Ephesians 3: 16-21
I pray that from His glorious, unlimited resources He will empower you with inner strength through His Spirit.
Then Christ will make His home in your hearts as you trust in Him.
Your roots will grow down into God's love and keep you strong.
And may you have the power to understand, as all God's people should, how wide, how long, how high and how deep His love is.
May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully.
Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.
Now all glory to God, Who is able, through His mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or (even) think (of).
Glory to Him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen.
This is my prayer. May it be so in me and in all of us who are Your church, dear Father.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Wednesday, April 26, 2017
Tuesday, April 25, 2017
Godless, Foolish Discussions
II Timothy 2: 16
Avoid godless, foolish discussions that lead to more ungodliness.
Several decades ago when I was a young Christian I was confronted with some ideas that cast doubt on the veracity of Scripture, that maybe our modern translations have missed some points in our early human story that change how we see all that has happened since then.
After considering these concepts, I decided to trust God that He knows what He's doing and has given us everything we need to know to live our lives in Truth and righteousness (II Timothy 3:16-17), and that I didn't need these extra-Biblical stories to draw me away from God's revealed Truth in the Bible.
Since then, I've been granted to be able to attend a Bible College and learn how to study the Bible honestly, to understand it the way God intends. And He has been faithful to lead me into some wonderful understandings of His workings in this World, in History (His Story), and in my own life. Hence this blog. (Thank you for reading it, I hope it helps you, too.)
So I will continue to study in God's Holy Scripture, and try to avoid those "godless, foolish discussions" by relying on "All Scripture" that is "God-breathed and useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness, so that" I "can be thoroughly equipped for every good work."
And you too, dear Reader, don't take my word for anything! I could be in error on some point; check out what I say, and if you have a question, I welcome your comments and will consider your view, and try to answer whatever difference you have in your understanding of what God is saying to us. May we "reason together."
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Avoid godless, foolish discussions that lead to more ungodliness.
Several decades ago when I was a young Christian I was confronted with some ideas that cast doubt on the veracity of Scripture, that maybe our modern translations have missed some points in our early human story that change how we see all that has happened since then.
After considering these concepts, I decided to trust God that He knows what He's doing and has given us everything we need to know to live our lives in Truth and righteousness (II Timothy 3:16-17), and that I didn't need these extra-Biblical stories to draw me away from God's revealed Truth in the Bible.
Since then, I've been granted to be able to attend a Bible College and learn how to study the Bible honestly, to understand it the way God intends. And He has been faithful to lead me into some wonderful understandings of His workings in this World, in History (His Story), and in my own life. Hence this blog. (Thank you for reading it, I hope it helps you, too.)
So I will continue to study in God's Holy Scripture, and try to avoid those "godless, foolish discussions" by relying on "All Scripture" that is "God-breathed and useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness, so that" I "can be thoroughly equipped for every good work."
And you too, dear Reader, don't take my word for anything! I could be in error on some point; check out what I say, and if you have a question, I welcome your comments and will consider your view, and try to answer whatever difference you have in your understanding of what God is saying to us. May we "reason together."
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Monday, April 24, 2017
The Righteous And Sinners
Luke 5: 27-32
And the Pharisees and their Scribes began grumbling at His disciples saying, "Why do you eat and drink with the tax-gatherers and sinners?" And Jesus answered and said to them, "It is not those who are well who need a physician, but those who are sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance."
These religious leaders thought they were righteous, but all they had was self-righteousness, and they had a "holier-than-thou" attitude. Whenever they would come to the place where they could admit their sins, confess them and turn from them (repent), then they could be saved, too.
We all need to realize we are sinners before we can know we need a Savior. For there is none who is righteous in their flesh; we are all led astray by the sin-nature we inherited from Adam. So we all need saving.
Ephesians 2:3 tells us that we are all "by nature (not actions) creatures of wrath," we are all born into this family of Mankind inheriting the DNA of our fathers (through Adam) and our mothers (through Eve). But the sin-part of that DNA was given to Adam to pass on, not Eve. (That's why Mary could bear Jesus without sin, because He didn't have a human father.)
Eve was deceived, she thought it would be a good thing to not have to bother God with all her choices, she could decide for herself. But then she "gave to her husband with her" and he ate in full realization of disobeying God, a willful sin. That's when what he ate was digested, and "damaged" his genes. (Read Genesis 3:1-7, see how Satan first places doubt in Eve's mind, v. 1, then lies outright to her, v. 4.)
Satan tempts us with the same deception: we're smart, we know how to make our own decisions, don't tell us what to do! That's prideful, and worldly thinking. Yes, we're intelligent, we can think through a lot of things for ourselves. But God's thoughts are not our thoughts. We need to direct our thinking processes along God's lines, as He reveals to us in His Word, and depend on His Holy Spirit of Truth that lives in us to guide us. Even when it may not make perfect sense to us. If we think on it enough, submitting ourselves to His ways, then He will make known to us how "reasonable" it really is ("Come let us reason together" Isaiah 1:18).
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
And the Pharisees and their Scribes began grumbling at His disciples saying, "Why do you eat and drink with the tax-gatherers and sinners?" And Jesus answered and said to them, "It is not those who are well who need a physician, but those who are sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance."
These religious leaders thought they were righteous, but all they had was self-righteousness, and they had a "holier-than-thou" attitude. Whenever they would come to the place where they could admit their sins, confess them and turn from them (repent), then they could be saved, too.
We all need to realize we are sinners before we can know we need a Savior. For there is none who is righteous in their flesh; we are all led astray by the sin-nature we inherited from Adam. So we all need saving.
Ephesians 2:3 tells us that we are all "by nature (not actions) creatures of wrath," we are all born into this family of Mankind inheriting the DNA of our fathers (through Adam) and our mothers (through Eve). But the sin-part of that DNA was given to Adam to pass on, not Eve. (That's why Mary could bear Jesus without sin, because He didn't have a human father.)
Eve was deceived, she thought it would be a good thing to not have to bother God with all her choices, she could decide for herself. But then she "gave to her husband with her" and he ate in full realization of disobeying God, a willful sin. That's when what he ate was digested, and "damaged" his genes. (Read Genesis 3:1-7, see how Satan first places doubt in Eve's mind, v. 1, then lies outright to her, v. 4.)
Satan tempts us with the same deception: we're smart, we know how to make our own decisions, don't tell us what to do! That's prideful, and worldly thinking. Yes, we're intelligent, we can think through a lot of things for ourselves. But God's thoughts are not our thoughts. We need to direct our thinking processes along God's lines, as He reveals to us in His Word, and depend on His Holy Spirit of Truth that lives in us to guide us. Even when it may not make perfect sense to us. If we think on it enough, submitting ourselves to His ways, then He will make known to us how "reasonable" it really is ("Come let us reason together" Isaiah 1:18).
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Sunday, April 23, 2017
We Will Not Conceal, But Tell
Psalm 78: 1-4
Listen, O my people, to my instruction; incline your ears to the words of my mouth. I will open my mouth to a parable; I will utter dark sayings of old, which we have heard and known, and our fathers have told us. We will not conceal them from their children, but tell the generation to come the praises of the Lord, and His strength and His wondrous works that He has done.
This is a long Psalm: 72 verses, recounting all the miracles God did for Israel. We are to tell our children and grandchildren all these Bible stories as though they really, actually happened, because they did. If they don't seem to be reasonable, natural things, it's because they're not--they're miracles.
God is the Maker of this World, and He is the One Who designed it; so He can decide to "bend" it if He chooses to do so, without upsetting the "normal" course of events. God is the One Who put order (Truth) into His creation. He is Truth, our standard for what Truth is. As such, He would never put any "myth" into His Word as though it happened if it didn't.
And we will not conceal them or leave anything out of what we've learned, even the dark sayings of old. So our Bible is a true and complete record of all that God wants us to know.
So we are to teach our children and grandchildren these stories, to show Who God is, how He sees us and loved us, and is capable of doing anything He wants. He is a good God, and He wants only the best for His beloved, us, granting us grace and mercy.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Listen, O my people, to my instruction; incline your ears to the words of my mouth. I will open my mouth to a parable; I will utter dark sayings of old, which we have heard and known, and our fathers have told us. We will not conceal them from their children, but tell the generation to come the praises of the Lord, and His strength and His wondrous works that He has done.
This is a long Psalm: 72 verses, recounting all the miracles God did for Israel. We are to tell our children and grandchildren all these Bible stories as though they really, actually happened, because they did. If they don't seem to be reasonable, natural things, it's because they're not--they're miracles.
God is the Maker of this World, and He is the One Who designed it; so He can decide to "bend" it if He chooses to do so, without upsetting the "normal" course of events. God is the One Who put order (Truth) into His creation. He is Truth, our standard for what Truth is. As such, He would never put any "myth" into His Word as though it happened if it didn't.
And we will not conceal them or leave anything out of what we've learned, even the dark sayings of old. So our Bible is a true and complete record of all that God wants us to know.
So we are to teach our children and grandchildren these stories, to show Who God is, how He sees us and loved us, and is capable of doing anything He wants. He is a good God, and He wants only the best for His beloved, us, granting us grace and mercy.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Saturday, April 22, 2017
Deceptive Food
Isaiah 55: 2
Why do you spend your money on food that does not nourish you? Why are you paying for food that does you no good? Listen to Me, and you will eat what is good; you will enjoy the finest food.
So much of America's diet is not even food, but chemicals! All the artificial ingredients in it do not nourish us, but only "spike" the pleasure centers of our brains, so we will be deceived into thinking it tastes good. We are getting fat as we starve.
God made this Earth for us, and He put in it everything we need for good health and prosperity. One-ingredient foods, like a meat or a potato or a carrot, are real food. Food that will nourish our bodies, feed our brains, and give us energy. When it is processed, and other stuff is added to it; when all the nourishment is removed, then replaced artificially; it becomes merely deceptive dainties.
It is said, you are what you eat. That is because our bodies use what we consume to repair our cells, and when we eat what is not food, then these artificial chemicals work their way into our make-up; resulting in our bodies attacking themselves with auto-immune diseases.
When Daniel was brought to Babylon and chosen to be prepared for the king's court and service, he recognized that the king's food was not healthy, so he requested only vegetables and water. Then after the time of testing, because he had gone through this "cleanse," he looked much healthier than the others, because he was. (see Daniel chapter 1.) This is a good example given us to learn from.
I search for natural, organic, unprocessed foods, and prepare my own meals at home. I know that these foods that God has provided from this Earth He designed for us will give me good, dense nourishment without extra calories. And it has enabled me to enjoy exceptional physical health.
Praise God for providing for us everything we need, in this Earth and in His Son. God loves us and wants the best for us, so He sent His best to meet our most urgent need, the Spiritual. That is Real Life (see John 6:63).
When we seek God and His righteousness first, then all these Earthly things will also be given to us (Matthew 6:63). God will not withhold any good thing from His own children.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Why do you spend your money on food that does not nourish you? Why are you paying for food that does you no good? Listen to Me, and you will eat what is good; you will enjoy the finest food.
So much of America's diet is not even food, but chemicals! All the artificial ingredients in it do not nourish us, but only "spike" the pleasure centers of our brains, so we will be deceived into thinking it tastes good. We are getting fat as we starve.
God made this Earth for us, and He put in it everything we need for good health and prosperity. One-ingredient foods, like a meat or a potato or a carrot, are real food. Food that will nourish our bodies, feed our brains, and give us energy. When it is processed, and other stuff is added to it; when all the nourishment is removed, then replaced artificially; it becomes merely deceptive dainties.
It is said, you are what you eat. That is because our bodies use what we consume to repair our cells, and when we eat what is not food, then these artificial chemicals work their way into our make-up; resulting in our bodies attacking themselves with auto-immune diseases.
When Daniel was brought to Babylon and chosen to be prepared for the king's court and service, he recognized that the king's food was not healthy, so he requested only vegetables and water. Then after the time of testing, because he had gone through this "cleanse," he looked much healthier than the others, because he was. (see Daniel chapter 1.) This is a good example given us to learn from.
I search for natural, organic, unprocessed foods, and prepare my own meals at home. I know that these foods that God has provided from this Earth He designed for us will give me good, dense nourishment without extra calories. And it has enabled me to enjoy exceptional physical health.
Praise God for providing for us everything we need, in this Earth and in His Son. God loves us and wants the best for us, so He sent His best to meet our most urgent need, the Spiritual. That is Real Life (see John 6:63).
When we seek God and His righteousness first, then all these Earthly things will also be given to us (Matthew 6:63). God will not withhold any good thing from His own children.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Friday, April 21, 2017
God's Reputation
Isaiah 48:11
I will rescue you for My sake--yes, for My own sake! I will not let My reputation be tarnished, and I will not share My glory with idols!
The World looks at our Nation and they think they see a Christian nation, but they are pointing out all our rebellion as Christianity, which blasphemes God.
Just as Israel was a chosen nation before God, but strayed far from His ways, worshiping all the idols of their neighbors instead of God; so America, a nation founded on Biblical principles, has also wandered very far from Godly ways.
O my dear, glorious Father in Heaven, I pray for this Nation that is known as Yours, but no longer acknowledges You. Father, do not let these other nations disparage Your reputation in the World! Do not allow any of the idols we have set up to honor and adore share any of Your glory!
Please raise up Asa's in our halls of power to tear down all the heathen altars, shrines and idols! Continue to wake up Your Church to recognize these sins, and strengthen us against these abominations, to put away all the secret idols we have set up in our hearts; to live our lives openly in Your righteousness.
Let America be again that "shining city on a hill" to show Your glory to the World, before the end.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
I will rescue you for My sake--yes, for My own sake! I will not let My reputation be tarnished, and I will not share My glory with idols!
The World looks at our Nation and they think they see a Christian nation, but they are pointing out all our rebellion as Christianity, which blasphemes God.
Just as Israel was a chosen nation before God, but strayed far from His ways, worshiping all the idols of their neighbors instead of God; so America, a nation founded on Biblical principles, has also wandered very far from Godly ways.
O my dear, glorious Father in Heaven, I pray for this Nation that is known as Yours, but no longer acknowledges You. Father, do not let these other nations disparage Your reputation in the World! Do not allow any of the idols we have set up to honor and adore share any of Your glory!
Please raise up Asa's in our halls of power to tear down all the heathen altars, shrines and idols! Continue to wake up Your Church to recognize these sins, and strengthen us against these abominations, to put away all the secret idols we have set up in our hearts; to live our lives openly in Your righteousness.
Let America be again that "shining city on a hill" to show Your glory to the World, before the end.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Thursday, April 20, 2017
The Lessons From The Past
Isaiah 42: 23
Who will hear these lessons from the past and see the ruin that awaits you in the future?
It is said that the past repeats itself. This is because we do not listen to the lessons from the past. We think that if we go this way, then it will go well for us. But God says that there is a way that seems right to us, but its end is destruction, death (Proverbs 16:25). That is why history repeats--we keep doing the same things expecting a different outcome! This is insanity! If we would only look at our own history with inquiring eyes to learn those lessons, then we would finally turn to God to find out His ways.
When we can learn God's ways for us, then we will be able to do the things He wants for us; we will learn how to interact with our fellow human beings and use this Earth for our benefit, and we will all be better off for it.
But we naturally want to figure things out for ourselves, we're smart, we can make our own decisions. So we close our eyes to history and repeat the same policies that have failed in the past. Many may do this, thinking that they will benefit from others' loss, which is using people. People are to be loved, things are to be used. If we love the things of this World, then we will use people to get more of them. This is evil, will not satisfy, and is detrimental to our human family.
We need to pray that God will teach us His ways, and that He would grant that His people would rule over us, according to the good and beneficial ways God has told us in His Word. We need to live our own personal lives, and seek to live our corporate and community and political lives together according to His ways. Then we will do the things that will fulfill our own desires (Psalm 37:4), and further along God's great Plan of the Ages for all of us in this era He has placed us in. We each have a small role to play, a simple thread to add to His great Tapestry of Time. Our threads could be dark, even black, or they could be a bright color, or even silver or gold! It is our choice to go God's way or our own way, determining what our "color" will be in that final Big Picture.
God's magnificent glory and perfect justice will be on display for all eternity. I want for all of us to be part of the glory side of forever.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Who will hear these lessons from the past and see the ruin that awaits you in the future?
It is said that the past repeats itself. This is because we do not listen to the lessons from the past. We think that if we go this way, then it will go well for us. But God says that there is a way that seems right to us, but its end is destruction, death (Proverbs 16:25). That is why history repeats--we keep doing the same things expecting a different outcome! This is insanity! If we would only look at our own history with inquiring eyes to learn those lessons, then we would finally turn to God to find out His ways.
When we can learn God's ways for us, then we will be able to do the things He wants for us; we will learn how to interact with our fellow human beings and use this Earth for our benefit, and we will all be better off for it.
But we naturally want to figure things out for ourselves, we're smart, we can make our own decisions. So we close our eyes to history and repeat the same policies that have failed in the past. Many may do this, thinking that they will benefit from others' loss, which is using people. People are to be loved, things are to be used. If we love the things of this World, then we will use people to get more of them. This is evil, will not satisfy, and is detrimental to our human family.
We need to pray that God will teach us His ways, and that He would grant that His people would rule over us, according to the good and beneficial ways God has told us in His Word. We need to live our own personal lives, and seek to live our corporate and community and political lives together according to His ways. Then we will do the things that will fulfill our own desires (Psalm 37:4), and further along God's great Plan of the Ages for all of us in this era He has placed us in. We each have a small role to play, a simple thread to add to His great Tapestry of Time. Our threads could be dark, even black, or they could be a bright color, or even silver or gold! It is our choice to go God's way or our own way, determining what our "color" will be in that final Big Picture.
God's magnificent glory and perfect justice will be on display for all eternity. I want for all of us to be part of the glory side of forever.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
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