that is for God to provide basic needs and the fact that there is heavenly rewards for temporal suffering. Those living as the Disciples did would certainly need encouragement such as found in the Book of Hebrews where it says that we MUST believe He is a rewarder of those who do His will ( Hebrews 11:6). Understanding that comes from above is what allows us to believe that Christ is truly God in the flesh ( Matt. 16:17). God's wisdom through the Spirit unlocks scripture and reveals to us eternal truths about individuals as well as the fate of nations. Many hard to read scriptures have meanings cleared up with cross references; and meditating on the Word day and night helps us to bring these things to mind for our own edification and witnessing to others "in and out of season" ( 2 Tim 4:2).
A general rule of thumb is that there is no (or shouldn't be) any line of demarcation between our "spiritual" lives involving various religious duties and the rest of our work and recreational interests. There is no good substitute for daily scripture studies accompanied by prayer; but there has to be more than just head knowledge. Continuing on the subject of TRUST; other people as well need to be able to see evidence of Christ "on display" in our character and interactions before they go for deeper understanding on spiritual matters. Therefore; we must be living out what we believe and naturally be dividing the Word correctly ( 2 Tim. 2:15). In upcoming posts I will try to demonstrate how to effectively read scripture and put it to use.
"Now therefore restore the man his wife; for he is a prophet, and he shall pray for thee, and thou shalt live: and if thou restore her not, know thou that thou shalt surely die, thou, and all that are thine." Genesis 20:7 KJV
(even in the midst of Abraham's deceit God intervened and protected both him and his wife Sarah)
"No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD." Isaiah 54:17 KJV
(my learning from this is to trust God, as in the scriptures:)
"Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding." Proverbs 3:5 KJV
"Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us. Selah." Psalms 62:8 KJV
"He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool: but whoso walketh wisely, he shall be delivered." Proverbs 28:26 KJV
"The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?" Jeremiah 17:9 KJV
"What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder." Here the man in question is Adam. By making him a living soul he is set down in the Lucan genealogy as the son of God. On day six he was blessed and placed all his creation under his hands (Ge.1:28-29). 'Male and female created him sets him in terms of his will stated as a forerunner of Christ and his bride. Only after He sanctified the day seven Eve, was taken out of his ribs. Later He brought all his creation for his review and no helpmeet was found from them. Only then God set about creating flesh of his flesh and bone of his bones. The everlasting covenant between God and Man gives us a final separation, as with Day and Night and waters above and below the firmament and it is a precursor for the ministry of reconciliation for the Word become flesh. It is to this St Paul refers, "For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church." (Ep.5:29. )Christ and his body is therefore implied in day Six. Creation of Eve in the following chapter thus creates a family tree connecting Jesus Christ to Adam in Luke Ch.3.
The breath of God made all the difference to Adam who was formed of the ground. He correctly guessed his calling and did not find anyone worthy from without. He was created in 'his likeness' which is the head. For this reason Jesus referred the deep sleep of Adam was precursor to his own death. He as the word become flesh made himself chaste. Compare his saying, "and there be eunuchs, which have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven's sake. He that is able to receive it, let him receive it."(Matt.19:12) With Jesus Christ came grace and truth. What God has joined together referred to his own case. In human likeness he nourished and cherished what God had entrusted him with. His prayer makes it clear. ( John 17:11-12)
Here we have two aspects of life where sin controls circumstances of man's world. We shall come to the other man's riches reigning uppermost whereas God covered him with glory and honor in the beginning; so much so Adam and Eve were naked and yet they felt no shame at all. Wealth of a sinful man's inventive mind, in terms of a sentient life did not exist at all.
The man who came running to Jesus must not have come on the spur of the moment. A good life for a fine mind can hold a deadening effect when one sees at every turn the squalor and misery of lives floating about. It is like a healthy man chained to a almost a decaying corpse. Does it not spoil his sleep though he has a comfortable bed to sleep on? He may have kept a good table with rich viands and possessed thoroughbreds in his stables and lived in the midst of objet d'art, and he may have even tried not to succumb to its lure. He would only know how his soul has been left bound so he hastened to Jesus in a moral dilemma. Only when the moment of truth demanded him to declare where he stood in terms of eternal life, "And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions".(v.22)
The Spirit repeats thrice in vv.23-25 Jesus makes a general observation; secondly with regards to those who would want an abiding life as branches to the true Vine. " Children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God!"(v.24)
"Who then can be saved?/And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible."(vv.26-27) Grace is required to negotiate between true riches and other man's riches.
On the other hand true riches of man has been established between God and Man and the blessings are allowed to whosoever trusted the Son unreservedly. Besides God sanctified the day Seven and would send him to the world in fullness of time.
"And he sent him away to his house, saying, Neither go into the town, nor tell it to any in the town."
Jesus laid his hand upon the blind man second time and his answer establishes that he was the Christ, the Son of God. His laying hand is very similar to the shadow, an example we have seen in the Acts of the Apostles.(5:15) The shadow of Peter doubling for ' under the shadow of the Almighty." By sending him away Jesus was commanding to live by faith in God who as the Psalmist confesses, "in him will I trust."(Ps.91:1-2).In other words he was ordained to live serving Him so he was to seek fellowship elsewhere and not with the unbelievers. "Lay hands suddenly on no man, neither be partaker of other men's sins: keep thyself pure./...Some men's sins are open beforehand, going before to judgment; and some men they follow after."(1 Ti.5:22,24)
Calling was universal as the Marriage of the King's Son tells us. "Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage./ So those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good: and the wedding was furnished with guests."(Matt.22:9-10). But without righteousness no one will be admitted.
Kingdom of God is not about quantity but of life everlasting. "For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost./For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men."(Ro.14:17-18)
Jesus at the end of the parable said,"For many are called, but few are chosen."(Matt.22:14). God knows who are his which has no expiry date. In his Son God has foreseen them and the word of God shall see it is fulfilled "But I tell you of a truth, many widows were in Israel in the days of Elias, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, when great famine was throughout all the land."( Luke 4:25) See the tag of Three and a half?
There is no need to apologize you have not stirred up anything, I agree with you on 2 Peter 1:20-21 Scripture, the word of God is not the author's or prophet's interpretation or understanding of what God relayed to them through the Holy Spirit. Every word in Scripture is from God, not man, and can be cherished and trusted.
My understanding of a discussion is two or more people in respect and love share their understanding of a subject. If someone asks a question, they are asking for the understanding of the subject of someone else to reach a decision or to exchange understandings asked of the person.
Truth is only given to us through the Spirit of Truth that Jesus sends to us from the Father, which proceedeth from the Father, John 15:26. You may see the earth was destroyed by the sin of Satan between Gen. 1:1 and 1:2, my understanding that produces two beginnings of the earth and the universe as Scripture tells us in Genesis 1. God has no beginning, the angels had a beginning, and the angels saw and shouted for joy at the beginning of this earth and universe Job 38. We may not agree on some points but that is ok.
God bless you, brother, be well.
RLW
I will pray for a job to be provided to you that will allow you to work in peace of mind and heart My son also suffers from anxiety and depression and has panic attacks from stressful situations also. Finding the right fit job has been an ongoing journey for him. He is 34. His first baby is due in May and he just began a new job this week. So, if you could pray for him I would appreciate that. His name is also Kevin.
Kevin, I want to declare to you that your sins are all forgiven in Jesus Christ when He died in our place. This forgiveness is given to us as a gift and we can be assured that we are forgiven when we embrace Him and His work of salvation in faith. So, you say your faith is weak, yet you do believe the gospel. You do not need to have but simple faith in what He has done and declared in the Scriptures. He died and rose for you to provide forgiveness and salvation unto those who believe on Him.
I am so glad you have shared your needs on this site. It is always a good thing to ask others to pray for oneself. So, be blessed by the Lord today and trust that He hears our prayers, knows our desires and every need and will bring answers that are the best for us.
True to who You are
You saw my heart
And made
Something out of nothing
We really can't disengage the concept of the comprehension that we have nothing to offer but a "broken and contrite heart" as Psalm 51:8 states when we first come to a saving faith. God Himself grants repentance ( 2 Tim. 2:25 and 2 places in Acts) but this results in our heartfelt plea for God's mercy. In the same logic salvation isn't a one way street. Realizing our own unworthiness and helplessness is what unregenerate man cannot or will not concede in this lifetime as we see illustrated in Jeremiah 18:12. Man finds ways to justify demon worship as giving them something; of course we see a perfect example in Acts 19:25-28 for example where a whole town spent an afternoon rioting; or in 1 Kings 18:28 with the so called "prophetic contest" between idols and the true and living God.
This illustration of what theologians title "Irresistable Grace" (not my favorite term) seems to fit here. Some could say that our response of realization of our sins; along with a verbal affirmation ( Romans 10:9-12) is a choice we make; rather than a response to the Spirit's prompting. I would agree as to the general search for truth that some have may come first for many; although we can't rule out a "Damascus Road" sort of conversion today either. In the mindset of unregenerate man; to be controlled or "possessed" by the Holy Spirit which results in a predictable response makes us robots and is a frightening concept in "losing our individual freedom of choice"; etc. Man's logic doesn't consider that our Creator should have ownership or mastery over His own created beings and of course we can struggle even as believers in trusting God to see us through the trials of life. This ties into the verse in Luke 17:33-37 in regard to really living when we lose our life
In 1 Kings 13; we see a story of an unnamed prophet who God slayed after disobeying the command not to eat or drink or go back the way he came after a fellow prophet lied to him; later the word of God came through that same prophet foretelling his burial won't be with the other ancestors and he died after leaving the meal; mauled by a lion who then stood next to his natural pray a donkey by the body. It is understood that the Spirit wasn't indwelling as it is today permanently with believers; but it would seem this man was disciplined by the Lord rather than going to hell. The same principle is stated in 1 Corinthians 11:30 where it talks about taking the Lord's supper unworthily (interestingly related to a meal taken wrongly as well).
My general point here is that there are many out there who claim we can "lose our salvation". We forget the many verses that contradict this which I won't get into right now; because there are so many others that seem to justify this concept. I have already discussed at length many times the idea of God chastising those He loves (and the opposite fact that we are all illegitimate sons if not ( Heb. 12:8).) What I am saying now is that the dying process begins at the day of our salvation and continues throughout our "sanctification" process. The outer evidence of this comes from the fruit in our hearts and is tied into our behaviors; attitudes; words; praises; service; etc. The world has it's own way of "sacrifice" whether as dramatic as "stigmata" or some kind of outer manifestation that appears like the wounds of Christ on their body (certainly demonic); or acts of contrition; service; etc. I don't want to force the terminology realted to the 5 points of Calvin to make my point. I do want to suggest that when God begins a work He completes it. Let us learn the lessons from scripture and take them to heart.
Mathew 6: 25-26, Romans 8:28, Ephesians 2:3-4
Remembering the Pharisees shows us a prime example of how not to use scripture. Mark 7:11 is exhibit one in this subject matter; where for financial gain the needs of a parent were said to be avoided and was used in their logic to exonerate themselves for what was "dedicated to God". Psalm 105:15 stating to do no harm to God's anointed ones or prophets has also been mishandled by the "prosperity" preachers in particular and could of course be used by any cult leaders who are false prophets.
Again we know how much Satan knows scripture. Anything that can be used to tickle men's ears and misused such as God's promises for blessings being boiled down to presumption of financial gain for all of God's people is made even more insane when attempting to justify such logic with other scriptures. Jesus was clearly a man of sorrows as Isaiah prophesied; and was essentially homeless; or at least a full time missionary along with the disciples; fully dependent on God for provisions. If He could state that we shouldn't concern ourselves with food and clothing ( Matthew 6:25) it is more than a stretch to entrust him for a Lamborghinis or jet plane. Note that Jesus didn't even mention SHELTER; and also indicated that the Son of Man has no place to lay His head ( Matt. 8:20). No point going further on that subject!
A further consideration ties in with what I mentioned about the Pharisees in regard to making scriptures legalistic to maintain pride. This used to be more popular when parents were strict with children two and three generations ago. It still occurs in some denominations today under a guise of "holiness" but seen for what it is when Christ's love isn't on display. We can list all day long what we don't do or don't permit; but we also need to realize that it is the love of Christ that constrains us and draws people in ( 2 Cor. 5:14; John 12:32).
in short; scripture is truth unless used for another agenda
Heresies did not occur happenstance; but their knowledge of good and evil is still where the fall of man left it. Eve let truth given to her aside and let the counsel of the serpent, that seemed better' decide. She let the context determine if it is good or evil. Thus the context of glory of this world has created in them a contextual truth so they serve both God and mammon. If Adam was not trustworthy with the glory and true riches let him as the Parable of the Shred Steward tells,"for the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light./And I say unto you, Make to yourselves friends of the mammon of unrighteousness; that, when ye fail, they may receive you into everlasting habitations./ He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much."( Luke 16:8-11)
Jesus was ever dutiful Son who would while hanging on the cross entrusted the care of his mother to John, "When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son!/Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home."( John 19:26-27). By literal approach how false teachers consistently strip passages of their pith and serve the husks instead. This is one example. Covenant between God and Man entrusts man with His creation and does he care?
God had prepared a worm as he a great fish to instruct Prophet Jonah. At the end of the book He tells Jonah,"And should not I spare Nineveh, that great city, wherein are more than sixscore thousand persons that cannot discern between their right hand and their left hand; and also much cattle?"( Jonah 4:11) Family of man is incomplete without this same care for His creation. The Four beasts in heaven is a memorial.
Pilgrims in 1630 settled in the Americas to make a New Canaan. However it was like sewing old garment to the new in the manner the divine Will was shortchanged. Salt crystal is made up of chlorine and sodium which by themselves have their distinctive characteristics. Sodium is metal, and corrosive while chlorine is a gas and poisonous. How billions of these atoms are precisely arranged by force keeping the formation gives the table salt its savor. In the manner culture wars have dogged the country tells making a family or nation without fulfilling the will of the Father is a non-starter. "And no man putteth new wine into old bottles: else the new wine doth burst the bottles, and the wine is spilled, and the bottles will be marred: but new wine must be put into new bottles."(2:22)
"Who is my mother, or my brethren?"
In this passage the Spirit is setting two sets of families each representing the world of the Spirit and of the body. In the former world familial relationship is pendent to the covenant between God and Man, The latter is symbolic of heaven but in keeping with the body formed of the dust, it is the union of dust to dust and ashes to ashes. "For when they shall rise from the dead, they neither marry, nor are given in marriage; but are as the angels which are in heaven."(12:25; Matt.22:30). Resurrection of the dead is restoration of the covenant to its former glory where Power and glory of God renders the Man his throne so "and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God."(Re.21:3)
Thus the saying of Jesus refers to the world of the Spirit,"But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren./And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven."(Matt.23:8-9)
In marriage man and woman leave their parents and they shall be one flesh, "And if ye have not been faithful in that which is another man's, who shall give you that which is your own?"( Luke 16:12; Ge.2:23)
This was provisioned for in the covenant. In Ge.1:28-29 we are shown what our Father in heaven had entrusted them with His creation. "And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth." This was entrusted with man in his Son. It is to this God willed and the covenant exists, and as a proof sent his only begotten Son to the world in fulness of time.
As the key verse states there is no gender difference. Only those who do the will of God.
GOD IS SUPREME OVER ALL
The supremacy of God is unrivaled. All that is belongs to Him. " Ps. 24:1 the earth is the Lord's and the fulness thereof, the world and all that dwell therein".
1 Chr.29:11 "Thine O, Lord is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty; for all that is in heaven and earth is thine; thine is the kingdom, and thou art exalted as head above all."
God reigns as the supreme sovereign of all creation. He is the maker of heaven and earth, all that is seen and unseen, even the powers, principalities, dominions, rulers in high places are ruled by Him.
In the consummation when Jesus returns, ALL things will be given to Jesus and then Jesus will conquer the final enemy death, and then He will turn ALL things over to His Father for a reign that lasts forever. ( 1 Cor 15:24-28)
I love this doxology often added at the end of the Lord's prayer.
"For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory forever and ever Amen."
It is foolish for anyone to think they can or try to thwart God's will and purposes. Satan was foolish and continues in his folly forever because he did not wanted to be ruled by God. We should be careful not to fall into rebellion against God's rule in our lives. It is for our best that we submit to Him in everything in every way. We are really powerless in light of His greatness. And we know that He is the "only wise God" and the only one who is truly good.
So we can trust Him and not lose heart when things are allowed to happen in our lives that are painful, difficult, perplexing, or cause us to despair or doubt. We remember that Jesus is familiar with our weakness and infirmities and is our great High Priest, perfect in every way to not only mediate for us but is perfect and can help us in the best way in all circumstances.
Prima facie one is likely to assume that Evangelist Matthew as one of the twelve is more likely to be advantaged over Mark as one given a ringside view of Jesus, his life, passion death and resurrection. The generation of Mark was farther from controversies whipped up for and against the man but what he had set off, the visible form of worship and attitudes unusual in the prevailing moral laxity the nascent church was gaining strength despite all odds. Mark however was among the stalwarts like Simon Peter and Paul and also early convert.
The Spirit having taken a hand over both Matthew and Mark has set down the truth regardless of the time lapse. How can he not present the Word become flesh but with authority so his truth sanctifies to which no scholarship of man is equal. Without any hesitation we can say that Mark as a faithful believer benefits from the Holy Ghost as other canonical gospel writers to set what is true. The risen Christ said, "And, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world." Given the truth set in inward parts whosoever thus equipped it is fit to the job.
As a disciple the Spirit entrusted St Matthew to delineate the preeminence of Jesus Christ; so with a large canvass at his disposal the risen Christ caps his Gospel with these stirring words of comfort, "All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth." As having overcome death for believers both heaven and earth are reconciled in a believer by his assurance: St Mark is as inspired as he but his is like lapidary work, focusing more on his inner life, prayer life for instance
After mentioning his temptation in the wilderness we have this verse: 'And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed(1:35)'. (6:31-32)(6:34)
Psalm 22 gives us a graphic account of the agony of Jesus on the cross. Jesus knew well that he was hung up not only on two wooden crossbeams but also between his deity and humanity,- and St Luke pithily sums it up: "For I say unto you, that this that is written must yet be accomplished in me, And he was reckoned among the transgressors: for the things concerning me have an end." ( Luke 22:37). Gospel of St Luke does well in dwelling on the Man component while John and Matthew give us the Alpha aspect of Christ.
Ps. 22:6-9 " But I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised of the people./All they that see me laugh me to scorn: they shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying,/He trusted on the Lord that he would deliver him: let him deliver him, seeing he delighted in him." Isaiah also refers more or less the same. "He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him;"(Is.53:3)
In real time he was despised and they 'laugh me to scorn'. "And they that passed by reviled him, wagging their heads,/And saying, Thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, save thyself. If thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross." while some, "let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe him." Chief priest befitting their holier-than- thou stance, "He trusted in God; let him deliver him now, if he will have him: for he said, I am the Son of God."
"He was despised, and we esteemed him not." His death did not mean much to the man on the street other than a spectacle of three 'malefactors'. Unless one makes 'the word' in his heart as the truth God has planted and unless you daily care for it do you think you would have been any different than the passersby? We are marvelously created and set on two timescales and blessed in his Son to be his witnesses.
This is often flipped as to the responsibility and frustrations of a parent for a child then later on for a caretaker as myself the burden of assisting family members losing their physical stamina; mental acuity; as well as the emotional volatility that can result from such deterioration. fThere is another term for "self love" which up until now I am unfamiliar with called "philautia" which I suspect is retlated to "philia" which is a sort of plutonic affection (without eros) for others. As a Christian; of course we are instructed to die to self and live out the new life of Christ; nonetheless the law itself says to love your neighbor as yourself ( Leviticus 19:18 as well as quoted in the Gospels. There are other passages that state we should care for our wives as our own body ( Ephesians 5:29).
What is necessary; of course is to honor what God has given us stewardship over; whether it is our own bodies; our finances; marriages; or anything else the Lord has given us. Trusting God to provide; as well as guide us through self deprivation; fasting; and suffering even leading to death needs to be done trusting that God has the best ultimately even if it means martyrdom in terms of our eternity. This allows us to have the proper commitment to others entrusted to our care as well as having a love for the brothers and sisters both in our midst and abroad preaching the Good News. We need to trust God in maintaining what He has provided for us
The Parable is with regards to managing the kingdom of God. "And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability." The Lord entrusted his goods to his servants in a casual haphazard manner but with careful manner. In his estimation he made manifest his grace. "For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith./For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office." (Ro.12:3-4).
The servants who prospered added five talents and two talents respectively tapped on their understanding of the Lord's way of doing business and made use of his contacts and traded on his behalf. So they were concerned with pleasing their Lord acording to the measure of faith. Faith is power and its increase is in applying the skills learned in their association with their master. Whether five or two their industry brought joy unto him. "His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord."
The servant who was given one talent was called to account in his turn. He used his reason than faith which made the Lord make available 'as though his hands' were for him the initial capital to the market place. It was as good as gold, his liquid assets ready to work. His rational faculties made him fear. Returning the one talent back he said, "And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine."(v.25)
His wickedness was to think with his reason where faith was required. Injury he did to 'the hand of the lord' by hiding it in the ground. He calls him therefore, "Thou wicked and slothful servant."
" Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh."
The driver is "faith" which activates his body, spirit and soul and when God breathed into the nostrils of man so no one may say he is an exception. The parable of the foolish virgins inform their failure was in quenching the spirit, the oil in their lamps. Without trimming the wick and all other motions are waste of time. Either they replenished their store or let it go waste. They were like the unprofitable servant who simply did not put the one talent he was entrusted with, to work for the glory of his Lord. The wise virgins gathered with the Lord were blessed to be found ready. "For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath."(13:12)
The bride hath made herself ready. The bride is distinct from the five foolish virgins who shall be shut out from the joy in heaven. "Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us./But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not. "(vv.11-12) "Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready."(Re.19:7)
Either Or is rooted in the very first separation. "And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness." (Ge.1:4) Based on this your labor in your field or at home shall not deliver you. Jesus refers to the antediluvian world
" But as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be."
But selection shall follow the divine Will (Ge.1:4)
"Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left./ Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left./ Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come."(24:37-42)
In 2016 we heard a televangelist asking for a Jet Falcon for his missionary tours. His explanation was, "I really believe that if Jesus was physically on the Earth today he wouldn't be riding a donkey," he said. "Think about that for a minute. He'd be in an aeroplane preaching the gospel all over the world." Jesus explained the quality of servants, "So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do."( Luke 17:10) We are commanded to do a certain task and we set out to do them trusting fully in His promises.
The Gentile kings have a custom, and it perpetuates the master servant distinction. Regarding the tribute money Jesus posed this question,"What thinkest thou, Simon? of whom do the kings of the earth take custom or tribute? of their own children, or of strangers?/ Peter saith unto him, Of strangers. Jesus saith unto him, Then are the children free." (17:25-26) The earth lieth in wickedness because Satan's ploy has worked well with man who would serve both God and mammon with little success. Jesus set the reward of everlasting life for those who are led by the Spirit.
"The disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his lord./It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord." (10:24-25). Simon Peter towards the end wanted to know, " Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed thee; what shall we have therefore?/And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel."(19:27-28)
Certainly. the USA has so much to give credit for but politics everywhere is the art of the impossible made to look possible. Whichever government Russia UK or China may follow it is same. Satan has drawn a shroud over man who says, "I will" God has made the US prove what they vow,"In God we Trust".
In the previous post I mentioned Wehrner von Braun. His group consisted of 120 + scientists and not 20 as I mentioned.
Finally in my youth I grew up reading the lives of so many, Truman, Thoreau among so many. But at the fag end of my life scales have fallen off my eyes and glory of man is like grass.
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