"Preservation"

 "I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture." (John 10:9 KJV)

  "You prepare a feast for me in the presence of my enemies. You honor me by anointing my head with oil. My cup overflows with blessings. Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will live in the house of the LORD forever." (Psalm 23:5-6 NLT)

 Whether or not you know this, this is not our home, so we shouldn't stress or lose any sleep over any of things that might be happening in this world. As a matter of fact, this particular verse has a message to us regarding something about living in this world, good or bad, we will always find peace! 

 I know I shared on this before, but anything that reminds me of the peace Jesus gives, becomes another time to share it again. When I got saved, I was in jail, which actually means, I was locked up and not free to go anywhere I wanted to go. Amazingly, that really didn't matter to me anymore, because I had peace and felt as though I was right where God wanted me, no matter where I was, He was there with me! 

 Couple that with the fellowship I had with fellow believers, my life there was always filled with joy and peace; even though I could not be with my family, I always had family with me. I always prayed for my wife and son; and I missed them dearly. But God was doing something special in my life, and I needed to be wherever God would have me to be.

 This might not seem like such a big deal, but no matter what might happen in this crazy world, if you still have breath in your lungs, you still have something to do! Even if that simply requires you to pray, we always need people that will pray; for, pastors need prayer, your families need prayer, your appointed leaders need prayer; if you feel led, you might even pray for yourself! 

 As a matter of fact, don't ever feel as though you shouldn't pray for yourself, as if that is selfish or you really don't need to be concerned with yourself; because you need all the help you can get! Yes, we have peace and joy, guaranteed; but we are also bombarded with disappointment, discouragement, and disasters, more than we might otherwise like.

 Whatever happens, never give up! Keep on praying and never stop believing...

"We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure. This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves. We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair. We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed. Through suffering, our bodies continue to share in the death of Jesus so that the life of Jesus may also be seen in our bodies." (2 Corinthians 4:7-10 NLT)     

"Getting Real"

 "All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them." (John 10:8 KJV)

  "Come, wild animals of the field! Come, wild animals of the forest! Come and devour my people! For the leaders of my people - the LORD'S watchmen, his shepherds - are blind and ignorant. They are like silent watchdogs that give no warning when danger comes. They love to lie around, sleeping and dreaming. Like greedy dogs, they are never satisfied. They are ignorant shepherds, all following their own path and intent on personal gain. "Come," they say, "let's get some wine and have a party. Let's all get drunk. Then tomorrow we'll do it again and have an even bigger party!"" (Isaiah 56:9-12 NLT)

 As much as I want to try and be silent, it hurts my heart to see where the world is going. But we know by the signs of these current times, it's all happening just as the Bible says; we just can hardly believe it is happening in our generation! 

 Let me get something off of my chest, because I've heard what is being said, but it sounds as if most people talking have been skirting around the real truth. We had a president that was not expected to win an election, for reasons that only God really knows, it happened, none the less. He was not part of the system, nor did he want to be! 

 It is because of that; he was considered to be illegitimate, unfit for office, and became the enemy of all those that ran or were part of the established way and order. Basically, he had and has no rights, as far as the establishment is concerned. Even though he was a President, all rights that were given to previous men that held that office, do not apply. 

 If you don't agree with what I just said, that's perfectly fine, because it really doesn't matter. But hear this: once you get away with anything, then you will be emboldened to get away with more, and more; and soon enough, you feel that you can do whatever you want. If you don't think we are there; you are either not paying attention, or you have become totally blind to the truth.

 That said, this is pretty much the point that I believe Jesus is making, but on a whole different level! Yes, there were many before Him, and after Him, as well as there will be more coming after now, that will act as if they represent God. They will feel and think that they have been empowered by God, but they will be only about serving their own personal gain. 

 It will always end up the same, as it always has! Once you have the power, the power is never enough, because there is always One who is greater! The real sheep won't listen, but they also don't get much chance to speak, either. And when they do, they usually aren't treated very fair for doing so...

"Don't be surprised if you see a poor person being oppressed by the powerful and if justice is being miscarried throughout the land. For every official is under orders from higher up, and matters of justice get lost in red tape and bureaucracy. Even the king milks the land for his own profit!" (Ecclesiastes 5:8-9 NLT) 

"The Door!"

 "Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep." (John 10:7 KJV)

  "And so dear brothers and sisters, we can boldly enter heaven's Most Holy Place because of the blood of Jesus. By his death, Jesus opened the curtain into the Most Holy Place. And since we have a great High Priest who rules over God's house, let us go right into the presence of God with sincere hearts fully trusting him. For our guilty consciences have been sprinkled with Christ's blood to make us clean, and our bodies have been washed with pure water." (Hebrews 10:19-22 NLT)

 Maybe it is just a little too complicated to figure everything out; but we really don't need to even try to figure out everything, we only need to know what it takes to get through the Door! Once we have been entered in, everything else is just amazingly good and every worry is gone! 

 As we were going through chapter nine of Ecclesiastes yesterday, there was one perfect picture that became very aware to me about what Solomon was trying to explain. He kept using the term, "Under the sun," which, if you pay close attention, actually represents this world, as in, 'this place that is under the sun.' We that live under this sun are going to die, under the sun! 

 Amazingly, we don't have to except that reality! Yes, it is real, death that is, is completely and certainly going to happen, for everything under the sun; but, for those under the Son, death is not a threat or anything to fear, because it opens us up to the windows of Heaven! That is what Jesus Christ has done, as the Door: He is eternal life! 

 To make matters even better and less complicated, He is not only the Door into the sheepfold, but once inside, He is also the Shepherd! He has everything handled... 

"For God has imprisoned everyone in disobedience so he could have mercy on everyone. Oh, how great are God's riches and wisdom and knowledge! How impossible it is for us to understand his decisions and his ways! For who can know the LORD'S thoughts? Who knows enough to give him advice? Who has given him so much that he needs to pay it back? For everything comes from him and exists by his power and is intended for his glory. All glory to him forever! Amen." (Romans 11:32-36 NLT) 

"A Perfect Picture"

"This parable spake Jesus unto them: but they understood not what things they were which he spake unto them." (John 10:6 KJV)

  "When we tell you these things, we do not use words that come from human wisdom. Instead, we speak words given to us by the Spirit, using the Spirit's words to explain spiritual truths. But people who aren't spiritual can't receive these truths from God's Spirit. It all sounds foolish to them and they can't understand it, for only those who are spiritual can understand what the Spirit means." (1 Corinthians 2:13-14 NLT)

 Hope you found something to take away from what I said yesterday; I would really hate to think I wasted a good testimony on a bad way of living! But that's life! We live to learn, and sometimes, it actually means something good enough to leave behind.

As I started off this chapter, I tried to illustrate that it meant something for John to mention that this was a parable, or an illustration of a spiritual truth. We learn from the other Gospels that Jesus spoke about a lot of spiritual truths using parables, because what He spoke about was sometimes not intended for all that heard it, to understand. 

 To those of you who might think that seems unfair, as if God is not giving everyone the same chance, or is only speaking to a certain audience, that is not what Jesus meant; nor is it God's intention. God is not going to show respect to anyone over another; but He does completely and thoroughly know what is in everyone's heart! 

 Besides that, this is something that is an actual spiritual truth, which required that those who heard it would have the Holy Spirit to show them what it meant. As with most of the parables Jesus used, even His disciples did not understand what He said. It was not until after His resurrection that they received the Holy Spirit, and then everything became perfectly clear...

"Those who are spiritual can evaluate all things, but they themselves cannot be evaluated by others. For, "Who can know the LORD'S thoughts? Who knows enough to teach him?" But we understand these things, for we have the mind of Christ." (1 Corinthians 2:15-16 NLT)  

"Up or Down!"

 "And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers." (John 10:5 KJV)

  ""So pay attention to how you hear. To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given. But for those who are not listening, even what they think they understand will be taken away from them."" (Luke 8:18 NLT)

 Interesting things to think about, if you are looking for the right way to follow Jesus. First and foremost, Jesus was always focused upon Heaven! His purpose for being here was perfectly clear, and it wasn't about having a great life here in this world: it was about having eternal life with Him in Heaven! 

 If there is a way to measure what is being said, the measurement will start out small, but will end up being larger and further apart from where it once started. If our focus is upon Heaven, then the closer we will be aligned with the teaching of Jesus, because that is pretty much what He taught; but if our focus is upon the things of this world, then the further we will move away from what Jesus taught, and we will no longer understand the point of His message. 

 Don't think it can't happen, because it seriously happens all the time! Have you ever heard the message about the traffic cone? The point of that message has more to do about what we are focused upon the most; but it also has the bigger issue of where our troubles are found, and where they are not! Amazingly, we have no issues looking up, because God has nothing against us when we are in Christ; but when we are not abiding in the shelter and protection of the blood of Christ, then we have problems all around us! 

 I have, from time to time, drifted away from that focus. Being in sales, it is really not that hard to do from time to time, and it can really take you off guard. You might not even notice, until you find yourself not relying upon God; then all of the sudden, God is all you have, and you realize you haven't been faithfully following Him. 

 To be perfectly honest, I really can't count the number of times I have had to stop and reset my focus, because my focus was more on this world then it was on Heaven. My poor wife had to be taken through many ups and downs, because I couldn't keep my priorities headed in the right direction. I hope that there is someone out there that understands what I am trying to say? 

 I think the biggest difference for us, was that my wife did not really work, so she never really felt the pull into the workforce and all that it causes a person to focus upon. Instead, hers was more like a codependency, where her addiction was linked to mine; but the more I worked, the less I focused upon her also. 

 Sorry for dragging you down that rabbit hole, but it is just one of those regrets that grind on the soul! The main point, if you are the slight bit interested: Seek ye first the Kingdom of God...

"If you stop listening to instruction, my child, you will turn your back on knowledge." (Proverbs 19:27 NLT)   

"The Familiar Voice"

 "And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice." (John 10:4 KJV)

  "And have you forgotten the encouraging words God spoke to you as his children? He said, "My child, don't make light of the LORD'S discipline, and don't give up when he corrects you. For the LORD disciplines those he loves, and he punishes each one he accepts as his child."" (Hebrews 12:5-6 NLT)

 This might not seem like the right topic for this verse, but it is the right topic for this time! Be alert and keep the faith, is the point of this discussion, because the time has come when those who are sitting on the fence to make a choice. That is not my opinion, it is just a fact based upon the momentum of the spreading darkness over this earth. 

 Those of you who might be keeping up with what is going on in our schools, should know by now, they are not letting up on this position of sexual identity; as a matter of fact, they are increasing the stand and somehow feel embolden to make it more popular. What that means, is that there are fewer people who are standing against what is going on, because they are not wanting to be challenged. 

 Anywho! That's all I will say about that, because I need to make this about Jesus! Something I learned quite a long time ago, but sometimes forget: God will not let you stray too far away from Him! We might think that we are getting away with something and He isn't interested in what we are doing; but if you are His child, He will keep you from going over the edge! 

 The big question I think is needed, is about the degree of the edge; meaning, what is the edge? and how far will you go? I guess the best way to see this, is not to look at your own life, but to watch the lives of those around you, those that are within your circle. People are watching you, because they need to know that He is real! 

 I don't know, maybe that is a little over the top? All I know is that we are here for a reason, other than our own salvation. If it was just about us, then God would have taken me long ago, because this really seems as though it isn't getting any easier...

"But you, my dear friends, must remember what the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ said. They told you that in the last times there would be scoffers whose purpose in life is to satisfy their ungodly desires. These people are the ones who are creating divisions among you. They follow their natural instincts because they do not have God's Spirit in them. But you, dear friends, must build each other up in the most holy faith, pray in the power of the Holy Spirit, and await the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will bring you eternal life. In this way, you will keep yourselves safe in God's love. And you must show mercy to those whose faith is wavering. Rescue others by snatching them from the flames of judgment. Show mercy to still others, but do so with great caution, hating the sins that contaminate their lives." (Jude 17-23 NLT)  

"Spoken To" - Too

 "To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out." (John 10:3 KJV)

  "But it was the LORD'S good plan to crush him and cause him grief. Yet when his life is made an offering for sin, he will have many descendants. He will enjoy a long life, and the LORD'S good plan will prosper in his hands. When he sees all that is accomplished by his anguish, he will be satisfied. And because of his experience, my righteous servant will make it possible for many to be counted righteous, for he will bear all their sins. I will give him the honors of a victorious soldier, because he exposed himself to death. He was counted among the rebels. He bore the sins of many and interceded for rebels." (Isaiah 53:10-12 NLT)

 I really hope you got that little message, as we are all part of the story, each and every one, there is no one that is left out, sinner and saint, saved or unsaved, believer or unbeliever; there is no one or nothing that has been left out of His Book! Just a little something you can share with anyone that might question your intelligence or sanity when you say that you believe in what the Bible says! 

 I actually heard a message from Pastor Chip yesterday morning, as he shared about an encounter he had while teaching at a secular college. The student noticed that he was carrying a Bible, and said, "Hey, is that a Bible you have?" Chip answered, "Yes, this is my Bible." The student said, "You really don't believe all of that is true, do you?" And then the student turn, walked away, and looked back at him, as if he was disgusted that he was such a fool, because he had thought he should have been smarter than that.

 Chip said that he really didn't know what to say or how to respond to all of that; and that he started to question his own faith. Well, it just goes to show, that we must always be ready, in season and out of season, to answer and give a reason for what we believe! When you have favorable situations, and unfavorable situations, means, when you are allowed to share, or not allowed, the time is always right to share the Good News and give a testimony for what you believe.

 As I was looking up the meaning of, "the porter," it dawned on me that the Bible, as the book that it is, makes a perfect illustration of what that might represent. Some of those examples are, 'doorkeeper,' or 'a gate- warden,' and 'a male or female janitor.' Having had experience in reading the Bible before I became a believer, I can say with all honesty, I had really no clue what I was reading; much of it really didn't make sense. 

 Once I believed, the Book was opened up to me, and I became a character within the Book, not only was I reading about the life of others and all the great things God did and does, but I was able to honestly and sincerely place myself among them: the Porter opened the door, and I was in...

"For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God. Everything is naked and exposed before his eyes, and he is the one to whom we are accountable." (Hebrews 4:12-13 NLT) 

 

"Spoken To"

 "To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out." (John 10:3 KJV)

  "He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful streams. He renews my strength. He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to his name. Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close behind me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me." (Psalm 23:2-4 NLT)

 Yes, He speaks to me, in so many ways! There sometimes is audible voice, as I heard last night, while I was praying myself to sleep, thinking about this verse, I heard, "Are you listening?" You know, if you hear a question like that, you should probably pay close attention and ask yourself to focus in on what is being said. When God speaks a question to you, you should always pay attention! 

 Yesterday I heard a beautiful message from Pastor Jon, regarding the Tabernacle. In the setup to his message, he spoke about being at a school walking down a hallway, hearing all the noise behind the doors of the classrooms. When he passed by the 3rd grade classroom, it was very quiet, so he peaked into the door and saw all the kids were sitting on the floor, as the teacher was reading an illustrated story to them. 

 Kids love illustrated stories; it captivates their attention and helps them form pictures by which they can join in and be a part of, as they magnify the story within their minds. A little bit of information about God, the Master Illustrator: He has given us a Masterpiece of His own creation: The Holy Bible! I know I am a little old fashion, so don't misunderstand; but it really saddens me to see so few people with Bibles at church; most people will only have their phone or tablet.

 Don't get me wrong, I am not judging, but simply saying what I see happening. As Jon said it, the Tabernacle was an illustration of Jesus Christ, who, being God in the flesh, tabernacled here on this earth, meaning, that He pitched His tent among us. The Tabernacle in the wilderness was the picture of Jesus Christ that was to come: an illustration of God's salvation and glory, mercy and grace, holiness and fellowship, all in one! 

 Anywho; it spoke to my heart about how important it is to hold my Bible. Not that it is some sort of thing to be worshipped, but that it represents, as in a work of art, The Word of God! We can never get too much of it, because He never has nothing to say; the more we read His word, the more we listen; the more we listen, the clearer the illustration becomes. 

 And what makes it all the more wonderful, is that we become part of the story...

"What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can be against us? Since he did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won't he also give us everything else? Who dares accuse us whom God has chosen for his own? No one - for God himself has given us right standing with himself. Who then will condemn us? No one - for Christ Jesus died for us and was raised to life for us, and is sitting in the place of honor at God's right hand, pleading for us." (Romans 8:31-34 NLT) 

"Safe Passage" - To

"But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep." (John 10:2 KJV)

  "Yes, the Sovereign LORD is coming in power. He will rule with a powerful arm. See, he brings his reward with him as he comes. He will feed his flock like a shepherd. He will carry the lambs in his arms, holding them close to his heart. He will gently lead the mother sheep with their young." (Isaiah 40:10-11 NLT)

 On a much bigger note, we are all one body: each and every one of us that are in Christ, we are all of the Body of Christ, and He is the Head of the Body! What that actually represents, is that the power and the completeness of His victory is ours, as long as we abide in Him! With that, we can be assured! 

 I have heard so many messages about that, "Abiding in Christ," as if it is somehow a place, meaning that we can step in and out of it, as if He was an umbrella protecting us from the rain. That might be easily illustrated, but it is also something that is way too easy to do. I seriously doubt that it is that easy!

 First of all, I cannot guarantee that I myself will be able to remain in Christ, if I told you could, then I would probably be looking forward to a whirlwind of trouble. That said, I believe in my heart that Jesus is the only way to eternal life, and that He paid the price for me to enter in that life. Now that I know that, I am pressed to remain focused upon the eternal life which is waiting ahead! 

 Sorry for the honesty, but it is by far the most difficult thing that I deal with, that same stupid question: What if it is not real? What if there really is nothing after this? Really! Do you have to keep repeating that stupid question, again and again! Stop doubting what you know is the Truth, because I know for a fact that Jesus lives, therefore, because He lives, I will live also, as I abide in Him! 

 You see, I cannot guarantee anything for myself, as I have already seen way too many people that I thought were much more important and stronger than me, who have fell be the wayside. But I can, without a doubt, guarantee that Jesus lives, He holds me tightly, and He has promised to provide a place for me in heaven!

 He has guaranteed this to me: I don't need to guarantee anything! I just need to rest in His guarantee...

""For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have everlasting life."" (John 3:16 NLT)  

"Safe Passage"

 "But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep." (John 10:2 KJV)

  "Obey your spiritual leaders, and do what they say. Their work is to watch over your souls, and they are accountable to God. Give them reason to do this with joy and not with sorrow. That would certainly not be for your benefit." (Hebrews 13:17 NLT)

 Just so you know, this shepherd that Jesus is speaking of has more than one meaning, as a pastor of a church is also referred to as a shepherd of a flock. Regardless, we have One main Shepherd, which is Jesus Christ, as it is Him only that we must follow, but the role of a pastor is that of an underling shepherd, who has been given the task of feeding His sheep! 

 There are so many variations of churches out there, too many, if you ask me. If the pastor of a specific church is following Jesus, then it is safe to say, he is able to shepherd a flock, regardless of how he might teach. I know that goes against some of the things I feel are important, like teaching the Bible; but the most important thing in any church is that Jesus Christ is the main event!

 I have visited churches where the congregation is given tools, like Bible Study Workbooks, where all are participants, including the pastor; that way the Word is taught, and messages are summaries of current lessons, with life applications. As with any real church, if it going to be following the way of Christ, the word of God must be shared, one way or another. 

 The title, "safe passage," is meant for each, the pastor and the congregation, as all are in the same boat! That is the message from Hebrews 13:17, as we must, by all means, pray for and stand by those that are our spiritual leaders, for their benefit, as well as for ourselves. 

 I can only say, it is a lot like a marriage, where the husband and wife must respect one another and be as one; if one might disrespect the other, then it will ruin the one that disrespects, more than the one that is disrespected. Safe Passage is really about being free from guilt...

"Now may the God of peace - who brought up from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great Shepherd of the sheep, and ratified an eternal covenant with his blood - may he equip you with all you need for doing his will. May he produce in you, through the power of Jesus Christ, every good thing that is pleasing to him. All glory to him forever and ever! Amen." (Hebrews 13:20-21 NLT) 

"Parable of the Good Shepherd"

 "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber." (John 10:1 KJV)

  "The LORD is my shepherd; I have all that I need." (Psalm 23:1 NLT) 

 "Parable is life," in the simplest form; A story dealing with the visible world around us, to illustrate a moral or spiritual truth. This might be the first and only parable recorded in the Gospel of John, the majority references John alludes to are basically Jesus speaking figuratively, which is not really a parable, but more like a character reference or a proverb.

 Basically the "door" is meant to be, 'the Way of passage,' which, in the case of salvation, for all that really want to be saved, means that there is only One Door, because Jesus clearly said door, not doors! I can remember very vividly seeing this played out in my mind, as I was reading this for the first time when I was first saved. I pictured all of those people I knew from my J.W. days of my youth, sneaking around the sheepfold, trying to find another way in; literally! 

 If you think I am kidding, I'm not! To them, most of them, just the thought of Jesus Christ being the way, is not only offensive, but sets them off and causes them sometimes to get physically upset. That might not mean much to most of you that hear me say that, but having tried reasonably to share Jesus as the only way, is really not only hard, but it sometimes got confrontational and ugly.  

 As Jesus illustrates here, the term, "thief and a robber," is that person who really does not care about anything but their own gain; "what's in it for me," is that which is first and last, in just about every single thing that they do. I know that sounds very judgmental, but I haven't seen anyone that is the least bit faithful to the 'W.T.B.&T.S.', if you say anything to upset their comfort or challenge what they believe, that, then, you have become the enemy. 

 Besides that, we have another issue creeping into the church, as those who are of the J.W. persuasion will most likely never step into a church, those that are living an alternative lifestyle will and are making their way into the church, and the ulterior motive is the same. Sadly, some churches are going along with it, for the sake of tolerance and in the name of love. 

 Last I checked, the church is meant to be a light to the world; the world is not to overtake or darken the church. But I guess this is the 20th century, so those rules don't apply anymore...

"What do people get for all their hard work under the sun? Generations come and generations go, but the earth never changes. The sun rises and the sun sets, then hurries around to rise again. The wind blows south, and then turns north. Around and around it goes, blowing in circles. Rivers run into the sea, but the sea is never full. Then the water returns again to the rivers and flows out again to the sea. Everything is wearisome beyond description. No matter how much we see, we are never satisfied. No matter how much we hear, we are never content." (Ecclesiastes 1:3-8 NLT)

"The Good Shepherd and His Sheep"

  ""I tell you the truth, anyone who sneaks over the wall of a sheepfold, rather than going through the gate, must surely be a thief and a robber! But the one who enters through the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep recognize his voice and come to him. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. After he has gathered his own flock, he walks ahead of them, and they follow him because they know his voice. They won't follow a stranger; they will run from him because they don't know his voice." 

 Those who heard Jesus use this illustration didn't understand what he meant, so he explained it to them: "I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep. All who came before me were thieves and robbers. But the true sheep did not listen to them. Yes, I am the gate. Those who come in through me will be saved. They will come and go freely and will find good pastures. The thief's purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life. 

 "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd sacrifices his life for the sheep. A hired hand will run when he sees a wolf coming. He will abandon the sheep because they don't belong to him and he isn't their shepherd. And so the wolf attacks them and scatters the flock. The hired hand runs away because he's working only for the money and doesn't really care about the sheep.

 "I am the good shepherd; I know my own sheep, and they know me, just as my Father knows me and I know the Father. So I sacrifice my life for the sheep. I have other sheep, too, that are not of this sheepfold. I must bring them also. They will listen to my voice, and there will be one flock with one shepherd.

 "The Father loves me because I sacrifice my life so I may take it back again. No one can take it from me. I sacrifice it voluntarily. For I have the authority to lay it down when I want to and also to take it up again. For this is what my Father has commanded." 

 When he said these things, the people were again divided in their opinions about him. Some said, "He's demon possessed and out of his mind. Why listen to a man like that?" Others said, "This doesn't sound like a man possessed by a demon! Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?"" (John 10:1-21 NLT)

 Well, this should be a nice change from all of that negativity! No matter what portion of Scripture you might be in, there will always be those that will not agree with what is being shared; especially when it comes to Jesus being the only one that can save! 

 We must accept that as the facts, and then stick to what we know is the truth, no matter what! In this current culture, even those that seem to have been grounded in the truth, seem to be spreading outside what is true, only to keep the flow of money and popularity moving forward. That is such a shame! 

 Paul speaks about moving forward, but in a totally different context...

"Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in anything ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you. Nevertheless, whereto ye have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing. Brethren, be followers of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample. (For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: whose end is destruction, those God is their belly, and whose glory is their shame, who mind earthly things.) For our conversation is in heaven; from when also we look for the Savour, the Lord Jesus Christ: who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself." (Philippians 3:12-21 KJV) 

"Self-Sufficiency"

 "Jesus said unto them, If ye were blind, ye should have no sin: but now ye say, We see; therefore your sin remaineth." (John 9:41 KJV)

  "What sorrow for those who are wise in their own eyes and think themselves so clever." (Isaiah 5:21 NLT) 

 I learned a long time ago, the ones which are hardest to convert towards salvation, are the ones that think that they are okay and don't need to be saved. We are talking about life-long servants and churchgoers, who, although they have been hanging out in church, they never have given Christ a chance to make them a new creature. 

 The thing about these Pharisees, as with those who think they don't need to be saved, is the work they do is to them enough; they have learned all the Scriptures, performed all the rituals, and put the time in, so now they have nothing to fear, because they have it all worked out. It is quite ironic, but this can be just about anyone, and they might not even know it, because their heart has become callused to the call for surrender. 

 There are certain things to ask ourselves, if there are any doubts: Do I think I have my life under control? Do I feel as though I don't need saving? When I hear a message that pricks my heart, do I instantly think of someone else that the message is meant for, instead of myself? All of those and more, are the clues to being self-sufficient, because if you were really aware of what you are, then you know: I don't have any control, I need saving daily, and if my heart is pricked, I need to pay attention! 

 We have not arrived until we are with Jesus in heaven, until then, we are still broken and getting worked on, each and every day! As soon as we think that we have our life under control, we need to slap ourselves and wakeup, because we must have been dreaming...  

""Wake up! Strengthen what little remains, for even what is left is almost dead. I find that your actions do not meet the requirements of my God. Go back to what you heard and believed at first; hold to it firmly. Repent and turn to me again. If you don't wake up, I will come to you suddenly, as unexpected as a thief."" (Revelation 3:2-3 NLT) 

"Check This Out"

 "And some of the Pharisees which were with him heard these words, and said unto him, Are we blind also?" (John 9:40 KJV)

  "You who call yourselves Jews are relying on God's law, and you boast about your special relationship with him. You know what he wants; you know what is right because you have been taught his law. You are convinced that you are a guide for the blind and a light for people who are lost in darkness. You think you can instruct the ignorant and teach children the ways of God. For you are certain that God's law gives you complete knowledge and truth." (Romans 2:17-20 NLT)

 There is another thing about that east and west thing, something that is very much like the difference between light and darkness, or the contrast between good and evil. As it is, God's law does not really show us how to be right; even as the first and only command God gave to Adam, which did not instruct Adam how to resist eating of that tree, but just told him what not to do. 

 We are so full of ourselves; it is pretty much impossible not to sin! But the good news is, God knows what we are, but He still loves us! He just wants us to realize what we are and count on Him to make us right! If we know that we are blind and cannot see, it is only God that can give us sight and ability to see; we are no use to ourselves and helpless without God. 

 Somewhere along the way, either Adam told Eve, or Eve determined on her own, that the tree was not only forbidden to eat, but that it should not even be touched. Odd, but the more you think about what not to do, sometimes, it makes it even harder to resist doing what you should not do...

"So, my dear brothers and sisters, this is the point: You died to the power of the law when you died with Christ. And now you are united with the one who was raised from the dead. As a result, we can produce a harvest of good deeds for God. When we were controlled by our old nature, sinful desires were at work within us, and the law aroused these evil desires that produced a harvest of sinful deeds, resulting in death. But now we have been released from the law, for we died to it and are no longer captive to its power. Now we can serve God, not in the old way of obeying the letter of the law, but in the new way of living in the Spirit." (Romans 7:4-6 NLT) 

"A Great Chasm"

 "And Jesus said, For judgment I am come into this world, that they which see not might see; and that they which see might be made blind." (John 9:39 KJV)

  "So this is the situation: Most of the people of Israel have not found the favor of God they are looking for so earnestly. A few have - the ones God has chosen - but the hearts of the rest were hardened. As the Scriptures say, "God has put them into a deep sleep. To this day he has shut their eyes so they do not see, and closed their ears so they do not hear." Likewise, David said, "Let their bountiful table become a snare, a trap that makes them think all is well. Let their blessings cause them to stumble, and let them get what they deserve. Let their eyes go blind so they cannot see, and let their backs be bent forever."" (Romans 11:7-10 NLT)

 Just in case you think that there is something wrong, as if Jesus has misspoken about His reason for coming and contradicted His statement to Nicodemus in John 3:17; this judgment is based upon the fact that Jesus saves, period! There is no other way to be saved, besides being washed by the blood of Jesus Christ! 

 If that offends anyone, there is the proof you are looking for that He is the only way. I heard a message yesterday afternoon, as Pastor Jeff was sharing something he had heard from another Pastor that had a large church, say, and I quote: "Believing Jesus is the only way to heaven is insanity." The judgment that Jesus is speaking of here, is related to that statement! 

 As much as I would like to think that there is some other way, it takes away from the sacrifice Jesus made on that cross, as it was for the whole world that He died, not just for some. The whosoever people are the ones that believe; those that do not believe have already been judged, for their unbelief. 

 I didn't make the rule, so don't try and say that I am being narrow-minded. But Jesus did say that the road was narrow that leads to salvation; but the road that leads to destruction is very wide! Ponder that for a moment and you will see where judgment comes into the picture. 

 Besides that, man is always thinking that they can work their way to God, in some form or fashion. For the Jew, it was laid out before them with the Law, as they thought God's intention was to give them the Law for them to keep. How can they keep something that they cannot keep? The whole point of the Law was to show them that they needed salvation! That they were utterly lost in their sins and needed some other way, because keeping the Law was not possible! 

 I heard another message, maybe it was Monday afternoon, as it referred to the Judgment in Heaven, that many Mormon missionaries are looking forward to the Great White Throne Judgment, because they have worked so hard to spread the news about the Book of Mormon. 

 Again, I do not make the rules; I can only make judgment on what I believe to be Truth...

"But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God's grace that you have been saved!)" (Ephesians 2:4-5 NLT)

"Believe!" -Too

 "And he said, Lord, I believe. And he worshipped him." (John 9:38 KJV)

  "The LORD is compassionate and merciful, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. He will not constantly accuse us, nor remain angry forever. He does not punish us for all our sins; he does not deal harshly with us, as we deserve. His unfailing love toward those who fear him is as great as the height of the heavens above the earth. He has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west." (Psalm 103:8-12 NLT)

 Some people wonder why God made the heavens so vast and ominous, as if there must be some other life out there, or else it's just wasted space. There is a reason for everything that God has made, even that which might seem either overdone or a mistake: that we might fall in love with Him by our own free will! 

 I have had debates with some of my brothers and sisters, mostly brothers, about the meaning of Psalms 103:12, as to the direction and the continuity thereof. I have heard it said, "If you continue to walk east, you will always walk east, until you turn and start walking west." Actually, that was from one of my early mid-week Bible Studies, while I was still at the facility where accepted the Lord. 

 There are two ways to look at that illustration; one is from our point of view, the other is from God's. We know full well what we do and when we don't do what God wants; we know for certain that we are in a place which is contrary to the direction God has for our lives. At least I hope and pray that is the case, because if we don't realize when we sin, then there is truly something missing from our lives. 

 Forget about all of the confusion and the practical meanings to east verses west! Because, God, and God alone is the Judge! And if He says that your sins are forgiven, then there is nothing left to the matter, other than you to be thankful and worship Him for what He has done! 

 Besides that, He is the One who keeps this ball spinning round and round; it is that motion that makes east and west far apart: which, in case you might not have figured it out, is only done and continually done by Jesus Christ...

"Christ is the visible image of the invisible God. He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation, for through him God created everything in the heavenly realms and on earth. He made the things we can see and the things we can't see - such as thrones, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities in the unseen world. Everything was created through him and for him. He existed before anything else, and he holds all creation together. Christ is also the head of the church, which is his body. He is the beginning, supreme over all who rise from the dead. So he is first in everything. For God in all his fullness was pleased to live in Christ, and through him God reconciled everything to himself. He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth by means of Christ's blood on the cross." (Colossians 1:15-20 NLT) 

"Believe!"

 "And he said, Lord, I believe. And he worshipped him." (John 9:38 KJV) 

  "I will praise you, LORD, with all my heart; I will tell of all the marvelous things you have done. I will be filled with joy because of you. I will sing praises to your name, O Most High." (Psalm 9:1-2 NLT)

 I seldom feel as though I am unprotected, but when I do, it is usually not because of a lack of faith. If you have been walking with the Lord for any length of time, then you should understand where I am coming from, because we all know that feeling of unprotection is caused by unconfessed sin or a hard heart. 

 That said, when I am in that state of feeling unprotected, it is only an issue with me, not because God's hand of protection has been lifted off of my life. God will take care of His children, no matter what; but sometimes, His protection involves a little correction, in order to get us back in fellowship with His love and will for our life. 

 Basically, that is really what it means to believe in God! We don't just believe that He is, and even that He does this or that; but we believe that He loves us, more than we even love ourselves! How can that be? If I commit sins against Him, is that because I love myself more than Him? Yes! Sorry to say, but there are times when I do not love Him as I should. 

 Remarkably, God still loves me, even in those moments of my rebellion: He never stops loving us! When God says, "I do not change!" He actually means that He does not change! He does not give us a Gift, and then take it back because we have done something wrong! That is not GOD! God's love is based upon one thing, and one thing only: He loves you and wants you to believe that He loves you! 

 Now then, since we have established that, we need to make our lives reflect that which we believe. In other words, if you believe that God loves you, even more than you could possibly love yourself, then you must also believe that He knows best what you need; not what we want, because we ourselves don't really know what is best for self! 

 I have this dog, that I love; his name is Buddy, and he constantly eats stuff that shouldn't eat. You would think by now, as he is pretty much an adult, that he would understand that I am trying to do what is best for him when I tell him, "No, don't eat that!" But he continually thinks that I am trying to take something from him, that he wants...

"Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has become a child of God. And everyone who loves the Father loves his children, too. We know we love God's children if we love God and obey his commandments. Loving God means keeping his commandments, and his commandments are not burdensome. For every child of God defeats this evil world, and we achieve this victory through our faith. And who can win this battle against the world? Only those who believe that Jesus is the Son of God." (1 John 5:1-5 NLT)

"Behold Him!"

 "And Jesus said unto him, Thou hast both seen him, and it is he that talketh with thee." (John 9:27 KJV)

  "For God, who said, "Let there be light in the darkness," has made this light shine in our hearts so we could know the glory of God that is seen in the face of Jesus Christ." (2 Corinthians 4:6 NLT)

 Some days you just need to take some time to think about what He has done, making it personal and real in your life! I get that we sometimes are overworked and trying to keep up; but a little time needs to be set aside to really get in touch with your Creator, at least to have some heart-to-heart moments together. 

 I was reminded of that this morning as I was reading some verses from Ecclesiastes where Solomon shares about not waiting until it is too late to care anymore, or when you are too old for it to really matter. Remember your Creator, he says: "Remember him before the door to life's opportunities is closed and the sound of work fades." (Ecclesiastes 12:4 NLT)

 The word, "sound," is not about the sound of work, such as hammers and saws, or other such things that we might associate with what work sounds like; it is more about that which motivates us to move and be excited to do a work, like a calling, a reason that is somehow ringing loud and clear within your heart! 

 But, before you might think that time has come and you are too late, think again! As long as you have breath, your work here is not done! One more reason to spend some time with your Creator, to turn up the volume on the sound of work, which then, opens doors to life's opportunities... 

"Pay attention to your own work, for then you will get the satisfaction of a job well done, and you won't need to compare yourself to anyone else. For we are each responsible for our own conduct." (Galatians 6:4-5 NLT) 

"Tell Them!

 "He answered and said, Who is he, Lord, that I might believe on him?" (John 9:36 KJV) 

  "But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them? And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent? That is why the Scriptures say, "How beautiful are the feet of messengers who bring good news!" (Romans 10:14-15 NLT)

 Have you ever wondered about what makes the feet of messengers beautiful? Beautiful to whom? To God? To the person or persons that hear the message? How about, to the messenger, themselves? What if there was some connection between all three, with more, a whole lot more to come? 

 We never really know what might happen when we share Christ with anyone; whether or not that message was received or rejected, whether it was for then or for later, or whether it was just to make ourselves to be more acquainted with sharing Jesus. Regardless of what might happen, it is really not up to us to make it happen, that is totally and completely up to God! 

 There is always one thing I remember when I share or teach to a congregation, that the message is not for everyone that is in the room. If there are some that don't get it or seem unattached, it is really not up to me to make the message alive in them, that's up to God; I am just the messenger! 

 We really don't need to be ashamed if there are no people lifting their hands or standing when you give the invitation; you should only feel ashamed if you were prompted to give the invitation and did not follow through...

"For God says, "At just the right time, I heard you. On the day of salvation, I helped you." Indeed, the "right time" is now. Today is the day of salvation." (2 Corinthians 6:2 NLT)

"Jesus Affirms His Deity" - Too

 "Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when he had found him, he said unto him, Dost thou believe on the Son of God?" (John 9:35 KJV)

  "And this is not all that is meaningless in our world. In this life, good people are often treated as though they were wicked, and wicked people are often treated as though they were good. This is so meaningless!" (Ecclesiastes 8:14 NLT)

 "Good day," as they say in some parts of the world; a simple greeting to set people in a better mood and hopefully brighten up their day! "Affirm" is a rather interesting word, as it can mean a lot, in so many areas of life. It can state a fact, uphold or defend, accept or confirm, make a formal declaration; it can even be, to offer someone emotional support or encouragement! 

 We really need to understand how important it is to know God! No just to believe that there is a God, but to actually know Him, to understand Him, to be able to defend His honor and what He has done for us! Excuse my excitability, but I have to share my heart! 

 I heard Pastor Jack share something yesterday that made me take notice of something rather easy to lose sight of, as he spoke about the thing that changed his life and turned his life around. It was from the Book of Revelation 20:11-13, "The Judgment Day." 

 If you are familiar with this Text, then you should be aware that the Judgment is on the dead, meaning that those that are being judged are dead, have died, or, in laymen's terms: They do not have LIFE! "Dost thou believe on the Son of God?" Because if you don't, then you do not have LIFE! Basically that was Pastor Jack's awaking moment, as that Fact struck him hard, affirming that he needed to be changed, like right then and there! 

 When John says, "This is the true God, and eternal life," he is talking about Jesus Christ, that Jesus is the only way to LIFE! In this life, everything is meaningless, because this is not True Life; this is all about death, in case you haven't noticed! Everyone is waiting to die, going to die, or already dead!

 But there is Life! Real Life is available through Jesus Christ! God is very good...

"We proclaim to you the one who existed from the beginning, whom we have heard and seen. We saw him with our own eyes and touched him with our own hands. He is the Word of Life. This one who is life itself was revealed to us, and we have seen him. And now we testify and proclaim to you that he is the one who is eternal life. He was with the Father, and then he was revealed to us. We proclaim to you what we ourselves have actually seen and heard so that you may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. We are writing these things so that you may fully share our joy." (1 John 1:1-4 NLT) 

 

"Jesus Affirms His Deity"

 "Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when he had found him, he said unto him, Dost thou believe on the Son of God?" (John 9:35 KJV) 

  "Long ago God spoke many times and in many ways to our ancestors through the prophets. And now in these final days, he has spoken to us through his Son. God promised everything to the Son as an inheritance, and through the Son he created the universe. The Son radiates God's own glory and expresses the very character of God, and he sustains everything by the mighty power of his command. When he had cleansed us from our sins, he sat down in the place of honor at the right hand of the majestic God in heaven." (Hebrews 1:1-3 NLT)

 Hopefully you have been paying attention to some of what has been said; although I don't sometimes make the greatest sense, I feel as though I am passionate about what I share and how I share it. This is the perfect picture of Jesus making Himself known, as if He actually needed to do that, because if they that knew anything about God were paying attention, then they surely would have figured it out! 

 Who is God to you, and what might He be like? Last night I was thinking about what Pastor Bryan said about Solomon, and how he really did not have a personal relationship with God, and was more about believing in God as the Majestic, All-powerful, God that controls the universe; that God who is untouchable and too far outside of our time domain!  

 In a nutshell: Solomon needed Jesus! Yes, that is the key to the entire story! As crazy as it might sound, as I usually mess things up, or speak about things I really don't understand, this might be that simplest way to connect to that type of person stuck on stupid and thinking that there nothing more to life than what we actually see: Let someone that has experienced everything, tell it like it is! 

 In an introduction to the Book, Zodhiates' summary is this: "This is the book for the secular humanist to read, because it shows how utterly meaningless and unjust life is in a closed system where God does not play an effective part. The author's solution is that happiness is found only when we revere God as the center of our lives." 

 Yesterday I heard part of a message that spoke exactly this point; that being, "Life is not fair; but God is good!" You must understand what really matters! This life on this rock, is not all that is going on, so don't let the unfair things that happen cause you to lose hope! God is bigger than you think, and He has only good things in store for you...

"We know that we are children of God and that the world around us is under control of the evil one. And we know that the Son of God has come, and he has given us understanding so that we can know the true God. And now we live in fellowship with the true God because we live in fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ. He is the only true God, and he is eternal life. Dear children, keep away from anything that might take God's place in your hearts." (1 John 5:19-21 NLT) 

"Spiritual Blindness"

 "When Jesus heard what happened, he found the man and asked, "Do you believe in the Son of Man?" 

  The man answered, "Who is he, sir? I want to believe in him." 

 "You have seen him," Jesus said, "and he is speaking to you!"

 "Yes, Lord, I believe!" the man said. And he worshipped Jesus.

  Then Jesus told him, "I entered this world to render judgment - to give sight to the blind and to show those who think they see that they are blind."

  Some of the Pharisees who were standing nearby heard him and asked, "Are you saying we're blind?"

 "If you were blind, you wouldn't be guilty," Jesus replied. "But you remain guilty because you claim you can see."" (John 9:35-41 NLT) 

"Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; and were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; and did all eat the same spiritual meat; and did all drink the same spiritual drink; for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ." (1 Corinthians 10:1-4 KJV)

 Okay, so we think that everything is going to be well, and that all is going according to plan? I know that everything for me will be fine; but what about the others, those who don't see, that can't see; those that think they can see, but are totally blind to the truth because their hearts are shut off from their Creator, the One that Created them! 

 This is really not a time to feel comfortable and sheltered; this is the time to speak out for the truth, for those things that matter most: God's love for the lost and the judgment that is soon to come! Nothing really matters more than those two things right now, because it will be happening!

 As I was praying this morning, I thought about the innocent children being dragged into the evilness, unsuspecting and unaware of what or why; and I couldn't help but think of the judgment that awaits those that are pulling them into that darkness. Even they, as evil as they might be, can turn and fall upon the mercy and grace that Jesus offers! 

 Wow! If only they could see...

""For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him. There is no judgment against anyone who believes in him. But anyone who does not believe in him has already been judged for not believing in God's one and only Son. And the judgment is based on this fact: God's light came into this world, but people loved the darkness more than the light, for their actions were evil. All who do evil hate the light and refuse to go near it for fear their sins will be exposed. But those who do what is right come to the light so others can see that they are doing what God wants."" (John 3:16-21 NLT)    

"Oopsie!"

 "They answered and said unto him, Thou wast altogether born in sins, and dost thou teach us? And they cast him out." (John 9:34 KJV)

  "Against you, and you alone, have I sinned; I have done what is evil in your sight. You will be proved right in what you say, and your judgment against me is just. For I was born a sinner - yes, from the moment my mother conceived me. But you desire honesty from the womb, teaching me wisdom even there. Purify me from my sins, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow." (Psalm 51:4-7 NLT)

 There are some things that just cannot be undone! If you are familiar with Psalm 51, then you know that it is David's Psalm about his meeting with Nathan, as he was shown the grievous sin that he had committed, taking a life of one of his faithful warriors, just to cover up his sin! 

 Whether you know this or not, but there is only one man, ever, that was born without sin! Even Adam, who was created as man, fully grown, he never really was actually birthed from a womb. Woman was made from the man, so that process had yet to have been started; or so the story goes! 

 This is actually a pretty big deal, so oopsie probably doesn't quite match the magnitude of sin that had been committed. David did not realize how bad his sin actually was, until Nathan had shown him a way to see clearly what he had done. These men, unknowingly, just stepped in something that they shouldn't have done, as they have just become the product of their own judgment.

 Be very careful what you say and do, because there is only One to answer to! David saw that very clear; it became crystal clear, that only God is Judge! How dare these sinners call out a man for being born in sins, when they are just the same! Only because they were not born blind, is there anything different; but Jesus has already cleared the condition of that man born blind, that his blindness had nothing to do with sin! 

 By the way, what the heck! Is this still the U.S.A.? We just need to pray...

"Fear of the LORD is the foundation of wisdom. Knowledge of the Holy One results in good judgment." (Proverbs 9:10 NLT)   

"Real Insight" - To

"If this man were not of God, he could do nothing." (John 9:33 KJV) 

  "Praise the LORD! Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever. Who can list the glorious miracles of the LORD? Who can ever praise him enough? There is joy for those who deal justly with others and always do what is right." (Psalm 106:1-3 NLT)

 Maybe this is the straw that broke the camel's back; but it should have been the word of knowledge that set their hearts upon what was right before their eyes: a miracle! If you are familiar with Psalm 106, then you should know that it is the Psalm that goes into detail of Israel's rebellion against God, and shows us how, regardless of God's glorious miracles, they still continued to not believe that He loved them and would take care of them! 

 

 We might not get it, as many people don't; but believing that God really does love us, is more than just an act of faith, it is the essence of worship. As Jesus spoke to the woman at the well, He said, "Ye worship ye know not what; we know what we worship; for salvation is of the Jews." (John 4:22 KJV) 

 

 Forgiveness after unfaithfulness, really does go a long way! Yet, God is always faithful to forgive us, over and over again, despite our gravity towards disobedience and rebellion. Always missing the mark, as it were; because the Mark we seek to hit, we fail to pay attention to: The Love of God! 

 Had these learned men opened you their hearts, they might have noticed what matters most to God. More than anything else, love is what we need, not rules and regulations, but real love for God and one another! Had they seen the need for love, they truly might have listened. But then again, they too were just as they were, tools being used for God's ultimate purpose...

"Even so, he pitied them in their distress and listened to their cries. He remembered his covenant with them and relented because of his unfailing love." (Psalm 106:44-45 NLT)

"Real Insight"

 "If this man were not of God, he could do nothing." (John 9:33 KJV) 

  ""So my advice is, leave these men alone. Let them go. If they are planning and doing these things merely on their own, it will soon be overthrown. But if is from God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You may even find yourselves fighting against God!"" (Acts 5:38-39 NLT)

 As if there is nothing we need to do; because we all have a purpose in God's plan, whether we know it or not, God works everything out towards the plans He has, one way or another! If really hope that we can realize that, because there sure is lot we can see happening, and most of which does not seem as though it is God's doing, at all! 

 Quite frankly, I really don't think we have seen anything yet, because the real action will happen after the church is taken up, which will release the powers of darkness to have much more control over the earth. It's okay if you don't believe that will happen, because you will realize the truth when it takes place. Those of us that are looking for the rapture to happen before the Tribulation, we are the ones that will be somewhat disappointed.  

 If you don't know by now, it really doesn't matter if you don't have the timetable all figured out or not; what matters, is if you have been washed in the blood of Christ and that He is Lord of your life. If that is what you have going on, then whatever goes on around doesn't matter a single bit: "Not one iota!" as my mom would say, as if there was nothing to worry about, not even in the slightest bit! 

 I see this once blind man, not only given sight, but given ability to have insight into things that these, so called Jewish leaders, cannot see for themselves. They have real head knowledge, but their hearts are too hard to see the hand of God! In their, so called, perfect world, if it isn't their way, it isn't of God! 

 It is really not easy to live in this world without a plan, as many of us have everything all planned out, so living is made a little easier. I hope all your plans work out the way you have them laid out. But, just in case you didn't know this by now, God wants you to be dependent upon Him, not upon this world; and surely, not upon yourself.

 When all is stripped away, will you still be holding onto the Lord? It is said, "You may never know that Jesus is all you need, until Jesus is all you have." Be strong in the Lord, no matter what...

"Dear brothers and sisters, be patient as you wait for the Lord's return. Consider the farmers who patiently wait for the rains in the fall and in the spring. They eagerly look for the valuable harvest to ripen. You, too, must be patient. Take courage, for the coming of the Lord is near. Don't grumble about each other, brothers and sisters, or you will be judged. For look - the Judge is standing at the door!" (James 5:7-9 NLT) 

"Since Then"

 "Since the world began was it not heard that any man opened the eyes of one that was born blind." (John 9:32 KJV)

  "The LORD says, "I was ready to respond, but no one asked for help. I was ready to be found, but no one was looking for me. I said, 'Here I am, here I am!' to a nation that did not call on my name. All day long I opened my arms to a rebellious people."" (Isaiah 65:1-2 NLT)

 Now then, about that thing, the thing said about God not hearing the wicked: If it were completely true, I would have never answered; and if I did answer, He wouldn't have listened! I know that I have shared on this before, so excuse me from repeating myself. I do believe that God heard my prayers when I was a child, hurting and crying out to Him. 

 There can be some serious debate and speculation on the reasons why I knew He heard my cry; it is really not that I changed my life or anything, I just felt as though I was no longer afraid of whatever it was that made me cry out for His help. Personally, my belief, as one looking back, is that I was always His, I just had not become aware of it yet. 

 Yes, that's right! You heard me say it! Before we were conceived in our mother's womb, we were chosen to be His children, and we were waiting live out what He had already planned for our lives: including that day when we would accept His free offer of Salvation! 

 No, that is not saying that we don't have a choice, because we don't even know who or what we are, until we make that choice! So, we need to be awakened as odd as that might sound. We don't even have a clue, but God knows everything about us, including what it will take to change our hearts!

 But man, O man, we surely know it now! Just a little hint, if you have any doubt...

""Rabbi," his disciples asked him, "why was this man born blind? Was it because of his own sins, or his parents' sins?" "It was not because of his sins or his parents' sins," Jesus answered. "This happened so the power of God could be seen in Him."" (John 9:2-3 NLT)  

"The Connection"

 "Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth." (John 9:31 KJV)

  "Come and listen, all you who fear God, and I will tell you what he did for me. For I cried out to him for help, praising him as I spoke. If I had not confessed the sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened. But God did listen! He paid attention to my prayer. Praise God, who did not ignore my prayer or withdraw his unfailing love from me." (Psalm 66:16-20 NLT)

 I know that I don't need to explain this, because anyone that is a child of God, already knows how this works, and when it does not work: God hears our prayers when we have clean hands! As it says above, "If I had not confessed the sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened." And, more real than ever, if God hears you, you know it! 

 Any questions? Like that one question asked over and over, "How do you know He heard you?" Well! In a strange and absolute sort of way, all is well! You will know because there is peace in your heart over whatever it was that you were previously concerned about or fearful over. Not that anything actually has to change with what was wrong, but if God is on your side, it is all alright!

 We might not think that we need to keep confessing our sins; as if, that was settled when we came to Christ, and when all of our sins were washed away. Yes, it is true that Jesus died on the cross for every sin; but we are still prone to sin, which means that we will also still have consequences for the sin, in one form or another. 

 One such consequence might just be a failure to connect with our Heavenly Father! Not that we are no longer His child, but more like a time-out, due to iniquity in our heart, which is pretty much the same as rebellion, which is wickedness!  

 Any way you might look at that, you must always come His child, in need of a Father's love! You will know that love when you feel it, because there is nothing better than coming into His presence... 

"If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth. But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness. If we claim we have not sinned, we are calling God a liar and showing that his word has no place in our hearts." (1 John 1:8-10 NLT) 

"Gifted!"

 "The man answered and said unto them, Why herein is a marvelous thing, that ye know not from whence he is, and yet he hath opened mine eyes." (John 9:30 KJV)

  "Open my eyes to see the wonderful truths in your instructions." (Psalm 119:18 NLT)

 Well then, having looked at the glass that is half empty, it might be time to start to imagine that the glass is really half full, waiting and longing to be filled, overflowing! Some people are just not able to see the good in things, whatever they are looking at, they look for that which might appear to be bad.

 Take this situation, where you have a man born blind, who gets sight, but it is given to him on the sabbath; a day when work is forbidden, and anyone that might work is considered to be a sinner. In this situation, the practical application is to start with the day, as in the day being the sabbath. If the day is first and foremost, then whatever might be done, no matter the good, in the minds of these Jews, it is to be undone because it shouldn't have taken place.  

 Then you look at this same situation from the marvelous work that was done, placing the priority upon that, as if this was surely an act of God; then the actual day becomes less important because God is the one that did the work! If God did it, it had to be good! 

 Anywho, that is what I believe the man who was blind, but now he sees, actually sees! Which is also the point of the verse from Psalms 119:18, as we can sometimes see God's instructions as something that puts the brakes to our desires and wants, as if God is preventing us from having what we want. Funny how that works, because there is more joy in doing what God wants, then in doing what we want; we just might not be looking at it from the right direction! 

 Yesterday I heard a message about the Sabbath Day. As it was instructed, it was said that God gave more instruction on obeying the Sabbath, than He did on any other Commandment. I say, maybe in that portion of Scripture it might have been so, but God is always looking out for what is best for us! 

 When Jesus was asked, "What is the greatest Commandment?" He did not say that it was to keep the Sabbath! But, if we really love God, then we will do whatever He tells us to do, no matter what it takes from our desires or wants...

"You see, we don't go around preaching about ourselves. We preach that Jesus Christ is Lord, and we ourselves are your servants for Jesus' sake. For God, who said, "Let there be light in the darkness," has made the light shine in our hearts so we could know the glory of God that is seen in the face of Jesus Christ. We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure. This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves." (2 Corinthians 4:5-7 NLT)   

"Clueless!" -Too

 "We know that God spoke unto Moses: as for this fellow, we know not from whence he is." (John 9:29 KJV)

  "Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster. For we are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus." (Galatians 3:24-26 KJV) 

 I think it might be a good time to express the importance of the Church, as we might have forgotten or never realized how special the Church is to Christ. I was reminded of this yesterday, as I listen to a message about those invited to the Marriage Celebration in Heaven. As the Pastor teaching on that message shared, he started listed all of those that were invited, and then shared on the ones that were not: two very important characters were mentioned, Christ and His Bride! 

 Anywho, this is not just a simple illustration of being clueless, because all of the clues were deeply planted in the minds of all those that studied the Law. They knew what the law was, inside and out, but they never really considered deeply who they were in relation to what the law represented. 

 In a strange sort of way, I can completely relate to where these Jewish leaders are coming from. All though I had not considered myself a keeper of the law, in any fashion, I understood that the law was given to show us how much we missed the mark. Strangely, I did not care about having missed the mark, because I really didn't want to change my position on feeling okay with missing the mark! 

 If that doesn't make any sense to you, then maybe you can understand what it might look like now, now that we have been schooled on the right side of the law: 'We only keep the sins that we like!' At least that was a message we received at a Men's Retreat at least 15 or 16 years ago. 

 As to the point about how this man received his sight, and what it was Jesus did to give his sight to him; none of that is really relevant! It really doesn't matter how God does what He does, but that the man or woman He changes, actually realize that they have been changed! 

 Again, this death thing is really important to understand, because it has changed us, dramatically! There really needs to come a time when we come to terms with what matters most, more than any other thing that this world might have to offer...

"Remember, it is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it." (James 4:17 NLT) 

"Clueless!"

 "We know that God spake unto Moses: as for this fellow, we know not from whence he is." (John 9:29 KJV)

  "Because God's children are human beings - made of flesh and blood - the Son also became flesh and blood. For only as a human being could he die, and only by dying could he break the power of the devil, who had the power of death. Only in this way could he set free all who have lived their lives as slaves to the fear of dying." (Hebrews 2:14-15 NLT)

 Here is a little test, if you are interested in testing your faith? Do you fear death? Are you afraid of dying, or do you see death as an open door? Not that it makes you a child of God if you feel that way; but if you are a child of God, death is not going to be your end, but a glorious new beginning! 

 That said, I only have one fear about death, which is really not a fear, but more about a wish; because I wish not to die before my wife, because I don't know of anyone else that will take care over her, as much as I care for her. Basically, that is my prayer! Besides asking God to heal her, I am continually asked God to watch over her and to place His angels around her, protecting her. 

 I heard a message yesterday that reminded me of something else about Abel's sacrifice: that Abel was looking towards the One that would come, the Seed of his mother, Eve, that would destroy the power of the evil one, that Serpent! You must realize something about these judgments that God specified to each, all three of those who were co-conspirators in the fall: everything God said would happen, did happen, just as God said that it would. So, the part about the Seed of the woman crushing the head of that Serpent, was real also; real enough to look forward to it happening, just as God said that it would! 

 Besides all of that: if these Jewish fellows had really been paying attention to God's word, as much as they might have paid attention to Law, maybe they wouldn't have been so clueless and have figured out what role they had in God's mighty hand of redemption! We all have a reason, a place in God's masterpiece, each and every one of us! No life is without a purpose, because every life comes from God...

"Just as you cannot understand the path of the wind or the mystery of a tiny baby growing in its mother's womb, so you cannot understand the activity of God, who does all things." (Ecclesiastes 11:5 NLT)  

"They Hate Us Too!"

 "Then they reviled him, and said, Thou art his disciple; but we are Moses' disciples." (John 9:28 KJV)

  "For God called you to do good, even if it means suffering, just as Christ suffered for you. He is your example, and you must follow in his steps. He never sinned, nor ever deceived anyone. He did not retaliate when he was insulted, nor threaten revenge when he suffered. He left his case in the hands of God, who always judges fairly." (1 Peter 2:21-23 NLT)

 If you have been paying attention, then you are probably aware of some of the wicked and perverse things the public schools are doing with our little children. Here in California, children as young as 5 or 6 years old are given instruction in being whatever sex they might feel like, without their parents' permission. In case you did not know, in their eyes, the children belong to them, more than they belong to the parents! 

 As we live in this world, we are told to not love this world, but that does not mean that we don't love people! We are called to love, even our enemies, as hard as that might be, because we never know if even the worse and most wicked person we know, might one day be a brother or sister! 

 Jesus called out the Jewish leaders, but when it came to that final moment, He asked the Father to forgive them for what they had done to Him. "Love the person, but hate the sin," is what my mom would say. I really think that she lived that out; as bad as I was, she always spoke good things about me! 

 It might be hard to follow that golden rule, so to speak, but if think about the bad things we have done, we can remember what it feels like to have been forgiven and begin wishing other might feel that also. You know, that saying, 'Walk a mile in their shoes,' is the same as saying, 'Imagine if that was you!' 

 Obviously, that is not the case with these Jewish leaders! They hate Jesus, and now that they know that this man believes in Him, so they hate him also...

"You who call yourselves Jews are relying on God's law, and you boast about your special relationship with him. You know what he wants; you know what is right because you have been taught the law. You are convinced that you are a guide for the blind and a light for people who are lost in darkness. You think you can instruct the ignorant and teach children the ways of God. For you are certain that God's law gives you complete knowledge of the truth." (Romans 2:17-21 NLT)