"Comfort One Another!"

 "But exhort one another daily, while it is called Today; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin." (Hebrews 3:13 KJV)

  "But you aren't in the dark about these things, dear brothers and sisters, and you won't be surprised when the day of the Lord comes like a thief. For you are all children of the light and of the day; we don't belong to darkness and night. So be on your guard, not asleep like others. Stay alert and be clear headed. Night is the time when people sleep and drinkers get drunk. But let us who live in the light be clearheaded, protected by the armor of faith and love, and wearing as our helmet the confidence of our salvation." (1 Thessalonians 5:4-8 NLT)

 We must be looking after one another, not to be judging each other, but to comfort one another and lifting each other up. I know it might not be done as often as it should, because I might have someone comfort me, maybe once a month! Most everyone at church knows my situation, but I really don't think they know how to comfort me in that situation; so I try not to judge! 

 Besides this, we just need to encourage one another in the basic manor of living! It doesn't need to be about strength or weakness, but just about counting on the Lord and loving each other, regardless of the situation, we all have something that God is working on, in our lives. With some it might just be the ability to share Jesus, which is really not that hard to do, if you have been encouraged in the way to do so!

 I have shared this before, because it is something we must experience in order to know that it is so. When we share Christ with anyone, whether it is a believer or someone that needs to know about Him, we are being energized and filled with the Holy Spirit. It is as if there is a river of life flowing through us, as we share our testimony of what Christ has done. 

 Don't neglect to share with each other, because your testimony might be something that encourages them, and gives them the ability to share with someone else. To be perfectly honest, we really don't share with each other as we should...

"Dear friends, if we don't feel guilty, we can come to God with bold confidence. And we will receive from him whatever we ask because we obey him and do the things that please him. And this is his commandment: We must believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as he commanded us. Those who obey God's commandments remain in fellowship with him, and he with them. And we know he lives in us because the Spirit he gave us lives in us." (1 John 3:21-24 NLT)    

"Don't Become Stubborn"

 "Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God." (Hebrews 3:12 KJV)

  "So we are always confident, even though we know that as long as we live in these bodies we are not home with the Lord. For we live by believing and not by seeing. Yes, we are fully confident, and we would rather be away from these earthly bodies, for then we will be at home with the Lord. So whether we are here in this body or away from this body, our goal is to please him. For we must all stand before Christ to be judged. We will each receive whatever we deserve for the good or evil we have done in this earthly body." (2 Corinthians 5:6-10 NLT)

 One of the last retreats I went to at Woodleaf, started out with this very interesting statement from the first speaker: "We only keep the sins that we like!" That might not sound as if it is some kind of mystery or something we really don't already know; but it is something that is true and hard to overcome. This might be news to some, especially to those that love their bodies: But your body belongs to the Lord! 

 There are certain things we might do, thinking that they are not all that harmful, as if they don't matter all that much, because no one sees what we are doing; but guess what: God sees, everything! Do you count on God to hear you when you pray? Then you must also believe that He sees you and knows everything you do. 

 It is really not something that I am making up! People do it naturally, all the time, without even thinking about it, it just comes naturally, because it is our human nature. It started with Adam and Eve, as they hid in the Garden, covered in fig leaves; as if God didn't know what they did, or where they were hiding. 

 It happened with David, as he plotted to have Uriah killed; being frustrated that he refused to go into his house to be with his wife, David didn't even think about God's ability to observe everything he did. It was as if he was stepping away from God, therefore God was not watching! But He always watches over us; He even sees the things within our hearts, even though we don't...

""Dear children, I will be with you only a little longer. And as I told the Jewish leaders, you will search for me, but you can't come where I am going. So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples." Simon Peter replied, "Lord, where are you going?" And Jesus replied, "You can't go with me now, but you will follow me later." "But why can't I come not, Lord?" he asked. "I'm ready to die for you." Jesus answered, "Die for me? I tell you the truth, Peter - before the rooster crows tomorrow morning, you will deny three times that you even know me."" (John 13:33-38 NLT) 

"The Peril of Unbelief"

  "Be careful then, dear brothers and sisters. Make sure that your own hearts are not evil and unbelieving, turning you away from the living God. You must warn each other every day, while it is still "today," so that none of you will be deceived by sin and hardened against God. For if we are faithful to the end, trusting God just as firmly as when we first believed, we will share in all that belongs to Christ. Remember what it says:

"Today when you hear his voice, don't harden your hearts as Israel did when they rebelled." 

 "And who was it who rebelled against God, even though they heard his voice? Wasn't it the people who made God angry for forty years? Wasn't it the people who sinned, whose corpses lay in the wilderness? And to whom was God speaking when he took an oath that they would never enter his rest? Wasn't it the people who disobeyed him? So we see that because of their unbelief they were not able to enter his rest." (Hebrews 3:12-19 NLT)

  We have come to that part of the message which has been the test of many Retreats and Conferences I have attended; besides the portions of Scripture still ahead, there are many times that this one quote is addressed, over and over again: "They will never enter my place of rest." 

 With that, I must say with every bit of belief that I can hold firmly in my heart: If we believe in Christ Jesus, and we have accepted the Salvation He has given us, we will be saved! 

Do you believe...

"Now all these things happened unto them for examples: and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come. Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall." (1 Corinthians 10:11-12 KJV) 

"Missed Opportunities"

 "So I sware in my wrath, They shall not enter into my rest.)" (Hebrews 3:11 KJV)

  "For the grace of God has been revealed, bringing salvation to all people. And we are instructed to turn from godless living and sinful pleasures. We should live in this evil world with wisdom, righteousness, and devotion to God, while we look forward with hope to that wonderful day when the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, will be revealed. He gave his life to free us from every kind of sin, to cleanse us, and to make us his very own people, totally committed to doing good deeds. You must teach these things and encourage the believers to do them. You have the authority to correct them when necessary, so don't let anyone disregard what you say." (Titus 2:11-15 NLT)

 Not that I have figured anything out, because as soon as I think I have something figured out, it has a tendency to fall apart, and I need to start all over again. This includes those things which cause us to sin, as we think that we have the ability to resist the old temptations, but given the opportunity, we don't. It is not because we don't have the ability to turn away, because we absolutely do; but it is because we like whatever it is that we do, even though it hurts! 

 Besides all of that, we have something different within us to change anything that is wrong in our lives, if we would just make the right choices. As it was for the children of Israel, they had everything they needed, but not everything that they wanted; so they missed out on something special: God's rest! 

 To be perfectly honest, this is not something we take away on our own; it is something that is looked forward to, as if it has already been established. If there is a better way to explain it, I would say that it is a lot like Abraham's trust in God, as the Bible says, 'Abraham looked for a city built by God.' So, in other words, the place of rest was not here on this earth but was a place to look forward to. 

 Therefore, we can't take it away, because it has already been established; but what we can do, is to neglect to enjoy the opportunity to be going there; not to say that it won't ever happen... 

"All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is by his great mercy that we have been born again, because God raised Jesus Christ from the dead. Now we live with great expectation, and we have a priceless inheritance - an inheritance that is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay. And through your faith, God is protecting you by his power until you receive this salvation, which is ready to be revealed on the last day for all to see." (1 Peter 1:3-5 NLT) 

"Out of the Way"

 "Wherefore I was grieved with that generation, and said, They do always err in their heart; and they have not known my ways." (Hebrews 3:10 KJV)

  "So each generation should set its hope anew on God, not forgetting his glorious miracles and obeying his commands. Then they will not be like their ancestors - stubborn, rebellious, and unfaithful, refusing to give their hearts to God." (PSALM 78:7-8 NLT)

 If you have been paying attention to anything going on in the political world, then you might have seen the results of the election in the primary for New York mayor. This is surely not your grandfather's Democratic Party! I think I voted Democrat in the 1976 election, which was the actual first time I ever voted. If memory serves, it was when I was at the recruiting center for the Navy, and everyone was given a ballot and instructed how to vote. I voted for the Peanut Farmer, Jimmy Carter! 

 Anywho, we shouldn't get too worried about what is happening in these elections, because the time is quickly coming when everything will be out of our control; or should I say, the control of those who are left here on this earth! If you ever get a chance to listen to Pastor Mike, he was pretty fired up yesterday, as he was sharing about all the pieces starting to fall into place. 

 As to my post yesterday, that was just my way of venting out some of my emotions; something I try hard not to do, because I try not to complain about anything difficult in my life. Seriously, I seldom complain to God, so why should I complain to anyone else? 

 We all have a cross to bear, in one way or another, so try not to complain! Instead, share what God will do through the cross that you bear; not that it is a burden, but a blessing...

"As Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the twelve disciples aside privately and told them what was going to happen to him, "Listen," he said, "we're going up to Jerusalem, where the Son of Man will be betrayed to the leading priests and the teachers of religious law. They will sentence him to die. Then they will hand him over to the Romans to be mocked, flogged with a whip, and crucified. But on the third day he will be raised from the dead."" (Matthew 20:17-19 NLT) 

"Experienced" - Too

 "When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my works forty years." (Hebrews 3:9 KJV)

  "Because of Christ and our faith in him, we can now come boldly and confidently into God's presence. So please don't lose heart because of my trials here. I am suffering for you, so you should feel honored. When I think of all this, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth. 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 my 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." (Ephesians 3:12-19 NLT)

 Please try and hear me out, as I try myself to make this understandable, it still might not compute to all that listen, without some sort of experience in the same arena; we all have separate journeys, some more difficult than others, but we all have the same love that carries us to the very end! 

 Paul was incarcerated in prison, yet he was not actually in chains and without freedom; even if he actually was locked down and bound in chains! That might not sound logical to some, but when we have God's blessing and we have purpose, we are given freedom beyond what most people can comprehend. It is really just a matter of what God's doing in our lives; the more we make ourselves available for Him to work through us, the more we experience His great love; and no matter what our situation is, we are just fine with where God has us, even if it is being locked up in prison.

 I know that I have shared this before, but it is something I feel needs to be shared again. When I was in jail, after getting saved and starting to fellowship with other believers, I began to feel as though God had me where I was for a purpose. The more I shared with others about Jesus, the more I felt free and really didn't feel as though I was incarcerated. 

 When I was taken to the main County Jail for my first early-release hearing, I came into the room, where I saw my wife and my boss seated there to stand up from my release. No sooner than when I took a seat, and the woman in the middle of the panel call out my name, saying, "Mr. Norrup, release denied!" To which I instantly proclaimed, "Praise the Lord!" 

 If you could have seen the faces of my wife and boss when I said that. They looked at each other as if I didn't really want to come home. That night I spoke to my wife, and she asked me if I didn't want to come home, But I assured her that I really did, but at the same time, I felt God still had something for me to do. 

 With that, coming to this current situation, being the condition of my wife. I feel as though this is a lot like being incarcerated; except it is more regarding my wife's situation more than myself. That said, we are one! So we are pretty much both incarcerated in the same situation; except hers is more restrictive and hardest to understand. 

 I love my wife with all my heart, and I hate to see her in this condition; it causes me to breakdown from time to time, begging God to heal her or take her home; yet He keeps showing me that He is still at work, in some way of another...

"But thank God! He has made us his captives and continues to lead us along in Christ's triumphal procession. Now he uses us to spread the knowledge of Christ everywhere, like a sweet perfume. Our lives are a Christ-like fragrance rising up to God. But this fragrance is perceived differently to those who are being saved and those who are perishing. To those who are perishing, we are a dreadful smell of death and doom. But to those who are being saved, we are a life-giving perfume. And who is adequate for such a task as this?" (2 Corinthians 2:14-16 NLT)      

"Experienced"

 "When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my works forty years." (Hebrews 3:9 KJV)

  "John's two disciples found Jesus and said to him, "John the Baptist sent us to ask, 'Are you the Messiah we've been expecting, or should we be looking for someone else?'" At that very time, Jesus cured many people of their diseases, illnesses, and evil spirits, and he restored sight to many who were blind. Then he told John's disciples, "Go back to John and tell him what you have seen and heard - the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised to life, and the Good News is being preached to the poor. And tell him, 'God blesses those who do not turn away because of me.'"" (Luke 7:20-23 NLT)

 As I finished yesterday's post, I was reminded about the children of Israel's complaint to Moses, over and over, they kept saying the same thing, "Was there not enough graves for us in Egypt?" Even though they saw His great and awesome power, over and over, they still would complain whenever things looked as though there might be a challenge or a need. 

 A little challenge, and we think about needs and wants, as if there isn't a way for God to work things out! Having crossed that experience as often as I have, you would think by now I would stop the worry and try to just be thankful for waking up! God is so faithful, as soon as we have a little resistance, we should just relax and remember how faithful He has always been. 

 The crazy thing about the complaints the people had, is, they actually did end up dyeing in the wilderness! The thing that they tried to blame God for, actually became what they experienced! Wouldn't it be nice if we just kept praising God for all the good things, and maybe we wouldn't experience so many things that don't seem that good...

"God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him. And remember, when you are being tempted, do not say, "God is tempting me." God is never tempted to do wrong, and he never tempts anyone else. Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and us away. These desires give birth to sinful actions. And when sin is allowed to grow, it gives birth to death." (James 1:12-15 NLT) 

"Proving"

 "Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness:" (Hebrews 3:8 KJV)

  "Put on all of God's armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in the dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. Therefore, put on every piece of God's armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm." (Ephesians 6:11-13 NLT)

 Something to consider, if you are having any doubts about your walk or the confidence you have in God's ability to keep you firmly in His mighty hand. As difficult as it might be to teach ourselves how to stay on the right path, God's way of teaching us, although it might not come with instructions, it does cause us to be stretched and turned inside-out! 

 We can do it the easy way, or we can let God take us through the wilderness; sometimes we don't really have a choice, but most every time we have assistance. When the children of Israel marched through the wilderness, they had God showing them the way, providing a cloud by day and a fire by night. Those were two very obvious things to go by, but God uses other things too, whatever it takes to get us to pay attention. 

 As for me, I am really hard-headed and don't get the message as much as I should. Call it a work-in-progress; but I seem to be stuck in loop, that keeps starting the progress over and over again! Which, if you have studied the children of Israel's journey through the wilderness, it isn't all that strange for us to keep making the same mistakes again and again...

"His disciples came and asked him, "Why do you use parables when you talk to the people?" He replied, "You are permitted to understand the secrets of the Kingdom of Heaven, but others are not. To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given, and they will have an abundance of knowledge. But for those who are not listening, even what little understanding they have will be taken away from them. That is why I use parables, For they look, but they don't see. They hear, but they don't really listen or understand. This fulfills the prophecy of Isaiah that says, 'When you hear what I say, you will not understand. When you see what I do, you will not comprehend. For the hearts of these people are hardened, and their ears cannot hear, and they have closed their eyes - so their eyes cannot see, and their ears cannot hear, and their hearts cannot understand, and they cannot turn to me and let me heal them.'"" (Matthew 13:10-15 NLT)  

"Warnings"

 "Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith, To day if ye will hear his voice," (Hebrews 3:7 KJV) 

  ""Come to me with your ears wide open. Listen, and you will find life. I will make an everlasting covenant with you. I will give you all the unfailing love I promised to David."" (Isaiah 55:3 NLT)

  You must pay attention to what is going on in this world, because we are getting closer and closer to the Lord's soon return! I was listening to Pastor Jack the other day, speaking to Tony Perkins; they were talking about all the things which needs to happen to set up the beginning of the Tribulation; which is something that most of the church believes will happen after the Rapture. 

 There are some that still hold to the theory that the Rapture will happen, either in the middle of, or at the end of the Tribulation; but the Tribulation is God's wrath being poured out on the earth! We who hold to the belief in a pre-tribulation rapture, believe that Jesus will come for His bride before it all starts. This is because He is protecting His bride, and the massive amount of those who will be saved during that time, after that event, will be triggered because they will see the truth of what they had been told. 

 I know that there are many people who think differently, and we all should just get along; but if it makes any help to anyone sitting on the fence, Jesus will protect His bride from the wrath to come! There are several different reasons that this is shown throughout the Scriptures, but the most important is that the church is not mentioned during that seven-year period. 

 Anywho! I am very curious as to what comes next, after having been up most of the night listening to all that happen, and how secret everything was made to happen. It was really quite impressive to see how it was pulled off, almost as if there were angels that worked behind the curtain to hide what was going on. 

 We must understand that God protects Israel, especially in these times right now, with the coming time of the Tribulation! The children of Israel will be amazingly changed... 

""Listen to me, O my people, while I give you stern warnings. O Israel, if you would only listen to me! You must never have a foreign god; you must not bow down before a false god. For is was I, the LORD your God, who rescued you from the land of Egypt. Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it with good things. "But no, my people wouldn't listen. Israel did not want me around. So I let them follow their own stubborn desires, living according to their own ideas. Oh, that my people would listen to me! Oh, that Israel would follow me, walking in my paths! How quickly I would then subdue their enemies! How soon my hands would be upon their foes! Those who hate the LORD would cringe before him; they would be doomed forever. But I would feed you with the finest wheat. I would satisfy you with wild honey from the rock."" (PSALM 81:8-16 NLT) 

"Living Hope" - 3

 "But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end," (Hebrews 3:6 KJV)

  "Therefore, since we have been made right in God's sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God's glory." (Romans 5:1-2 NLT) 

 Regardless of what anyone might think, our past is something that is just that, in the past; and there is no way that anything we have ever done can be undone. That said, the forgiveness that we have been given by what Christ did on that cross, is more than enough to undo anything, which basically means, we are justified in God's sight: Just as if we have never sinned! 

 We can dwell on the past, if that is what you think makes you cautious and careful to stay out of trouble; but if you really want to experience the freedom and peace that your salvation has given you, you really need to look forward to sharing in God's glory! In other words, don't dwell on the things which cannot be changed, but focus on the things which can, looking forward to those things which God has provided for you to do. Like an anxious servant, looking for the next adventure the Master has you to do.

 Anywho, that is what I remember most about what works best in this life of serving our King; so that is what I think I will try to keep doing! Try is really not the right motivational word for getting things done, because we fail so often to get it right; but with the Lord's help, trying becomes something that basically means: Just showing up...

"Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. Remember that the Lord will give you an inheritance as your reward, and that the Master you are serving is Christ." (Colossians 3:23-24 NLT)  

"Living Hope" - 2

 "But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end." (Hebrews 3:6 KJV)

  "I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit." (Romans 15:13 NLT)

 This is actually a real prayer, based upon the willingness to accept that we have been placed within the family of God; that we might trust in Him, that it is His righteousness we are counting on, and not our own! As it is, this morning I woke up thinking about all the things I could have done, should have done, and wish I had never done. After which, I asked the Lord to help me to focus more on Him and less on myself! 

 We might not have to deal with some of what the Gentiles did, as they were first following Jesus. Having to deal with the rejection from being the first converts into the Lord's house, as it were. How amazing God is, in the way He works! No matter who you are or what you might have done, you can always be saved; as long as you are breathing, you have an opportunity to be saved! 

 Whenever we start focusing upon the situations in our lives, no matter what they are, sickness, finances, family issues, or just life being hard, we are looking at life through a totally different direction. There was an illustration I remember, from way back when, where the teacher was showing what life looks like by looking though a construction cone. 

 Regardless of the size of your problem, God is always bigger! We serve a very big God, who loves us, and only wants the very best for us; no matter how big the situation might be, the question shouldn't be why, but what! 'God, what are doing, and what should I do?' 

 Sometimes He answers and sometimes He is quite; but He always has a plan! Rejoice and wait...

"Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again - rejoice! Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is coming soon. Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God's peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:4-7 NLT)  

"Living Hope"

 "But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end." (Hebrews 3:6 KJV)

    "So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you have to endure many trials for a little while. These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold - though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world." (1 Peter 1:6-7 NLT)

 I could help but think of Peter, who denied Jesus three times, on the night that He was arrested and was being tormented, on His way to the cross. As I wrapped up that message yesterday morning, there was something that I remembered which Jesus told Peter earlier that night: "Die for me? I tell you the truth, Peter - before the rooster crows tomorrow morning, you will deny three times that you even know me." 

 Good news with that, is that Peter was terribly torn up over what he did, and he was seriously sorry for what he did. Believe it or not, but that is what Jesus prayed for, that he would be strengthened and restored! Aren't you so glad that our Lord and Saviour is watching out for us! 

 Sometimes we can really make some big mistakes, even though we don't set out to do anything wrong, we just get caught off guard, and our flesh takes over. But that isn't enough to feel as though you lost the race, as some have felt and walked away from the faith. We must not give up, no matter what...

  "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 4:7 NLT)  

"The Purpose" - Too

 "And Moses verily was faithful in all his house, as a servant, for a testimony of those things which were to be spoken after;" (Hebrews 3:5 KJV)

  "Before the way of faith in Christ was available to us, we were placed under guard by the law. We were kept in protective custody, so to speak, until the way of faith was revealed. Let me put it another way: The law was our guardian until Christ came; it protected us until we could be made right with God through faith. And now that the way of faith has come, we no longer need the law as our guardian." (Galatians 3:23-25 NLT)

 Having been saved since 1981, there are still things I have to learn, even though I have learned them before. I heard Pastor Jack, (actually, both Pastor Jack's,) share about the things people did back in the 60's and 70's; as they were excited to fellowship, filling up churches and coming early to spend time in the sharing of the Word, praying for one another, and even playing worship.

 Now, in this day and age, people show up late and leave early; it's more about getting there to show a presence, then it is about being there to have fellowship and experience the love for one another. As they both spoke about it, it was almost as if they had planned it; but the messages were obviously given at totally different times. 

 This how the Holy Spirit works! Much like it was when I went to the service in Mount Shasta; I went there thinking I was going to support my friend and pray for his message; yet the Holy Spirit turned my heart towards the message, and I realized I came to be schooled! God used that message to show me how I needed to share Jesus more, as the whole point that was being given was how Peter didn't share, so it seems, for all the time he was with servants of Cornelius. (Acts 10)

 The whole point of this, whether you can except it or not, is the words, "faithful in all his house". Because our ministry begins at home; meaning, where we live, where we are at, and with those we come in contact with. Even though we might not know how, we are able to share what we know; primarily, that we know the way...

 ""I tell you the truth, everyone who acknowledges me publicly here on earth, the Son of Man will also acknowledge in the presence of God's angels. But anyone who denies me here on earth will be denied before God's angels. Anyone who speaks against the Son of Man can be forgiven, but anyone who blasphemes the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven. And when you are brought to trial in the synagogues and before rulers and authorities, don't worry about how to defend yourself or what to say, for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what needs to be said."" (Luke 12:8-12 NLT)  

  

"The Purpose"

 "And Moses verily was faithful in all his house, as a servant, for a testimony of those things which were to be spoken after;" (Hebrews 3:5 KJV)

  ""You search the Scriptures because you think they give you eternal life. But the Scriptures point to me! Yet you refuse to come to me to receive this life. Your approval means nothing to me, because I know you don't have God's love within you. For I have come to you in my Father's name, and you have rejected me. Yet if others come in their own name, you gladly welcome them. No wonder you can't believe! For you gladly honor each other, but you don't care about the honor that comes from the one who alone is God. Yet it isn't I who will accuse you before the Father. Moses will accuse you! Yes, Moses, in whom you put your hopes. If you really believed Moses, you would believe me, because he wrote about me. But since you don't believe what he wrote, how will you believe what I say?"" (John 5:39-47 NLT)

 There are certain things which cause us to think about our own loyalty and commitment to the Lord; most of which is when we see those who fall away, when we once thought that they were strong enough to keep the faith. It makes us think about our own abilities, would we have the strength enough to hang in there, even if we might feel offended or whatever else might change our point of view. 

 I have thought about it many times; wondering if I have what it takes to stay in the fight, no matter how hard it gets, or how long the struggle keeps tearing me down. We keep believing that God does not give us more than we can handle; but is it really true? 

 Well, if you really want to know how it really works, the answer is in this simple position we must stay in, which is that of being a servant! If you remain a servant, not a boss, then you have so little less chances to become offended. Moses is shown here as a servant, but when he changed his heart, and became the boss, he took that rod and struck the rock, as if he was no longer a servant. 

 This might sound hard to believe, but it is easier to follow the Lord when you have the attitude of a servant! At least that is my take on the matter, now I just need to keep that same attitude...

""But what do you think about this? A man with two sons told the older boy, 'Son, go out and work in the vineyard today.' The son answered, 'No, I won't go,' but later he changed his mind and went anyway. Then the father told the other son, 'You go,' and he said, 'Yes, sir, I will.' But he didn't go. "Which of the two obeyed his father?" They replied, "The first." Then Jesus explained his meaning: "I tell you the truth, corrupt tax collectors and prostitutes will get into the kingdom of God before you do. For John the Baptist came and showed you the right way to live, but you didn't believe him, while tax collectors and prostitutes did. And even when you saw this happening, you refused to believe him and repent of your sins."" (Matthew 21:28-32 NLT) 

"Reason"

 "For every house is builded by some man; but he that built all things is God." (Hebrews 3:4 KJV)

  "The old way, with laws etched in stone, led to death, though it began with such glory that the people of Israel could not bear to look at Moses' face. For his face shone with the glory of God, even though the brightness was already fading away. Shouldn't we expect far greater glory under the new way, now that the Holy Spirit is giving life? If the old way, which brings condemnation, was glorious, how much more glorious is the new way, which make us right with God! In fact, that first glory was not glorious at all compared with the overwhelming glory of the new way. So if the old way, which has been replaced, was glorious, how much more glorious is the new, which remains forever!" (2 Corinthians 3:7-11 NLT)

 One of the first things I learned, in this new life in Christ, is that we must learn to put all of our hope in the salvation which we have been given. It wasn't but a few days after I was saved, that I had fallen into something which made me feel ashamed; it was as if I had done the thing Proverbs 26:11 says: "As a dog returns to his vomit, so a fool repeats his folly." 

 The main thing we must keep in mind, is that we are totally and completely dependent upon Christ and the wonder-working-power of the cross! It is only by His blood that we are made holy; trying to be holy by keeping the law, is a lot like trying to build something which has already been built! He has made the way, which was actually planned, and the foundation was laid, from the very beginning. 

 As a matter of fact, the law was not given for us to try and keep but was given to show us how far we are from keeping God's standards! Hopefully we have gotten the message by now, because the glorious part of this new life we have in Christ, is that He made it happen, not us...

"God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can't take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. For we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago." (Ephesians 2:8-10 NLT)

"The Way" - To

 "For this man was counted worthy of more glory than Moses, inasmuch as he who hath builded the house hath more honour than the house." (Hebrews 3:3 KJV)

  ""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 in 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 my life 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 10:14-21 NLT) 

 Growing up, I was rather skeptical about some of what I saw and heard about Jesus and was confused about who He was, based upon the lessons we were told from the Watchtower and Tract Society. As I have expressed before, they really don't want you to just read the Bible, without reading the Scripture Studies. Those are the books that we would study from, the Bible was just used to verify what you were reading was the truth, as it was instructed to be so. 

 When I was called that day, the day I accepted Jesus into my heart, I was overwhelmed by the truth of who Jesus actually was; so much so, that I lifted both hands when the speaker said, "Raise your hand, if you want to ask Jesus to come into your heart." After that, everything changed! The Bible was no longer a book of stories and passages to try to remember; it became the instruction manual for my life! 

 There is more to this transformation than just knowing who Jesus really is, because we are changed to be something that we never were before. Before we were dead, totally separated from God; after, we became alive, living with the Holy Spirit within us. Some call that a transformation, as it actually is; but within that change, we are also confronted with knowing our sinful lives.

 As to that man that thought God was a bad father, Jesus was more than willing to sacrifice Himself on that cross: It was the reason He came; and the only way that we could be saved...

 ""You were born a total sinner!" they answered. "Are you trying to teach us?" And they threw him out of the synagogue. When Jesus heard what had 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 worshiped 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 9:34-41 NLT) 

 

   

"The Way"

 "For this man was counted worthy of more glory than Moses, inasmuch as he who hath builded the house hath more honour than the house." (Hebrews 3:3 KJV)

  "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't see - such as thrones, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities in the unseen world. Everything was created through him. He existed before anything else, and 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)

 There is only one way for us to be saved; keeping the Ten Commandments, which might make you a good person, won't get you into the Promise Land! I was listening to Pastor Jack yesterday afternoon, and he was sharing a story about a very intelligent man, who was really quite stupid. The main thing he said about that man's stupidity, was that he called God a child abuser, because He sent His Son to die on the cross. 

 Maybe that doesn't sound stupid to some, but as the Bible clearly says, "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise and discard the intelligence of the intelligent." (1 Corinthians 1:19 NLT) Before I was saved, the cross was just something we wore around our neck, as a symbol of being part of something, not really understanding what it really meant. 

 Jesus died on that cross for a very specific reason, to pay the penalty for our sins! Each and every one of us could never afford to pay that price, all the money in the world wouldn't help; working to do the things that are good, no matter how hard we tried, there would still be sin in our lives! That is what He died for, to take away the sins we were born with, which is why we needed to be Born Again! 

 I know there are some who will say that it isn't fair, as if people who work hard to be good should be given some sort of waiver or ticket to Paradise; but there is no other way to be saved, other than, truly believing in Jesus Christ and the sacrifice He paid on that cross...

"For no one can ever be made right with God by doing what the law commands. The law simply shows us how sinful we are. But now God has shown us a way to be made right with him without keeping the requirements of the law, as was promised in the writings of Moses and the prophets long ago. We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are. For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God's glorious standard." Romans 3:20-23 NLT)  

"Believing!" - Again!

 "Who was faithful to him that appointed him, as also Moses was faithful in all his house." (Hebrews 3:2 KJV)

  "I am writing these things to you now, even though I hope to be with you soon, so that if I am delayed you will know how people must conduct themselves in the household of God. This is the church of the living God, which is the pillar and foundation of the truth. Without question, this is the great mystery of our faith: Christ was revealed in a human body and vindicated by the Spirit. He was seen by angels and announced to the nations. He was believed in throughout the world and taken to heaven in glory." (1 Timothy 3:14-16 NLT)

 Sometimes, we just need a little jolt to remind us of the amazing love that God has for us; even though we might not deserve it, He loves us more than we could ever really know! When I think about all the stupid things I have done, it hurts my heart every time I think, "What was I thinking!" 

 The main point I took away from Pastor Bryan's message Wednesday night, was Paul's message in Philippians 3:13-14, which he says, "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." 

 The point which is so important is that of "forgetting those things which are behind," because it really isn't about us forgetting the things we did, but more about us not letting those things hinder what God is doing now and onward in our lives. We really cannot forget the bad things we have done, but we can be sure to not allow the past to hinder our future! 

 I heard this funny message yesterday, which really reminded me of what Paul was talking about; it involved all of the great men and women of the Bible that are in the Hall of Faith. We must remember that just about every one of those Saints failed in one way or another; none of them were perfect enough to not have something that they were not proud of doing! 

 From the very beginning of this journey, I had several times when I questioned my faith. Not that I didn't believe in Jesus Christ and the power of the cross, but that I didn't think that I was worthy enough to be a part of what He did, as if the wonder-working-power didn't take hold in my life. 

 If that is an issue with anyone reading this, please understand something sincerely special: If it is a great concern to you that you are seriously broken, then you are right where God wants you to be; totally and completely dependent upon Him...

"For 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. The LORD is like a father to his children, tender and compassionate to those that fear him. For he knows how weak we are; he remembers we are only dust. Our days on earth are like grass; like wildflowers, we bloom and die." (PSALM 103:11-15 NLT)   

"Believing!" - Too

 "Who was faithful to him that appointed him, as also Moses was faithful in all his house." (Hebrews 3:2 KJV)

  "Martha said to Jesus, "Lord, if only you had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that God will give you whatever you ask." Jesus told her, "Your brother will rise again." "Yes," Martha said, "he will rise when everyone else rises, at the last day." Jesus told her, "I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying. Everyone who lives in me and believes in me will never ever die. Do you believe this, Martha?"" (John 11:21-26 NLT)

 Just so you know, the word, "faithful," which is shown in the description, "Who was faithful to him that appointed him," is a word that illustrates belief, as in believing, or being a believer. In other words, the faithful quality is the result of believing, being sure that everything will be just as it is meant to be, no matter what! 

 We are given the ability to be an overcomer when we move in that direction, because we believe that God has called us and He will work everything out. If you have any opposition or difficulties, they are not meant to hinder your abilities, but they are meant to cause you to depend more upon God's abilities than that of your own. 

 That is what believing comes down to, the more you trust in God, the more see God work things out, in ways you never expected! This illustration with Lazarus is a perfect way to see how this works. Jesus knew that Lazarus was sick and going to die, and He believed that it was for this purpose, in order to let him die, raising him on the fourth day. The reason for the delay, is because Jewish tradition says that the soul hangs around for three days, but on the fourth day, the soul gives up, and death is certain. 

 Even though we don't know all of the details, like Jesus did, we can still have faith in believing God's hand is guiding and directing our lives. That is also the case when we are dealing with something that is catastrophic, like dying from cancer, or having something wrong that will destroy your whole life, as you have known it! 

 If you truly believe that you have been given eternal life, then that is the direction you should be looking at, believing that is what you are facing! If you really want to overcome the fear of death, then you must be faithful in trusting God for your eternal life...

"The Jewish leaders were infuriated by Stephen's accusation, and they shook their fists at him in rage. But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed steadily into heaven and saw the glory of God, and he saw Jesus standing in the place of honor at God's right hand. And he told them, "Look, I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing in the place of honor at God's right hand!" Then they put their hands over their ears and began shouting. They rush at him and dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. His accusers took off their coats and laid them at the feet of a young man named Saul. As they stoned him, Stephen prayed, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit." He fell to his knees, shouting, "Lord, don't charge them with this sin!" And with that, he died." (Acts 7:54-60 NLT)   

"Believing!"

 "Who was faithful to him that appointed him, as also Moses was faithful in all his house." (Hebrews 3:2 KJV)

  "Nebuchadnezzar said to them, "Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, that you refuse to serve my gods or to worship the gold statue I have set up? I will give you one more chance to bow down and worship the statue I have made when you hear the sound of the musical instruments. But if you refuse, you will be thrown immediately into the blazing furnace. And then what god will be able to rescue you from my power?" Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego replied, " O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God whom we serve is able to save us. He will rescue us from your power, Your Majesty. But even if he doesn't, we want to make it clear to you, Your Majesty, that we will never serve your gods or worship the gold statue you have set up."" (Daniel 3:14-18 NLT)

 I chose this portion of Scripture to illustrate something that I believe is important, especially in these times we have the privilege to be living in. This illustration of what it means to believe in the God who saves, I first was shown in the very beginning of my New Life in Christ; it was during the very first Wednesday Night Bible Study. The massage was combined with an additional message from PSALM 103:12, which says, "He has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west." 

 There is really nothing on this earth that can separate us from God's love and the promise He has given us for eternal life with Him; if anything at all, we are the only thing that might stand in the way, but even then, it will not be easy to undo what He has done for us! I know that there are differences of opinion on that topic; but I firmly believe, if you truly were saved, then that salvation is noncancelable, no matter how hard you might try to undo it! 

 I know that I will be challenged for that belief, because I was challenged on the night we had these two messages together, because I did not believe that what God has done could be undone. When the officer that was teaching said, "But you can always turn and go the other way," I didn't agree, standing up I said, "How can we undo anything the God has done?" 

 I also know that there are firm believers that can change, turn away and pretend that God doesn't really care if we live or die; but if they were seriously a real believer, God will change their heart; one way or another, they will be saved. That's my belief in this thing we call Salvation, because His power is so much more powerful than ours; just like His love is so much surer than ours...

"All who confess that Jesus is the Son of God have God living in them, and they live in God. We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in his love. God is love, and all who line in love live in God, and God lives in them. And as we live in God, our love grows more perfect. So we will not be afraid on the day of judgment, but we can face him with confidence because we live like Jesus here in this world. Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced his perfect love. We love each other because he loved us first." (1 John 4:15-19 NLT) 

"Partakers of the Heavenly Calling"

 "Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus;" (Hebrews 3:1 KJV)

  ""Yet you say, 'The Lord isn't doing what's right!' Listen to me, O people of Israel. Am I the one not doing what's right, or is it you? When righteous people turn from the righteous behavior and start doing sinful things, they will die for it. Yes, they will die because of their sinful deeds. And if wicked people turn from their wickedness, obey the law, and do what is just and right, they will save their lives. They will live because they thought it over and decided to turn from their sins. Such people will not die. And yet the people of Israel keep saying, 'The Lord isn't doing what's right!' O people of Israel, it is you who are not doing what's right, not I."" (Ezekiel 18:25-29 NLT)

 Why does God allow suffering and bad things to happen, to people that are partakers of the heavenly calling? We have a tendency to think that is wrong; so much so, that many people have walked away from the faith, having been disappointed with God, as if there is something wrong with God for letting it happen. 

 Well, I have felt some of that, now and then, as I think about my wife, wondering why He hasn't healed her or taken her home! It is hard for me to sometimes understand the purpose; yet, when I start to feel as though it doesn't make sense, He shows me the sign of encouragement and love; something that is far greater than the average life, as we know it. 

 Bottom-line, so to speak, is that we live with what God gives us, good or bad, He has made us to be a vessel for whatever condition we find ourselves living in, we are made for His will and purpose! What was it that caused my wife to fall in love with me? My heart breaks every time I think of it! 

 As to this portion of Ezekiel, which has something hidden within the message; we that live by faith, know that we are only righteous because our faith is in Christ, that His righteousness is what makes us holy. Yet, the message of that which we see here, has the position of us obeying the law and doing what is just and right; something that we have no power on our own to naturally do.

 Simply put: Consider Christ Jesus! When you think your life is not being treated fairly or you think you got the wrong end of the stick; stop and consider what Jesus went through, the sacrifice He suffered through, as He gave His life for you! As I have said before, I will say it again: Israel is the perfect image of us, as we have all things in common...

"After breakfast Jesus asked Simon Peter, "Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?" "Yes, Lord," Peter replied, "you know I love you." Then feed my lambs," Jesus told him. Jesus repeated the question: "Simon son of John, do you love me?" "Yes, Lord," Peter said, "you know I love you." "Then take care of my sheep," Jesus said. A third time he asked him, "Simon son of John, do you love me?" Peter was hurt that Jesus asked him the question a third time. He said, "Lord, you know everything. You know that I love you." Jesus said, "Then feed my sheep. "I tell you the truth, when you were young, you were able to do as you liked; you dressed yourself and went wherever you wanted to go. But when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and others will dress you and take you where you don't want to go." Jesus said this to let him know by what kind of death he would glorify God. Then Jesus told him, "Follow me." Peter turned around and saw behind them the disciple Jesus loved - the one who had leaned over to Jesus during the supper and asked, "Lord, who will betray you?" Peter asked Jesus, "What about him, Lord?" Jesus replied, "If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? As for you, follow me."" (John 21:15-22 NLT) 

  

"Who Do You Love?"

 "Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus;" (Hebrews 3:1 KJV)

  "This letter is from Jude, a slave of Jesus Christ and a brother of James. I am writing to all who have been called by God the Father, who loves you and keeps you safe in the care of Jesus Christ. May God give you more and more mercy, peace, and love." (Jude 1-2 NLT)

 Believe it or not, but this might be one of those mornings when I really don't know where to start; it's almost as if there is something causing me to feel as though I need to change directions, as if I am running a race that is getting me nowhere. Do you ever get the feeling that you are being shunned? 

 Not that it really bothers me, because I believe that I have someone who loves me, worth more than any love I can get from people on earth; but it does cause me to wonder if there is something I am missing. If there is something wrong with me, I would hope someone might actually care enough to tell me what I have done that is wrong. 

 Anywho, there are bigger and better things to talk about, most of which is the love we have for Christ Jesus, our Lord! Jesus was not kidding when He said, "Don't imagine that I came to bring peace to the earth! I came not to bring peace, but a sword." (Matthew 10:34 NLT) There must be nothing greater that we love than Christ Jesus; He is first and foremost, our very first love! 

 Maybe there needs to be some definition of what first love actually means? By the way, I was wondering where Pastor Bryan was going, as he shared about some people's last rights and having to get the chance to go gracefully into that good night? Will we be looking for something better, or looking back at the things we might miss? 

 Hopefully we have the kind of love for Jesus that looks towards Him! I really need to get a grip, because the sadness of being told your time is up, shouldn't be sad, it should be expecting something glorious and amazing; something that is what we are partakers of, The Heavenly Calling...

"For to me, living means living for Christ, and dying is even better." (Philippians 1:21 NLT)   

"Jesus Our High Priest"

  "And so, dear brothers and sisters who belong to God and are partakers with those called to heaven, think carefully about this Jesus whom we declare to be God's messenger and High Priest. For he was faithful to God, who appointed him, just as Moses served faithfully when he was entrusted with God's entire house.

 "But Jesus deserves far more glory than Moses, just as a person who builds a house deserves more praise than the house itself. For every house has a builder, but the one who built everything is God.

 "Moses was certainly faithful in God's house as a servant. His work was an illustration of the truths God would reveal later. But Christ, as the Son, is in charge of God's entire house. And we are God's house, if we keep our courage and remain confident in our hope in Christ. That is why the Holy Spirit says,

     "Today when you hear his voice, don't harden your hearts as Israel did when they rebelled, when they tested me in the wilderness. There your ancestors tested and tried my patience, even though they saw my miracles for forty years. So I was angry with them, and I said, 'Their hearts always turn away from me. They refuse to do what I tell them.' So in my anger I took an oath: 'They will never enter my place of rest.'"" (Hebrews 3:1-11 NLT)

 "For he is our God; and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand. To day if ye will hear his voice, Harden not your heart, as in the provocation, and as in the day of temptation in the wilderness: When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my work. Forty years long was I grieved with this generation, and said, It is a people that do err in their heart, and they have not known my ways: Unto whom I sware in my wrath that they should not enter into my rest." (PSALM 95:7-11 KJV)

 Every day is a new day, so practice making it something new...

"For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." (2 Corinthians 4:16-18 KJV)  

"He Is Able!" - Too

 "For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted." (Hebrews 2:18 KJV)

  "Now all glory to God, who is able to keep you from falling away and will bring you with great joy into his glorious presence without a single fault. All glory to him who alone is God, our Savior through Jesus Christ our Lord. All glory, majesty, power, and authority are his before all time, and in the present, and beyond all time! Amen." (Jude 24-25 NLT)

 As I was saying, with some experience in dealing with self-control, there are times when we simply need to spend less time speaking, and more time listening; especially when it comes to loving others as we are told we should! What is the scale, meter, or the distance involved with that? "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you!" 

 Both James and Jude had something in common, as they were both half-brothers of Jesus; and having grown up with Him, they mocked Him because they did not believe He was who He said that He was; at least not until He rose from the grave! What a difference the resurrection made, for a whole lot of people! 

 As I was thinking about this yesterday, there is something very similar with that resurrection, which is still to come; actually, it could happen any day! There will be the Rapture of all of us that are Saints! Imagine what a difference that will make too many people's lives, as they see the departure of those who they knew were followers of Christ Jesus.

 There will be very similar reactions and changes to their hearts, just as when Jesus rose from the dead, the same power will have taken all of us up into Heaven, in the twinkling of an eye...

"Yet when I am among mature believers, I do speak with words of wisdom, but not the kind of wisdom that belongs to this world or to the rulers of this world, who are soon forgotten. No, the wisdom we speak of is the mystery of God - his plan that was previously hidden, even though he made it for ultimate glory before the world began. But the rulers of this world have not understood it; if they had, they would not have crucified our glorious Lord. That is what the Scriptures mean when they say, "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him." But it was to us that God revealed these things by his Spirit. For his Spirit searches out everything and shows us God's deep hidden secrets." (1 Corinthians 2:6-10 NLT)   

"He Is Able!"

 "For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted." (Hebrews 2:18 KJV)

  "The people surrounded him and asked, "How long are you going to keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly." Jesus replied, "I have already told you, and you don't believe me. The proof is the work I do in my Father's name. But you don't believe me because you are not my sheep. My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them away from me, for my Father has given them to me, and he is more powerful than anyone else. No one can snatch them from the Father's hand. The Father and I are one." Once again the people picked up stones to kill him." (John 10:24-31 NLT)

 As much as I try, I cannot avoid messing up! This might not sound like the perfect time to share, but the stress of the work sometimes makes me really want to stop, even though it is the only thing I actually am really good at, it is still overwhelming me! That, in case you didn't know, is actually part of the curse: "And to the man he said, "Since you listened to your wife and ate from the tree whose fruit I commanded you not to eat, the ground is cursed because of you. All your life you will struggle to scratch a living from it."" (Genesis 3:17 NLT)

 How I wish that I actually did something else! Even those who trust me, if they don't like what I say, I become the bad guy, even though I am just being honest! (That is just the way things are, we all have a cross to bear; something is going to offend someone, no matter who's side you are on!) 

 Anywho, this is most likely the most clearly part of picture that we can actually see to understand; mostly because Jesus is tempted the same as anyone else, yet He has one main purpose, to help us that fall into temptation! No matter how hard we might try, there will be times when we are going to fall; sometimes a little, and other times, we fall hard. 

 Before you think it isn't so, think about the love you have for someone that might offend you. Does the love actually prove that you care, or is it just for show? James is someone who had a really good way of expressing that! Yesterday I was reminded, we have two ears and one mouth: our ears need to be doing twice as much as the mouth does...

"Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry. Human anger does not produce the righteousness God desires. So get rid of all the filth and evil in your lives, and humbly accept the word God has planted in your hearts, for it has the power to save your souls." (James 1:19-21 NLT) 

 

"A Branch from David's Line" - To

 "Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people." (Hebrews 2:17 KJV)

  ""Come to me with your ears wide open. Listen, and you will find life. I will make an everlasting covenant with you. I will give you all the unfailing love I promised David. See how I used him to display my power among the peoples. I made him a leader among the nations. You also will command nations you do not know, and peoples unknown to you will come running to obey, because I, the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, have made you glorious."" (Isaiah 55:3-5 NLT)

 Before I go any further, I need to point out this little hidden jewel that is so easy to miss, if it were a snake, it would have bite you. The first portion of this verse, which says, "Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren." Because this is more than just becoming a man, this is taking on the whole passions and desires; yet having the ability to overcome the temptations! 

 Maybe it is too much to take in, all at once; but Jesus was "behoved," which actually means that be was bound, as if there was a price to pay; putting it another way, He was born with a debt to pay, which basically means, He owed the guilt that was ours! Imagine what that must have felt like! It might put another light on the reason Jesus wept, having to deal with the death of a friend. 

 I keep hearing people say, "God knows the beginning to the end," yet, when it comes to understanding that God knew beforehand that Adam was going to sin, there is a pause, as if God was waiting to see if he might change his mind. The way I see it, in God's timeline, Adam was already guilty, even before he had eaten the fruit; God had everything ready, long before he had sinned...

 "Once you were dead because of your disobedience and your many sins. You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil - the commander of the powers in the unseen world. He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God. All of us used to live that way, following the passionate desires and inclinations of our sinful nature. By our very nature we were subject to God's anger, just like everyone else. 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!) For he raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus. So God can point to us in all future ages as examples of the incredible wealth of his grace and kindness toward us, as shown in all he has done for us who are united with Christ Jesus." (Ephesians 2:1-7 NLT)  

"A Branch from David's Line"

 "Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people." (Hebrews 2:17 KJV)

  "Out of the stump of David's family will grow a shoot - yes, a new Branch bearing fruit from the old root. And the Spirit of the LORD will rest on him - the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the LORD. He will delight in obeying the LORD. He will not judge by appearance nor make a decision based on hearsay. He will give justice to the poor and make fair decisions for the exploited. The earth will shake at the force of his word, and one breath from his mouth will destroy the wicked. He will wear righteousness like a belt and truth like an undergarment." (Isaiah 11:1-5 NLT)

  Most of what we have known and understood about this salvation has been linked to faith; not just the faith in knowing what Jesus did on the cross, but also the faith we hold dear, as to the work Jesus has done in us. Believe it or not, but sometimes it is easier to believe the miraculous and supernatural things, then it is to believe that we have been made totally and completely right with God! 

 Yes, Abraham was faithful, believing God for all that He had promised; but his struggle to understand his own place in this world, shall we say, was sometimes full of doubt. There really isn't any reason, in case you are looking to find the cure; we just forget what we are and how important it is to believe that God has a firm grip on us, even when it might feel as though He has let go! 

 He never let's go! Do you believe that? I am amazed at the number of times I have felt as if He has quit holding me secure; only because I have my focus on this earth, and not on Heaven. It really doesn't take a whole lot of effort to take our eyes off of the prize, if the prize becomes something to fulfill the flesh...

 "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 be means of Christ's blood on the cross. This includes you who were once far away from God. You were his enemies, separated from him by your evil thoughts and actions. Yet now he has reconciled you to himself through the death of Christ in his physical body. As a result, he has brought you into his own presence, and you are holy and blameless as you stand before him without a single fault. But you must continue to believe this truth and stand firmly in it. Don't drift away from the assurance you received when you heard the Good News. The Good News has been preached all over the world, and I, Paul, have been appointed as God's servant to proclaim it." (Colossians 1:19-23 NLT)    

"The Seed of Abraham"

 "For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham." (Hebrews 2:16 KJV)

  "So the promise is received by faith. It is given as a free gift. And we are all certain to receive it, whether or not we live according to the law of Moses, if we have faith like Abraham. For Abraham is the father of all who believe. That is what the Scriptures mean when God told him, "I have made you the father of many nations." This happened because Abraham believed in the God who brings the dead back to life and who creates new things out of nothing." (Romans 4:16-17 NLT)

 Whatever we do, we must not stop believing, even when we might not feel like things are working for good, because what we might think is not good, God is good, no matter what! I hope you did get the point I was trying to make yesterday, because it might seem rather simple; but it is only simple because God has made it so. I believe because God said it is so, therefor what I believe, will not change, because He doesn't change, period! 

 That said, I know that I change, with every single trial and tribulation! 'Is this something God is making me go through because I have sinned?' 'Is this something that God wants me to go through to make me stronger?' 'Can I even know what He is doing, or is it just me not listening?' 

 I have learned something over the years, sometimes over and over again; you would think by now I would get it right; but every season is another lesson in keeping the faith...

 "Even though there was no reason for hope, Abraham kept hoping - believing that he would become the father of many nations. For God had said to him, "That's how many descendants you will have!" And Abraham's faith did not weaken, even though, at about 100 years of age, he figured his body was as good as dead - and so was Sarah's womb. Abraham never wavered in believing God's promise. In fact, his faith grew stronger, and in this he brought glory to God. He was fully convinced that God is able to do whatever he promises. And because of Abraham's faith, God counted him as righteous. And when God counted him as righteous, it wasn't just for Abraham's benefit. It was recorded for our benefit, too, assuring us that God will also count us as righteous if we believe in him, the one who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. He was handed over to die because of our sins, and he was raised to life to make us right with God." (Romans 4:18-25 NLT) 

"Beyond The Grave!" - Too

 "And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage." (Hebrews 2:15 KJV)

  "Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Make allowance for each other's faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us together in perfect harmony. And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful." (Colossians 3:12-15 NLT) 

 Besides all of the reasons we have for being thankful, the major point in this story is the life we have waiting on the other side! How many times I think of my wife, as she lays there in her bed, waiting for her perfect body, her perfect mind, that has been promised her; as I tell her over and over, she will be healed, one way or another! 

 Make every effort to remember what Jesus has done, not just what He did on the cross, but how He rose again, how He spent 40 days walking around, showing Himself to all those that would be spreading the Good News! This is more than just a story, it is a fact! So, if you have any doubt, whatsoever, put these things first and foremost at the front of your mind, knowing that this is for real, and then securing them, as if in a vault, which can never be challenged.

 That said, I know we have tendencies to drift off, thinking there could be some doubt; but that is where faith needs to be stronger than what we actually see. We see life in this world, as if it what it is, but in the walk of faith, there is so much more; more than we could ever imagine...

 "And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to follow him. Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness. Don't let anyone capture you with empty philosophies that come from human thinking and from spiritual powers of this world, rather than from Christ. For in Christ lives all the fullness of God in a human body. So you also are complete through your union with Christ, who is the head over every ruler and authority." (Colossians 2:6-10 NLT)  

"Beyond The Grave!"

 "And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage." (Hebrews 2:15 KJV)

  "Yet what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory he will reveal to us later. For all creation is waiting eagerly for that future day when God will reveal who his children really are. Against its will, all creation was subjected to God's curse. But with eager hope, the creation looks forward to the day when it will join God's children in glorious freedom from death and decay. For we know that all creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. And we believers also groan, even though we have the Holy Spirit within us as a foretaste of future glory, for we long for our bodies to be released from sin and suffering. We, too, wait with eager hope for the day when God will give us our full rights as his adopted children, including the new bodies he has promised us. We were given this hope when we were saved. (If we already have something, we don't need to hope for it. But if we look forward to something we don't yet have, we must wait patiently and confidently.)" (Romans 8:18-25 NLT)

 When I was in 11th grade, going to school in Carthage Texas, I enjoyed my Creative Writing Class, as the teacher was very excited about teaching her class. There were several short stories that I had written, and she took those stories and put them on display for all her students, in every class, to see and read. The one that really toped the rest, was called, "The Sparrow's Flight." 

 Basically, it was a short story about someone who jumped off of a cliff, but in the body of the story, there was something on the face of the cliff that needed to be seen, which could not be seen without actually jumping off and looking at it, on the way down. There is more to that story than meets to eye; because there are certain things we will not know without having experienced death. 

 That might sound morbid and sad, but, if there is one thing I have discovered within this life of living, that real life doesn't start until this life on earth is totally done...

"Who then will condemn us? No one - for Christ Jesus died for us and was raised to life for us, and he is sitting in the place of honor at God's right hand, pleading for us. Can anything ever separate us from Christ's love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? (As the Scriptures say, "For your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep.") No, despite all these things, overwhelmingly victory is ours through Christ, who loved us. And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God's love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow - not even the powers of hell can separate us from God's love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below - indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 8:34-39 NLT)