"If it had not been the LORD who was on our side, now may Israel say;" (Psalms 124:1)
Sure, I could have grouped all five of these together into one large topic, but what is the fun in that? Besides that, this is an important verse to start the dialog or discussion, because we must not be one of those double-minded people that are always doubting if God still loves them; as if He could allow His love to be affected by what we do or don't do. His love for His children does not change! He may not like some of the stupid things that we do, but there is nothing we can do to make Him love us more than what He already does, and there is nothing He can do to make us love Him less. To the point of this verse, this is something that you can place within every single situation you might have been in, whether it was based upon your own wrong doing or not; if you have come out of it, it needs to be declared: "If it had not been the LORD who was on our side!" Sometimes, as was previously mentioned, we must ignore the things that are seen and put our focus upon the things that are unseen; as hard as that might be to do, it is important that we make it our goal. I don't use that term lightly, because there is something that we must understand about what a goal represents, structure and planning! How do we plan for catastrophe? How do you not? We can try hard to convince ourselves that nothing can knock us off our feet; but in so doing, we set ourselves up for defeat. There is a good example of what I am talking about when you look at Paul's comment, "When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things." (1 Corinthians 13:11) To the bigger point, children love to dream big; their imagination can sometimes get them into trouble, because there is such a blur between what is real and what is imaginary. Putting away childish things, is pretty much about being focused upon the real and the meaningful things, the things that matter. How much does it matter that God is on our side? I can think of one powerful verse that shows us how much, because it is more than we can imagine...
"For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end." (Jeremiah 29:11)
Friday, May 31, 2019
Thursday, May 30, 2019
"God Protects His People"
PSALMS 124 [A Song of degrees of David.]
I am really encouraged by this Psalm, it teaches us to understand that God is in control and that in all things we are cared for as His, even in spite of lack of faith. In reading this, one can get the feeling that there was something that was overwhelming the people, including David, something that was able to make them feel vulnerable and like prey to whatever it was that had come against them. There is a scenario in which this might easily happen, even to the best of us. The easiest to understand would be the lack of faith in our lives; a simple illustration of that would be the night Jacob was fearful of his brother, before he wrestled the Lord. Another illustration would be when David was in Gath, pretending to be crazy and on the run from Saul. It is in those kind of moments when we are lacking the faith to allow God to show us His protection, and we instead try to protect ourselves, any way that seems right in our own hearts. The reason this encourages me, is because it shows us how God will still protect us, even in our foolishness of trying to do it on our own. The way I see it, is that God allows us to try, knowing full well that it is useless and a waste of our time to do so; but just a the right moment, before we are taken like a bird caught in a trap, He will pull us out and save us from the situation. Call it a lesson in learning to wait on the LORD, or call it learning how it is best not to try and do things our way; whichever way you want to call it, He is still going to protect you! As with the last Psalm, this too shows us how we must remain focused upon the Lord and His promises, even in the face of what might seem utter chaos and where things are out of control. There is nothing that might overwhelm us, that can overwhelm God, absolutely nothing...
"What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?" (Romans 8:31)
I am really encouraged by this Psalm, it teaches us to understand that God is in control and that in all things we are cared for as His, even in spite of lack of faith. In reading this, one can get the feeling that there was something that was overwhelming the people, including David, something that was able to make them feel vulnerable and like prey to whatever it was that had come against them. There is a scenario in which this might easily happen, even to the best of us. The easiest to understand would be the lack of faith in our lives; a simple illustration of that would be the night Jacob was fearful of his brother, before he wrestled the Lord. Another illustration would be when David was in Gath, pretending to be crazy and on the run from Saul. It is in those kind of moments when we are lacking the faith to allow God to show us His protection, and we instead try to protect ourselves, any way that seems right in our own hearts. The reason this encourages me, is because it shows us how God will still protect us, even in our foolishness of trying to do it on our own. The way I see it, is that God allows us to try, knowing full well that it is useless and a waste of our time to do so; but just a the right moment, before we are taken like a bird caught in a trap, He will pull us out and save us from the situation. Call it a lesson in learning to wait on the LORD, or call it learning how it is best not to try and do things our way; whichever way you want to call it, He is still going to protect you! As with the last Psalm, this too shows us how we must remain focused upon the Lord and His promises, even in the face of what might seem utter chaos and where things are out of control. There is nothing that might overwhelm us, that can overwhelm God, absolutely nothing...
"What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?" (Romans 8:31)
Wednesday, May 29, 2019
"Get Mercy"
"Our soul is exceedingly filled with the scorning of those that are at ease, and with the contempt of the proud." (Psalms 123:4)
It might be a very short Psalm, and I believe that there is very good reason. What is the difference between those that are God's children and those that are not? We know mercy! We not only know it, we know where to get it! There was a good reason for the closing Scripture yesterday, because Jesus felt this, yet He still knew mercy, abundantly! He had so much mercy available, that He was able to give it out; yet, He was shown no mercy by those who placed Him upon the cross, even from the Father. That might be a pretty big pill to swallow, but it is the easiest way to show what I was trying to say yesterday. The relief that we have available to us, in whatever situation or trial we encounter, is that it is all short lived and there is something waiting on the other side of whatever we are going through. Our discomfort and pain is only temporary, but the mercy we have available to us is for ever and ever; it seriously has no end! If you want to know what that looks like, the Psalms 103:12 is a really good illustration. Of all the things that God has to offer, mercy is the one that is the easiest to get! He loves to give mercy to those that know that they need it and ask for it. But that is the whole point to this Psalm, that it is a prayer for mercy; prayer meaning that it is a petition to the One that gives mercy, abundantly...
"For which cause we faint not, but though the 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; while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal." (2 Corinthians 4:16-18)
It might be a very short Psalm, and I believe that there is very good reason. What is the difference between those that are God's children and those that are not? We know mercy! We not only know it, we know where to get it! There was a good reason for the closing Scripture yesterday, because Jesus felt this, yet He still knew mercy, abundantly! He had so much mercy available, that He was able to give it out; yet, He was shown no mercy by those who placed Him upon the cross, even from the Father. That might be a pretty big pill to swallow, but it is the easiest way to show what I was trying to say yesterday. The relief that we have available to us, in whatever situation or trial we encounter, is that it is all short lived and there is something waiting on the other side of whatever we are going through. Our discomfort and pain is only temporary, but the mercy we have available to us is for ever and ever; it seriously has no end! If you want to know what that looks like, the Psalms 103:12 is a really good illustration. Of all the things that God has to offer, mercy is the one that is the easiest to get! He loves to give mercy to those that know that they need it and ask for it. But that is the whole point to this Psalm, that it is a prayer for mercy; prayer meaning that it is a petition to the One that gives mercy, abundantly...
"For which cause we faint not, but though the 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; while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal." (2 Corinthians 4:16-18)
Tuesday, May 28, 2019
"Get Relief"
"Have mercy upon us, O LORD, have mercy upon us: for we are exceedingly filled with contempt." (Psalms 123:3)
There are some things that might cause us to wonder and wander; this, I believe is not one of them. If we could just step back for a moment and consider what the writer is feeling in his heart, because the expectancy of the previous verse is now doing a comparison to situations, as in, who it is that is actually blessed. Okay, let's say that this Psalm was written when the Jews were captive in Babylon. If there was something that could match what this is getting across, it might be the way the children of Israel were tried to be converted over to the Babylonian customs and religious practices. This is really not asking for anything but mercy from God, the LORD, the One that has chosen His people for a particular purpose and for Him to do a work in them and through them. There is something about being brought face to face with corruption and evil, verses being changed from the inside out. In light of what we know, the children of Israel that were taken were the ones that could actually benefit the Babylonian kingdom; the healthy and wealthy, those that were able bodied and were leaders in the land of Israel, they were selected to serve and be a productive part of that kingdom. It is most likely one of those that wrote this Psalm, if this was written during that transition. It is in this light that I feel the meaning takes us to the area of contempt, because it is born in disrespect and being shamed. This is more like the opposite of being jealous, as some might try to paint the picture. There was no desire in the writers heart for being made part of whatever it was they were going through, because it was not something that could bring them closer to God; just the opposite would take place if they were to give in to the practices and rituals of their Pagan captors. It is that kind of mercy that is being called out for, the kind that might ask, 'Please let us remain strong and devoted to you, O LORD!' There was really nothing else that mattered, but that they remain steadfast and be kept in God's hands...
"When they came to a place called The Skull, they nailed him to a cross. And the criminals were also crucified -one on his right and one on his left. Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they don't know what they are doing." And the soldiers gambled for his clothes by throwing dice. The crowd watched and the leaders scoffed. "He saved others," they said, "let him save himself if he is really God's Messiah, the Chosen One." The soldiers mocked him too, by offering him a drink of sour wine. They called out to him, "If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!" A sign was fastened above him with these words: "This is the King of the Jews."" (Luke 23:33-38) NLT
There are some things that might cause us to wonder and wander; this, I believe is not one of them. If we could just step back for a moment and consider what the writer is feeling in his heart, because the expectancy of the previous verse is now doing a comparison to situations, as in, who it is that is actually blessed. Okay, let's say that this Psalm was written when the Jews were captive in Babylon. If there was something that could match what this is getting across, it might be the way the children of Israel were tried to be converted over to the Babylonian customs and religious practices. This is really not asking for anything but mercy from God, the LORD, the One that has chosen His people for a particular purpose and for Him to do a work in them and through them. There is something about being brought face to face with corruption and evil, verses being changed from the inside out. In light of what we know, the children of Israel that were taken were the ones that could actually benefit the Babylonian kingdom; the healthy and wealthy, those that were able bodied and were leaders in the land of Israel, they were selected to serve and be a productive part of that kingdom. It is most likely one of those that wrote this Psalm, if this was written during that transition. It is in this light that I feel the meaning takes us to the area of contempt, because it is born in disrespect and being shamed. This is more like the opposite of being jealous, as some might try to paint the picture. There was no desire in the writers heart for being made part of whatever it was they were going through, because it was not something that could bring them closer to God; just the opposite would take place if they were to give in to the practices and rituals of their Pagan captors. It is that kind of mercy that is being called out for, the kind that might ask, 'Please let us remain strong and devoted to you, O LORD!' There was really nothing else that mattered, but that they remain steadfast and be kept in God's hands...
"When they came to a place called The Skull, they nailed him to a cross. And the criminals were also crucified -one on his right and one on his left. Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they don't know what they are doing." And the soldiers gambled for his clothes by throwing dice. The crowd watched and the leaders scoffed. "He saved others," they said, "let him save himself if he is really God's Messiah, the Chosen One." The soldiers mocked him too, by offering him a drink of sour wine. They called out to him, "If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!" A sign was fastened above him with these words: "This is the King of the Jews."" (Luke 23:33-38) NLT
Monday, May 27, 2019
"Get Expectation"
"Behold, as the eyes of servants look unto the hand of their masters, and as the eyes of a maiden unto the hand of her mistress; so our eyes wait upon the LORD our God, until that he have mercy upon us." (Psalms 123:2)
This is pretty cut and dry, there is really not too many ways that we can look at this to see any other meaning; we must have our eyes upon the LORD and be expecting Him to do something, sooner or later. This is a pretty good description of what waiting on the LORD looks like, because it requires an expectant heart that is trusting God will do what He has promised, even in the midst of the storm! Hey, that is a pretty good illustration of what this says, the time when Jesus slept as the disciples thought they were going to die in the storm. Not the part about their lack of faith, but the part about them looking to Jesus for protection; but, as it were, He was taking a nap! The need for expectation is not idle thoughts, but to look upon the source of strength and power, waiting for action, a command, or any other sign that things are all going to be just fine. Thus, in the case of the disciples in the boat, they woke Jesus up! How is that a sign of waiting? Yea, you are probably right; that is most likely why Jesus said, "Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith?" Nonetheless, He took action! Remind you of anything? Do not give up! That is what this means, that we keep on looking for God to do something, because we are His children...
"Then, teaching them more about prayer, he used this story: "Suppose you went to a friend's house at midnight, wanting to borrow three loaves of bread. You say to him, 'A friend of mine has just arrived for a visit, and I have nothing to eat.' And suppose he calls from his bedroom, 'Don't bother me. The door is locked for the night, and my family and I are all in bed. I can't help you.' But I tell you this -though he won't do it for friendship's sake, if you keep knocking long enough, he will get up and give you whatever you need because of your shameless persistence. "And so I tell you, keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened."" (Luke 11:5-10) NLT
This is pretty cut and dry, there is really not too many ways that we can look at this to see any other meaning; we must have our eyes upon the LORD and be expecting Him to do something, sooner or later. This is a pretty good description of what waiting on the LORD looks like, because it requires an expectant heart that is trusting God will do what He has promised, even in the midst of the storm! Hey, that is a pretty good illustration of what this says, the time when Jesus slept as the disciples thought they were going to die in the storm. Not the part about their lack of faith, but the part about them looking to Jesus for protection; but, as it were, He was taking a nap! The need for expectation is not idle thoughts, but to look upon the source of strength and power, waiting for action, a command, or any other sign that things are all going to be just fine. Thus, in the case of the disciples in the boat, they woke Jesus up! How is that a sign of waiting? Yea, you are probably right; that is most likely why Jesus said, "Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith?" Nonetheless, He took action! Remind you of anything? Do not give up! That is what this means, that we keep on looking for God to do something, because we are His children...
"Then, teaching them more about prayer, he used this story: "Suppose you went to a friend's house at midnight, wanting to borrow three loaves of bread. You say to him, 'A friend of mine has just arrived for a visit, and I have nothing to eat.' And suppose he calls from his bedroom, 'Don't bother me. The door is locked for the night, and my family and I are all in bed. I can't help you.' But I tell you this -though he won't do it for friendship's sake, if you keep knocking long enough, he will get up and give you whatever you need because of your shameless persistence. "And so I tell you, keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened."" (Luke 11:5-10) NLT
Sunday, May 26, 2019
"Get Real"
"Unto thee lift up mine eyes, O thou that dwellest in the heavens." (Psalms 123:1)
When it comes to our understanding of how God works, whether in our personal lives or in the way that He completes all the things that are set in motion, are easiest way to understand it is to declare this simple fact: "Our Father, Who art in Heaven, hallowed be Thy name!" There are so many things that we do not know; many of which, are things that involve dimensions and domains that cannot be entered into; at least not in the earthly form we are currently in. When Jesus was asked to teach His disciple to pray, He started the prayer off by saying the declaration above, and then said the following: "Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven." Seeing the complex workings of God are about as possible as seeing what is going on in Heaven; in other words, we cannot see what is going on, we can only see results, and even then, those results are only scratches on the surface. That being established in our hearts, we can them move to the subject, which is our own dependence upon God and how He watches over us. If we cannot understand what He is doing in the world, let alone in Heaven, then is it any different when it comes to our personal lives? Why are you allowing this to happen? What are you trying to tell me? How long will you not listen to my cries? These are all questions that we ask, anticipating answers, and at the same time, we like to fill in the blank with answers of our own. Of all the answers we could possibly come up with, the one that must never be accepted, is to think that God does not love you. You can figure upon anything else you want, but when it comes to believing that He loves you, there is simply no way that can be denied! So, if that side of the equation is settled, then there must me another side that can be examined, one that is a little easier to understand: Do I love God? I can recall an illustration given to me about putting my priorities in the right order; call it, The Cone Illustration. What it shows is that most people live their lives with the cone being upright, the largest side down and the little tip at the top; meaning that the personal desires are first and foremost, employment or success is next, family and relationship follows, and God is at the very top, the smallest portion of the cone. The whole point of the illustration was that it should be reversed and God should be the top, the largest portion, family next, then the job, and finally, at the very smallest tip, is our personal desires. What I am seeing here is very much like that cone illustration, but it reveals how our love for God compares to His love for us...
"When I think of all of 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 grown 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 fulness of life and power that comes from God." (Ephesians 3:14-19) NLT
When it comes to our understanding of how God works, whether in our personal lives or in the way that He completes all the things that are set in motion, are easiest way to understand it is to declare this simple fact: "Our Father, Who art in Heaven, hallowed be Thy name!" There are so many things that we do not know; many of which, are things that involve dimensions and domains that cannot be entered into; at least not in the earthly form we are currently in. When Jesus was asked to teach His disciple to pray, He started the prayer off by saying the declaration above, and then said the following: "Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven." Seeing the complex workings of God are about as possible as seeing what is going on in Heaven; in other words, we cannot see what is going on, we can only see results, and even then, those results are only scratches on the surface. That being established in our hearts, we can them move to the subject, which is our own dependence upon God and how He watches over us. If we cannot understand what He is doing in the world, let alone in Heaven, then is it any different when it comes to our personal lives? Why are you allowing this to happen? What are you trying to tell me? How long will you not listen to my cries? These are all questions that we ask, anticipating answers, and at the same time, we like to fill in the blank with answers of our own. Of all the answers we could possibly come up with, the one that must never be accepted, is to think that God does not love you. You can figure upon anything else you want, but when it comes to believing that He loves you, there is simply no way that can be denied! So, if that side of the equation is settled, then there must me another side that can be examined, one that is a little easier to understand: Do I love God? I can recall an illustration given to me about putting my priorities in the right order; call it, The Cone Illustration. What it shows is that most people live their lives with the cone being upright, the largest side down and the little tip at the top; meaning that the personal desires are first and foremost, employment or success is next, family and relationship follows, and God is at the very top, the smallest portion of the cone. The whole point of the illustration was that it should be reversed and God should be the top, the largest portion, family next, then the job, and finally, at the very smallest tip, is our personal desires. What I am seeing here is very much like that cone illustration, but it reveals how our love for God compares to His love for us...
"When I think of all of 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 grown 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 fulness of life and power that comes from God." (Ephesians 3:14-19) NLT
Saturday, May 25, 2019
"A Prayer for Mercy"
PSALMS 123 [A Song of degrees.]
As was mentioned by Paul in the last verse of the closing Scripture, degrees can also be a measure of heat, as in the fire that will judge all of our works. There is a little speculation as to when and who wrote this Psalm, but there is no speculation of what it is about; because it speaks about the trampling of the church. Understanding the times that we currently live in, there are places right now in this world where there is seriously harsh punishment for those that call upon the name of Jesus. I had the privilege of getting hold of a book while I was in jail, just after getting saved; the book called, "God's Smuggler," by Brother Andrew. I learned about stuff that went on in some of this countries where being a Christian is not something that is allowed, and having church services is something that can get you killed or thrown into prison. There is no greater privilege that we have as followers of Christ than to be persecuted for the testimony that is within us. I was listening to a message the other day that was about when Peter was chained between two guards inside a jail cell waiting to be put to death; and the focus of the message was about how deeply Peter slept; at least the portion that I heard. It made me think about how easy it is to miss the peace we have in Christ; to simply surrender our lives completely over to Him, just longing to be in His presence. If anything should cause us to feel God's mercy, it should be the understanding of how temporary this life actually is, as we appreciate the wonderful gift that we have been given. As I was sharing in the beginning of the last Psalm, this is God's doing, every last bit of it! He has known all along who are His and He has provided a way, sometimes harsh and sometimes wonderful, to get each and everyone of His to the other side. The glory road is just that, His Glory! In spite of all of our stupid fits of complaining and sinning, He makes a way for those that trust in Him; for those that call out, "Abba Father!" Looking at this in a little stronger light, the suffering Jesus had to endure for our sins was the degree of sinfulness that needed to be overtaken. We should never feel as though we have anything to complain about...
""And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, 'God, be merciful to me a sinner.'"" (Luke 18:13)
As was mentioned by Paul in the last verse of the closing Scripture, degrees can also be a measure of heat, as in the fire that will judge all of our works. There is a little speculation as to when and who wrote this Psalm, but there is no speculation of what it is about; because it speaks about the trampling of the church. Understanding the times that we currently live in, there are places right now in this world where there is seriously harsh punishment for those that call upon the name of Jesus. I had the privilege of getting hold of a book while I was in jail, just after getting saved; the book called, "God's Smuggler," by Brother Andrew. I learned about stuff that went on in some of this countries where being a Christian is not something that is allowed, and having church services is something that can get you killed or thrown into prison. There is no greater privilege that we have as followers of Christ than to be persecuted for the testimony that is within us. I was listening to a message the other day that was about when Peter was chained between two guards inside a jail cell waiting to be put to death; and the focus of the message was about how deeply Peter slept; at least the portion that I heard. It made me think about how easy it is to miss the peace we have in Christ; to simply surrender our lives completely over to Him, just longing to be in His presence. If anything should cause us to feel God's mercy, it should be the understanding of how temporary this life actually is, as we appreciate the wonderful gift that we have been given. As I was sharing in the beginning of the last Psalm, this is God's doing, every last bit of it! He has known all along who are His and He has provided a way, sometimes harsh and sometimes wonderful, to get each and everyone of His to the other side. The glory road is just that, His Glory! In spite of all of our stupid fits of complaining and sinning, He makes a way for those that trust in Him; for those that call out, "Abba Father!" Looking at this in a little stronger light, the suffering Jesus had to endure for our sins was the degree of sinfulness that needed to be overtaken. We should never feel as though we have anything to complain about...
""And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, 'God, be merciful to me a sinner.'"" (Luke 18:13)
Friday, May 24, 2019
"House of Peace"
"Because of the house of the LORD our God I will seek thy good." (Psalms 122:9)
It is written, "Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it." (Psalms 127:1) If there is any other way, I am sure that God would have provided for it; but there is no other way for us to know the Father, except by entering in through Christ Jesus; not if we truly want to know the Father's heart! Looking at the previous verse again, and taking the words, "Peace be within you," as a prayer, this would be putting hands and feet behind those words that were spoken. In other words, if you are going to pray for God to do a work, you should also be prepared to act upon whatever you have prayed for. If you want some Scripture to help illustrate what I am talking about, there is a really good one in James 2:14-17, where James shares about the fact that faith must act. He uses the example of one having a brother or sister that is naked and hungry, and you simply say, "Go in peace, be warmed and filled," yet you have not given them the things they are in need of; 'What good have you done for them?' Much the same, when we pray, "Peace be within thee," what good are those words if we do not seek to make peace happen? This is a really touchy subject, no pun intended! We sometimes pretend that it is not our responsibility to minister and be ministers for Christ; as if it is the job of the Pastor or the Evangelist, someone that is called into the ministry. We need to get another set of glasses, if that is what we think; because we are all called to minister in one way or another, each and every one! Case in point: If you have the Holy Spirit living within you, then you are technically a Temple; a walking and talking Temple of God. Paul speaks of this in 1 Corinthians 3:16, asking, "Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?" Oddly enough, this verse is taken from a portion of Scripture where Paul is talking about building upon a foundation, and that foundation is Christ Jesus. Each and everyone of us are not only part of the building, we are responsible for what part we are that is being built. Those glasses that you are looking for need to be reflective, because in order to see what your real ministry is, you need to see clearly, yourself! Not getting it yet? In case you forgot, we are talking about a house, and we are talking about peace...
"Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. If any man's work abide which he hath built thereof, he shall receive a reward. If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loses; but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire." (1 Corinthians 3:12-15)
It is written, "Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it." (Psalms 127:1) If there is any other way, I am sure that God would have provided for it; but there is no other way for us to know the Father, except by entering in through Christ Jesus; not if we truly want to know the Father's heart! Looking at the previous verse again, and taking the words, "Peace be within you," as a prayer, this would be putting hands and feet behind those words that were spoken. In other words, if you are going to pray for God to do a work, you should also be prepared to act upon whatever you have prayed for. If you want some Scripture to help illustrate what I am talking about, there is a really good one in James 2:14-17, where James shares about the fact that faith must act. He uses the example of one having a brother or sister that is naked and hungry, and you simply say, "Go in peace, be warmed and filled," yet you have not given them the things they are in need of; 'What good have you done for them?' Much the same, when we pray, "Peace be within thee," what good are those words if we do not seek to make peace happen? This is a really touchy subject, no pun intended! We sometimes pretend that it is not our responsibility to minister and be ministers for Christ; as if it is the job of the Pastor or the Evangelist, someone that is called into the ministry. We need to get another set of glasses, if that is what we think; because we are all called to minister in one way or another, each and every one! Case in point: If you have the Holy Spirit living within you, then you are technically a Temple; a walking and talking Temple of God. Paul speaks of this in 1 Corinthians 3:16, asking, "Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?" Oddly enough, this verse is taken from a portion of Scripture where Paul is talking about building upon a foundation, and that foundation is Christ Jesus. Each and everyone of us are not only part of the building, we are responsible for what part we are that is being built. Those glasses that you are looking for need to be reflective, because in order to see what your real ministry is, you need to see clearly, yourself! Not getting it yet? In case you forgot, we are talking about a house, and we are talking about peace...
"Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. If any man's work abide which he hath built thereof, he shall receive a reward. If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loses; but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire." (1 Corinthians 3:12-15)
Thursday, May 23, 2019
"Peace Be Made"
"For my brethren and companions' sake, I will now say, Peace be within thee." (Psalms 122:8)
There are certain things that come easily, and there are some that need to be learned, sometimes the hard way. This, by far, is the one of those things that take real effort and prayer to get it right. What do we think this might be speaking of? Well, there are a couple different things that come to mind, the first being the church as a whole; the second being us individually. We can easily see that played out in the church, as the whole Psalm is about Jerusalem, that being the church and the power of God to complete what He has started. As for us as individuals, the point of dying to ourselves is put into practice by being a peacemaker, which is one that does not do anything to disrupt the body, and who does not tolerate anything that disrupts the body. There are countless examples of this throughout the Scriptures; it is so, because in God's eyes, this is something that is high on His naughty list. My mom always use to say, Don't say anything about anyone else behind their back, that you cannot say to their face. That might be a pretty good rule to follow, but in the light of what we have seen being played out, it falls short of being what God requires of us. This is something that is measured in the heart; what does your heart say? Is there something in there that holds anything against a brother or sister? If so, then you need to deal with it and get it out. This is dealt with individually the same way that it is dealt with in the church, by finding it, exposing it, and dealing with it! It might hurt a little, but there is a name for that taken from an Old Testament example, "Achan." What do you think that his name means? "One who troubles." We can see his deeds, exposure, and being dealt with in Joshua chapter seven. Things might have worked out differently had he came forward as soon as he realized how much his selfish act had caused so much hurt; but instead, he stayed silent and tried to hide what he had done. We understand that peace has been given to us, we know that peace needs to be what we must be about, and now we see the heart of the matter: Peace lives in and through us...
"I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, with all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all, and in you all." (Ephesians 4:1-6)
There are certain things that come easily, and there are some that need to be learned, sometimes the hard way. This, by far, is the one of those things that take real effort and prayer to get it right. What do we think this might be speaking of? Well, there are a couple different things that come to mind, the first being the church as a whole; the second being us individually. We can easily see that played out in the church, as the whole Psalm is about Jerusalem, that being the church and the power of God to complete what He has started. As for us as individuals, the point of dying to ourselves is put into practice by being a peacemaker, which is one that does not do anything to disrupt the body, and who does not tolerate anything that disrupts the body. There are countless examples of this throughout the Scriptures; it is so, because in God's eyes, this is something that is high on His naughty list. My mom always use to say, Don't say anything about anyone else behind their back, that you cannot say to their face. That might be a pretty good rule to follow, but in the light of what we have seen being played out, it falls short of being what God requires of us. This is something that is measured in the heart; what does your heart say? Is there something in there that holds anything against a brother or sister? If so, then you need to deal with it and get it out. This is dealt with individually the same way that it is dealt with in the church, by finding it, exposing it, and dealing with it! It might hurt a little, but there is a name for that taken from an Old Testament example, "Achan." What do you think that his name means? "One who troubles." We can see his deeds, exposure, and being dealt with in Joshua chapter seven. Things might have worked out differently had he came forward as soon as he realized how much his selfish act had caused so much hurt; but instead, he stayed silent and tried to hide what he had done. We understand that peace has been given to us, we know that peace needs to be what we must be about, and now we see the heart of the matter: Peace lives in and through us...
"I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, with all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all, and in you all." (Ephesians 4:1-6)
Wednesday, May 22, 2019
"Peace, Be Still"
"Peace be within thy walls, and prosperity with thy palaces." (Psalms 122:7)
You know how much I am a numbers guy; so here is another example of where six and seven make the point of man and God's connection with some point or lesson. First of all, the last verse, which was slightly illustrated as much as I wanted to take it, spoke about how peace is alive in us as we do whatever it is that we know God wants us to do; like honoring our father and mother, which, as Paul said, was the first command with promise; the promise being that of a prosperous and well life. This is not specific to wealth and a long life, at least not here on earth; but it is specific to a life that is lived well and that is unending, because your life is blessed and eternal. I guess the way we could look at it, is much like when Jesus said, "If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple." (Luke 14:26) There is absolutely no way that Jesus was saying that we must hate everyone else; but our love for Him must be greater than our love for anyone else, including ourselves! So in that regard, the point of what was trying to be said yesterday was that of the promise, which, although it might pertain to something to do with this world, the bigger picture is that of pleasing God; which is so much more than this world could ever matter, especially when it come to prosperity and life! So, that said, where do you think that leaves us here today? Sometimes we just need to keep on going no matter what; especially when it seems that the world is fighting against all that we stand for, just keep on pleasing the Lord. This goes back to the point made the other day, "Peace Revealed," because if we are more concerned with pleasing man than God, we are going to totally and completely miss out on the peace that the Lord has promised us...
""I am leaving you with a gift -peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don't be troubled or afraid. Remember what I told you: I am going away, but I will come back to you again. If you really love me, you would be happy that I am going to the Father, who is greater than I am. I have told you these things before they happen so that when they do happen, you will believe."" (John 14:27-29) NLT
You know how much I am a numbers guy; so here is another example of where six and seven make the point of man and God's connection with some point or lesson. First of all, the last verse, which was slightly illustrated as much as I wanted to take it, spoke about how peace is alive in us as we do whatever it is that we know God wants us to do; like honoring our father and mother, which, as Paul said, was the first command with promise; the promise being that of a prosperous and well life. This is not specific to wealth and a long life, at least not here on earth; but it is specific to a life that is lived well and that is unending, because your life is blessed and eternal. I guess the way we could look at it, is much like when Jesus said, "If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple." (Luke 14:26) There is absolutely no way that Jesus was saying that we must hate everyone else; but our love for Him must be greater than our love for anyone else, including ourselves! So in that regard, the point of what was trying to be said yesterday was that of the promise, which, although it might pertain to something to do with this world, the bigger picture is that of pleasing God; which is so much more than this world could ever matter, especially when it come to prosperity and life! So, that said, where do you think that leaves us here today? Sometimes we just need to keep on going no matter what; especially when it seems that the world is fighting against all that we stand for, just keep on pleasing the Lord. This goes back to the point made the other day, "Peace Revealed," because if we are more concerned with pleasing man than God, we are going to totally and completely miss out on the peace that the Lord has promised us...
""I am leaving you with a gift -peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don't be troubled or afraid. Remember what I told you: I am going away, but I will come back to you again. If you really love me, you would be happy that I am going to the Father, who is greater than I am. I have told you these things before they happen so that when they do happen, you will believe."" (John 14:27-29) NLT
Tuesday, May 21, 2019
"Peace Alive"
"Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee." (Psalms 122:6)
Oddly enough, I heard a message yesterday, actually it was an answer to a question, the question being, that of God's meaning of extended life for those that honor their parents, as was His commandment, "Honor your mother and father." Paul expounds on this in Ephesians 6:2-3, saying, "Honor your father and mother; which is the first commandment with promise; that it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth." The caller wanted to know what that meant and why God would encourage the desire to live long on the earth; after all, Jesus clearly said, "He that loveth his life shall lose it: and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal." (John 12:25) [Big sigh!] If there is one thing that I hate, it is the way the devil takes the things that are beautiful and turns them into the things that we hate! Eve's comment about not looking upon the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, for example; why did it become so disdained? If it were to be so, then why would God have placed it in the middle of the garden? I am sure that it was a beautiful tree that had beautiful fruit, and that it was a beautiful sight to behold; it was just something that should not have been eaten of, look but don't eat! I hope you are with me so far? This is a wonderful life! Don't think for a moment that Jesus did not love the time that He spent here, because this is the world that He created! If you take the verse Jesus said, "He that loveth his life shall lose it," in perfect context, He was referencing His soon to be death! What we need to be focused upon is the bigger picture, because if this is all we think that there is, what a waste that might be! Besides, do you really think Jesus wanted a bunch of followers that walk around hating everything? The message was about love! As was the principle of honoring fathers and mothers, because the legacy of life is about what you leave behind, as well as what you store up in heaven...
"This is the message you have heard from the beginning: We should love one another. We must not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and killed his brother. And why did he kill him? Because Cain had been doing what was evil, and his brother had been doing what was righteous. So don't be surprised, dear brothers and sisters, if the world hates you. If we love our Christian brothers and sisters, it proves that we have passed from death to life. But a person who has no love is still dead." (1 John 3:11-14) NLT
Oddly enough, I heard a message yesterday, actually it was an answer to a question, the question being, that of God's meaning of extended life for those that honor their parents, as was His commandment, "Honor your mother and father." Paul expounds on this in Ephesians 6:2-3, saying, "Honor your father and mother; which is the first commandment with promise; that it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth." The caller wanted to know what that meant and why God would encourage the desire to live long on the earth; after all, Jesus clearly said, "He that loveth his life shall lose it: and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal." (John 12:25) [Big sigh!] If there is one thing that I hate, it is the way the devil takes the things that are beautiful and turns them into the things that we hate! Eve's comment about not looking upon the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, for example; why did it become so disdained? If it were to be so, then why would God have placed it in the middle of the garden? I am sure that it was a beautiful tree that had beautiful fruit, and that it was a beautiful sight to behold; it was just something that should not have been eaten of, look but don't eat! I hope you are with me so far? This is a wonderful life! Don't think for a moment that Jesus did not love the time that He spent here, because this is the world that He created! If you take the verse Jesus said, "He that loveth his life shall lose it," in perfect context, He was referencing His soon to be death! What we need to be focused upon is the bigger picture, because if this is all we think that there is, what a waste that might be! Besides, do you really think Jesus wanted a bunch of followers that walk around hating everything? The message was about love! As was the principle of honoring fathers and mothers, because the legacy of life is about what you leave behind, as well as what you store up in heaven...
"This is the message you have heard from the beginning: We should love one another. We must not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and killed his brother. And why did he kill him? Because Cain had been doing what was evil, and his brother had been doing what was righteous. So don't be surprised, dear brothers and sisters, if the world hates you. If we love our Christian brothers and sisters, it proves that we have passed from death to life. But a person who has no love is still dead." (1 John 3:11-14) NLT
Monday, May 20, 2019
"Peace Revered"
"For there are set thrones of judgment, the thrones of the house of David." (Psalms 122:5)
I was reminded about something yesterday, as Pastor Bryan was sharing about Naaman and how he was cleansed of leprosy by dunking seven times in the dirty Jordan River. The regrets that we have about some of the sins we have committed, they might haunt us, and they might cause us to feel shame, but they are no longer what we are going to be judged by, for those sins are gone! "As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us." (Psalms 103:12) That is from a Psalm of David, which in my Bible, has the title over it, "God's Love." One of the names that is given to Jesus, is the Prince of Peace; a name that is associated with royalty and provision, as in, the One that administers peace with authority. Some might ask, Why was He not called, The King of Peace? Might be a dirty little secret, but it had to be done the way it was done! I heard another message the other day about Jesus on the cross, saying, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" Without getting into a really long discussion about the why's of the way's, let's just say that Jesus was taking our place up there on that cross, and He was being judged for our sins; even though He was free of sin, He was being judged for our sins! We might not understand a lot of what God is doing, the why's and the way's, but if there is anything that can put our trials in some sort of proper perspective, having the Prince of Peace cry out, "My God, My God, Why hast thou forsaken Me?" is a pretty good example of, "All things working out towards the good," to mean "ALL!" Actually, He was quoting the beginning of a Psalms, Psalm 22 to be exact. The title of that Psalm in my Bible, is, "Anguish and Praise." It is really not that hard to understand, Jesus had to suffer for our sins, therefore, He was in anguish through His suffering; which is why the rest of that verse says, "Why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring?" Isaiah 53:10 gives us a clear understanding of the why and the way, saying, "Yet is pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand." It is the end of Psalm 22 that sums up what this is getting at, and why it is that He is the only way. I hope we truly understand how much God loves us...
"They shall come, and shall declare his righteousness unto a people that shall be born, that he hath done this." (Psalms 22:31)
I was reminded about something yesterday, as Pastor Bryan was sharing about Naaman and how he was cleansed of leprosy by dunking seven times in the dirty Jordan River. The regrets that we have about some of the sins we have committed, they might haunt us, and they might cause us to feel shame, but they are no longer what we are going to be judged by, for those sins are gone! "As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us." (Psalms 103:12) That is from a Psalm of David, which in my Bible, has the title over it, "God's Love." One of the names that is given to Jesus, is the Prince of Peace; a name that is associated with royalty and provision, as in, the One that administers peace with authority. Some might ask, Why was He not called, The King of Peace? Might be a dirty little secret, but it had to be done the way it was done! I heard another message the other day about Jesus on the cross, saying, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" Without getting into a really long discussion about the why's of the way's, let's just say that Jesus was taking our place up there on that cross, and He was being judged for our sins; even though He was free of sin, He was being judged for our sins! We might not understand a lot of what God is doing, the why's and the way's, but if there is anything that can put our trials in some sort of proper perspective, having the Prince of Peace cry out, "My God, My God, Why hast thou forsaken Me?" is a pretty good example of, "All things working out towards the good," to mean "ALL!" Actually, He was quoting the beginning of a Psalms, Psalm 22 to be exact. The title of that Psalm in my Bible, is, "Anguish and Praise." It is really not that hard to understand, Jesus had to suffer for our sins, therefore, He was in anguish through His suffering; which is why the rest of that verse says, "Why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring?" Isaiah 53:10 gives us a clear understanding of the why and the way, saying, "Yet is pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand." It is the end of Psalm 22 that sums up what this is getting at, and why it is that He is the only way. I hope we truly understand how much God loves us...
"They shall come, and shall declare his righteousness unto a people that shall be born, that he hath done this." (Psalms 22:31)
Sunday, May 19, 2019
"Peace Revealed"
"Whither the tribes go up, the tribes of the LORD, unto the testimony of Israel, to give thanks unto the name of the LORD." (Psalms 122:4)
May we never forget this, because this peace is not something that we find in anything else but in the testimony of Israel, and how that testimony is transferred and available to all that call upon the name of Jesus Christ! I frequently share about this memory, standing in a circle with ten or more fellow brothers in Christ, and all standing and marching in step, singing the song, "Father Abraham." It was about a month or so after I was saved, and it was a powerful testimony of what it means to be grafted into the family of God. I have heard several different messages about adoption and what it means to be adopted, but when it comes to the principle of God's promises, adoption takes on a whole new meaning. This was Paul's message of being grafted in, that the same promise God gives to Israel applies to each and everyone that is adopted into the "tribes of the LORD." Matthew Henry shares two important points about the, Whither the tribes go up: one is, "To receive instruction from God; they come to the testimony of Israel, to hear what God has to say to them and to consult his oracle;" and two, "To ascribe the glory of God, to give thanks to the name of the Lord, which we have reason to do, especially those that have the testimony of Israel among them." That was what reminded me of that circle of men, and the joy we felt in singing, of the testimony of Israel, among us! Why is this so important? Not sure if you realize this or not, but everyone Jesus was speaking to when He said, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world," were Jews, as was He; so if you really want to take hold of the complete promise, then you had better hold onto the testimony of Israel; don't you think? Besides, those that ascribe to the thought that God has abandoned Israel and is now only focused upon the 'church,' they have somehow bought into a tremendous lie, one that is focused upon a little thing called covetousness; whether they know it or not. If memory serves, that is one of the Ten Commandments, "Thou Shalt Not Covet." Actually, it was the Tenth Commandment, a kind of a 'Wrap', if you will, on everything that means anything that belongs to anyone else, especially power, riches, and love. No nonsense! If you examine the connection, covet is a strong motivator to cause someone to commit just about every other commandment; it was the cause for the original sin in the garden, and it was what caused Lucifer to fall from glory, (Isaiah 14:12-14). Something that I remember hearing the other day, I think it was from Rush, that the real trick that is being portrayed by those that want to take away happiness and peace in the lives of the people, is to get them to live outside of the present; they make them live in the past and in the future, which are both areas that they have no way to control. Add to that, the notion that there is no God, and you have created utter chaos and hopelessness. There needs to be something promised that can be held onto...
"Let you conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, "I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee." So that we may boldly say, "The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me."" (Hebrews 14:5-6)
May we never forget this, because this peace is not something that we find in anything else but in the testimony of Israel, and how that testimony is transferred and available to all that call upon the name of Jesus Christ! I frequently share about this memory, standing in a circle with ten or more fellow brothers in Christ, and all standing and marching in step, singing the song, "Father Abraham." It was about a month or so after I was saved, and it was a powerful testimony of what it means to be grafted into the family of God. I have heard several different messages about adoption and what it means to be adopted, but when it comes to the principle of God's promises, adoption takes on a whole new meaning. This was Paul's message of being grafted in, that the same promise God gives to Israel applies to each and everyone that is adopted into the "tribes of the LORD." Matthew Henry shares two important points about the, Whither the tribes go up: one is, "To receive instruction from God; they come to the testimony of Israel, to hear what God has to say to them and to consult his oracle;" and two, "To ascribe the glory of God, to give thanks to the name of the Lord, which we have reason to do, especially those that have the testimony of Israel among them." That was what reminded me of that circle of men, and the joy we felt in singing, of the testimony of Israel, among us! Why is this so important? Not sure if you realize this or not, but everyone Jesus was speaking to when He said, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world," were Jews, as was He; so if you really want to take hold of the complete promise, then you had better hold onto the testimony of Israel; don't you think? Besides, those that ascribe to the thought that God has abandoned Israel and is now only focused upon the 'church,' they have somehow bought into a tremendous lie, one that is focused upon a little thing called covetousness; whether they know it or not. If memory serves, that is one of the Ten Commandments, "Thou Shalt Not Covet." Actually, it was the Tenth Commandment, a kind of a 'Wrap', if you will, on everything that means anything that belongs to anyone else, especially power, riches, and love. No nonsense! If you examine the connection, covet is a strong motivator to cause someone to commit just about every other commandment; it was the cause for the original sin in the garden, and it was what caused Lucifer to fall from glory, (Isaiah 14:12-14). Something that I remember hearing the other day, I think it was from Rush, that the real trick that is being portrayed by those that want to take away happiness and peace in the lives of the people, is to get them to live outside of the present; they make them live in the past and in the future, which are both areas that they have no way to control. Add to that, the notion that there is no God, and you have created utter chaos and hopelessness. There needs to be something promised that can be held onto...
"Let you conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, "I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee." So that we may boldly say, "The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me."" (Hebrews 14:5-6)
Saturday, May 18, 2019
"Peace United"
"Jerusalem is builded as a city that is compact together:" (Psalms 122:3)
The thing that is the greatest about our foundation being Christ, is that there is something that never changes that unites us and keeps us standing. The one thing that we never want to do is to put any trust in man, no matter how much there is an appearance of godliness, they are human and can fall just like any other person on the face of this earth. If you really want to get technical about it, the thing that speaks most powerfully to me about what is being said, is that of neediness. Yes, that is the term I see, just like the concrete powder needs water, rock, and sand, if it is going to actually bond tightly together. No matter what we are dealing with individually, we all need to same thing to make us whole: A Personal Relationship With Jesus! What that is, is not based upon anyone else and their relationship, it is strictly based upon each and everyone's own personal relationship with the Lord. Just like we all have our own individual lives, we must also each have our own individual relationship with the Lord. The thing that makes it so amazing, is the fact that the individual lives are united in Christ, our Chief Cornerstone! We are the rocks and mortar, all fashioned together to make His glorious Temple. What that looks like, in case you were not paying attention, is that we need each other! You cannot have a wall that is strong if it is missing some of the ingredients in the mix! We are the mix, every sort and every fashion, all united is Christ Jesus for the glory of our Heavenly Father; for Him to point to and say, "That is Son and His glorious bride!" The other thing that we have in common, besides needing each other, is that we all, being united, absolutely need Jesus...
"Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God; and are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ being the chief corner stone; in whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto a holy temple in the Lord: in whom ye also are builded together for a habitation of God through the Spirit." (Ephesians 2:19-22)
The thing that is the greatest about our foundation being Christ, is that there is something that never changes that unites us and keeps us standing. The one thing that we never want to do is to put any trust in man, no matter how much there is an appearance of godliness, they are human and can fall just like any other person on the face of this earth. If you really want to get technical about it, the thing that speaks most powerfully to me about what is being said, is that of neediness. Yes, that is the term I see, just like the concrete powder needs water, rock, and sand, if it is going to actually bond tightly together. No matter what we are dealing with individually, we all need to same thing to make us whole: A Personal Relationship With Jesus! What that is, is not based upon anyone else and their relationship, it is strictly based upon each and everyone's own personal relationship with the Lord. Just like we all have our own individual lives, we must also each have our own individual relationship with the Lord. The thing that makes it so amazing, is the fact that the individual lives are united in Christ, our Chief Cornerstone! We are the rocks and mortar, all fashioned together to make His glorious Temple. What that looks like, in case you were not paying attention, is that we need each other! You cannot have a wall that is strong if it is missing some of the ingredients in the mix! We are the mix, every sort and every fashion, all united is Christ Jesus for the glory of our Heavenly Father; for Him to point to and say, "That is Son and His glorious bride!" The other thing that we have in common, besides needing each other, is that we all, being united, absolutely need Jesus...
"Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God; and are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ being the chief corner stone; in whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto a holy temple in the Lord: in whom ye also are builded together for a habitation of God through the Spirit." (Ephesians 2:19-22)
Friday, May 17, 2019
"The Pace of Peace" -2
"Our feet shall stand within thy gates, O Jerusalem." (Psalms 122:2)
Just to clarify something important, that closing Scripture is the foundation by which peace is made unmovable; in other words, this is not something that can be touched by doubt or logic, it is what it is because it is of God! That said, the other main point of this verse is the word, "stand." We must stand for something or we will fall for anything! We stand for Truth! Those that are headed towards destruction will not see the truth, and as my mother use to say, "Misery loves company." We must stand for the Truth we know to be the truth, in the midst of all opposition, and in spite of all insult and slander. Things are most likely gong to get very tuff on the church; more and more people are gong to show their opposition to the Truth; and as you well know, the opposition can get very loud and very violent. Add to that those that do not teach or hold to the message of the cross, but instead teach worn and fuzzy doctrine that accepts all the current trends as normal living, things are going to get very hard between parents and their children, coworkers, and even friends you have known forever. This is where the pace of peace needs to have a firm foundation by which we are able to stand, no matter how fast and critical things might get around us. It is not that hard to get discouraged, especially if we might be focused upon the weakness and failures of our own walk. Isn't that what the devil loves to use against us, to show us what a terrible believer we are? That is called working on our doubt! We might doubt that we are actually saved because we can't ever get this thing called righteousness to work! Please, don't we get it; it is not our righteousness that saved us, and it is not our righteousness that will continue to keep us saved! Why were the Jews so offended by the message of the cross? We need to understand that pride is something that wants to have it a certain way; if you go against that way, then you are an offense to the way they think it should be; everything you represent is just plain foolishness. I think Paul sums this up pretty clearly...
"But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all. For it is written, "Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not: break fourth and cry, that thou travailest not: for the desolate hath many more children than she which hath a husband." Now we, brethren, as Issac was, are the children of promise. But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now. Nevertheless what saith the Scripture? "Cast out the bondwoman and her son: for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the free woman." So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free. Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage." (Galatians 4:26-5:1)
Just to clarify something important, that closing Scripture is the foundation by which peace is made unmovable; in other words, this is not something that can be touched by doubt or logic, it is what it is because it is of God! That said, the other main point of this verse is the word, "stand." We must stand for something or we will fall for anything! We stand for Truth! Those that are headed towards destruction will not see the truth, and as my mother use to say, "Misery loves company." We must stand for the Truth we know to be the truth, in the midst of all opposition, and in spite of all insult and slander. Things are most likely gong to get very tuff on the church; more and more people are gong to show their opposition to the Truth; and as you well know, the opposition can get very loud and very violent. Add to that those that do not teach or hold to the message of the cross, but instead teach worn and fuzzy doctrine that accepts all the current trends as normal living, things are going to get very hard between parents and their children, coworkers, and even friends you have known forever. This is where the pace of peace needs to have a firm foundation by which we are able to stand, no matter how fast and critical things might get around us. It is not that hard to get discouraged, especially if we might be focused upon the weakness and failures of our own walk. Isn't that what the devil loves to use against us, to show us what a terrible believer we are? That is called working on our doubt! We might doubt that we are actually saved because we can't ever get this thing called righteousness to work! Please, don't we get it; it is not our righteousness that saved us, and it is not our righteousness that will continue to keep us saved! Why were the Jews so offended by the message of the cross? We need to understand that pride is something that wants to have it a certain way; if you go against that way, then you are an offense to the way they think it should be; everything you represent is just plain foolishness. I think Paul sums this up pretty clearly...
"But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all. For it is written, "Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not: break fourth and cry, that thou travailest not: for the desolate hath many more children than she which hath a husband." Now we, brethren, as Issac was, are the children of promise. But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now. Nevertheless what saith the Scripture? "Cast out the bondwoman and her son: for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the free woman." So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free. Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage." (Galatians 4:26-5:1)
Thursday, May 16, 2019
"The Pace of Peace"
"Our feet shall stand within thy gates, O Jerusalem." (Psalm 122:2)
As if this could even be a thing? What on earth could it actually mean? At this specific time, I have no clue; but what I do know, for a fact, is that we must wait upon the LORD! With that in mind, I think it represents an attitude of the heart, where the heart learns to not get impatient or anxious, but in order to really truly experience peace, there is no timetable, no appointed time, except that which is of God. If you ever want to know what peace is not, try to imagine what it is like to think that God is going to do something on your time, and then keep moving the time based upon what you think He is doing. Talk about a heart that is a wreck; who can possible live with that kind of anxiety? Do you know anyone that might demonstrate that kind attitude? I can think of a few Bible characters that may have, at least once or twice in their lives. If only I could just keep pace with what I think God is trying to say, because the thing that I keep seeing, is that He keeps moving the goalpost; just when I think it is revealed, the why and the how moves just beyond my reach. Actually, that is a pretty good illustration of what this whole thing is all about. Instead of the focus being upon our feet, which is the movement and pace of our every day lives, the focus must be upon His gates, which represent the entrance or passage into His domain; a place where we absolutely get lost, yet where we are always found. If you were to ask the Lord, When will this all end? The Lord's reply is never going to be based upon a time; it will not even be based upon a reason. The Lord always works on purpose! What! How it works is not always the reason certain things are the way that they are, because God already know every reason. The most beautiful piece of art might have several layers of paint in some areas; the reason and the purpose are not always the same, not when you know exactly what the end of the artwork looks like. So, what, pray tell, could that possibly look like? I could think of a couple illustrations...
"The message of the cross is foolish to those who are headed for destruction! But we who are being saved know it is the very power of God. As the Scriptures say, "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise and discard the intelligence of the intelligent." So where does this leave the philosophers, the scholars, and the world's brilliant debaters? God has made the wisdom of this world look foolish. Since God in his wisdom saw to it that the world would never know him through human wisdom, he has used our foolish preaching to save those who believe. It is foolish to the Jews, who ask for sighs from heaven. And it is foolish to the Greeks, who seek human wisdom. So when we preach that Christ was crucified, the Jews are offended and the Gentiles say it's all nonsense. But to those called by God to salvation, both Jews and Gentiles, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God." (1 Corinthians 1:18-24) NLT
As if this could even be a thing? What on earth could it actually mean? At this specific time, I have no clue; but what I do know, for a fact, is that we must wait upon the LORD! With that in mind, I think it represents an attitude of the heart, where the heart learns to not get impatient or anxious, but in order to really truly experience peace, there is no timetable, no appointed time, except that which is of God. If you ever want to know what peace is not, try to imagine what it is like to think that God is going to do something on your time, and then keep moving the time based upon what you think He is doing. Talk about a heart that is a wreck; who can possible live with that kind of anxiety? Do you know anyone that might demonstrate that kind attitude? I can think of a few Bible characters that may have, at least once or twice in their lives. If only I could just keep pace with what I think God is trying to say, because the thing that I keep seeing, is that He keeps moving the goalpost; just when I think it is revealed, the why and the how moves just beyond my reach. Actually, that is a pretty good illustration of what this whole thing is all about. Instead of the focus being upon our feet, which is the movement and pace of our every day lives, the focus must be upon His gates, which represent the entrance or passage into His domain; a place where we absolutely get lost, yet where we are always found. If you were to ask the Lord, When will this all end? The Lord's reply is never going to be based upon a time; it will not even be based upon a reason. The Lord always works on purpose! What! How it works is not always the reason certain things are the way that they are, because God already know every reason. The most beautiful piece of art might have several layers of paint in some areas; the reason and the purpose are not always the same, not when you know exactly what the end of the artwork looks like. So, what, pray tell, could that possibly look like? I could think of a couple illustrations...
"The message of the cross is foolish to those who are headed for destruction! But we who are being saved know it is the very power of God. As the Scriptures say, "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise and discard the intelligence of the intelligent." So where does this leave the philosophers, the scholars, and the world's brilliant debaters? God has made the wisdom of this world look foolish. Since God in his wisdom saw to it that the world would never know him through human wisdom, he has used our foolish preaching to save those who believe. It is foolish to the Jews, who ask for sighs from heaven. And it is foolish to the Greeks, who seek human wisdom. So when we preach that Christ was crucified, the Jews are offended and the Gentiles say it's all nonsense. But to those called by God to salvation, both Jews and Gentiles, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God." (1 Corinthians 1:18-24) NLT
Wednesday, May 15, 2019
"The Cause"
"I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD." (Psalms 122:1)
Maybe it might take some time to get ready, if that is where you are at; but truth be told, you will never be ready if it is something you are waiting to happen on your own. Don't ask, I am just typing away and waiting on the Lord. The word "glad" that we see here is one of cheerful countenance. To put it in the light of personality, it could be viewed as the way you move and react to something that excites you; much like spectators at a sporting event when their favorite team is winning. Which reminds me of a clip I saw this morning on Fox and Friends; not quite sure what it was about, but an entire room of people were busting at the seams rejoicing over a pick for their favorite team. Not that we need to be out of control with joy, or anything like that; but the church could use a little fire in her bellies when it comes to the joy of the Lord. I'm just saying. This is the kind of glad that causing a person to leap for joy, joy for the way God loves us and protects us, even though we seldom deserve it and never can earn it. That alone is enough to make joy an expression that cannot be undone! If it is joy that you are waiting for, then it is something that needs to be fixed in your heart. Take it from a man that knows a little something about discouragement, because if you are discouraged, the root of that is the heart! When is the last time that you listened to your own heartbeat? Maybe it has been awhile and you have forgotten what it sounds like or how it ticks. But what makes it beat? Some times we just need to be encouraged; some times we need a little kick in the pants. But maybe, just maybe, what we need is to be glad to go into the house of the LORD! It is not just an invitation, it is a cause to rejoice! We get to go into the house of the LORD! My heart just got filled with gladness...
"Oh God, you are my God; I earnestly search for you. My soul thirsts for you; my whole body longs for you in this parched and weary land where there is no water. I have seen you in your sanctuary and gazed upon your power and glory. Your unfailing love is better than life itself; how I praise you! I will praise you as long as I live, lifting up my hands to you in prayer. You satisfy me more than the richest feast. I will praise you with songs of joy." (Psalms 63:1-5) NLT
Maybe it might take some time to get ready, if that is where you are at; but truth be told, you will never be ready if it is something you are waiting to happen on your own. Don't ask, I am just typing away and waiting on the Lord. The word "glad" that we see here is one of cheerful countenance. To put it in the light of personality, it could be viewed as the way you move and react to something that excites you; much like spectators at a sporting event when their favorite team is winning. Which reminds me of a clip I saw this morning on Fox and Friends; not quite sure what it was about, but an entire room of people were busting at the seams rejoicing over a pick for their favorite team. Not that we need to be out of control with joy, or anything like that; but the church could use a little fire in her bellies when it comes to the joy of the Lord. I'm just saying. This is the kind of glad that causing a person to leap for joy, joy for the way God loves us and protects us, even though we seldom deserve it and never can earn it. That alone is enough to make joy an expression that cannot be undone! If it is joy that you are waiting for, then it is something that needs to be fixed in your heart. Take it from a man that knows a little something about discouragement, because if you are discouraged, the root of that is the heart! When is the last time that you listened to your own heartbeat? Maybe it has been awhile and you have forgotten what it sounds like or how it ticks. But what makes it beat? Some times we just need to be encouraged; some times we need a little kick in the pants. But maybe, just maybe, what we need is to be glad to go into the house of the LORD! It is not just an invitation, it is a cause to rejoice! We get to go into the house of the LORD! My heart just got filled with gladness...
"Oh God, you are my God; I earnestly search for you. My soul thirsts for you; my whole body longs for you in this parched and weary land where there is no water. I have seen you in your sanctuary and gazed upon your power and glory. Your unfailing love is better than life itself; how I praise you! I will praise you as long as I live, lifting up my hands to you in prayer. You satisfy me more than the richest feast. I will praise you with songs of joy." (Psalms 63:1-5) NLT
Tuesday, May 14, 2019
"Jerusalem"
PSALMS 122 "A Song of degrees of David."
Sometimes we need a little encouragement to get up and face another day. If you can accept it, this Psalm touches on the place where the Jewish people looked to for encouragement. Not because it was just a place of worship, but because it was the face of worship, meaning that you could look and see. To understand the importance of what David is trying to say, it is not just about the place, even though the actual place has great importance in the life of Israel; but because it is that God has established as the place, for His glory, and for His amazing grace and mercy to be witnessed by all. We tend to forget that this place is so important to God, He has a New Jerusalem that will be established for all of eternity. These are very interesting times that we are living in; we should really pay attention to what is going on throughout the entire world. There is an enemy of Israel that has gained great ground in many different places; and now it is gaining ground here in the United States. Don't think for a moment that it is not important, because each and everything that is important is connected to Israel, in some way or another. With that in mind, Jerusalem is the capital of Israel; it was established by David to be that in his day, and it was established by God when He made His promise and covenant with David. Long story short, Jerusalem represents the makings of God! It is the visible sign of God's work, throughout centuries and regardless of all the opposition, God's work is still going to get done! "God said it, I believe it, and that settles it," is brought to life in a particular place of worship; not because it is a place to be worshipped, but because it was established by God to be a particular place! The name Jerusalem means, "teaching of peace." If you had anything strike a cord from the last week or so, it should be that peace comes from knowing God is the One who has all things under His control. Speaking of which, peace has many different functions: the possession of peace, the people of peace, the habitation of peace, the foundation of peace; how about the Prince of peace...
"In the last days, the mountain of the LORD'S house will be the highest of all -the most important place on earth. It will be raised above all other hills, and people from all over the world will stream there to worship. People from many nations will come and say, "Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of Jacob's God. There he will teach us his ways, and we will walk in his paths." For the LORD'S teaching will go out from Zion; his word will go out from Jerusalem. The LORD will mediate between peoples and will settle disputes between strong nations far away. They will hammer their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will no longer fight against nation, nor train for war anymore. Everyone will live in peace and prosperity, enjoying their own grapevines and fig trees, and there will be nothing to fear. The LORD of Heaven's Armies has made this promise!" (Micah 4:1-4) NLT
Sometimes we need a little encouragement to get up and face another day. If you can accept it, this Psalm touches on the place where the Jewish people looked to for encouragement. Not because it was just a place of worship, but because it was the face of worship, meaning that you could look and see. To understand the importance of what David is trying to say, it is not just about the place, even though the actual place has great importance in the life of Israel; but because it is that God has established as the place, for His glory, and for His amazing grace and mercy to be witnessed by all. We tend to forget that this place is so important to God, He has a New Jerusalem that will be established for all of eternity. These are very interesting times that we are living in; we should really pay attention to what is going on throughout the entire world. There is an enemy of Israel that has gained great ground in many different places; and now it is gaining ground here in the United States. Don't think for a moment that it is not important, because each and everything that is important is connected to Israel, in some way or another. With that in mind, Jerusalem is the capital of Israel; it was established by David to be that in his day, and it was established by God when He made His promise and covenant with David. Long story short, Jerusalem represents the makings of God! It is the visible sign of God's work, throughout centuries and regardless of all the opposition, God's work is still going to get done! "God said it, I believe it, and that settles it," is brought to life in a particular place of worship; not because it is a place to be worshipped, but because it was established by God to be a particular place! The name Jerusalem means, "teaching of peace." If you had anything strike a cord from the last week or so, it should be that peace comes from knowing God is the One who has all things under His control. Speaking of which, peace has many different functions: the possession of peace, the people of peace, the habitation of peace, the foundation of peace; how about the Prince of peace...
"In the last days, the mountain of the LORD'S house will be the highest of all -the most important place on earth. It will be raised above all other hills, and people from all over the world will stream there to worship. People from many nations will come and say, "Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of Jacob's God. There he will teach us his ways, and we will walk in his paths." For the LORD'S teaching will go out from Zion; his word will go out from Jerusalem. The LORD will mediate between peoples and will settle disputes between strong nations far away. They will hammer their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will no longer fight against nation, nor train for war anymore. Everyone will live in peace and prosperity, enjoying their own grapevines and fig trees, and there will be nothing to fear. The LORD of Heaven's Armies has made this promise!" (Micah 4:1-4) NLT
Monday, May 13, 2019
"Preservation"
"The LORD shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore." (Psalms 121:8)
Not everything needs to make sense; we do not need to know the answer to every question. These are the things that we are told, from the time we are brought into this world, and to the time we depart. It is pretty much, "A need to know basis," that we live by; so if you do not know that answer you are looking for, and if you cannot find it, then you most likely don't need to know! That is what I tell myself, as I ponder the reasons for certain things going on in my life. Like Paul, the answer is pretty much the same, "My grace is sufficient for you." Therefore, I have considered it to be what it is and have resigned any chance of having a normal life; this is what it is, so be the best you can be in every situation. Anywho, this is not just the end of a thought, it is the beginning of a new chapter! If you think your life is over and you have run out of options, think again, God is not done with you yet! As the story goes, "It ain't over till the fat lady sings." Where does that even come from? To be perfectly honest, I have no clue; except that it means that we should not presume to know the outcome of an event which is still in progress. If you want to look at something differently, say, like you want to know the outcome of something yet to be complete, then I have wonderful news for you! Magnanimous News! The next chapter is already written and it's in the Book! So, if you are feeling a little out of sorts, it is not anything that can even come close to changing what has already been decided, you are in to stay; even if you go out, there is a rope tied to you that will bring you back in; you cannot get away from the One that has chosen you, ever...
"But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature. And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God. From henceforth let no man trouble me: for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus." (Galatians 6:14-17)
Not everything needs to make sense; we do not need to know the answer to every question. These are the things that we are told, from the time we are brought into this world, and to the time we depart. It is pretty much, "A need to know basis," that we live by; so if you do not know that answer you are looking for, and if you cannot find it, then you most likely don't need to know! That is what I tell myself, as I ponder the reasons for certain things going on in my life. Like Paul, the answer is pretty much the same, "My grace is sufficient for you." Therefore, I have considered it to be what it is and have resigned any chance of having a normal life; this is what it is, so be the best you can be in every situation. Anywho, this is not just the end of a thought, it is the beginning of a new chapter! If you think your life is over and you have run out of options, think again, God is not done with you yet! As the story goes, "It ain't over till the fat lady sings." Where does that even come from? To be perfectly honest, I have no clue; except that it means that we should not presume to know the outcome of an event which is still in progress. If you want to look at something differently, say, like you want to know the outcome of something yet to be complete, then I have wonderful news for you! Magnanimous News! The next chapter is already written and it's in the Book! So, if you are feeling a little out of sorts, it is not anything that can even come close to changing what has already been decided, you are in to stay; even if you go out, there is a rope tied to you that will bring you back in; you cannot get away from the One that has chosen you, ever...
"But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature. And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God. From henceforth let no man trouble me: for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus." (Galatians 6:14-17)
Sunday, May 12, 2019
"Spring Up, O Well"
"The LORD shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul." (Psalms 121:7)
I hope that we understand what kind of life this is talking about; because if we think that it is all about this life, blessed daily living in this world, things are not going to feel all that well in our lives, from time to time. The abundant life that the Lord has promised us, is a life that is outside of this domain; yet, it is also a life that influences and protects us throughout living here, regardless of the chances of suffering and pain. People buy life insurance to take the pressure off worrying about what might happen to their loved ones if they were to die unexpectedly. This is Life Assurance, which too, is the kind if policy that takes the pressure off worrying about what might happen to our soul when we die, which is something that should be expected to happen, unless the Lord comes back before it does! Again, I will go back to Ray Comfort's illustration of what salvation should look like, in his book, "Hell's Best Keep Secret." The guy that is told that the plane is going down, will wear that parachute no matter how uncomfortable it might be, and no matter how many people might laugh at him; he does so because he knows that it will save his life! The other guy, who is told how much peace and comfort he will feel wearing the parachute, but not told of the danger ahead, will begin to feel uncomfortable; and as far as peace goes, it will never be experienced while people are laughing and mocking him for wearing it. Paul is a good example to us of how this might look in real life, as he was shown a glimpse of all the suffering he would encounter declaring the name of Jesus, to the Jew first and then to the Gentiles. (Acts 9:15-16) He had spent most of his life trying to obtain eternal life, only to discover the truth, that eternal life is only available in Christ. Imagine the guilt he felt in his heart for all those that he had taught; let alone the guilt he had for trying to destroy what Christ had done. Whether you know it, or even believe it, Paul's last letter written before he was beheaded was 2 Timothy. While writing his last letter, he knew full well that he was going to be beheaded, any day, it was bound to happen. But he had his Parachute on, and even though the plane was going down, he was abundantly living...
"The first time I was brought before the judge, no one came with me. Everyone abandoned me. May it not be counted against them. But the Lord stood with me and gave me strength so that I might preach the Good News in its entirety for all the Gentiles to hear. And he rescued me from certain death. Yes, and the Lord will deliver me from every evil attack and will bring me safely into his heavenly Kingdom. All glory to God forever and ever! Amen." (2 Timothy 4:16-18)
I hope that we understand what kind of life this is talking about; because if we think that it is all about this life, blessed daily living in this world, things are not going to feel all that well in our lives, from time to time. The abundant life that the Lord has promised us, is a life that is outside of this domain; yet, it is also a life that influences and protects us throughout living here, regardless of the chances of suffering and pain. People buy life insurance to take the pressure off worrying about what might happen to their loved ones if they were to die unexpectedly. This is Life Assurance, which too, is the kind if policy that takes the pressure off worrying about what might happen to our soul when we die, which is something that should be expected to happen, unless the Lord comes back before it does! Again, I will go back to Ray Comfort's illustration of what salvation should look like, in his book, "Hell's Best Keep Secret." The guy that is told that the plane is going down, will wear that parachute no matter how uncomfortable it might be, and no matter how many people might laugh at him; he does so because he knows that it will save his life! The other guy, who is told how much peace and comfort he will feel wearing the parachute, but not told of the danger ahead, will begin to feel uncomfortable; and as far as peace goes, it will never be experienced while people are laughing and mocking him for wearing it. Paul is a good example to us of how this might look in real life, as he was shown a glimpse of all the suffering he would encounter declaring the name of Jesus, to the Jew first and then to the Gentiles. (Acts 9:15-16) He had spent most of his life trying to obtain eternal life, only to discover the truth, that eternal life is only available in Christ. Imagine the guilt he felt in his heart for all those that he had taught; let alone the guilt he had for trying to destroy what Christ had done. Whether you know it, or even believe it, Paul's last letter written before he was beheaded was 2 Timothy. While writing his last letter, he knew full well that he was going to be beheaded, any day, it was bound to happen. But he had his Parachute on, and even though the plane was going down, he was abundantly living...
"The first time I was brought before the judge, no one came with me. Everyone abandoned me. May it not be counted against them. But the Lord stood with me and gave me strength so that I might preach the Good News in its entirety for all the Gentiles to hear. And he rescued me from certain death. Yes, and the Lord will deliver me from every evil attack and will bring me safely into his heavenly Kingdom. All glory to God forever and ever! Amen." (2 Timothy 4:16-18)
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