"The Time is Now"

 "I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work." (John 9:4 KJV)

  ""For the dead cannot praise you; they cannot raise their voices in praise. Those who go down to the grave can no longer hope in your faithfulness. Only the living can praise you as I do today. Each generation tells of your faithfulness to the next."" (Isaiah 38:18-19 NLT)

 Yes, I know, that post yesterday was a little weird and stranger than most; but this current culture, as weird as it might be, is starting to influence the church. More and more, I keep hearing about another church that is hoisting the rainbow flag up their flagpole, as if they need to represent and concur with this new pride in sinfulness. As I mentioned before, Sodom was not destroyed because they had sinners doing what they did; it was destroyed because it was approved of, as if it was glorious and right. 

 Anywho; Pastor Bryan mentioned something in church Sunday, it had to do with the lame man that Peter and John healed on the steps going into the Temple. That man, like this blind man, was lame from birth, which means that he was most likely there at the Temple begging for alms when Jesus was still healing people, before His death on the cross. If Jesus saw that man, why didn't He heal him? 

 If you even have wondered why God allows certain things to happen, thinking things like, 'Why would God allow this or that? God's timing is always on time! This little Scripture above from Isaiah, is part of the poem of praise that Hezekiah wrote, after God healed him from his sickness and added fifteen more years to his life. 

 If you know that story, and if you have been following this weird blog from the beginning, then you might remember that post about God's perfect will. Truth be told, God's will is always perfect! He never is wrong and always knows how and when to do everything that He does. 

 Another lesson, that which I have learned, is based upon the Book of Ruth. When I did the teaching on the Book of Ruth, I mentioned that our mistakes were God's opportunities; but to be perfectly clear: God's opportunities are planned upon our mistakes... 

""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 the unfailing love I promised to 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" Seek the LORD while you can find him. Call on him now while he is near. Let the wicked change their ways and banish every thought of doing wrong. Let them turn to the LORD that he may have mercy on them. Yes, turn to our God, for he will forgive generously." (Isaiah 55:3-7 NLT) 

"Pulling Back the Curtain" - 2

 "Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him." (John 9:3 KJV) 

  "When I think of all this, I fall on 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. The Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God's love and keep you strong. And may you have the power to understand, as all God's people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God." (Ephesians 3:14-19 NLT)

 Listening to some of the current messages about current events, it is pretty easy to get worked up and want to do something to hold back some of what is obviously bad for families and children. It really hurts my heart to see some of the stuff that is being forced into the minds of anyone that will allow evil to come in, even if they don't realize it is happening. 

 Whether it is obvious or not, we must understand who it is that is making it happen! Basically, this is pretty much his time to go all out, pulling out everything in his toolbox, and cause as much damage to the church as he possibly can. Why do you think that is? Because his time is short! 

 Now then, about this curtain, which I would like to show, is the tapestry of this world! No matter who you are, whether or not you are serving in a church or out in the world, you are going to be having a battle with being able to see through this curtain of the world. 

 To put it in a different light, Solomon wrote the book Ecclesiastes from behind this curtain. Some say that Solomon did not write it, and that it was written by someone else about Solomon. Personally, I am rather convinced that he did write it, mostly because of the title, which means, "The Preacher." 

 Just so you know, there are some that have the greatest ministries, but they also have some of the most ungodly trials and difficulties. The more that you do to spread the Gospel, the bigger the target gets put on your life. I actually heard someone say, 'Solomon had so many wives, from so many areas, because he was trying to share God with the world.' 

 That might have been his initial thought, but I doubt he thought it through! This curtain of the world has many layers; some of which are thick and some which are thin. As soon as you think you have pulled it back, there is another layer right behind it, with a different temptation; but the same curtain always comes back. 

 Why do I feel I need to share this? Because it needs to be something that we must understand. As long as we are in this world, we are going to have trials! We are not of this world any longer, and we must make sure that we understand what that means! It means that the world hates us, just as the world hated Jesus Christ! 

 You are going to be tormented by whatever the enemy can throw at you, so get over being concerned about it, it is just the way that it works! Keep your eyes on Jesus...

"So humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor. Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you. Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. Stand firm against him, be strong in your faith. Remember that your Christian brothers and sisters all over the world are going through the same kind of suffering you are." (1 Peter 5:6-9 NLT)  

"Pulling Back the Curtain"

 "Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him." (John 9:3 KJV)

  "This, too, I carefully explored. Even though the actions of godly and wise people are in God's hands, no one knows whether God will show them favor. The same destiny ultimately awaits everyone whether righteous or wicked, good or bad, ceremonially clean or unclean, religious or irreligious. Good people receive the same treatment as sinners, and people who make promises to God are treated like people who don't." (Ecclesiastes 9:1-2 NLT)

 Okay, so you can maybe see this from a different point of view: there two totally different worlds that we live in, one that is based on the mortal body, that which is temporary and soon to be dead, and that which is based upon the spiritual body, which never dies because it is eternal and belongs eternally to God. 

 It really does not matter what happens to this mortal body, no matter what it goes through, or how badly it is destroyed, the same fate awaits it: ashes to ashes, and dust to dust! As much as we try, there is really no stopping the decay and destruction that will await this mortal shell. Even those that are still alive during the rapture, these mortal shells will be dissolved, and their souls will be dressed in immortality, united together in the air with those whose bodies have already died.

 Each and every one of us that belong to Christ all have a very particular function and purpose; no matter how big or how small, everything is part of the works of God! You might not even know what you are called to do, but that does not mean you are not doing it, without even knowing what you are doing. 

 As far as my situation is concerned, I have no clue what God is doing in this, so called trial, or any other thing that happens in my life. But I do know that God loves me, that He is watching over me, and that everything, even the bad and ugly stuff, works towards the good of His purposes. I don't really get to see the results of all that God is doing, but just little glimpses of His unfailing love! 

 These are very special times that we are living in, so please pay attention...

"Then Job replied to the LORD: "I know that you can do anything, and no one can stop you. You asked, 'Who is this that questions my wisdom with such ignorance?' It is I - and I was asking about things I knew nothing about, things far too wonderful for me. You said, 'Listen and I will speak! I have some questions for you, and you must answer them.' I had only heard about you before, but now I have seen you with my own eyes. I take back everything I said, and sit in dust and ashes to show my repentance."" (Job 42:1-6 NLT) 

"Making Butterflies"

 "And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind?" (John 9:2 KJV)

  ""Oh, why give light to those in misery, and life to those who are bitter? They long for death, and it won't come. They search for death more eagerly than for hidden treasure. They're filled with joy when they finally die, and rejoice when they find the grave. Why is life given to those with no future, those God has surrounded with difficulties?"" (Job 3:20-23 NLT)

 This is pretty much the real deal; as it is, if you are dealing with tragedy or with something devastating in your life, people assume that you are being punished or disciplined for some kind of sin in your life. I think this might be something that hits pretty close to home! 

 As I have stated before, this might be hard, but it is never miserable! There are days when I feel cursed, wondering those same things that Job expresses; and then, there are most days, when I feel abundantly blessed! What makes me feel blessed, you might ask? Because I know that God loves me and wants me to experience His love by caring for my wife! 

 That is not something neither one of us asked for, but it is what we have been given. When God gives you something to do, no matter how hard it might seem from time to time, you do it to the best of your ability. And, when you feel as though you can't do it, for whatever reason you might come up with, then you ask God to help you and give you the strength you need! 

 I have given this quite a lot of thought, so nothing that anyone might say can change my mind. This is to the very end, no matter how long it might take; God is the one that says when it is over, not me...

"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 4:8-10 NLT)  

"Taking it to the Streets"

"And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth." (John 9:1 KJV)

  "The LORD directs our steps, so why try to understand everything along the way?" (Proverbs 20:24 NLT)

  Oh, how I wish that I could do certain things over again; but we do not get to go back and correct any wrongs that we have done. What we can do, if we really feel the need to do something, is to dig a well, so to speak, that others might drink from and gain something from our mistakes. 

 You might be wondering how this works into this story, and what point this has to the blind man who has been blind from birth? Well, why does anything need to be about this blind guy? Besides, it is no mistake for him to be right where he was, at just the right time! 

 This is about sharing what God has done in your life! You might be surprised by this, but some believe this meeting took place about two or three months after Jesus departed from the Temple. But you will not get any hint of that by the first 5 words in this opening chapter.

 If you really have something that the Lord has put upon your heart that needs to be dealt with, then you need to pray for the Lord to show you how to use that for His glory! This is what Jesus does: He raises the dead, makes the blind to see, allows the lame to walk, opens prison doors: He makes all things new! 

 As easy as it might sound, when we give it to the Lord, it becomes His problem to work out, we just need to do what He says and not worry about the outcome! Even, (gulp,) if the outcome doesn't favor us, because it is not about us, it is all about Him getting the glory...

"As God's partners, we beg you not to accept this marvelous gift of God's kindness and then ignore it. 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 6:1-2 NLT)

   

"Jesus Heals a Man Born Blind"

  "As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man who had been blind from birth. "Rabbi," his disciples asked him, "why was this man born blind? Was it because of his own sins or his parent's 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. We must quickly carry out the tasks assigned us by the one who sent us. The night is coming, and then no one can work. But while I am here in the world, I am the light of the world." 

 Then he spit on the ground, made mud with the saliva, and spread the mud over the blind man's eyes. He told him, "Go was yourself in the pool of Siloam" (Siloam means "sent"). So the man went and washed and came back seeing! 

  His neighbors and others who knew him as a blind beggar asked each other, "Isn't this the man who used to sit and beg?" Some said he was, and others said, "No, he just looks like him!"

  But the beggar kept saying, "Yes, I am the same one!"

  They asked, "Who healed you? What happened?" 

  He told them, "The man they call Jesus made mud and spread it over my eyes and told me, 'Go to the pool of Siloam and wash yourself.' So I went and washed, and now I can see." 

  "Where is he now?" they asked. "I don't know," he relied." (John 9:1-12 NLT)

 Just so you know, yesterday was about as weird as the day before. Couldn't quite get going; and the Text was too long, my time was too short, and my mind was filled with all sorts of different thoughts. So, I paused to pray! 

 That might not sound all that strange, but I had just finished praying for almost an hour, and it was time to start typing something, which, based upon what I have done thus far, would have been John 9:1-34. I was overwhelmed by the thought of typing all of that, so there you have it! Wasn't that pretty cool! 

 Maybe it was just my imagination, but I am pretty sure the Holy Spirit wanted me to share something else. We have been dealing with this issue for many years, based upon a judgment as to the rights of a mother to do with her body, whatever she wants. But, there is another life that has rights, the life that lives inside of her body! 

 Everything is about choice! We all have a choice in making the right choices; but everyone should have the right information regarding the choices that they make! Eve was deceived, because the devil lied and told her she would not die if she ate from that tree; making her feel better off by eating the fruit. The only way the courts could justify the killing of another human, was to declare that the fetus was not an actual person; thus giving a woman less guilt about killing her child.

 This does not mean the end of abortion! But it does shed light on the other life...

"We can make our own plans, but the LORD gives the right answer." (Proverbs 16:1 NLT) 

"Pause To Pray"

 "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 your 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)

 You may or may not believe these are the last days, but you must agree that these days are becoming more and more evil, with each passing day. As I said before, "Good is called evil, and evil is called good," just as the Bible has warned us of, these days are upon us! And with these days, there will be those who will be, "scoffers," as Jude puts it, which means the same as Mockers. Without getting too much involved in the spiritual applications, let's just say, "Playing like children," has some connection to this, as there is no respect to the rule of law...

"I will make boys their leaders, and toddlers their rulers. People will oppress each other - man against man, neighbor against neighbor. Young people will insult their elders, and vulgar people will sneer at the honorable." (Isaiah 3:4-5 NLT)

 

"Walked On By" - Too

 "Then took they up stones to cast at him: but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by." (John 8:59 KJV) 

  "Then she cried out, "Samson! The Philistines have come to capture you!" When he woke up, he thought, "I will do as before and shake myself free." But he didn't realize the LORD had left him." (Judges 16:20 NLT)

 Matthew Henry adds this little twist, showing how Christ left them, yet they did not miss Him or feel as though He had departed. Just so happens, this morning my prayer time was totally off, and my mind was filled with all sorts of distractions; almost as if I had lost my Helper, and stuck praying on my own. Then I was prompted to read the end of Matthew Henry's commentary, and it all made perfect sense. 

 If we do not wait upon the Lord, then He will let us try and do things on our own. Surprisingly, we will probably, most likely, not even miss Him! That is until we have made such a wreak of things, that we have nothing left to do, but to cry out for help. I really hope and pray that I never end up in that situation; but I feel as though I already have, time and time again. 

 And then I think about something that breaks my heart, there are 80 verses in the Bible that say: "I will never leave you nor forsake you." I can only imagine He is always right there, waiting, watching, willing to reach out and grab hold of me, if I would just cry out for His hand!

 The real problem here, was not that these Jews missed Him, because they really never had Him to begin with! Samson knew right away that the LORD was no longer his strength, just as soon as he had tried to break free and realized that he couldn't. 

 I am reminded about that little book, "My Heart, Christ's Home," where the author tells how Jesus was always there, sitting in that chair by the fire, and some mornings he walked on by, knowingly avoiding any conversation. If not for this, there go I...

"Keep on loving each other as brothers and sisters. Don't forget to show hospitality to strangers, for some who have done this have entertained angels without knowing it! Remember those in prison, as if you were there yourself. Remember also those being mistreated, as if you felt their pain in your own bodies. Give honor to marriage, and remain faithful to one another in marriage. God will surely judge people who are immoral and those who commit adultery. Don't love money; be satisfied with what you have. For God has said, "I will never fail you. I will never abandon you." So we can say with confidence, "The LORD is my helper, so I will have no fear. What can mere people do to me?"" (Hebrews 13:1-6 NLT)                

 

"Walked On By"

 "Then took they up stones to cast at him: but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by." (John 8:59 KJV)

  "Then the LORD came down in a cloud and stood there with him; and he called out his own name, Yahweh. The LORD passed in front of Moses, calling out, "Yahweh! The LORD! The God of compassion and mercy! I am slow to anger and filled with unfailing love and faithfulness. I lavish unfailing love to a thousand generations. I forgive iniquity, rebellion, and sin. But I do not excuse the guilty. I lay the sins of the parents upon their children and grandchildren; the entire family is affected - even children in the third and fourth generations."" (Exodus 34:5-7 NLT)

 I know it might seem weird, but there is a very important connection. Sometimes we hardly pay any attention to the way things go by, but instead, we look back towards the direction that they came from, maybe expecting something else to follow. It is just the way that it seems, because we are always looking for answers to every question. 

 If you have been able to study a little bit of what this passage in Exodus is all about, you might recall that this is the time when Moses asked the LORD if He would show him His glorious presence. The LORD did, but only His backside: as He passed by Moses, He hid him in a cleft of a rock, placed His hand over his face, and then after He had passed, removed His hand, allowing Moses to see Him as cleared the rock. 

 Some people picture that as Moses seeing the back of the LORD'S body; and others, including myself, believe Moses only saw the bottom of His foot, as He walked on by. Regardless of how you see it, it does not change the main point of the story: God is too glorious to look upon! 

 That said, I have always been puzzled by the fact that Jesus could do certain things, like walk through people without being seen or noticed, vanish and reappear, walk through walls and closed doors, and walk on water. Personally, I believe the answer is really quite simple, that the One who created the atoms, controls the atoms, plain and simple! 

 John makes it very clear, that Jesus went through the Temple! He basically walked right through those who were wanted to stone Him, and then passed out of the Temple. This might explain why some believed Jesus did not come in the flesh, but that He was a vapor or phantom. 

 To be perfectly clear: Jesus is God! Quit looking back and start looking forward! He is coming back...

"After saying this, he was taken up into a cloud while they were watching, and they could no longer see him. As they strained to see him rising into heaven, two white-robed men suddenly stood among them. "Men of Galilee," they said, "why are you standing here staring into heaven? Jesus has been taken from you into heaven, but someday he will return from heaven in the same way you saw him go!"" (Acts 1:9-11 NLT)  

 

"In Your Face!"

 "Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am." (John 8:58 KJV)

  ""The LORD formed me from the beginning, before he created anything else. I was appointed in ages past, at the very first, before the earth began. I was born before the oceans were created, before the springs bubbled forth their waters. Before the mountains were formed, before the hills, I was born - before he had made the earth and fields and the first handfuls of soil. I was there when he established the heavens, when he drew the horizon on the oceans. I was there when he set the clouds above, and he established springs deep in the earth. I was there when he set the limits of the seas, so they would not spread beyond their boundaries. And when he marked off the earth's foundations, I was the architect at his side. I was his constant delight, rejoicing always in his presence. And how happy I was with the world he created; how I rejoiced with the human family!"" (Proverbs 8:22-31 NLT) 

 I get it, there are some sceptics who will say, 'Solomon is speaking of wisdom, not Christ.' I also know, by experience, that there are many who claim to be followers of Jesus Christ, but do not believe that He is God. For all of you, if that's you: You are missing a very big piece of the puzzle! 

 Without getting too far outside the norm, let me just say, Abraham did see Jesus, and Jesus did see Abraham! As a matter of fact, they spoke together, broke bread together, and even negotiated things of great substance together! If you don't believe it, then look it up for yourself. The Bible does not lie! 

 From the very first day of my new life in Christ, I have made this the primary reason for following Jesus; not only that He is God, as if that were not enough; but that God, in any form or fashion, would place Himself on a cross, and be crucified for my sins! Even then, that He was a man, born into this world, as a little baby; that just makes the story so much more exciting and meaningful! 

 That is why Isaih was given these words: "For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace." (Isaiah 9:6 KJV) 

 Those words were given for proof of who Jesus is, was, and always will be: He is God! But, then again, there are many people who will not believe it because they cannot accept it...

"Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed? For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him. He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not." (Isaiah 53:1-3 KJV) 

"Quite Quaint"

 "Then said the Jews unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham?" (John 8:57 KJV)

"Fools have no interest in understanding; they only want to air their own opinions." (Proverbs 18:2 NLT)

 Keep your hopes up and stay strong in the Lord! That is the point I really wanted to make, without trying to seem to upset over my own situation and trials. What are we to do when we have trials? We count it all joy! As James says: "Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy." (James 1:2 NLT)

 Right off the bat, James announces who he is, why he is writing, and then, boom! I have seen things that prove you are in Good hands! Listening to Pastor Robert yesterday on the way to church, he was talking about the definition of good, as to whether good and God were the same word. 

 He said he looked it up on the internet, but didn't find what he was looking for, so he went to the Bible for the definition. The best way to find the definition or meaning of any word in the Bible, is usually to go to the very first use of the word, which is shown in Genesis 1:4, "And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness." 

 So, now that we know that, we can begin to examine the trials in a completely different light! Please forgive me if I might stop this post rather abruptly! But before I do: God is Good...

"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 can confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God's glory. We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love." (Romans 5:1-5 NLT)   

"Paid Attention" - To

"Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad." (John 8:56 KJV)

  "Dear brothers and sisters, here's an example from everyday life. Just as no one can set aside or amend an irrevocable agreement, so it is in this case. God gave the promise to Abraham and his child. And notice that the Scripture doesn't say "to his children," as if it meant many descendants. Rather, it says "to his child" - and that, of course, means Christ. This is what I am trying to say: The agreement with Abraham could not be 430 years later when God gave the law to Moses. God would be breaking his promise. For if the inheritance could be received by keeping the law, then it would not be the result of accepting God's promise. But God graciously gave it to Abraham as a promise." (Galatians 3:15-18 NLT)

 Maybe it doesn't work all the time? But, then again, it depends on what we expect to happen and when! You would think that after all of these years, I would have learned a lesson: Don't doubt God's promises! On the one hand, I think that I am not doubting Him, but stepping out in faith to do something on my own; but on the other hand, I feel I am doubting Him when I do not wait for Him to do things His way!

 Inside story, something I really don't want to burden you with. But it is something very relevant to the point that I have been trying to make. If we truly do believe that God keeps His promises, then we must also understand that His promises are must likely based upon something eternal, not something that is temporary and will soon pass away.

 I am really sorry if that does not fit into the box built around the promise you are waiting for, but, as with most of everything that God works towards, it is all about that day when we will be able to stand in His presence without being vaporized by His glory! 

 If you are focused upon anything else, as if the matter is material or of this world, then it is really not relevant to His promise; not unless His promise is based upon something that pertains to this world. If that doesn't make any sense, that's okay. In Abraham's case the promise pointed to Jesus. I seriously doubt any one of us have that same promise to look forward to! 

 I heard put like this, where the difference was the same as a credit card verses a debit card. Abraham and all of those who believed in the Savior that what come, they had their salvation promised with a credit card, that was used in advance, but would be paid off in the future. All of us, that have lived after Jesus came to save us, we all have our salvation paid for in advance, placed on a debit card, that cannot ever run out of funds! 

 Something I have observed that by material cards cannot hold a candle to...

"This salvation was something even the prophets wanted to know more about when they prophesied about this gracious salvation prepared for you. They wondered what time or situation the Spirit of Christ within them was talking about when he told them in advance about Christ's suffering and his great glory afterward. They were told that their messages were not for themselves, but for you. And now this Good News has been announced to you by those who preached in the power of the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. It is all so wonderful that even the angels are eagerly watching these things happen. So think clearly and exercise self-control. Look forward to the gracious salvation that will come to you when Jesus Christ is revealed to the world." (1 Peter 1:10-13 NLT)    

"Paid Attention"

"Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad." (John 8:56 KJV)

    "I ask you again, does God give you the Holy Spirit and work miracles among you because you obey the law? Of course not! It is because you believe the message you heard about Christ. In the same way, "Abrahan believed God, and God counted him as righteous because of his faith."" (Galatians 3:5-6 NLT)

 Love to have fun? Well, are we having fun yet? Believe it or not, this is fun, in the real definition of the word: amusing, entertaining, or enjoyable! We can choose to either complain about life, or we can be able to count it all joy! It might seem crazy, but when you count it all joy, it is amusingly entertaining and enjoyable! 

 I heard Pastor Jack make a joke about Paul losing his head, saying, "The Romans announced to Paul that they were going to cut off his head; but God had told him that he was getting a crown. Which one of those things did Paul believe were going to happen?" And then he spoke about things like Paul's head rolling around wearing a crown. 

 This is really not a laughing matter, but it is something that should give us joy! "To be absent from the body, is to be present with the Lord!" I hope you paid attention...

"The real children of Abraham, then, and those who put their faith in God." (Galatians 3:7 NLT)

"Pay Attention!"

 "Yet ye have not known him; but I know him: and if I should say, I know him not, I shall be a liar like unto you: but I know him and keep his saying." (John 8:55 KJV)

  "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 this 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)

 There are just some days when I feel as though I have nothing to say, almost as if it is worthless for me to even open this laptop and start this strange message. And then, there are these weird days, were I feel that I have nothing to say, but I know that God does; and that alone is all that really matters! 

I was thinking about another mustard seed Jesus spoke about, saying, "If ye had faith as a grain of mustard seed." (Luke 17:6) Remembering back to a certain retreat, maybe thirty years ago, this was one of the topics of discussion during the retreat. Basically, it is almost the same line of thinking, but in simplest form, more precise.

 You might have heard the term, "Keep it simple, stupid," which is pretty much that in a nutshell. The simple, is that of our trust and faith in God; the stupid, is us, as we don't know how God is going to do it, but we just know that He can! Basically, the smallest faith, when placed in a very Big God, can pretty much do and see anything! 

 Regardless of what you might be thinking, Jesus was simply making a point; an undeniable point about the relationship that He has with His Father. In a very similar way, we too can make this exact same point, because we know the Father; which is because, we know the Son, and He has shown Him to us! 

 If you don't yet know the Father, or don't think that you do, then you must first know and believe in the Son! Jesus was simply pointing out a fact: 'You don't believe in me, so you don't know God!' It really doesn't get much more simple than that...

"All who believe in the Son of God know in their hearts that this testimony is true. Those who don't believe this are actually calling God a liar because they don't believe what God has testified about his Son. And this is what God has testified: He has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have God's Son does not have life." (1 John 5:10-12 NLT)  

"The Real Deal" - 2

 "Jesus answered, If I honour myself, my honour is nothing: it is my Father that honoureth me; of whom ye say, that he is your God:" (John 8:54 KJV)

  "I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God's power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God's right hand in the heavenly realms. Now he is far above any ruler or authority or power or leader or anything else - not only in this world but also in the world to come. God has put all things under the authority of Christ and has made him head over all things for the benefit of the church. And the church is his body; it is made full and complete by Christ, who fills all things everywhere with himself." (Ephesians 1:19-23 NLT)

 Let me start off today by saying, if it is true that we only use 10% of our brain for our potential; then it is probably also true that we only use 1% of Holy Spirit's power to be the servant we should be. Okay, maybe I am stretching it a little much; maybe it is more like, .001%. I think if we used 1% we could walk on water! 

 Ultimately, God's ability to use us, is hardly ever tried or tested to the full potential, because we are not able to control ourselves. If we could, we would be super-human, making ourselves into something that gets all the attention, and being all that we could be; instead of giving God the honor for everything that is done. 

 Don't think it can't happen, because it happens all the time, to the strongest and greatest among us! The whole thing about that mustard seed parable that actually makes any sense, is that it starts out very small, making it either the main thing or the least thing; allowing the growth to be the main attraction, not that actual seed that created the growth! 

 Anywho! Who is the most important, is what really matters the most...

"We know that we are children of God and that the world around us is under the 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)  

"The Real Deal"

 "Jesus answered, If I honour myself, my honour is nothing: it is my Father that honoureth me; of whom ye say, that he is your God:" (John 8:54 KJV)

   "The king proclaims the LORD'S decree: "The LORD said to me, 'You are my son. Today I have become your Father. Only ask, and I will give you the nations as your inheritance, the whole earth as your possession. You will break them with an iron rod and smash them like clay pots.'"" (Psalm 2:7-9 NLT)

 I know that there are two lines of thought for the whole mustard seed thing, as to whether or not it is able to become a tree, or whether or not it bears fruit, or if it has branches strong enough to allow birds to come and take refuge on them. But, have you considered it is possible to be all of the above, depending upon if and how much that seed is planted in Jesus Christ? 

 Jesus gives reference to 'the Kingdom of Heaven is like!' Which, as much as I know, from everything that I have understood, this world and the Kingdom of Heaven are not on the same plane. Last I checked, there is a pretty big difference between God's ways and our ways! Oddly enough, we need to struggle in order to get things done; God just needs to whisper the command, and it is taken care of; end of story! 

 If you are in sales, then you know when the wind is at your back, and when you are facing a headwind! It doesn't matter how hard you try, if the Lord is not blessing your business, you are fighting a battle that you cannot win! But, if He is blessing you, then you can hardly keep up with the blessings; everywhere that you turn, you are being handed something and you start running out of room to store it! 

 Basically, that is my take on this, as to whether we honor God or ourselves; if we honor ourself, then the honor is nothing; but if we honor God, then the honor is everything...

"It's not good to eat too much honey, and it's not good to seek honors for yourself." (Proverbs 25:27 NLT)  

"Whom, Indeed!"

"Art thou greater than our father Abraham, which is dead? and the prophets are dead: whom makest thou thyself?" (John 8:53 KJV)

  "Consider then how great this Melchizedek was. Even Abraham, the great patriarch of Israel, recognized this by giving him a tenth of what he had taken in battle. Now the law of Moses required that the priests, who are descendants of Levi, must collect a tithe from the rest of the people of Israel, who are the descendants of Abraham. But Melchizedek, who was not a descendant of Levi, collected a tenth from Abraham. And Melchizedek placed a blessing upon Abraham, the one who had already received the promises of God. And without question, the person who has the power to give a blessing is greater than the one who is blessed." (Hebrews 7:4-7 NLT)

 You might not have noticed, but there some serious things happening in our world; things that are far greater than any sort of climate change. Which, by the way, is about as stupid a thing as mankind could have dreamed up! God is the one that creates the changes and the seasons! If you really want to get right down to it, when He turns up the heat, things are not going to be that comfortable on this rock! 

 There, I got that off my chest. Now I need to address the obvious question that is beings asked: Who is Jesus? According to these 'spiritual giants', He has made Himself out to be something that He is not. Well, it just so happens, He is the Creator! And because He is the Creator, He can pretty much make Himself into whatever He wants! 

 If you had a chance to see, The Resurrection of Gavin Stone, then you might recall the first time he did the part of Jesus calming the sea. He changed to script, to have Jesus answering the disciple's question, "Who art thou, that even the wind and the sea obeys you?" As he said: "I am Alpha and Omega, and these things recognize me as their Creator!" 

 Kelly told Gavin, "That was not what Jesus was about, He was humble." I hope you can maybe see just a small part of what that actually means; because the weakest, gentlest part of who God is, is stronger and greater than the world could ever know...

"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 in our joy." (1 John 1:1-4 NLT)  

"Spot and Rebuke"

 "Then said the Jews unto him, Now we know that thou hast a devil. Abraham is dead, and the prophets; and thou sayest, If a man keep my saying, he shall never taste of death." (John 8:52 KJV)

  "As he spoke, he showed them his hands and feet. Still they stood there in disbelief, filled with joy and wonder. Then he asked them, "Do you have anything here to eat?" They gave him a piece of broiled fish, and he ate it as they watched. Then he said, "When I was with you before, I told you that everything written about me in the law of Moses and the prophets and in the Psalms must be fulfilled." Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures." (Luke 24:40-45 NLT)

 Well, it is not always easy to hold onto when the world has a hold on you; but it is easy, always, when you back everything that you believe up with Scriptures! What chances are there for all of these things written about Jesus to have been fulfilled? Have you ever studied or been taught what the chances are for that to happen? 

 Interesting enough, these Jews that are rebuking Jesus, should have some understanding about life after death, yet the question of eternal life has somehow departed from them. "God is the God of the living, not of the dead!" What else do we say, if we are really following everything written in the Scriptures? 

 Sadly though, there is a very small percentage of believers that follow the entire Bible. There are many that don't believe that all of it is true or historical. Then there are some, believe it or not, that don't even pay any attention at all to the Old Testament, as if it is old and no longer relevant. As if, because Jesus said, 'There is a New Covenant and New Commandment,' that the old law and testament no longer count. 

 We must not go there! God's word is abundantly pure, and true, and does not have spot or rebuke! There are no contradictions, only misunderstandings...

"All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works." (2 Timothy 3:16-17 KJV) 

"Immortality" - TO

 "Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death." (John 8:51 KJV)

  "That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukeable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ." (1 Timothy 6:14 KJV)

 See, is not just something that happens then, it is for now! The word, 'See,' is a word that does not mean you just don't see, as with your eyes, but you discern and consider; to enjoy ascertaining that which you will not behold or be a part to, which is death! This mortal body might not do so well, but your spiritual body, which is more alive than the physical one, will never experience death! 

 Now that we have that cemented that within our hearts, we can somewhat understand how those Saints that were burned at the stake could even consider singing and praising the Lord, as their mortal bodies went up in flames! That is my consideration, what it might be like to die, but not die, being burned alive. Is there a way to shut off the pain, by simply making that pain just another sensation, or a feeling of being set free from mortality?

 Anywho, we are not promised anything is going to be perfect in this life; but we have security and hope in the next! We just need to adjust our seeing, by not looking at that which we see with our eyes but look intently at that which know we will see when this life is over and done! That, for the sake of proof, is what John means when he says, "God's word lives in your hearts, and you have won your battle with the evil one." (1 John 2:14d NLT)

 From that very day, the day that Jesus came into my heart, I passed from death into life, real life! With that, it is pretty obvious by all these things that have taken place in my life over these last 40 years, that this life is not free from heartache and discouragement. So, I don't worry so much about this life, as well as I possibly can; but instead, look to and focus upon that is waiting for me when this life ends, and a new glorious life begins. 

 Does it always work? I wish! There are times, regrettably, that I get too focused on this current life; but it works well enough that I don't give up on believing! What else do we do, but to keep on believing? What a miserable life that would become, having no hope for the future I am going to spend with my son, by wife, and Jesus! Who in the world would even consider quitting as an option, once the truth has been established in our heart...

"Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you. For the world offers only a craving for the physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world. And this world is fading away, along with everything that people crave. But anyone who does what pleases God will live forever." (1 John 2:15-17 NLT) 

"Immortality"

 "Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death." (John 8:51 KJV)

  "Then, when our dying bodies have been transformed into bodies that will never die, this Scripture will be fulfilled: "Death is swallowed up in victory. "O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?"" (1 Corinthians 15:54-55 NLT)

 Can you feel this reality in your life? Or are you afraid to die? Do you have a fear of death? Those are just a few questions that I think some don't want to think about; but they should be easy enough to answer. It is really what this New Life is all about, a life which is promised, surely to happen, just as Jesus said! 

 My only fear is that I would not be here to take care of my wife. But then again, I am pretty sure that I would not even realize she that she was still here on her own, as it will not be like this, a life that is based upon time. What a change that will be, not having to check what time it is and think about what I should be doing.

 By the way, I did sleep in today, if anyone was wondering why this post might be up an hour or so later than usual. My dog is pretty confused, but he seems to still be resting as he waits for me to finish this post. I wonder if they get to go with us? I have heard that question asked, from time to time; but I have never heard anyone say that it will surely happen. 

 This much I know, that God was very concerned about all of the animals that died during the flood. He said it over and over: "All in whose nostrils was the breath of life, of all that was in dry land, died." So it must have been pretty hard on Him to see it happen. Which was most likely what Genesis 6:6 was all about! 

 Believe! That is the best advise I can offer. We must believe... 

"The LORD says, "I will rescue those who love me. I will protect those who trust in my name. When they call on me, I will answer; I will be with them in trouble. I will rescue and honor them. I will reward them with a long life and give them my salvation."" (Psalm 91:14-16 NLT)  

"The Utmost" - 2

 "And I seek not mine own glory: there is one that seeketh and judgeth." (John 8:50 KJV) 

  "Who is this who comes from Edom, from the city of Bozrah, with his clothing stained red? Who is this in royal robes, marching in his great strength? "It is I, the LORD, announcing your salvation! It is I, the LORD, who has the power to save!"" (Isaiah 63:1 NLT)

 Okay, so here is what I think about this, if anyone out there cares to listen. There is nothing we can do that can outdo what God has done for us, what He has done, cannot be tampered with because He is the one that will be judging us, when it is all said and done! If God says that you are not guilty, then guess what, you are not guilty! 

 As much as it pains me to say, as I have said before: I believe that we will be judged more for the things that we did not do, that we should have done, then the things we do, that we should not doing! Jesus said that there are Two Commandments: To love God, and to love others as yourself; upon those hang all the other laws! 

 How are you doing with those Two? It is pretty easy to see how much we miss the mark on those, if we are really honest within our own hearts. God knows our heart, so you cannot get away with trying to hide what you know is the truth. 

 That said, this is still the law! If we could have any chance of keeping the law, then Jesus would not have had to come and be nailed to that cross, in order to save us from the sin of not being able to keep the law; even if there was only one law! Isn't that what started it all? One law: "Don't eat of that one tree!" 

 Matthew Henry has a little observation on what Jesus is saying: "You do dishonor me, but cannot disturb me, shall not disquiet me, for I seek not my own glory." It is really up to us on how we react to those that might come against us for sharing about Christ; because it is really not about us that they are against, because they are really against Jesus and all that He stands for. 

 Isn't that the most foolish thing you have ever heard! Someone would come down from heaven, who has the power to save your eternal soul, who then sacrifices Himself on a cross to save you, and you want nothing to do with Him? What kind of crazy messed up world we live in! I sure am glad that this is no longer my home!

 You know what we have in common with Abraham? When God called us to out from the world, we stepped out, and into Jesus! Abraham still had to deal with some stuff after, but his sight was set on something better than this world; as is ours...

"It was by faith that Abraham obeyed when God called him to leave his home and go to another land that God would give him as his inheritance. He went without knowing where he was going. And even when he reached the land God promised him, he lived there by faith - for he was like a foreigner, living in tents. And so did Isaac and Jacob, who inherited the same promise. Abraham was confidently looking forward to a city with eternal foundations, a city designed and built by God." (Hebrews 11:8-10 NLT) 

"The Utmost"

 "And I seek not mine own glory: there is one that seeketh and judgeth." (John 8:50 KJV)

  "But I am deaf to all their threats. I am silent before them as one who cannot speak. I choose to hear nothing, and I make no reply. For I am waiting for you, O LORD. You must answer for me, O LORD my God." (Psalm 38:13-15 NLT)

 As most of those who know who Jesus was, as He dwelt upon this earth, He had the power and ability to do things no mortal man could. He calmed the sea, cursed unfruitful trees, raised the dead to life, healed the blind, as John states at the end of his Gospel, "And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written."  

 I suppose, if He wanted to, He could have simply raised His hand, and all those who dishonored Him with their voices would become mute and unable to speak! But that is not what He did, even though it was possible for Him to do that and more! Instead, He made Himself humble; taking the place of a servant, and being obedient to the Father. 

 As I watched "God's Not Dead" last night, for about the tenth time, I was reminded about how Josh shows the video of Light coming into existence, with the entire universe flashing into existence; and who he quotes someone who said, "I can only imagine that was what it looked like when God said, "Let there be light!" 

 Who much do you believe in God? I don't mean to sarcastic or facetious, but I can only think of all the times I forget about God's ability to do anything, and I get worried about nothing! That is really not a sin, or so I assume. Just because we have doubt, from time to time, does not mean that we do not have faith.

 First and foremost, we must remember that we are only human! We don't get to see everything that God sees; and we surely don't know even a measurable amount of what He knows. If we have any sort of doubt, it is really just because we are mostly in the dark about so many things. We are like the blind, trying to navigate through uncharted areas, seemingly thinking we know the way, but finding a ledge, not knowing the depth, wondering if it is too deep, and if it is, if God is willing to catch us...

""LORD, remind me how brief my time on earth will be. Remind me that my days are numbered - how fleeting my life is. You have made my life no longer than the width of my hand. My entire lifetime is just a moment to you; at best, each of us is but a breath."" (Psalm 39:4-5 NLT)

"Reasonable Service"

"Jesus answered, I have not a devil; but I honour my Father, and ye do dishonour me." (John 8:49 KJV)

  "Is there any encouragement from belonging to Christ? Any comfort from his love? And fellowship together in the Spirit? Are your hearts tender and compassionate? Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one mind and purpose. Don't be selfish; don't try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don't look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others too." (Philippians 2:1-4 NLT)

 By the way, anything that has happened, regardless of the amount of evil in might have inflicted upon this world, it was allowed to happen for a specific reason. God is and always has been on the Throne; nothing gets by Him without Him knowing what is going to happen; nothing that happens takes Him by surprise! Better yet, those that are His children, will be strengthened by much of what continues to set them apart. 

 Obviously, there are so many things that happen here, each and every day, that are clearly the work of the devil. He is not called the god of this world for nothing, but even though he might be called a god, he is still not winning or going to win! The battle has already been won! Jesus defeated the devil and all of his plans on the cross; and He sealed the deal, by rising up from the grave, to take His rightful place in heaven. 

 No matter what happens in this world, we that are the children of the King, and we will be totally and completely secure; nothing can touch or take away our eternal security in Christ, absolutely nothing! So what do we do with that? Well, for starters, we can be bold in our testimony on the Good News; remembering that we once could not see how important it was to put our faith in Christ Jesus.

 Secondly, we are those that have been set apart: as Peter states, "They stumble because they do not obey God's word, and so they meet the fate that was planned for them. But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God's very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light." (1 Peter 2:9 NLT)  

 Thirdly we must honor our King! That is our reasonable service, to follow Him; which means that we follow His example of what it means to be a living sacrifice, denying ourselves for the security and the benefit of others... 

"You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and wad born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal's death on the cross. Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." (Philippians 2:5-11 NLT)   

"Enmity to Christ"

"Then answered the Jews, and said unto him, Say we not well that thou art a Samaritan, and hast a devil?" (John 8:48 KJV) 

 "He was despised and rejected - a man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief. We turned our backs on him and looked the other way. He was despised, and we did not care." (Isaiah 53:3 NLT)

 Just so you know, this is still a pretty big reaction, in so many different ways. There is the reaction from the world, as they oppose and hate anything that would make them feel uncomfortable in their sin. There is the reaction from the false religions, which have no acknowledgement of Christ Jesus; and if they do, they do not proclaim Him as Lord or God's only begotten Son. And there is the reaction within the churches, those that claim to believe in Him, but do not follow the doctrine of Atonement, and that in Christ alone we have Salvation!   

 It is only going to get worse! Sixty or so years ago, there were at least three major things that set this current condition in motion: The legalization of abortion, God being removed from public schools, and the acceptance and teaching of Darwinism as truth over Creationism. Not that those were the only things we had that were set in motion, because there were so many more, too many to number; but those were the big ones; those were the ones that changed how we saw, the Sanctity of Human Life. 

 On that note, Jesus had to become our Kinsman Redemer in order to save mankind. What that actually means, is that He needed to be made in the likeness of man, to be a man, in order to save mankind. From the heavenly vantage point: It was God that made man, therefore, for God to save man from sin, He needed to step down from Heaven to become a man, so that by the Son of Man, sin could actually be defeated; and then Him being innocent of sin, He took the punishment for man's sins upon Himself. 

 From the earthly vantage point, all of that is too confusing and unbelievable to completely understand. Before we can even begin to understand it, we must accept it as the truth, believe that it is the truth, and then the Truth will be revealed within our hearts! My heart knows the Truth more than my mind can understand! We must renew our minds, which basically means to take that which have within our hearts and transform our minds to be in agreement with what our hearts know is the Truth.   

 Those three major things transformed the minds of several generations. Having devalued human life, as if it were just a mistake or an accident; instead of the real Truth, that we have a loving Creator! Let alone the fact, that our loving Creator became a man, suffered and sacrificed Himself on a cross, so that we might experience what real love actually feels like...

"I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God." (Romans 12:1-2 KJV) 

"Agreeableness"

 "He that is of God hearth God's words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God." (John 8:47 KJV)

  "But you belong to God, my dear children. You have won a victory over those people, because the Spirit who lives in you is greater than the spirit who lives in the world. Those people belong to this world, so they speak from the world's viewpoint, and the world listens to them. But we belong to God, and those who know God listen to us. That is how we know if someone has the Spirit of truth or the spirit of deception." (1 John 4:4-6 NLT) 

 Getting closer by the minute, is my perception of this current world and culture! There are just too many things that are taking place all at once, so it has got to be winding up; something is getting ready happen. Besides all of that, there is a peace that I feel about all that is happening. God is still on the throne and we, His children, have nothing to fear! 

 How does that relate to this verse? Well, if you are wondering where we draw the line of Truth, it is by the Word of God: if God has said it, then that settles it, there is nothing more to argue about; and there is no reason to have doubt! Basically, we agree with everything that God says whether we understand it or not, if God said it, then it is truth, period! 

 It isn't really a matter of them not hearing God's word, but more a matter of them not being in agreement with His word, therefore they decline to even listen. Besides that, having not believed that Jesus is the Christ, they are not able to understand or even see the Kingdom of God; just as Jesus told Nicodemus, "Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." (John 3:3) 

 If you belong to God's Kingdom, then you are in agreement with the things of God's Kingdom; if you are not part of God's Kingdom, then you are in agreement with the kingdom of this world. There are only those two options; there is no way to have both! Although many think that it is okay to try and live on the fence; that fence they think is there, has never existed. 

 There is a dividing line, A Flaming Sword! It has always been there, from the very beginning, as it was the Word of God! When we do not obey God's word, then we are not on a fence, but are not even able to get close enough to the fence, in order to get on top of it. That said, the Word can make us complete; just as if we had obeyed every word...

"Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the Scripture, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord's doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes? Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof. And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken; but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder." (Matthew 21:42-44 KJV) 

"Paramount"

 "Which of you convinceth me of sin? And if I say the truth, why do ye not believe me?" (John 8:46 KJV)

  "When Jesus returned to the Temple and began teaching, the leading priests and elders came up to him. They demanded, "By what authority are you doing all these things? Who gave you the right?" "I'll tell you by what authority I do these things if you answer one question," Jesus replied. "Did John's authority to baptize come from heaven or was it merely human?" They talked it over among themselves. "If we say it was from heaven, he will ask us why we didn't believe John. But if we say it was merely human, we'll be mobbed because the people believed John was a prophet." So they finally replied, "We don't know." And Jesus responded, "Then I won't tell you be what authority I do these things."" (Matthew 21:23-27 NLT)

 If it makes any sense to anyone, this is like that famous quote from A Few Good Men, "You Can't handle the truth!" Mainly it comes down to the fact that the Truth is really above their paygrade! Even though these are leaders in the spiritual things of God, they really don't have a clue what it is that God's is doing, right before their very eyes. 

 Worse than that, they are hardening their hearts against any chance of seeing what is taking place, because they have already prejudged who Jesus is and who He is not; just as they prejudged John the Baptist, as he was not authorized or sanctioned by them, the spiritual leaders of the Jews! 

 The first part of Jesus' question has the key to understanding where He is taking them, and why it is important that they should believe what He says. They all very clearly judged Him, repeatedly, for a whole list of things; but none of them had any authority to convict Him, as He was blameless before God! 

 We have only One to answer to for our sins; and if He says that we are not guilty, then we have been set free from our sins: Not Guilty is stamped upon our record! That is the most important part of this whole believe-the-unbelievable relationship with Jesus Christ: We believe the unbelievable, and we are set free! 

 Why do I believe it? Because Jesus said that it is so! It really doesn't get any easier than that! You really cannot feel free until you are set free...

""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) 

"Repulsion"

"And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not." (John 8:45 KJV)

  "Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?" (Galatians 4:16 KJV)

 I pictured what it was like to try and connect two magnets together, when they did not want to be, as they were forced apart. That is the definition of repulsion. In the spiritual world, it is completely that; truth and a lie cannot connect together, no matter how hard you try, they will move away from each other. 

 Oh, it might be forced into close proximity, with the appearance of being together, but there is no way that the two can totally connect, as they are naturally forced apart and repel each other. The above two verses are very similar to each other, as Jesus expresses the action and Paul expresses the cause; both situations involve that repulsion away from the truth. 

 If ever I get into a conversation with someone about certain topics that involve either of the two topics near and dear to my heart, I stand a pretty good chance of making an enemy with someone or having them totally quit talking to me. 

 The first of those topics, is the reason I enjoy going to Calvary Chapel fellowships, which is because, for the most part, they most all go through the Bible, line upon line, precept upon precept. You would not believe the reaction I get from people when I tell them why I believe it is important for us to learn from the Bible in that manor. End of conversation, would be the polite response; saying, "Well I don't see it that way!", would be the blunt response.

 The other of those topics, is the role of the husband in a marriage. Somehow, it just does not seem to break the barrier, no matter how hard I try, there is nothing I can say that will convince any man that he is responsible to provide the love in the marriage relationship. This type of conversation never really goes very far at all...

"So be careful how you live. Don't live like fools, but like those who are wise. Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days. Don't act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do. Don't be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, and making music to the Lord in your hearts. And give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. And further, submit to one another out of reverence for Christ." (Ephesians 5:15-21 NLT)

  

"The Serpent's Seed" - 2

 "Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it." (John 8:44 KJV)

  "This man will come to do the work of Satan with counterfeit power and signs and miracles. He will use every kind of evil deception to fool those on their way to destruction, because they refuse to love and accept the truth that would save them. So God will cause them to be greatly deceived and they will believe these lies. Then they will be condemned for enjoying evil rather than believing the truth." (2 Thessalonians 2:9-12 NLT)

 The way I see it, we are in the final stretch of this great building up to the End Times. If you know your Bible prophecy of these times, then you should be aware that there must be the establishment of a one world order to make the coming things to take place. We are in that phase of the world's positioning into that alignment.

 Whether or not you can understand what is taking place, you must be a believer and follower of Christ in order to escape the Great Tribulation. I truly believe that there will be a great multitude saved during that seven-year period, but those that will be saved are going to give up their lives in the process. Those that are deceived, as Paul mentions in 2 Thessalonians, will have already determined in their hearts to follow the Evil One, and their minds will not see the truth, but will follow the lies they are told, no matter how strange or unreal they might become.

 Isn't it fascinating how the devil likes to test his ambitions before they come to pass. Almost as if it is a test-run to just show off how easy it is to cause mankind to be deceived and follow almost anything that is said or portrayed in the news. When they have a perfect plan, they like to put forth some sort of sign, just so they can pretend that they can prophecy what is going to happen. 

 A little word of warning, just in case you are thinking you will wait until the Tribulation in order to make Jesus the Lord of your life: If you can't do it now, while your life is being spared, what makes you think you will do it then, while your life is being taken? 

 The Serpent's Seed is that which enjoys evil! If we enjoy evil, participate ii it, or condone it, then we are on the wrong side, having our hearts aligned with the devil. You know that saying, "Check yourself, before you wreck yourself!" Well, it is about time we make sure that our bags are packed and we are ready to go! Get right or be left...

  "But you must not forget this one thing, dear friends: A day is like a thousand years to the Lord, and a thousand years is like a day. The Lord isn't really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent. But the day of the Lord will come as unexpectedly as a thief. Then the heavens will pass away with a terrible noise, and the very elements themselves will disappear in fire, and the earth and everything on it will be found to deserve judgment. Since everything around us is going to be destroyed like this, what holy and godly lives you should live, looking forward to the day of God and hurrying it along. On that day, he will set the heavens on fire, and the elements will melt away in the flames. But we are looking forward to the new heavens and new earth he has promised, a world filled with God's righteousness." (2 Peter 3:8-13 NLT) 

"The Serpent's Seed"

 "Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it." (John 8:44 KJV)

  "But I fear that somehow your pure and undivided devotion to Christ will be corrupted, just as Eve was deceived by the cunning ways of the serpent. You happily put up with whatever anyone tells you, even if they preach a different Jesus than the one we preach, or a different kind of Spirit than the one you received, or a different kind of gospel than the one you believed." (2 Corinthians 11:3-4 NLT)

 In the current culture, the chances of getting pulled into something that is, shall we say, corrupted by the world, not all that difficult to happen; if, you are not grounded in God's word and on the lookout for just about anything that the devil might dish out. Peter tells us, "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour." (1 Peter 5:8) 

 This is not a cakewalk, this life we live in this world, of which we do not belong; the devil loves to take out those that have anything to contribute to the spreading of the Good News. And those that spread it well, are the ones that have the biggest bullseye on their backs. If you don't think that is so, then you haven't been paying attention to what is going on. 

 Don't feel left out, because that is pretty much how it is these days. You don't look for things to be worried about, so you don't need to worry; at least not until something tragic happens in your own circle. There is nothing we can do about the fall of this current world, besides watching out for those we care about around us; and even then, speaking the truth to them, might just set them off and they will avoid listening all together. 

 So what do we do? PRAY!!! Pray for those that you have within your circle! Pray for those you know in the ministry! Pray for your love ones, your friends, your enemies, and those who are in leadership, regardless of what you feel about them, they are appointed by God! 

 This might not be a cakewalk, but it is a walk, nonetheless... 

"I don't mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached pefection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me." (Philippians 3:12 NLT)

"A Different Dialect" - 2

 "Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word." (John 8:43 KJV)

 "For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, 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 3:20-21 KJV) 

 If you really want to know, I think we will be overcome with sadness for those we do not see with us in heaven, as it will be something of a regret that we did not do more to persuade them that they needed to accept Jesus into their hearts. However, the Bible clearly says, "And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away." (Revelation 21:4 KJV) 

 As crazy as it might sound, our salvation in Christ trumps just about everything and anything else; as long as we are truly sorrowful and regret the sin we commit, He is more than faithful to forgive us! There is quite a bit of debate on this subject, so we should not flaunt this gift of salvation we have been given, because it is not about anything else, but what Christ has done!

 As for this passage, obviously Jesus is asking a rhetorical question. He really is not asking them why they cannot understand, but simply telling them that understanding comes by hearing, which is something they cannot do, because they do not understand the dialect that He is speaking! He is speaking things that are from and towards heaven; something they cannot understand, because they live for and about the things of this earth. 

 Yes, you heard right. Even though they were very religious, compared to most, their religion was all about standing in this world, not about a relationship with God. There is absolutely nothing that matters more to God than the relationship established by the blood of His Son! He did that for us, that we might come to the table and have fellowship with Him, a Holy and Righteous God! 

 Basically, it doesn't matter what language that you speak; as long as you speak, "Jesus, and Him crucified," you will always have a seat at the table...

"But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord; for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I might win Christ, and be found in him, not having my own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: that I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; if by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead." (Philippians 3:7-11 KJV)