Check and Checkmate

Sunday, February 27, 2011, 8:02 a.m. – When I woke up this morning, this set of words, in this order, were in my mind: “Staunton, Gloss (or Glass), and Tin.” Those are not words that would be in my mind through natural order, so I knew that God had placed those words in my mind for a reason. So, I Googled the words and the search rendered a link to a site where one could purchase a Carnegie Staunton Chess Set. So, I recorded in my journal that this search had led me to a chess set. Then, as I was sitting on the sofa listening to my husband share with me from his time with the Lord this morning, and there was a pause in our conversation, all of a sudden a light dawned in my head. “What is contained within a chess set?” – Kings, queens, bishops, knights, castles (or rooks - chariots) and pawns. Another meaning for the word “rook” is “a swindler or cheat, especially at cards” (Encarta).

Then I prayed, “Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening,” and I read I Corinthians 5:

Expel the Immoral Brother!
1 It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that does not occur even among pagans: A man has his father’s wife. 2 And you are proud! Shouldn’t you rather have been filled with grief and have put out of your fellowship the man who did this? 3 Even though I am not physically present, I am with you in spirit. And I have already passed judgment on the one who did this, just as if I were present. 4 When you are assembled in the name of our Lord Jesus and I am with you in spirit, and the power of our Lord Jesus is present, 5 hand this man over to Satan, so that the sinful nature may be destroyed and his spirit saved on the day of the Lord.

6 Your boasting is not good. Don’t you know that a little yeast works through the whole batch of dough? 7 Get rid of the old yeast that you may be a new batch without yeast—as you really are. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. 8 Therefore let us keep the Festival, not with the old yeast, the yeast of malice and wickedness, but with bread without yeast, the bread of sincerity and truth.

9 I have written you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people— 10 not at all meaning the people of this world who are immoral, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters. In that case you would have to leave this world. 11 But now I am writing you that you must not associate with anyone who calls himself a brother but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or a slanderer, a drunkard or a swindler. With such a man do not even eat.

12 What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside? 13 God will judge those outside. “Expel the wicked man from among you.”

My Understanding: I wanted to understand more about this illustration God had given to me this morning with the chess set. I think I understand pretty well the idea of kings and queens. The Lord has often shown me knights as the Knights of Templar and/or a modern-day version of the Knights of the Roundtable, which I see as the U.N. Security Council or as the elitist rulers of the New World Order. The name of the chess set begins with the name “Carnegie,” which is a famous name here in the eastern part of the U.S.A. And, the family name is listed among the names of the International Bankers, Top Globalists, and Heads of the New World Order (reference below). Bishops are generally associated with the Roman Catholic Church, though certainly this could be a reference to any religious leaders in senior positions over a region or district, in general. Then, I looked up the word pawn.

“Pawn: Games - A chess piece of lowest value that may move forward one square at a time or two squares in the first move, capture other pieces only on a one-space diagonal forward move, and be promoted to any piece other than a king upon reaching the eighth rank.
2. A person or an entity used to further the purposes of another: an underdeveloped nation that was a pawn in international politics.”

My husband told me that the Lord gave him the words “Check and Checkmate” to give to me, so I looked up their meanings, as well. A check is a threat to capture a king. If the king cannot get himself out of check, the game ends in checkmate and the king loses. Only this is talking about real kings and kingdoms and the game is deadly and it is for keeps. And, the players are the nations of the world, and the people of the nations, the pawns in the game of “take over the world,” who are used to further the purposes of the New World Order in conquering kings and kingdoms and ultimately in taking complete control (checkmate) of the nations of the world.

Then, I read the news. As I read the headlines, I could not help but see this global chess game in action with the kings of nations in check and the Global Order ready to declare “checkmate” at any moment. The situation in Libya, in particular, stood out to me. As I read the news stories (referenced below) about Libya, I immediately saw a chess game in progress, only I believe the Lord is showing something very specific here and that is that the players on both sides are from the same set (Carnegie Staunton Chess Set), and that they are all contained within the same tin (container) and that the chess pieces all have the same glass or gloss finish, i.e. “deception and superficial attractiveness that often conceals something unattractive or inferior” (Encarta Dictionary). The Lord has previously shown me this about the situation between North and South Korea, and the situations in Egypt and other nations in the east presently going through unrest. The Lord is saying that the pro-government forces and the anti-government forces are all on the same team, and that the New World Order is controlling the game pieces because they own them and that this is about check and checkmate and about pawns and people being murdered in order to promote and to accomplish the goals and objectives of this global order that is taking over the world one nation and one government at a time, only at a very fast rate right now.

The Lord, I believe, is giving me a picture here that what the news media reports about as happening in these other nations is mostly a lie for the intention to deceive. They give it a different appearance and act as though the U.N., the USA, the E.U., et al are against all this violence and killing, but in reality they are the ones doing the killing of innocent civilians and of believers in Jesus Christ just because they believe in Jesus. The Bible told us this was coming, so it should not surprise us that it is here upon us.

With regard to this passage of scripture and the practical application I believe the Lord would want me to receive through this teaching in relation to this global situation spoken of with the New World Order taking what is not theirs to take, I believe the Lord is relating this passage of scripture to our current world situation. The New World Order of these global elites, bankers, et al, is the man who has taken another man’s wife that is not his to have. The chastisement to the church is that they are proud. And, I believe the Lord is chastising American Christians in the same way. We fly our flag and we sing “God bless America,” and we stand at attention and place our hands over our hearts and we pledge loyalty and devotion to our nation and to its government, and we are proud of our nation and its military because we believe our military is going into these other nations in order to protect us from the terrorists and to protect our freedoms, and God, I believe, is trying to open our eyes to see that the government of the United States of America is not our friend and that our own soldiers are being used as pawns in order to kill, destroy and to conquer other nations for the New World Order, and that our nation and its allies are the true terrorists world-wide who are the rulers (the Carnegies) who have declared check and checkmate on the world, and yet we are still proud and think we are so blessed to live in such a “godly” nation. Oh, what an atrocity that we should be so blind to not see what is truly going on.

I believe with all my heart that God is speaking these same words found in I Corinthians 5 to the church and people of America that the kind of immoral acts that are going on by our government, our military and our allies world-wide is of a kind that does not occur among the pagans, and yet we are proud of our nation. And, God is saying that we should instead be filled with grief and we should put out of our churches the US government who is raping the people of the world and is destroying their land and confiscating their resources and is killing their innocents in order to conquer their nations, including our own people and nation.

The part about the yeast working through the whole batch of dough has already taken place in the institutional church in America with the sweeping movement of a new order within the church nationwide in which the majority of evangelical denominations have yielded to follow a set of doctrines and practices of man that are paralleled to the same techniques used to build big business instead of allowing the Holy Spirit of God to build his church through lives transformed through the power of the Holy Spirit at work within their hearts and lives in salvation. And, it has already taken place in our nation with all of the loyalty and devotion to our nation taught us from the time we began school, and is continually promoted and nurtured via the church. Churches under 501c3 are under certain US government restrictions with regard to what can and cannot be said from the pulpit with regard to people serving in public office or running for office. So, the church remains silent while the New World Order of government and religion comes into town and takes over our nation and other nations and yet we are proud.

I believe with all my heart that God is warning his church here in America to wake up spiritually and to listen to him and to inquire of him concerning what is going on in our nation within our government and our military and to call upon God for revival in this nation of ours and for us to stop putting our faith and trust in mankind and to stop allowing the sins of our government to go unchecked to where the yeast works its way through the whole batch of dough and the church becomes completely useless for God’s kingdom work. So, I appeal to you as a fellow citizen of this great nation and as a fellow believer in Jesus Christ to do the homework and research what is really going on, but most of all to pray and to ask God to reveal to you the deception that is being fed to us via the media on a daily basis, so that we don’t buy into the lies and deception but that we seek truth and that we repent of our sins, we turn to God/Jesus in faith, and then we follow the Lord Jesus in walking in the Spirit of God, in his truth and in his ways, because the days are evil and the Day when God judges our nation, I believe, is fast approaching.

Sources: Carnegie Staunton Chess Set - http://www.bizrate.com/games-puzzles/staunton-chess-set-gloss-4/
Definition “pawn” - http://www.thefreedictionary.com/pawn
Carnegie family – New World Order - http://forum.prisonplanet.com/index.php?topic=28485.0;wap2
Encarta Dictionary - http://encarta.msn.com/encnet/features/dictionary/dictionaryhome.aspx
I Corinthians 5 - http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=I%20Corinthians%205&version=NIV1984
Libya rebels gear for fight in city near capital - http://apnews.excite.com/article/20110227/D9LL4QPO0.html

The Way God Forgives

Sunday, February 27, 2011 – In the past couple of days the subject of forgiveness – God’s forgiveness of us and our forgiveness of others – has been coming up quite frequently through various avenues. One of those means was through a book my husband and I are presently reading together in the evenings. The chapter we read on Friday evening was on the subject of forgiveness. Then, my sister-in-law posted something on her wall on Facebook on the subject of forgiveness, and then my husband and I attended a movie – “Grace Card” – in the theatre on Saturday, which was on the subject of God’s forgiveness of us and of our need to forgive others. The movie was not based on belief in Jesus Christ nor was the subject of repentance mentioned in relation to the subject of God’s forgiveness of us, yet an example was set before us of a man who was broken over his sin and who felt genuine sorrow over his sin and who called upon God in his sorrow to forgive him. Also, throughout the movie is the message of showing grace and forgiveness to other people. And, it is a powerful and effective message on the subject of offering forgiveness to others.

This morning I was impressed of the Lord to examine this subject of forgiveness from a Biblical perspective and especially in relation to the passage of scripture that I read this morning for my quiet time with the Lord in prayer and in his word. I realized that, if I was going to learn and or to teach on the subject of us forgiving one another, I needed to first of all understand how God forgives us. I prayed during my quiet time with God this morning, “Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening, and then I read I Corinthians 5:

Expel the Immoral Brother!
1 It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that does not occur even among pagans: A man has his father’s wife. 2 And you are proud! Shouldn’t you rather have been filled with grief and have put out of your fellowship the man who did this? 3 Even though I am not physically present, I am with you in spirit. And I have already passed judgment on the one who did this, just as if I were present. 4 When you are assembled in the name of our Lord Jesus and I am with you in spirit, and the power of our Lord Jesus is present, 5 hand this man over to Satan, so that the sinful nature may be destroyed and his spirit saved on the day of the Lord.

6 Your boasting is not good. Don’t you know that a little yeast works through the whole batch of dough? 7 Get rid of the old yeast that you may be a new batch without yeast—as you really are. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. 8 Therefore let us keep the Festival, not with the old yeast, the yeast of malice and wickedness, but with bread without yeast, the bread of sincerity and truth.

9 I have written you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people— 10 not at all meaning the people of this world who are immoral, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters. In that case you would have to leave this world. 11 But now I am writing you that you must not associate with anyone who calls himself a brother but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or a slanderer, a drunkard or a swindler. With such a man do not even eat.

12 What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside? 13 God will judge those outside. “Expel the wicked man from among you.”

My Understanding: God forgives us when we come to him in repentance and faith in Jesus Christ. Repentance means to stop the sin, yield the right-of-way to God in our lives (via surrender, submission and obedience), and then to move forward in his grace, trusting in his salvation from the penalty and the control of sin over our lives on a day-to-day basis. When God forgives us he says, “Go and sin no more.” He overlooks no sinful indiscretions, nor does he merely focus on our good qualities, though he will encourage those in us. And, he gives us boundaries and rules to follow so that we don’t fall into the same sin pattern over and over again. The rules are there because he loves us so very much and he doesn’t want us to continue hurting ourselves and others. He died upon a cross, taking upon himself all our sins so that we could go free from the penalty and the control of sin (daily).

So, when God forgives us, he not only cancels the offense, but he establishes boundary lines and rules for daily living so that we don’t take advantage of him or his grace and so that we don’t continue in the same sin patterns of behavior. If, after we are forgiven, we choose to continue in our sin and/or rebellion against God, he will discipline us as a loving parent should discipline a rebellious and defiant child. Revelation 3:19-20 says this:

“Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent. Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.”

If we come to him to seek fellowship with him all the while we are holding on to our sin and rebellion, he will not hear us. If we want to have fellowship with him, we have to hear his voice, we have to listen to what he says, we have to repent of our sin and rebellion, and we have to open our hearts’ doors to receive his truth into our lives through practical application of those truths, and then he will come in and will fellowship with us.

The Bible tells us that we are to love our brothers and sisters as Christ loves us, and we are to forgive as God forgives us. I read I Corinthians 5 this morning for my quiet time with the Lord in prayer and in his word. In this passage of scripture we learn of a situation where sinful rebellion against God is being tolerated in the church and is being allowed to continue. Paul addresses the church and tells them to take action against this sinful rebellion so that the person sinning might be saved from his sin. That should always be the goal of discipline – change and restoration to a right relationship with God and between us and mankind. This action was not being judgmental or unforgiving. This action was for the very purpose of helping that person to no longer sin. Then, Paul said that if we don’t address these ongoing sins of rebellion that it will work as yeast through a batch of dough and will begin to affect the rest of the congregation and might encourage them to also sin in this manner. In order to impress upon the rebellious individual the seriousness of his or her sin, Paul even said that we should not associate with those who call themselves Christians and yet are living in open rebellion against God. And, again, this is not to condemn the person but to express to the person the importance of repentance and of God’s grace and forgiveness and also so that the yeast of sin does not work its way into our lives via the influence of that person.

So, to follow Christ’s example in how to love and how to forgive our brothers and sisters, we need to follow the teachings of scripture mentioned above and we also need to follow these teachings of scripture:

Gal. 6:1: “Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted.”

And,

James 5:19-20: “My brothers, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring him back, remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save him from death and cover over a multitude of sins.”

These verses are talking of the true meaning of grace and the true meaning of forgiveness. Forgiveness that forgives others as God forgives us goes beyond merely refusing to hold that person’s sin against them, but it offers hope, healing and restoration (renovation; renewal; rebuilding) – See Romans 12:1-2 on the subject of renovation and renewal. This kind of god-like grace and forgiveness helps the sinner to turn from his sin and to walk in newness of life with Jesus Christ so that he does not continue in his life of sin. Amen!

His Grace Is Greater / Larnelle Harris

His grace is greater than our failures
His peace runs deeper than our fears
If we go to Him in mercy
Our hearts can rest assured
His love will keep us through our tears

Sources: Song Lyrics - http://lyrics.christiansunite.com/lyrics_1814_6.shtml
Scripture verses - http://www.biblegateway.com/

The Life He Controls

Saturday, February 26, 2011, 7:00 a.m. – When I awoke this morning, this song was playing in my mind:

The Longer I Serve Him / William J. Gaither

Since I started for the Kingdom,
Since my life He controls,
Since I gave my heart to Jesus,
The longer I serve Him,
The sweeter He grows…

Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening. I read I Corinthians 4 (key verse 2):

Apostles of Christ
1 So then, men ought to regard us as servants of Christ and as those entrusted with the secret things of God. 2 Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful. 3 I care very little if I am judged by you or by any human court; indeed, I do not even judge myself. 4 My conscience is clear, but that does not make me innocent. It is the Lord who judges me. 5 Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait till the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men’s hearts. At that time each will receive his praise from God.

6 Now, brothers, I have applied these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, so that you may learn from us the meaning of the saying, “Do not go beyond what is written.” Then you will not take pride in one man over against another. 7 For who makes you different from anyone else? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not?

8 Already you have all you want! Already you have become rich! You have become kings—and that without us! How I wish that you really had become kings so that we might be kings with you! 9 For it seems to me that God has put us apostles on display at the end of the procession, like men condemned to die in the arena. We have been made a spectacle to the whole universe, to angels as well as to men. 10 We are fools for Christ, but you are so wise in Christ! We are weak, but you are strong! You are honored, we are dishonored! 11 To this very hour we go hungry and thirsty, we are in rags, we are brutally treated, we are homeless. 12 We work hard with our own hands. When we are cursed, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure it; 13 when we are slandered, we answer kindly. Up to this moment we have become the scum of the earth, the refuse of the world.

14 I am not writing this to shame you, but to warn you, as my dear children. 15 Even though you have ten thousand guardians in Christ, you do not have many fathers, for in Christ Jesus I became your father through the gospel. 16 Therefore I urge you to imitate me. 17 For this reason I am sending to you Timothy, my son whom I love, who is faithful in the Lord. He will remind you of my way of life in Christ Jesus, which agrees with what I teach everywhere in every church.

18 Some of you have become arrogant, as if I were not coming to you. 19 But I will come to you very soon, if the Lord is willing, and then I will find out not only how these arrogant people are talking, but what power they have. 20 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power. 21 What do you prefer? Shall I come to you with a whip, or in love and with a gentle spirit?

My Understanding: I like the wording and the order of the wording to this first stanza of this song by Bill Gaither. As I read through these words, the Lord quickened my mind and helped me to see the significance of this order of lines in this first stanza. Bill said, “Since I started for the Kingdom…” The kingdom is the kingdom of God, which encompasses God – Father, Son and Holy Spirit; the life and ministry of Jesus Christ on the earth; his death on the cross for our sins and his resurrection in conquering death, hell and sin; his ascension into heaven; his sending the Holy Spirit to indwell the hearts of true believers in Jesus Christ; his coming again to receive us to himself; and our eternity with God in heaven. The way in which we start for (or in) the kingdom is by God’s grace (through Jesus’ death and resurrection and him dying for our sins so that we could go free from sin), and through faith (repentance and obedience) in Jesus Christ as Lord (Master) and Savior (from both the penalty of sin and the control of and bondage to sin over our lives on a daily basis).

The second line in this song bears out this understanding that repentance, obedience and making Jesus our Lord (Master) at the onset or start of our relationship with Jesus Christ is essential for us to be in a right relationship with Jesus Christ. The second line says, “Since my life he controls…” This means that Jesus is on the throne of our lives, which is what it means to truly give our hearts to Jesus to serve him and to reckon ourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. This entering into God’s kingdom through faith in Jesus Christ is a radical life transformation. It means going from being one thing and becoming something or someone else. And, that is what I believe the Lord Jesus would have me to focus on this morning from this passage in I Corinthians 4. The life God controls is one who is (or has):

A servant of Christ

A servant is someone who works in the service of someone else. That means that the person he or she works for is the boss, and the boss is the one who gives out the job assignments. Some assignments are generally for every believer in Jesus Christ to do and we can find those assignments for us in God’s word, and we can follow them. Yet, the Bible also teaches that God gives individual gifts and callings to his followers, so we need to find out what our specific assignments are from the Spirit of God, who decides what gifts to give us. I find so many times that believers in Jesus Christ, in trying to serve God, choose what they want to do, and what they choose to do they do on their human terms, according to what feels comfortable to them. Yet, that is not the true meaning of the word servant. If we are to be servants of Christ, it means to be slaves to Christ in doing what he requires the way he wants it done, and it is not always what we would choose or even something we would even think of in our wildest imaginations. What Jesus is looking for are those servants who are willing to let him be the boss, and to let him decide what we should do and the way in which it should be done, and perhaps even the timing in which it should be accomplished.

Entrusted with the Word of God and to prove faithful

To be entrusted with something means for someone to delegate or to assign to us something of importance, that involves the person who entrusts that something with us expecting us to behave responsibly and/or honorably in the area of responsibility assigned, and that is required for us to do. As servants of Jesus Christ, we are entrusted with the Word of God - to spend time learning what it teaches and then by putting the teachings into practice in our daily lives. As well, we are entrusted with spiritual gifts, natural talents, resources, people, possessions, time, etc., so we must be faithful in exercising our spiritual gifts, in using our natural talents, in accessing our resources, and in being sensitive to the needs of others, etc. - all as led by the Holy Spirit within us to do exactly what he has for us to do and to meet the exact needs he wants us to meet and/or that His Word specifically directs us to meet. Some things, again, are generally for all of us to do, and some things are specific assignments for us to do, and all are given by God, and we must be faithful with whatever trusts God has given to each of us individually.

Unconcerned with human judgment

When someone judges (evaluates; appraises; decides; discerns; and/or concludes) with human judgment, he or she is using man as his center of reference and he is using the teachings and/or philosophies of man as his ruler by which he judges. This is faulty, because mankind is sinful and subject to failure and often cannot make right and just judgments. The Bible says that to measure ourselves by ourselves and to compare ourselves with ourselves is not wise (See 2 Co. 10:12b). Paul said, in relation to this subject of man’s judgments (decisions; discernment; and/or conclusions): “Do not go beyond what is written.” What he was saying there is that our view of mankind (including of ourselves) should be Biblical so that we don’t take pride in one man over the other. I Samuel 16:7 says: “Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart." This was God speaking to Samuel when Samuel was looking for the one God had chosen to anoint as king of Israel in place of Saul and Samuel thought David’s brother Eliab was the Lord’s anointed. God was saying that man does not judge (choose; select) as God chooses because man has a different set of criteria than God. So, we should not concern ourselves with man’s judgments of us. What we should be concerned about is how God views us and if we are living lives pleasing to him; faithful to our trust.

A clear conscience

Paul, when being judged by man, stated that his “conscience is clear, but that does not make me innocent.” I believe what he was saying there was that, with regard to whatever human judgments were coming against him, he had a clear conscience before God that he was not guilty of any accusations of man, and yet he recognized that he is still a sinner and thus still subject to sin, so he was not claiming sinless perfection but only that he presently had a clear conscience before God in all matters of right and wrong. It is important that we daily come before the Lord Jesus in prayer, in the meditating upon his word, in seeking God’s face for how practically he would want to apply his word to our lives today, in humility and repentance of any known sin, and in asking God to search our hearts and to show us anything in our lives that is not pleasing to him that we are not consciously aware of. And, then we need to repent (turn from our sin and go in the opposite direction toward obedience to God) of anything that God reveals to our hearts. That is the way we keep a clear conscience before God. Yet, we are always to remain humble before God in being willing for him to show us anything in our lives that is not right with him and to never entertain prideful thoughts that place us above other people in which we think we are somehow spiritually superior or that we have arrived at some level of sinless perfection. We must recognize always that we live in fleshly bodies and are vulnerable to giving in to the flesh if we are not being controlled by the Spirit of God. The Bible warns us to take heed if we think we stand lest we fall (See I Corinthians 10:12).

A Fool for Christ

I Corinthians 1:18 says: “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” If we are preaching and living the message of the cross of Christ, i.e. if we are giving witness to the fact that a decision to start (begin) in God’s kingdom via belief in Jesus Christ means that God/Jesus now controls (is the boss of) our lives - that he makes the calls and he is the one who gives out the assignments; that coming to him in faith means repentance, obedience, submission and surrender to God’s will for our lives, instead of to our own will; and that it means reckoning ourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus - no longer living to please our flesh - we will have some people, even some professing Christians, think we are being harsh, unloving, judgmental, unkind, radical, crazy, nuts, intolerant, disunifying, subversive and/or something even much worse.

Many will think we are foolish or that we have gone too far off the deep end in our commitment to serve Jesus Christ and they may even curse, persecute, and slander us or just flat out reject us for our stand for Jesus Christ and for his word. Yet, when we are cursed, we are to bless; when we are persecuted, we are to endure it for the sake of the name of Jesus and the sake of the gospel; and when slandered against, we are to answer kindly. We are to accept that we will not be most popular, that we may not be liked by the masses, that we may be chosen last or not chosen at all by man, we may be ignored, misunderstood, mocked, criticized, or even made a spectacle of before the entire world. Yet, we are to rejoice that we are counted among those who are called to suffer for the sake of the gospel of Jesus Christ, and we must persevere, never give up, and keep on keeping on in allowing the Lord Jesus to be the master of our lives, in being his servants in doing what he wants us to do and in being who he wants us to be, in spending time at his feet each day learning from him what his word teaches and how to apply it to our daily lives, and then in walking in obedience to what he shows us and to his commands written in His Word that are applicable to believers in Jesus Christ. And, we need, like Paul, to be unconcerned with what man thinks of us, but rather we should desire to please our Lord Jesus Christ in all things.

Sources: Hymn Lyrics - http://www.hymnlyrics.org/lyricst/the_longer_i_serve_him.html
I Corinthians 4 - http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=I%20Corinthians%204&version=NIV1984

The Hooded Sweatshirt

Thursday, February 24, 2011, 8:46 p.m. – When I was reading through the news for today, and I began to read a news story about the New Zealand earthquake that left 98 dead and 226 missing, and feared dead, the Lord brought to mind a vision I had yesterday (Wednesday) afternoon.

I lay on the sofa in the afternoon to take a short nap. While I was still awake, but had my eyes closed, I had THIS VISION: I saw a person standing in my hallway, perhaps between my desk in my office and my bookcase. The person was wearing a hooded sweatshirt, only the sweatshirt, with hood, was turned to the side – to the person’s left and to my right. The opening in the hood for the person’s face was thus on the left side of his head so that his face was covered in the front by the right side of the hood. It appeared or looked as though there were other people hidden underneath this sweatshirt and hood so that the sweatshirt had bulges in it from all the people who were hidden underneath or inside. END

Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening. I read I Corinthians 1:10-31:

I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought. 11 My brothers, some from Chloe’s household have informed me that there are quarrels among you. 12 What I mean is this: One of you says, “I follow Paul”; another, “I follow Apollos”; another, “I follow Cephas”; still another, “I follow Christ.”

13 Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptized into the name of Paul? 14 I am thankful that I did not baptize any of you except Crispus and Gaius, 15 so no one can say that you were baptized into my name. 16 (Yes, I also baptized the household of Stephanas; beyond that, I don’t remember if I baptized anyone else.) 17 For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel—not with words of human wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.

Christ the Wisdom and Power of God
18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19 For it is written:
“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise;
the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.”

20 Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21 For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. 22 Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom, 23 but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, 24 but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than man’s wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man’s strength.

26 Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. 27 But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. 28 He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, 29 so that no one may boast before him. 30 It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. 31 Therefore, as it is written: “Let him who boasts boast in the Lord.”

My Understanding: When I read about the missing people in New Zealand, I thought immediately of this vision with people hidden underneath this hooded sweatshirt. Then, I read that, since no one had been rescued alive for 24 hours, the focus from rescue was shifting toward recovery of bodies. Following this I read about one of the rescues. A woman described her rescuer in such a way as to mention that she could see his face right in front of her. This brought to mind the fact that, in this vision, I could not see the face of the person in front of me wearing the hooded sweatshirt, for the face was hidden behind the side of the hood.

Then, the Lord made the connection for me here between this woman’s testimony about her rescuer and this part of the article that mentioned a shift of focus that was to turn from rescue to recovery of the dead. Seeing a face in front of her symbolized rescue but this turning of this hood on the person’s head to where I could not see the face, symbolized this change away from a concentration on rescue to one of recovery of dead bodies. I was still awake (alive), i.e. I was not asleep (dead), and yet I saw no face of rescue, but only one covered by a hood which was turned to the side to face his left and my right.

So, what does this all mean? I think I need to look at what some of these words in this vision mean symbolically. Standing can mean to fight resolutely or give battle; an opinion; attitude; witness; stance, position, outlook or viewpoint on something. A hallway is a passageway. Wear can mean to display, show or present something. Hood is a covering for the head or an engine cover, or it can be a criminal or a gangster (hoodlum). Cover, in this context, seems to fit with “to conceal a feeling, action, or situation by presenting a different appearance or by directing attention elsewhere.” I think this is very significant here. Sweat is “the clear salty liquid that passes to the surface of the skin when somebody is hot or as a result of strenuous activity, fear, anxiety or illness.” If you lose your shirt, you lose everything you have, so a shirt could be symbolic for everything you own, and to own something can mean to take credit for it. Face can be symbolic of our countenance, the outward appearance of something, false appearance (not revealing the true nature; intended to deceive), reputation and/or boldness. Head is usually symbolic of someone in authority over someone or something. The word “under” means: beneath, below, less than and/or subordinate and subject to the control or authority of somebody or something.

So, this person wearing the hooded sweatshirt was strong in his stance and determination to fight resolutely as in battle. He was in process or on the way going from one place to another. He was criminal in his actions, yet he was concealing his true intentions, thoughts and actions, as well as he was hiding his true identity, character and authority (power). He thus, in order to conceal what his true authority (head) and intentions were, shifted the focus of what he was doing onto something else – in another direction away from the direction he was truly still headed. His covered (concealed) face (character) was still aimed forward with full resolve and determination to continue in his course of action.

He was wearing this sweatshirt, i.e. he took full ownership of the strenuous activity in which he was involved, including ownership of the people underneath the sweatshirt. I saw the people underneath as those now under his authority, rule, ownership and possession, but they were under through force, they were under anxiety and fear (sweat), and this, too, was being hidden and covered and was a concealment of the true relationship between this man and these people now under his rule and authority. This relationship was also concealed as far as its true character through directing the attention away from what is truly happening to give an appearance different from the true situation. I believe the Lord is showing me here that this is what is happening here in Christchurch, New Zealand.

The news stories suggest this was a natural disaster (an earthquake) and that the international community has come to help in the rescue efforts, yet I believe the Lord is showing me here that their (the global order’s) true mission is not one of rescue but is a mission of death (like a grim reaper). And the focus is being shifted away from what is truly happening there (and throughout the rest of the world) to make it appear as something other than what it is - a takeover by force to bring the people of New Zealand under the authority and rule of the New World Order – a forced unity via fear and intimidation.

Yet, I also see some symbolism here, which may have been intentional, with the location of the disaster – Christchurch. The Lord has been showing me for some time, and this agrees with the teaching in the book of Revelation – that one of the main missions of the New World Order, besides conquering and ruling the entire world, is the persecuting and eliminating of true believers in and followers (disciples) of Jesus Christ (Christchurch). Yet, I also see another sinister plot in place here and that is this forced union between the church and this New World Order in a manner that has deceived God’s people and has brought them into union with the New World Order so subtly and slyly (hidden) that they have been deceived and don’t even realize themselves what is truly going on.

This passage of scripture is talking about having no divisions within the church and being united in mind and thought as in opposition to quarreling about what man each person or group is following (man’s doctrines, denominations, etc.). This unity does not mean we will all think exactly alike on all points, but we will be united in purpose and direction, and that is to not be followers of men and of man-made religion but to be followers of Christ and to be united with Christ in thought, deed and action. This is not forced unity and it is not a unity that demands oneness of mind with man, which is what is happening in today’s church and is of this New World all-in-one government and religion.

The passage continues by letting us know that man’s wisdom is perishing and that God sees it as foolish, and that we are not to follow the wisdom of this world or man but we are to be followers of Christ and of his wisdom, which is the preaching of the gospel of Jesus Christ, i.e. the preaching of the cross (Christ crucified, dead, buried and risen again and us dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus). When we follow man and man’s wisdom, it empties the cross of Christ of its power to radically change lives to the extent that we are no longer captive to or under the control and bondage to sin (like the people under this sweatshirt), but rather we are free to love, worship, serve and obey Jesus Christ and to walk in the light of his love and to fellowship with him because we love him, not because we are forced. The kind of unity underneath this sweatshirt is thus forced (literally or metaphorically), it brings us under bondage to fear, and it controls by intimidation and fear. This is not the kind of unity spoken of in this passage of scripture. The kind of unity God wants is the kind that brings us to the cross and that sets us free from bondage to sin and to man.

So, we should never give way or give a foothold to this kind of intimidation and fear of man to where we come underneath his control and power and authority; to where we are actually united with him in mind and purpose as is pictured in this vision. Rather, we must be those who follow the wisdom of Christ and who follow the way of the cross of Christ and who stand out and who make a difference in this world for Jesus Christ. We must be those who will show our faces (character) and are not afraid to be witnesses for Jesus Christ even if it means that we are killed because we would not bow to the New World Order and unity of mind with man and the control of man over our lives, i.e. this forced unity of mind with man. Instead, we need to stand as bold witnesses for Jesus Christ declaring the truth of the cross of Jesus Christ with full resolve and purpose and direction given to us by our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, under whose authority we live and breathe and have our being.

God Be With You Till We Meet Again / Jeremiah E. Rankin / William G. Tomer

God be with you till we meet again;
By His counsels guide, uphold you,
With His sheep securely fold you;
God be with you till we meet again.

God be with you till we meet again;
Neath His wings protecting hide you;
Daily manna still provide you;
God be with you till we meet again.

God be with you till we meet again;
When life’s perils thick confound you;
Put His arms unfailing round you;
God be with you till we meet again.

God be with you till we meet again;
Ended when for you earth’s story,
Israel’s chariot sweep to glory;
God be with you till we meet again.

Till we meet, till we meet,
Till we meet at Jesus’ feet;
Till we meet, till we meet,
God be with you till we meet again.

Sources: Hymn lyrics: http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/g/b/gbewiyou.htm
I Corinthians 1: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=I%20Corinthians%201&version=NIV1984
NZ earthquake toll at 98 dead, 226 missing - http://apnews.excite.com/article/20110224/D9LJ3M701.html
Dictionary Definitions - http://encarta.msn.com/encnet/features/dictionary/dictionaryhome.aspx

"O" in the City Gate

Thursday, February 24, 2011, 5:55 a.m. – I woke this morning from a dream.

THE DREAM: My husband had drawn a map or a diagram of a city. The city appeared to be long and narrow. On that map, my husband had drawn something at the entrance of the city that indicated that the city was now ready to be taken. I recall that I said to my husband out loud, “So, _____ is now at the city gate!” I can’t recall what fills in that blank, other than I believe the name began with the letter “O”. And, I believe the “O” was to the west of the city, as well as was at the city gate. END

Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening. I read I Corinthians 2:

When I came to you, brothers, I did not come with eloquence or superior wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God. 2 For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. 3 I came to you in weakness and fear, and with much trembling. 4 My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, 5 so that your faith might not rest on men’s wisdom, but on God’s power.

Wisdom From the Spirit
6 We do, however, speak a message of wisdom among the mature, but not the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. 7 No, we speak of God’s secret wisdom, a wisdom that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began. 8 None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. 9 However, as it is written:
“No eye has seen,
no ear has heard,
no mind has conceived
what God has prepared for those who love him”—

10 but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit.

The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. 11 For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the man’s spirit within him? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. 12 We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us. 13 This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words. 14 The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned. 15 The spiritual man makes judgments about all things, but he himself is not subject to any man’s judgment:

16 “For who has known the mind of the Lord
that he may instruct him?”

But we have the mind of Christ.

My Understanding: I read several news stories which I will reference under “sources” at the end of this writing. The first story I will reference is an AP news story about Wis. Republicans pressing forward on an anti-union bill. The words “plan” and “design” were used in this news article, which then the Lord immediately connected with this drawing of a map or a diagram of a city. To paraphrase some of the contents of this news article, I believe the Lord is showing me here, in relation to this dream, my “husband’s,” i.e. the New World Order’s, plan, design or map for the people and the governments of the world:

• To strip the people and governments of nations of their rights
• To push their global agenda and to punish anyone in non-compliance
• A full-out attack designed to cripple nations (governments and people)
• Planned protests to dent the resolve of the governments and the people
• Huge protests to get the people and the leaders to flee (yield; surrender)
• To fake (put on a show) or to report the news in such a way as to deceive the minds of naïve people into thinking that what is reported is what is really happening
• To destroy property and to attack people
• To gain control of people and governments world-wide
• To force concessions by threatening and carrying out thousands of deaths
• To require the people and governments to pay to the “union” of nations
• To successfully kill anyone who would try to stop the “union” of nations under the N.W.O. from succeeding in taking over the world – people, governments & resources

They are able to carry out their plans world-wide, partly due to either apathy or gullibility of the people in the U.S.A., who are deceived into believing their lies they print as news.

Then, I read a news article about the unrest in Libya (ref. below). In relation to this dream, and to this news article, I saw that the city that is ready to be taken is Tripoli, the capital city of Libya in which Gadhafi is holed up, supposedly. Anti-government protesters were apparently attacked in a key city west of Tripoli, the capital city of Libya, by a Libyan army unit. In the dream, I sensed that the gate (entry; opening; access; and/or approach) to the city was west of the city and that “O” was also west of the city at this city “gate”. It appears to me, thus, that this is not a literal gate to the city, but that what happened in this attack on Zawiya, resulting in heavy casualties, possibly numbering hundreds or thousands, is the access into the capital city of Tripoli. My husband had drawn (in the dream) a map (plan, design) at this city gate, which I believe is what is listed in the bullets above. This is the plan for taking over many of these nations and governments, so this plan or design listed in the bullets above is the access, not only to Tripoli, but to many capital cities world-wide.

As far as the “O” that was also at this city gate (access), I do believe, for one, that the “O” represents Obama, who is the man out front of this campaign of the N.W.O. to conquer the kings and kingdoms of the world one by one until all are taken, and who acts and pretends to be shocked and against what he says is being done by the people of those nations. I believe the Lord has been showing me in all of these conquering of nations that the people we are calling “the enemy,” or in this case, “the protestors” are a mix of two things. For one, we, the USA, and the N.W.O. are the “terrorists,” “insurgents,” “mercenaries,” and “protestors” in these countries for the very purpose of taking them over and bringing them by force, if necessary, under the rule of the N.W.O. (ultimately, the beast of Revelation). The people we are calling the terrorists, insurgents, protestors, etc. in order to excuse killing them, are believers in Jesus Christ who are being killed for their faith in Jesus and they, as well, could be those who are resisting the takeover of the N.W.O. So, the “O” not only stands for Obama, but it stands for this global order that is conquering the world.

Another thought on the “O” is oil, as this area of Libya is a key oil port. Whoever controls the oil controls the world, right? Certainly whoever controls the world’s natural resources controls the world. And, this is what the book of Revelation prophesied would take place.

I also could not help but notice how the New World Order is pretty much now controlling all the nations surrounding the nation of Israel, which brought to mind that scripture that said in Luke 21:20-21:

“When you see Jerusalem being surrounded by armies, you will know that its desolation is near. Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those in the city get out, and let those in the country not enter the city.”

Yet, the Lord often shows me a less literal meaning of “the city” and of “Jerusalem,” and he shows me the city as the city on a hill, i.e. the true church, the Body of Christ, and that Jerusalem represents the New Jerusalem, the people of God, i.e. true believers in Jesus. Revelation tells us the dragon will come after the saints of God and that it is believers in Jesus Christ who will be persecuted and killed in these last days for their faith in Jesus. So, the “city” that is narrow (the narrow way to heaven) and long (eternal) and is ready to be taken truly is the city on a hill, the true church, the Body of Christ, which is now being surrounded by armies of this New World Order world-wide. The entrance or the gateway into that city is by God’s grace (Jesus’ death for our sins and his resurrection in conquering death, hell and sin) through faith in Jesus Christ to save us from our sins. Obama and this New World Order are standing in that gate, i.e. they are trying to take the place of God, and they are deceiving the minds of God’s people in the U.S.A. into thinking that what they are doing in these other nations is for the good of the people – to lead them toward democracy.

Today’s passage in 1 Corinthians 2 states that Paul’s preaching was not with wise and persuasive words - like that of the U.S.A. government and government media (my addition) - but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, so that our faith might not rest on men’s wisdom, but on God’s power. I believe the Lord has been calling out to his church for some time to stop putting their faith in men, especially in the U.S. government, but to put their trust in God alone. Paul said that he and his fellow servants in the Lord did not speak with the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. And, that is what I believe is happening world-wide, i.e. the rulers of this age coming to nothing as God is using Obama and the New World Order to tear down kingdoms and to remove the kings of this world from their thrones, and one day God will judge Obama and the New World Order, too, and he will bring them down to nothing.

Then, the passage states that if the rulers of this age had understood the truth about Jesus Christ and of the gospel message that they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. The way in which the rulers of this age, today, are “crucifying” the Lord of glory is through the persecution and deaths of those who are true followers of Jesus Christ. The passage goes on to state that the man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned. This is why men without the Spirit of God will “crucify” the followers of Jesus Christ, too, because they do not understand, and it is why they will still crucify Jesus Christ in their hearts through unbelief, because they refuse to believe in the only one who can give them hope for this life and the next.

God is calling out to the people of the world and to the people of the U.S.A. to stop putting our faith and trust in man who cannot save us, but to put our faith and trust in Jesus Christ by believing in what he did on the cross in dying for our sins so that we could be free from the penalty of sin and bondage to and the control of sin over our lives on a daily basis. The way we believe and put our faith and trust in Jesus is through humbling ourselves before him in prayer, through confessing our sins, through repentance (turning from our sin and toward Jesus), and then through walking in faith and obedience to God’s commands. If you have not yet put your faith in Jesus Christ, I pray you will today.

Jesus, Keep Me Near the Cross / Fanny J. Crosby / William H. Doane

Jesus, keep me near the cross;
There a precious fountain,
Free to all, a healing stream,
Flows from Calvary's mountain.

Near the cross! O Lamb of God,
Bring its scenes before me;
Help me walk from day to day
With its shadow o'er me.

Near the cross I'll watch and wait,
Hoping, trusting ever,
Till I reach the golden strand
Just beyond the river.

In the cross, in the cross,
Be my glory ever,
Till my raptured soul shall find
Rest beyond the river.

Sources: Close aide to Gadhafi defects to Egypt - http://apnews.excite.com/article/20110224/D9LJ3PSO1.html
Wis. Republicans press forward on anti-union bill - http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_WISCONSIN_BUDGET_UNIONS?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2011-02-24-03-26-38

Warning of Danger!

Wednesday, February 23, 2011, 6:33 a.m. – When I awoke this morning, I looked at my clock. The time was 6:33, but the numbers were flashing on the alarm clock. Obviously our power must have gone out in the night and my battery kicked in, but I was not sure that was the correct time. I then checked the kitchen clock, and the time was correct.

In my mind, when I awoke, was a conversation from the previous evening on the subject of the brevity of Jonah’s words to Nineveh when God sent Jonah to speak His words to the people there (See Jonah 3). Jonah said, “Forty more days and Nineveh will be overturned.” The Ninevites believed God, they repented, and God did not destroy their city.

The Lord also brought to mind Matthew 6:33 (6:33 was the time on my clock): “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” This passage of scripture was in the context of people worrying about everything. Jesus was telling them to stop their worrying and instead seek his kingdom and his righteousness first, and then they would have supplied for them their true needs (not necessarily their wants).

I came out to the living room, sat down on the sofa, and recorded the above in my journal. Then I prayed, “Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.” And, I read Romans 16:17-20, 25-27:

I urge you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them. For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the minds of naive people. Everyone has heard about your obedience, so I am full of joy over you; but I want you to be wise about what is good, and innocent about what is evil.

The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet.

The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you…

Now to him who is able to establish you by my gospel and the proclamation of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery hidden for long ages past, but now revealed and made known through the prophetic writings by the command of the eternal God, so that all nations might believe and obey him— to the only wise God be glory forever through Jesus Christ! Amen.

My Understanding: I thought more about the flashing red numbers on my clock this morning, which then brought to mind the meaning behind road signs or traffic signals with flashing words or colors, so I looked it up. FLASHING RED: “Means the same as a STOP sign: Stop, yield the right-of-way, and go when it is safe” (Ref: below). The numbers were flashing on the “alarm” clock. Alarm – a device for giving a warning of danger (Encarta). Clock – a measure of time (Encarta). When Jonah gave that message to Nineveh, he was giving both a warning of danger and a measure of time. Jonah was saying, in essence, “Stop what you are doing, and yield the right-of-way to Almighty God, then go in the safety of God’s righteousness.” The “measure of time” this morning on my clock was Matthew 6:33 about seeking first God’s kingdom and his righteousness. The warning was to stop worrying, seek first God’s kingdom and his righteousness (yielding the right-of-way to Jesus Christ), and then to go in God’s grace and his provisions for our lives. I believe the Lord is saying “It is time to seek God’s kingdom and his righteousness first in your lives, so stop sinning against me, yield the right-of-way to me, and then go in my grace, love and forgiveness.”

When I first sat down to record all of this the Lord taught me (above), I wondered how the story of Jonah, Matthew 6:33 and this passage in Romans 16 all fit collectively or even if they had mutual agreement. Yet, as I began to write, the Lord started putting the pieces together. Once I understood the significance of the alarm clock, the flashing red numbers, the story of Jonah and Nineveh, and Matthew 6:33, then I looked at the passage in Romans 16 and inquired of the Lord as to the connection among all of them.

In this section of Romans 16 is another warning of danger - to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in our way that are contrary to the teaching we have learned. The “teaching” for us is what is found in God’s word, the Bible, i.e. specifically the teachings of the New Testament on what it means to be a believer in Jesus Christ. Those teachings can be summed up with the same idea as the Lord gave me (above), when I believe he summarized it in these words: “It is time to seek God’s kingdom and his righteousness first in your lives, so stop sinning against me, yield the right-of-way to me, and then go in my grace, love and forgiveness.” Jesus began his teaching with this message, “The time has come. The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!” And, he is still saying those same words to us today. He is saying, “It is time! Stop sinning and turn your hearts and lives over to Jesus Christ and believe in him to be your Lord (Master, Boss, Ruler) and your Savior (from the penalty, bondage to and control of sin in your daily life), for the kingdom of God (Jesus Christ and his salvation) is near.”

There are those leaders in our churches – pastors and elders – who would give the impression that repentance is not necessary for salvation, and in fact some of them even leave out the word “believe” or “faith” from Ephesians 2:8-10, and they only teach, “It is by grace you have been saved,” as though God does it all and nothing is required of us. While it is true that our salvation cannot be earned by works nor is it generated in the will of man, but is a gift of God, still we must respond in faith, and faith is proved by our repentance, our obedience and our works that Jesus and his Holy Spirit do within us and out through us as we stop sinning and we yield the right-of-way to Jesus Christ in our lives so that we can go forward in his righteousness. So, we must not believe those who would put obstacles in our way that would keep us from believing the truth of what it means to be a disciple of Jesus Christ, for Jesus makes it quite clear in his teaching that we must stop sinning, we must yield the right-of-way to Jesus Christ in our lives and allow him to be our Lord and Master, and then, and then only can we go forward in his grace, mercy and forgiveness.

This passage in Romans states that such people who would water down the gospel message do so because they are serving their own appetites. This is shown by the fact that they use smooth talk and flattery to deceive the minds of naïve people. They say what people want to hear (what their flesh wants to hear) so that they can gather around them a number of converts, but they are not converts to Jesus Christ, but to human philosophy and teaching. Jonah, though certainly a reluctant messenger, did not use any kind of flattery. He did not try to make the people of Nineveh feel good about themselves. He just spoke the words God gave him to speak. He told the people that they had so many days and then God was going to destroy their city. He did not even call them to repentance. That seemed to be understood. Jesus also never used flattery or smooth talk. He was a straight shooter and he told the people just like it was, even though he often spoke to them in parables. So, we need to check out everything we hear against God’s word and make sure that what sounds good is really the truth, because if it sounds too good to be true, it usually is not true.

This passage in Romans ends in a doxology. It begins, “Now to him who is able to establish you by my gospel,” and then ends with, “so that all nations might believe and obey him…”

Jesus’ gospel can be found in his words recorded above where he says that it is time, the kingdom of God is near, so repent (turn from your sin and to faith in Jesus) and believe the good news of the gospel. That is his gospel, but it is not the gospel that is being taught in many of our churches today. It is Jesus Christ who is able to establish (form; institute; start) us in Jesus Christ and in our relationship with him by his gospel of repentance and faith with the ultimate goal that all nations might believe in Jesus Christ and obey him. To believe in Jesus Christ thus means that we must turn completely from a life of sin, reckoning ourselves dead to sin, so that we can be raised to new life in Jesus Christ and be found righteous through our faith in him – a faith that will culminate in our obedience to his words and to his commands for our lives. So, if someone is telling you that you don’t have to do anything and that Jesus does it all, though there is partial truth to that in that we, of our flesh and of our own human efforts, cannot come to Jesus, do not listen to him or her, because what they are trying to do is to minimize the requirements God has of us for his salvation which is that we stop what we are doing (sinning), we yield the right-of-way to Jesus (via repentance and obedience), so that we can go forward in his righteousness.

Jesus Paid It All / Elvina M. Hall / John T. Grape
… your sins… they shall be as white as snow… Isaiah 1:18

I hear the Savior say, “Thy strength indeed is small;
Child of weakness, watch and pray, Find in Me thine all in all.”

For nothing good have I whereby Thy grace to claim,
I’ll wash my garments white in the blood of Calv’ry’s Lamb.

Lord, now indeed I find Thy power and Thine alone,
Can change the leper’s spots and melt the heart of stone.

And when before the throne I stand in Him complete,
I’ll lay my trophies down all down at Jesus’ feet.

Jesus paid it all, all to Him I owe;
Sin had left a crimson stain, He washed it white as snow.

Sources: Encarta Dictionary - http://encarta.msn.com/encnet/features/dictionary/dictionaryhome.aspx
FLASHING RED TRAFFIC SIGNAL - http://www.nydmv.state.ny.us/dmanual/chapter04-manual.htm
Jonah 3 - http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Jonah%203&version=NIV1984
Matthew 6 - http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%206&version=NIV1984
Romans 16 - http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans%2016&version=NIV1984

Suffering Servant

Tuesday, February 22, 2011, 12:03 a.m. – I woke up around midnight with the song “Jesus, Keep me Near the Cross” going through my mind. I could not get back to sleep, so I got up to hear from God anything he might want to say to me. Before I even got out of bed, the title to this writing (journal entry) came into my mind. I believe the Lord Jesus placed it in my thoughts. As I sat down to hear from the Lord, I prayed, “Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.” Then, I read Romans 15:1-13:

We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. 2 Each of us should please his neighbor for his good, to build him up. 3 For even Christ did not please himself but, as it is written: “The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me.” 4 For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.

5 May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus, 6 so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

7 Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God. 8 For I tell you that Christ has become a servant of the Jews on behalf of God’s truth, to confirm the promises made to the patriarchs 9 so that the Gentiles may glorify God for his mercy, as it is written:

“Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles;
I will sing hymns to your name.”

10 Again, it says,

“Rejoice, O Gentiles, with his people.”

11 And again,

“Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles,
and sing praises to him, all you peoples.”

12 And again, Isaiah says,

“The Root of Jesse will spring up,
one who will arise to rule over the nations;
the Gentiles will hope in him.”

13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

My Understanding: Since the Lord gave me the title, Suffering Servant, I knew this was to be the focus of the message he had for me this morning. As I considered this passage of scripture, thus, against this idea of a (or the) suffering servant, I believe the Lord would have me look at seven aspects of a suffering servant in relation to this scripture passage. A suffering servant is thus one who:

Bears with the failings of the weak

“The weak” is in reference back to the subject matter of the previous chapter (chap. 14). There “the weak” are described as those whose faith in Jesus Christ does not permit them to eat meat. This is in contrast to “the strong” whose faith and whose understanding of the gospel of Jesus Christ allows them to recognize that food has no spiritual significance, with the exception of gluttony, which is considered sinful. In chapter 14 we, as true believers in Jesus Christ, are instructed to not judge our brother or sister in Christ, whether he or she is one who has the freedom to eat meat or is one whose faith does not permit the eating of meat. So, “the weak,” could thus be described as those who are immature in faith or who have not yet reached that point in their spiritual development to where they understand fully the freedoms they have in Christ Jesus (not freedom to sin or to indulge in the sinful nature). So, to “bear with the failings” of the weak is not in reference to allowing or to tolerating sinful behavior, but rather is in reference to allowing for differences of opinion on “disputable matters” (not matters of sin, but matters of personal conscience or preference).

Pleases his neighbor for his good

Here we are instructed that our goal in life should not be to please ourselves, but rather to please our neighbors for their good, to build them up in the Lord. I believe, when we think about pleasing other people, we often think of things we can do that they like or that would make them happy. This could carry over to indulging their sinful behavior or even in joining with them in sin if we don’t have the correct understanding of what this means. To please someone can mean to satisfy or fulfill a need in his or her life in order to bring about true contentment. To satisfy can also mean to convince or assure or even to persuade someone. Then, it says “for his good,” which means for what is right (how it ought to be; moral; decent; upright; blameless). And, it is for the purpose to “build him up.” Many people have the misunderstanding of what this means to where they think we should just go around patting people on the back with no thought to their sin or to their relationship with Jesus Christ. To build is to shape, form, assemble, develop, encourage, etc. So, if we are going to build someone up for his good in order to please him, then this would mean that we are to carefully and lovingly instruct this other believer in the faith, bearing patiently with those whose faith is weak, for the express purpose of helping him grow in faith, develop godly habits, being shaped into the image of Christ, and encouraging obedience, so that the person will be how he ought to be – morally upright, decent, blameless, and obedient.

Follows the example of Christ

Christ Jesus did not please himself, but rather he took upon himself the insults of those who rebuff, snub or scorn God the Father. We, too, if we are truly following Jesus Christ, will face the insults of those who are an offense to Christ and to the gospel by how they live their lives while calling themselves Christians. Even though Jesus Christ was faced with reproach, mocking, slurs against his character, etc., on a regular basis, he remained faithful to the Father and faithful to his purpose and mission in life, which was to suffer for our sake and to die on the cross for our sins so that we could go free. And, we should follow Christ’s example in being willing to share in the fellowship of Christ’s sufferings and to be treated as he was treated in order that we might share the truth of the gospel and that we might build up those in Christ for their good (what is right) so that those to whom we minister as suffering servants will be shaped into the image of Christ, will grow in their faith, will develop godly habits by first of all ridding themselves of sinful behaviors, and will walk in victory, in freedom in Christ, with full hope in God’s promises, and in fellowship with the Spirit of God who is at work within them to bring them to maturity in Christ Jesus.

Has hope through encouragement of scripture

The scriptures were written for our benefit – to instruct, train in godliness, give counsel, direction, encourage, uplift, rebuke, correct and to give hope for the present and the future. As we live out the Christian life, and as we grow in our understanding of what it truly means to follow the example of Christ Jesus in being a suffering servant in order that others might grow in their faith and understanding of who God is and who they are to be in Christ, it will involve much endurance – suffering, withstanding opposition and the trials of life, standing on our faith in the face of rejection, ridicule, false accusations, etc., and continuing, persisting and persevering in our faith even when we don’t understand all that is happening to us or why it is happening, or even though we may not comprehend God’s ultimate purposes in allowing certain things into our lives. The scriptures are God’s words of encouragement to us to remain faithful and to hold fast to our hope in Christ Jesus.

Is given a spirit of unity

“Unity” is a word that is often misunderstood and misapplied to the believer in Jesus Christ. I find that there is a movement in the church and in the government to force unity of mind on the basis of man’s philosophies and teachings, not on the word of God. This kind of unity forces compliance with man and his objectives in order to bring about totalitarian rule, both in the church and in the government of the people. This kind of unity does not allow for differences of opinion or giftings but asks its followers to all become of the same mind as the leader, whether or not that leader is following Jesus Christ or not. This is not the kind of unity being spoken of here in this passage of scripture or throughout scriptural teachings. Speaking on the subject of “disputable matters,” this kind of unity allows for those differences without judgment as to who is right and who is wrong. Also, the kind of unity spoken of in scripture is a united effort to follow the pattern of Christ Jesus with our lives.

Accepts others as Christ accepts us

Christ Jesus accepts us on the basis of his grace - his provision of salvation from sin - and our faith - our heart response to what he did for us in dying for our sins. This heart response of faith is accomplished by us dying to our sin and being raised with Christ to a new life in Christ, free from the penalty, control of and bondage to sin. So, to accept one another as Christ Jesus has accepted us means to accept that other believers, though they may have differences of doctrine and practice (as allowed by God under “disputable matters”), are no different or less than us in any respect other than in the area of disputable matters that don’t matter in eternity as to our genuine relationship with Jesus Christ. So, we need to accept others’ faith as genuine in the same manner or criteria that God requires for acceptance in Christ without judging on differences of opinion on matters that are not critical to our ultimate salvation and destiny in eternity with or without God.

Overflows with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit

The hope of salvation was first given to the Jews and they were the ones who were to then take the message of the gospel to the Gentiles, as it is clear throughout scripture that God intended for Gentiles, too, to hear the good news and to put their faith and trust in Jesus Christ. So, whether Jew or Gentile, we can have hope in Christ Jesus because of what he did for us in dying on the cross for our sins, if we individually make the decision to place our faith and trust in Jesus Christ by applying to our own lives what he did for us in conquering death, hell, Satan and sin. When we consider ourselves dead to sin and alive to Christ, as evidenced by our lives, we will be filled to overflowing with the hope, joy and peace that is ours through faith in Christ Jesus, by the power of the Holy Spirit at work within us in making us holy vessels, fit for the Master’s use.

Jesus, Keep Me Near the Cross / Fanny J. Crosby / William H. Doane

Jesus, keep me near the cross;
There a precious fountain,
Free to all, a healing stream,
Flows from Calvary's mountain.

Near the cross, a trembling soul,
Love and mercy found me;
There the bright and morning star
Sheds its beams around me.

Near the cross! O Lamb of God,
Bring its scenes before me;
Help me walk from day to day
With its shadow o'er me.

Near the cross I'll watch and wait,
Hoping, trusting ever,
Till I reach the golden strand
Just beyond the river.

In the cross, in the cross,
Be my glory ever,
Till my raptured soul shall find
Rest beyond the river.

Love, for the Day is Near

Monday, February 21, 2011, 8:00 a.m. – I woke this morning with the hymn, “Holy, Holy, Holy,” going through my mind.

I sat down on the sofa to have my quiet time with the Lord. I had finished reading Romans 12, so I read Romans 13, yet I saw parallels between both chapters in relation to this idea of being holy – set apart for God. I prayed, “Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.” And, I read Romans 13:8-14 and then went back and reread Romans 12:9-21:

Love, for the Day Is Near
8 Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law. 9 The commandments, “Do not commit adultery,” “Do not murder,” “Do not steal,” “Do not covet,” and whatever other commandment there may be, are summed up in this one rule: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” 10 Love does no harm to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.

11 And do this, understanding the present time. The hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. 12 The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. 13 Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. 14 Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature.

Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 10 Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. 11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. 12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. 13 Share with God’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.

14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. 16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.

17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. 18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 19 Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. 20 On the contrary:

“If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.
In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”

21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

My Understanding: As I considered both of these passages of scripture on the subject of love before God in prayer, the Lord directed me that these passages of scripture can be divided into two main categories – 1) Putting aside the deeds of darkness, and 2) Putting on the armor of light. Under the second category, I believe, are two main subcategories, which are 1) Love for God, and 2) Love for mankind. So, that is what I believe God would have me examine today.

Putting aside the deeds of darkness

The “deeds of darkness” are listed for us in these two passages of scripture – adultery (physical, emotional and/or spiritual), murder, stealing, coveting (a strong desire to possess something that belongs to someone else), orgies (multiple sexual partners at once), drunkenness, sexual immorality (any sexual sin or perversion of sex), debauchery (“Indulgence in sensual pleasures; scandalous activities involving sex, alcohol, or drugs without inhibition”), dissension (strong disagreement leading to fighting or arguing), jealousy (“feeling bitter and unhappy because of another’s possessions or advantages”), repaying evil for evil, taking revenge, overtaken by evil, and thinking about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature (i.e. the plotting and planning of evil deeds).

These passages in Romans teach us that we, as believers in Jesus Christ, need to put aside these deeds of darkness and to put on the armor of light. So, I believe the Lord Jesus would have me to look, first of all, at how we can put aside those deeds of darkness in our lives. I believe the first step is to recognize that what we are doing qualifies as “deeds of darkness,” i.e. the Holy Spirit’s convicting power must do its work in our hearts in revealing to us that what we are doing is wrong, it is sinful, it is against God and it hurts our lives and the lives of those we love and who love us. If we have the Holy Spirit of God living within us, as soon as we sin we should be under conviction. The problem lies in that many times we suppress or deny or excuse away our sin or we call it something other than what it is, and so we quench the Spirit’s working in our heart in convicting us of sin. So, we need to listen to the Spirit’s voice, and we need to obey what the Spirit (and God’s word) teaches us to do.

Once we have been convicted of our sin, then we must acknowledge that we have sinned through confession and repentance (turning away from our sin and turning toward God in faith and obedience). And, we must follow what the Bible teaches concerning how to put off the desires of the flesh and how to put on the Spirit of God in our lives. Sometimes our sins are compounded, i.e. we multiply them one on top of the other, sometimes as a means of covering or justifying or as a result or outgrowth of the original sin. For instance, if we have a root of bitterness in our hearts toward someone and we have not repented of that sin, that root of bitterness can lead to other sins, such as doing evil things against that person as a means of “getting even” or “making him pay” for what we wrongly think he or she did against us, in this case, or it could be he or she truly did something against us. So, sometimes we have to dig deeper than just the obvious sins on the surface and we have to ask the Holy Spirit of God to examine our hearts and minds to see what sins lie underneath that need to be reconciled before God and man before we can deal with the more obvious.

Then, we need to have a plan for how we are not going to give in to that sin again. A lot of sin is just our reactions to people and circumstances in our lives that has as its root selfish desires that we feel are not being met. So, we need to see that reality and truth if we are truly going to conquer sin in our flesh through the power of the Holy Spirit working within us. So, our plan must begin with this kind of soul searching and recognizing the root of all sin – selfishness. Next in our plan of action has to be recognizing the kinds of things that trigger us to sin. If we are watching movies and TV shows that glorify sin and self and the flesh and that glorify adultery, lying, cheating, stealing, etc., and this is what we are taking into our minds for our “entertainment,” then we can’t expect that we are going to be able to put aside those “deeds of darkness” in our own lives, because we are feeding the very things we are trying to rid our lives of. So, we must examine all influences in our lives against the word of God and see what influences need to be eradicated from our lives. Then, and only then, do we have minds and hearts that are ready to be filled with God and the things of the Spirit. We cannot put new wine in old wine skins. If our lives are filled up with the dirt of this world’s system, then there is no room for the Holy Spirit to work in our lives.

So, once we have acknowledged our sin before God (and man where appropriate) and we have called the sin what it truly is, and we have made that conscious decision to turn from that sin and to walk in faith and obedience before God, and we have done the heart and soul searching to see what needs to go in our lives so that we can walk in faith and obedience, then we can begin the process of the put offs and the put ons (See Ephesians 4). In this chapter in Ephesians 4 it teaches us that if our sin is stealing that we need to get a job, we need to do something useful with our hands, and we need to give to the poor. If it is lying, then we need to begin telling the truth. So, the plan has to be to replace our sinful habits with godly habits. If we don’t plan, and if we don’t purpose in our hearts to become something else, then when life’s disappointments come our way, the easy thing to do will be to just revert back to what we know and what is comfortable to us. If we just stop stealing or we just stop lying, then we are just thieves and liars in between jobs. We have to have a plan of action that not only puts off the deeds of darkness but that puts on the armor of light, i.e. we have to become someone else, not just a cleaned up version of our old self.

Putting on the armor of light - Love for God

This passage in Romans 13 says that we need to “Wake up from our slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed.” Slumber means sleep and sleep is the opposite of being awake, alert, and watchful. Many Christians continue in sin because spiritually they are still sleeping. They are not spending time with the Lord Jesus each and every day at his feet, hearing from him and then obeying what he tells them to do. They are allowing the influences of the world to crowd their minds and to push Jesus aside or in a back corner to where he is barely noticed or mentioned in their lives or conversations. So, the first thing we need to do is to “wake up” and pay attention to what we are doing with our lives and how that often stands in direct opposition to God and contrast to His Word. And, we do this, in part, by doing all that was mentioned in the section above in putting off the deeds of darkness out of our lives in order to make room for the armor of light.

Ok, then it is essential that we fill our lives with the things of God. Once we have listened to God, we have obeyed, we have put off the deeds of darkness, and we have made our plan (God’s plan), then we can begin to put on the armor of light. Again, this goes back to the teaching in Ephesians 4. We have to become something else. It is not good enough to just stop something bad, because if we don’t replace it with the opposite good, it will come back, because when it leaves it leaves a void in our lives that must be filled with something else, and not just business or activities, but something that stands in direct opposition and that actually replaces the sinful with the godly to where the godly becomes our habit and who we are. The opposite of darkness is light, and that Light is found in the person of Jesus Christ and in the truths of His Word. We must put on this light (holiness, godliness) as we put on a garment that we wear for all to see, for one of the meanings of the word “wear” is to bear, carry, hold, display and show. This is our fruit of the Spirit of God living within us and out through us in how we conduct our daily lives. We must literally hate what is evil and cling (cleave to, retain, hold to, attach) to what is good if we are truly to be able to put aside the deeds of darkness and to put on the armor of light, and the only way this can be done is to see ourselves and our deeds through the eyes of God (as he sees us).

Putting on the armor of light - Love for Mankind

When we are in a right relationship with God, we have put off the deeds of darkness, and we have put on the armor of light, and we are walking in the Spirit and not in the flesh, fulfilling its evil desires, then our lives will truly be transformed, not only in our relationship with God, but with man, because God’s Spirit will now be in control, ruling, in authority, and his love will then be able to flow out through our lives into the lives of others so that we truly love as Jesus loves. The fruit of this kind of godly love (not of the will of man) will be that we will: love our neighbors as ourselves, be devoted to one another, honor one another above ourselves, share with God’s people who are in need, practice hospitality, bless those who persecute us, live in harmony with each other (the kind that is of God), not take revenge, and we will love our enemies by feeding them and giving them something to drink.

We will be able to love others in the manner in which God loves us because his love will then be what rules our hearts instead of our selfish wills ruling and having authority over our lives. Then, we will know what true worship of God is when we love God and others in the way that means we forsake our evil deeds and we instead put on deeds of righteousness and God’s holiness in our lives through the working of the Holy Spirit within us.

Holy, Holy, Holy! Lord God Almighty / Heber / Dykes

Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!
Early in the morning our song shall rise to thee.
Holy, holy, holy! Merciful and mighty,
God in three persons, blessed Trinity!

Holy, holy, holy! All the saints adore thee,
Casting down their golden crowns around the glassy sea;
Cherubim and seraphim falling down before thee,
Which wert, and art, and evermore shalt be.

Holy, holy, holy! Though the darkness hide thee,
Though the eye of sinful man thy glory may not see,
Only thou art holy; there is none beside thee,
Perfect in power, in love and purity.

Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!
All thy works shall praise thy name, in earth and sky and sea.
Holy, holy, holy! Merciful and mighty,
God in three persons, blessed Trinity.

Sources: Romans 13 - http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans%2013&version=NIV1984
Romans 12 - http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans%2012&version=NIV1984
Web definition “debauchery” - http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/debauchery
Web definition of “jealous” - http://encarta.msn.com/encnet/features/dictionary/DictionaryResults.aspx?lextype=3&search=jealous

Addicted to Jesus

Saturday, February 19, 2011, 5:58 a.m. – I woke this morning with the song, Spirit of the Living God, going through my mind. I sat down to have my quiet time with the Lord. Then, I prayed, “Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.” And, I read Romans 12:1-2:

Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

My Understanding: The phrase, Addicted to Jesus, was brought to my attention this past week in reference to describing someone’s relationship with Jesus Christ. Then, this morning, when I awoke with the above song going through my mind, the phrase, Addicted to Jesus, was also going through my mind.

I sat down to have my quiet time with the Lord in prayer and in his word. And, that is when I read Romans 12:1-2. I sensed the Lord wanted me to stop there and to examine these two verses in relation to the idea of being addicted to Jesus, in particular because the word “addiction” generally has a negative context. So, I began by looking up the word “addiction” in Encarta’s dictionary and MS Word’s Thesaurus.

Addiction –

“great interest in a particular thing to which a lot of time is devoted” – “dedicated, given, offered, apportioned; habit – practice – follow, do, live out, pattern, design, shape; compulsion – urge – longing, yearning; impulse, desire; dependence – need, requirement, reliance upon, trust, confidence, belief, hope, faith; need; obsession – passion; abandoned – yield, relinquish, surrender, submit” (Encarta & MS Word Thesaurus).

As I read through these dictionary and thesaurus definitions of the word “addiction”, I could not help but notice many key Biblical words that are spoken throughout the teachings of scripture with regard to our faith in Jesus Christ – words such as devote, dedicate, offer, practice, follow, design, shape, longing, yearning, desire, dependence, need, require, rely, trust, confidence, belief, hope, faith, passion, yield, surrender, slave and submit. So, I began to see that there truly were many parallels between the concept of addiction (slavery to something) and the Biblical requirements with regard to our faith in Jesus Christ.

Romans 6:15-18 says this:

“What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means! Don’t you know that when you offer yourselves to someone to obey him as slaves, you are slaves to the one whom you obey—whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness? But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you wholeheartedly obeyed the form of teaching to which you were entrusted. You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness.”

This passage of scripture in Romans 6, in describing the word “slavery”, is also giving a definition of the word “addiction” when it states “when you offer yourselves to someone to obey him as slaves.” And, the passage of scripture continues by letting us know that we can be slaves to sin (the kind of addiction that is sinful and negative) or we can be slaves to righteousness (the kind of addiction that is good and positive). What stood out to me from this passage of scripture, in relation to Romans 12:1-2, is this concept of offering ourselves to someone to obey him as slaves. This lead me, thus, to examine the passage in Romans 12 against this idea of addiction and against this idea of slavery, i.e. the offering of ourselves to someone to obey him, whether as slaves to sin or slaves to righteousness.

This passage in Romans 12 begins with the word “therefore.” I had always been taught that when a sentence began with that word, that meant you were to look back at what was said prior to that so that you could see what the following words were “there for”. So, I went back and read through Romans 11 again so that I could understand the context of chapter 12. Romans 11 is mainly talking about how the nation of Israel had rejected Jesus Christ as Messiah, Lord and Savior and how their rejection of Jesus meant the salvation of the Gentiles (non-Jews), but how God, in his mercy is going to graft Israel back into his vine one day when they, too, believe in Jesus Christ. So, chapter 11 is about our (Jews and Gentiles) disobedience and it is about God’s mercy in saving us. So, that is why chapter 12 begins with the word, “therefore,” because it is saying that in view of what we learned about God’s mercy in the previous chapter (and chapters), that the following should be true.

So, in view of what we have learned about God’s mercy Paul said that he “urged” believers in Jesus Christ to do the following. To “urge” means to plead or to implore someone to do something. So, it is obvious that what he said next is imperative that we do because of God’s mercy to us in saving us. The first thing Paul urged his readers to do is to “offer your bodies as living sacrifices.” That sounds a whole lot like offering yourselves to someone to obey him as slaves, which sounds like addiction. The word offer means to devote, dedicate, submit, give, donate, etc. And, it says that we are to offer our bodies. In the context of both verses, I believe the word “bodies” encompasses our entire being – mind, soul, heart and physical body. So, we are to offer ourselves (our entire being) to God as living sacrifices.

Some people have the notion that salvation means that they pray a prayer and then one day they get to go to heaven when they die and that pretty much sums up their Christian experience, other than possibly going to church, getting involved in ministry, living a decent life, etc. Those are not living sacrifices. Those are dead sacrifices, because their idea of offering themselves to God as sacrifices happens once they are physically dead. That is not what this is talking about. Living means “alive, breathing, existing, active…” I think that last word, “active” is very significant here in understanding the kind of sacrifices that God desires. Active means “lively, vigorous, energetic, full of life, effective, practicing, involved, committed” etc. The concept of this is not of it being casual or occasional or of it being something we do when we are not doing something else, or of a union with God when we get to heaven one day. This means laying our lives on the altar as an offering to God, fully committed, fully involved, and then letting him decide what happens next.

We are to be living sacrifices. The meaning of the word “sacrifice” is “expense, cost, loss, martyr, forgo, forfeit, surrender, give up and/or to let go. It will cost us to lay our lives on the altar of God as living sacrifices. It might cost us relationships, jobs, reputations, time, energy, etc. It also involves loss in that we are supposed to die to our old way of life of sin and we are to have new lives in Jesus Christ. It means we say “no” to ourselves, our selfish desires, our selfish wills, etc. and we say “yes” to Jesus Christ for whatever he has for our lives, even if it means that we are hated, rejected, made fun of, criticized, etc. It means being completely abandoned (yielded) to Jesus Christ in absolute surrender of our lives.

As well, we are to offer ourselves as holy and pleasing to God. Holy basically means “set apart” to God. To be “set apart” means both to be set apart from something as well as to something, so if we are to be set apart to God, then we need to be set apart from sin and the things that are considered worldly (sinful; selfish). To be pleasing to God means to do what his word says. It pleases God that we obey him in all things his word teaches us.

This passage says that to offer ourselves as living sacrifices (slaves), holy and pleasing to God, is our spiritual act of worship. Oh, how wrong we often are in our concept of the meaning of the word “worship.” Many people think that worship of God is something you do in a “worship service” in which you sing songs that are called “worship songs.” Or, they think of worship as a set of rituals that you go through in a religious service, or it is an emotional experience during such times of collective worship with the body of Christ. Though certainly singing songs to God is part of our worship, and may involve much emotion, and perhaps even certain rituals might be involved in actual heart worship of God, what God is looking for is for us to have our lives on the altar as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to him. To him, this is our spiritual act (action) of worship. I believe we cannot truly worship God in song, praise, ritual, etc. until we have first given ourselves to him on the altar as living sacrifices (slaves) to obey him and to do his will for our lives. If we are not truly worshiping God via this kind of “addiction” to Jesus, then we are not truly worshiping him, because it is impossible to please him if our lives are off that altar.

In direct opposition to this kind of “addiction to Jesus” - in which we offer ourselves to God to obey him as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God, as our spiritual act of worship - is our being conformed to the pattern of this world. We cannot be slaves to righteousness and slaves to sin at the same time. We will love one and hate the other the Bible tells us. So, if we want to be slaves to righteousness, living sacrifices to God, and addicted to Jesus Christ, we need to not be conformed to the pattern of the world. To be conformed means to imitate, follow, obey, adapt, fit in, follow the crowd, coincide, agree to, be in harmony with, and unified with the world’s pattern. A pattern is the shape, design, form, example, blueprint, mold, and model that the world offers us. “World,” in this context, is speaking of worldly influences, not nature. Such worldly influences are greed, sexual sin (adultery, viewing pornography, sexual perversion, etc.), lying, stealing, cheating, killing, hating, gossiping, gluttony, etc. These can be found everywhere, but are prevalent in TV shows, movies, music, games, relationships, etc. We are not to follow this model for how to live our lives, and in fact we are to turn from it in the opposite direction by following God’s mold, pattern, design, and shape for our lives, which is to offer ourselves to him to obey him.

This not being conformed to the world’s pattern is, thus, done through the transforming of ourselves (which is why I believe “bodies” includes more than just our physical bodies). Transform means to alter, convert, renovate, change, make over, renew, recondition, repair, restore, remodel, rebuild, and overhaul. And, we are transformed by the renewing of our minds. Renew means to reintroduce, restart, renovate, replenish, recondition – put back into working order. So, if we are going to be transformed by the renewing of our minds, we need to give our minds a complete makeover from top to bottom. And, it begins, I believe, by examining what we take into our minds. We have heard the saying, “Garbage in; garbage out,” so it stands to reason if we want to clean up what is in our minds by cleaning out the old to make room for the new, we should begin by evaluating everything that goes into our minds. I believe a good guide is to check everything against Philippians 4:8-9:

“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.”

“Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will” (Rom 12:2b).

Spirit of the Living God / Daniel Iverson

Spirit of the Living God, fall fresh on me.
Spirit of the Living God, fall fresh on me.
Melt me, mold me, fill me, use me
Spirit of the Living God, fall fresh on me.

Sources: Spirit of the Living God - http://gospelyrics.blogspot.com/2007/09/spirit-of-living-god.html
Romans 12 - http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans%2012&version=NIV1984
Dictionary - http://encarta.msn.com/encnet/features/dictionary/DictionaryResults.aspx?lextype=3&search=addiction