Now Abiding / An Original Work / January 31, 2012
Walking with Him; have Him near me,
Brings me comfort, joy and healing.
Now abiding in His presence;
His words speaking, oh, how gently:
Speak conviction, inspiration,
And instruction in right living.
Hope and comfort Jesus brings you,
When you’re walking with Him daily.
Be His servant; share the gospel;
Be His witness of salvation.
Love your brothers and your sisters.
Share with them that Jesus loves them.
Talking daily with my Savior;
List’ning to Him while He teaches,
Draws me closer; get to know Him,
So that I can now obey Him.
Follow Him where’er He leads me.
Worship only Jesus, Savior.
Song lyrics @ Public Domain
Audio, song lyrics and sheet music (free)
Song on Video
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
True Hope
Tuesday, January 31, 2012, 8:36 a.m. – The Lord woke me this morning with the song, “Your Servant,” playing through my mind. Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening. I read the rest of 1 Timothy, and then I read 2 Timothy 1 (NIV 1984):
My Understanding: Paul was not only a faithful minister of the gospel of Jesus Christ, but he was a faithful and committed prayer warrior, too. He often spoke of how he continually prayed for his brothers and sisters in Christ night and day, and often with tears, because he loved them so much, and because he was so concerned for their spiritual wellbeing. And, he earned his own way, too, by doing secular work, as well, in order to not be a financial burden to these young congregations. He sets a wonderful example for us all in what it means to be faithful servants of the Lord Jesus Christ in all that we are, do, and say. His life and testimony serve as a great inspiration to me in how I should conduct my own life, and how I should serve the Lord Jesus Christ in caring for others’ needs, in praying for them continually, and in sharing with them the truths of God’s word in all practicality.
Encouragement
Paul was also an encourager. To encourage someone means “to give somebody hope, confidence, or courage; to motivate somebody to take a course of action or continue doing something;” (Encarta) to inspire; cheer; reassure; urge; assist; nurture; persuade or push. We often think of encouragement as only giving someone a high-five or a pat on the back, but encouragement also involves spurring someone on, urging, prodding and exhorting him or her toward a course of action that would alter his or her own lifestyle, and for his or her own good. True inspiration involves speaking the truth in love, and never includes false praise (flattery) or telling people lies or half-truths (lies) just to make the person feel good. True reassurance gives hope, and the only true hope is found in salvation through Jesus Christ our Lord. This hope of salvation encompasses coming to the cross of Jesus Christ in all humility, turning from our sin, surrendering our wills to the will of God for our lives, and choosing to walk daily in obedience to Jesus Christ and to his commands. So, if we want to really encourage someone, we will tell him or her the truth about sin, judgment and salvation, because it is only through faith in Jesus Christ that we find true hope.
Paul wanted to encourage Timothy, so he first of all let him know that he was continually praying for him, that he remembered his tears (sorrow), and his sincere faith, and that he longed to see him again. It is so heartening to know that there are people who care enough about you that they are 1) fervently praying for you, that they 2) feel and share with you in your pain and your sorrow, they 3) acknowledge your walk of faith in Jesus Christ, and they 4) want to see you and to be with you. I pray I would be such an encourager to others.
Fan into Flame
Yet, Paul’s words of support and inspiration did not end there. Because Paul was persuaded of Timothy’s sincere faith, he reminded him to fan into flame the gift of God, “which is in you through the laying on of my hands.” The laying on of hands was practiced in the early church for the purpose of praying for someone, for healing, for the imparting of a blessing, a spiritual gift, or an office to be held within the church, for sending someone off to do missionary work, and/or for the purpose of receiving the Holy Spirit (in the book of Acts only). So, the “gift of God,” could be the Holy Spirit, and/or it could be a specific spiritual gift and/or ministry imparted to Timothy.
When Jesus Christ was getting ready to leave this earth, he told his disciples that he would not leave them alone. He would send a comforter, the Holy Spirit, who was with them, but who would be in them. He told them to wait for the Holy Spirit, so after Jesus returned to heaven, the Lord’s disciples (not just the 12) waited in prayer for the promised Holy Spirit. On the Day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit was given to the believers in Jesus Christ who were present, and who were waiting in prayer. Following this historical event, the disciples spread the news to those who had believed in Jesus Christ, when he was on the earth, that they, too, could receive the Holy Spirit, who was often given through the laying on of hands. Yet, from that time on, there is no more record throughout scripture, other than in the book of Acts, where the Holy Spirit was given through the laying on of hands, or as a separate work of grace apart from our salvation. The teachings throughout the epistles teach that when we believe in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, the Holy Spirit of God immediately comes within us and makes his home in our hearts and lives (see I Co. 6:19; Eph. 1:13; 2 Tim. 1:14).
Yet, since Timothy was a part of the events in the book of Acts, it is possible that he received the Holy Spirit through the laying on of hands, and that the “gift” spoken of here could be a reference to the Holy Spirit of God. In this case, to “fan into flame” the gift of the Holy Spirit within him, would be to daily confess and repent of all known sin, so that his conscience is clear between him and God, and so his life is cleansed of sin daily. And, then it would mean to spend time each day with the Lord Jesus in prayer and in the study of his word, so he would know the will of God for his life. And, then it would include daily obeying the truth he has been given through God’s word, by applying what he is learning to his daily life and witness for Jesus Christ. It would also involve actively utilizing what spiritual gifts and ministries he had been given by the Holy Spirit, in full obedience to God in doing and saying whatever the Lord Jesus would require of him to do and to say. These required and/or necessary actions, though, also fit with the “gift” being a specific spiritual gift and/or ministry that may have been imparted to him with the laying on of hands.
If we are to “fan into flame” the Holy Spirit within us, and/or the spiritual gifts and ministries (our part of the body of Christ) given to us by God, it will require that we daily repent of all sins, that we day-to-day take up our cross and follow Jesus Christ wherever he leads us, that we everyday spend quality and adequate time with our Lord in prayer and in the study of his word, making him first priority, so we can know his will for our lives, and so we can find answers to our cares and concerns. Moment by moment we must obey whatever he teaches us, and whatever he requires of us in thought, word or deed. “For,” Paul said, “God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.” So, this means that we cannot allow the opinions, words or actions of others to intimidate us into being less than who God has called all of us to be in being his servants and his witnesses. We must release the power of God to work in and through our lives for his purposes and for his glory. And, we must persevere and never give up!
Not Ashamed
Fear of man and of what man thinks of us, or might do to us, often leads us to be ashamed to testify about our Lord Jesus Christ. Yet, we must put aside this fear of man if we are to be the Lord’s true servants and witnesses. We must be willing to suffer disgrace, hatred, false accusations, misunderstandings, ridicule, mockery, rejection, abandonment, and persecution for the sake of the name of Jesus, and for the sake of his gospel. People are not going to hate us and persecute us, usually, if we are blending in with the world, if we are doing the same things the world does, if we think and act like the world, and/or if we keep silent and we don’t make it our practice to share with people our faith in Jesus Christ and how they can come to know him, too. When we choose to be the Lord’s servants and witnesses in obeying him in all things, and when we choose to be lights for the gospel in sharing the message of the gospel to others on a consistent basis, as the Lord leads, and as a practice of our everyday lives, we will face rejection and persecution, yet we must not be ashamed to testify about our Lord.
When Jesus Christ died on the cross for our sins, our sins died with him. When he was resurrected back to life, he conquered death, hell, Satan and sin, so that we could be free from the ultimate penalty of sin (eternity in hell), and so we could be free from the control of sin over our daily lives. We did nothing to earn or deserve his grace. He died for us because he loved us so much that he wanted us to be free from sin and to be able to walk in fellowship with him. We come to know Christ Jesus by God’s grace and through genuine faith, which involves turning from our sins and turning to walk in obedience to Christ and to his commands, and this is what we must teach and must share with others. Then, they can come to know Jesus Christ in sincere faith, and can have true hope and encouragement because they have been taught and have believed the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Your Servant / An Original Work / September 21, 2011
Lord, I love to have You near me
As I go throughout my day,
Walking daily in Your footsteps,
As I humbly pray.
List’ning to You, hear You teaching
Me to live and work for You,
Lord, I pray You lead and guide me
Daily in Your truth.
Lord, I want to be Your witness,
Telling others of Your grace;
Telling how they can be set free
Of their sins today;
Share with them the love of Jesus,
He died on a cruel tree,
So that we’d be forgiven
For all eternity.
Lord, I want to serve You only,
As I bow on bended knee,
Making You my Lord and master,
And Your servant be.
Humbly walking in obedience,
Doing what You say to me,
Lord, may I be an example
Of one who’s set free.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=io7ncxAL15Q
Another “servant song” going through my mind:
“Remain in Him” - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AMnxopsr1Nw
Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, according to the promise of life that is in Christ Jesus,
To Timothy, my dear son:
Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.
Encouragement to Be Faithful
I thank God, whom I serve, as my forefathers did, with a clear conscience, as night and day I constantly remember you in my prayers. Recalling your tears, I long to see you, so that I may be filled with joy. I have been reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also. For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.
So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord, or ashamed of me his prisoner. But join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God, who has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. And of this gospel I was appointed a herald and an apostle and a teacher. That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet I am not ashamed, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day.
What you heard from me, keep as the pattern of sound teaching, with faith and love in Christ Jesus. Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you—guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us.
You know that everyone in the province of Asia has deserted me, including Phygelus and Hermogenes.
May the Lord show mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, because he often refreshed me and was not ashamed of my chains. On the contrary, when he was in Rome, he searched hard for me until he found me. May the Lord grant that he will find mercy from the Lord on that day! You know very well in how many ways he helped me in Ephesus.
My Understanding: Paul was not only a faithful minister of the gospel of Jesus Christ, but he was a faithful and committed prayer warrior, too. He often spoke of how he continually prayed for his brothers and sisters in Christ night and day, and often with tears, because he loved them so much, and because he was so concerned for their spiritual wellbeing. And, he earned his own way, too, by doing secular work, as well, in order to not be a financial burden to these young congregations. He sets a wonderful example for us all in what it means to be faithful servants of the Lord Jesus Christ in all that we are, do, and say. His life and testimony serve as a great inspiration to me in how I should conduct my own life, and how I should serve the Lord Jesus Christ in caring for others’ needs, in praying for them continually, and in sharing with them the truths of God’s word in all practicality.
Encouragement
Paul was also an encourager. To encourage someone means “to give somebody hope, confidence, or courage; to motivate somebody to take a course of action or continue doing something;” (Encarta) to inspire; cheer; reassure; urge; assist; nurture; persuade or push. We often think of encouragement as only giving someone a high-five or a pat on the back, but encouragement also involves spurring someone on, urging, prodding and exhorting him or her toward a course of action that would alter his or her own lifestyle, and for his or her own good. True inspiration involves speaking the truth in love, and never includes false praise (flattery) or telling people lies or half-truths (lies) just to make the person feel good. True reassurance gives hope, and the only true hope is found in salvation through Jesus Christ our Lord. This hope of salvation encompasses coming to the cross of Jesus Christ in all humility, turning from our sin, surrendering our wills to the will of God for our lives, and choosing to walk daily in obedience to Jesus Christ and to his commands. So, if we want to really encourage someone, we will tell him or her the truth about sin, judgment and salvation, because it is only through faith in Jesus Christ that we find true hope.
Paul wanted to encourage Timothy, so he first of all let him know that he was continually praying for him, that he remembered his tears (sorrow), and his sincere faith, and that he longed to see him again. It is so heartening to know that there are people who care enough about you that they are 1) fervently praying for you, that they 2) feel and share with you in your pain and your sorrow, they 3) acknowledge your walk of faith in Jesus Christ, and they 4) want to see you and to be with you. I pray I would be such an encourager to others.
Fan into Flame
Yet, Paul’s words of support and inspiration did not end there. Because Paul was persuaded of Timothy’s sincere faith, he reminded him to fan into flame the gift of God, “which is in you through the laying on of my hands.” The laying on of hands was practiced in the early church for the purpose of praying for someone, for healing, for the imparting of a blessing, a spiritual gift, or an office to be held within the church, for sending someone off to do missionary work, and/or for the purpose of receiving the Holy Spirit (in the book of Acts only). So, the “gift of God,” could be the Holy Spirit, and/or it could be a specific spiritual gift and/or ministry imparted to Timothy.
When Jesus Christ was getting ready to leave this earth, he told his disciples that he would not leave them alone. He would send a comforter, the Holy Spirit, who was with them, but who would be in them. He told them to wait for the Holy Spirit, so after Jesus returned to heaven, the Lord’s disciples (not just the 12) waited in prayer for the promised Holy Spirit. On the Day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit was given to the believers in Jesus Christ who were present, and who were waiting in prayer. Following this historical event, the disciples spread the news to those who had believed in Jesus Christ, when he was on the earth, that they, too, could receive the Holy Spirit, who was often given through the laying on of hands. Yet, from that time on, there is no more record throughout scripture, other than in the book of Acts, where the Holy Spirit was given through the laying on of hands, or as a separate work of grace apart from our salvation. The teachings throughout the epistles teach that when we believe in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, the Holy Spirit of God immediately comes within us and makes his home in our hearts and lives (see I Co. 6:19; Eph. 1:13; 2 Tim. 1:14).
Yet, since Timothy was a part of the events in the book of Acts, it is possible that he received the Holy Spirit through the laying on of hands, and that the “gift” spoken of here could be a reference to the Holy Spirit of God. In this case, to “fan into flame” the gift of the Holy Spirit within him, would be to daily confess and repent of all known sin, so that his conscience is clear between him and God, and so his life is cleansed of sin daily. And, then it would mean to spend time each day with the Lord Jesus in prayer and in the study of his word, so he would know the will of God for his life. And, then it would include daily obeying the truth he has been given through God’s word, by applying what he is learning to his daily life and witness for Jesus Christ. It would also involve actively utilizing what spiritual gifts and ministries he had been given by the Holy Spirit, in full obedience to God in doing and saying whatever the Lord Jesus would require of him to do and to say. These required and/or necessary actions, though, also fit with the “gift” being a specific spiritual gift and/or ministry that may have been imparted to him with the laying on of hands.
If we are to “fan into flame” the Holy Spirit within us, and/or the spiritual gifts and ministries (our part of the body of Christ) given to us by God, it will require that we daily repent of all sins, that we day-to-day take up our cross and follow Jesus Christ wherever he leads us, that we everyday spend quality and adequate time with our Lord in prayer and in the study of his word, making him first priority, so we can know his will for our lives, and so we can find answers to our cares and concerns. Moment by moment we must obey whatever he teaches us, and whatever he requires of us in thought, word or deed. “For,” Paul said, “God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.” So, this means that we cannot allow the opinions, words or actions of others to intimidate us into being less than who God has called all of us to be in being his servants and his witnesses. We must release the power of God to work in and through our lives for his purposes and for his glory. And, we must persevere and never give up!
Not Ashamed
Fear of man and of what man thinks of us, or might do to us, often leads us to be ashamed to testify about our Lord Jesus Christ. Yet, we must put aside this fear of man if we are to be the Lord’s true servants and witnesses. We must be willing to suffer disgrace, hatred, false accusations, misunderstandings, ridicule, mockery, rejection, abandonment, and persecution for the sake of the name of Jesus, and for the sake of his gospel. People are not going to hate us and persecute us, usually, if we are blending in with the world, if we are doing the same things the world does, if we think and act like the world, and/or if we keep silent and we don’t make it our practice to share with people our faith in Jesus Christ and how they can come to know him, too. When we choose to be the Lord’s servants and witnesses in obeying him in all things, and when we choose to be lights for the gospel in sharing the message of the gospel to others on a consistent basis, as the Lord leads, and as a practice of our everyday lives, we will face rejection and persecution, yet we must not be ashamed to testify about our Lord.
When Jesus Christ died on the cross for our sins, our sins died with him. When he was resurrected back to life, he conquered death, hell, Satan and sin, so that we could be free from the ultimate penalty of sin (eternity in hell), and so we could be free from the control of sin over our daily lives. We did nothing to earn or deserve his grace. He died for us because he loved us so much that he wanted us to be free from sin and to be able to walk in fellowship with him. We come to know Christ Jesus by God’s grace and through genuine faith, which involves turning from our sins and turning to walk in obedience to Christ and to his commands, and this is what we must teach and must share with others. Then, they can come to know Jesus Christ in sincere faith, and can have true hope and encouragement because they have been taught and have believed the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Your Servant / An Original Work / September 21, 2011
Lord, I love to have You near me
As I go throughout my day,
Walking daily in Your footsteps,
As I humbly pray.
List’ning to You, hear You teaching
Me to live and work for You,
Lord, I pray You lead and guide me
Daily in Your truth.
Lord, I want to be Your witness,
Telling others of Your grace;
Telling how they can be set free
Of their sins today;
Share with them the love of Jesus,
He died on a cruel tree,
So that we’d be forgiven
For all eternity.
Lord, I want to serve You only,
As I bow on bended knee,
Making You my Lord and master,
And Your servant be.
Humbly walking in obedience,
Doing what You say to me,
Lord, may I be an example
Of one who’s set free.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=io7ncxAL15Q
Another “servant song” going through my mind:
“Remain in Him” - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AMnxopsr1Nw
Monday, January 30, 2012
Resolute in our Commitments
Monday, January 30, 2012, 4:03 a.m. – the Lord woke me with the song, “When in the Stillness,” playing in my mind. Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening. I read 1 Timothy 4 (NIV 1984):
My Understanding: The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons.
When Paul spoke to Timothy with regard to the later times in which some people would abandon the faith and would follow deceiving spirits, he was not warning him against Satanic cults and/or the worship of Satan. He was not warning him about other religions outside of Christianity in which Satan had a strong influence. He was speaking about the church, into which Satan would infiltrate with his lies and deceptions, and would deceive the hearts and minds of those who claimed to believe in Jesus Christ, so that they would follow demonic spirits, and perhaps while still feeling as though they were following Jesus Christ. And, the way in which Satan would wield his influence would be through teachers in the church who were hypocritical liars, whose consciences had been seared as with a hot iron.
Also, when Paul spoke to Timothy with regard to the teachings of these hypocritical liars whose consciences had been seared, he was not speaking about obvious false teaching, either. Satan is a liar and a deceiver. He slips his lies into the church’s teaching in very subtle ways so it looks and smells like the truth, but it is not the truth. And, he does this very slowly and slyly over a period of time so that it is barely noticeable that changes in teaching have occurred. Yet, many professing Christians accept it as truth because their pastors and teachers teach it as though it is truth, or because some notable clergy wrote about it in a popular Christian book. Usually it is a mixture of truth and lies so that the lies appear to be truth. These lies are man-made teachings that are added to scripture and/or that remove from or twist the truths of scripture in order for these hypocritical liars to pass off as truth whatever lies they wish to promote and/or to follow themselves.
In the case mentioned here to Timothy, these hypocritical liars would forbid people to marry and order them to abstain from certain foods, which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and who know the truth. God sets no such restrictions with regard to food and/or to marriage. These are man-made rules added to the word of God, and there are many such man-made rules that are passed off as Biblical truth within the church today which are perhaps not as obvious. The church of today relies heavily upon the teachings of men. Books written by man often take precedence over and even to the exclusion or denial of scripture within our churches today. Yet, many congregants accept these man-made additions to and/or deletions from scripture because they trust their leaders to tell them the truth, or because they are lazy, and it is easier just to believe what they hear rather than check it out themselves, or because they just have not matured enough in their walks with the Lord to be able to discern lies from truth. Whatever the reason, it is imperative that we all get into the word of God ourselves, seeking God’s face, and asking him and his Holy Spirit to guide us into all truth so we are not deceived.
So, Paul instructed Timothy to point these things out to the believers in Christ, so that the followers of Christ would not get caught up in the lies, but would, instead, be followers of truth. If Timothy did this, he would be a good minister of Christ Jesus, brought up in the truths of the faith and of the good teaching he had followed. Yet, these instructions are not for Timothy or for pastors alone. The church in general is taught to instruct one another (Ro. 15:14). We are all ambassadors for Jesus Christ, as though God were making his appeal through us (2 Co. 5:20). Jesus has given to all of us the ministry of reconciliation (2 Co. 5:18). We are the temple of the Holy Spirit. Jesus Christ lives within us in the person of the Spirit of God. So, we are all to be his representatives. We don’t all have the authority over other believers in Jesus Christ, as did Paul and Timothy, yet we are to speak the truth in love, one to the other, so we, as the body of Christ, will grow up into Christ Jesus and will mature in our faith. We all have the responsibility to turn a brother or sister from error to the truth of God’s word. This is what it truly means to encourage and to edify one another, which is what we are all supposed to do, one to the other.
Train yourself to be godly
Timothy was to have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives’ tales, rather he was to train himself to be godly. A myth is a legend, fable, fairytale, fiction and untruth. Old wives’ tales are also associated with old stories (legends) that are passed down from generation to generation as though they are truth and offer sound wisdom, yet they are also fairytales. And, there are many such myths and old wives’ tales passed off as truth within the teachings of the church which are just legends and man-made stories. The way in which Timothy was to avoid getting caught up in such untruths was for him to train himself to be godly. Physical training obviously has its benefits, but godliness has eternal value. To be godly means to attain and practice the characteristic traits of God in all his holiness, truthfulness, faithfulness, love, mercy, grace, kindness, compassion, etc. And, it involves training, because we must daily put off the flesh, resist the devil, and draw near to God in sincere faith, full surrender and complete obedience to Christ’s commands for our lives. And, we learn how to be godly through time spent each day in His word and prayer.
We have put our hope in the living God
Paul said that he and his fellow laborers in the gospel of Jesus Christ labor and strive for the hope they have in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, and especially of those who believe. He was speaking of Jesus Christ, who is the living God. Jesus Christ died on the cross for the sins of all men (all people). He crucified and buried our sins with him. When he was resurrected from the dead, he conquered death, hell, Satan and sin so that we could go free from sin and its judgment against us and its control over us daily. Though Jesus Christ died for all, not all have believed and accepted him personally as Lord and Savior. The way in which we come to receive Jesus Christ as Savior is by God’s grace and through faith. Faith involves turning from our sins and turning to walk in faith and obedience to Jesus Christ and to his commands. Faith involves putting action to our words, i.e. we show we have genuine faith by what we do, i.e. by our obedience to Jesus Christ and by forsaking our lives of sin. Yet, even the ability to repent of sin and to walk in obedience to Christ are gifts from God that we must appropriate to our own lives through our cooperation with the Spirit of God’s work in transforming our hearts and lives and in making us holy.
Set an example for the believers
Paul instructed Timothy not to let anyone look down on him just because of his youth, but he was to set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity. This certainly applies to all of us. We should not allow fear of man or what they might think of us to cause us to compromise our faith or to shrink back in our commitments to Jesus Christ. For Timothy, he had to overcome his fear of non-acceptance because of his youth. Others of us may have to overcome other human limitations that Satan may use to tempt us to be less than who God intends for us to be or to do less than God intends for us to do. God made us who we are and he placed us just where he wants us to be, and he can work through any human limitations we feel we might have, so that he is the one who gets the glory. So, we should never be threatened or to feel useless to God because man has tried to convince us that some human factor, such as age, can somehow limit what God can do through us. He is God! Nothing is impossible with him! If we have sin in our lives that is not repented of and/or we are living in rebellion and we are not being obedient to Christ and to his word, that certainly can limit our effectiveness for Christ and his gospel, but age or other natural limitations should never cause us to feel inadequate for Christ’s service.
Instead, we should continue in our faith, we should be resolute in our commitments to obey the Lord Jesus in all things, we should keep on speaking in the name of Jesus and in sharing the truths of his words to all who will listen, and we should keep on loving others in all that we do and say. Most importantly here is that our lives and lifestyles should match our words. We should not only share the truths of God’s words with others, but we should live God’s truths found in his word. None of us is going to do it perfectly all the time, but our goal and our commitment should always be to live what we believe and say, and to speak what we live. In doing so, we will not only tell others how to live the Christian life, but we will set an example for them in how to love others, how to be morally pure, how to have a walk of faith and obedience to Jesus Christ, and how to be ones who, by our speech and by the things we do, demonstrate our commitments to Jesus Christ, to godly living, and to the sharing of the gospel of Jesus Christ to a world in need of a Savior.
Do not neglect your gift
We have all been given spiritual gifts by God if we are truly in Christ Jesus. We should seek God’s face to learn what our gifts are, and we should be faithful in ministering for Christ and for his gospel in the way in which he has gifted us individually. We should be diligent, faithful, and to give ourselves wholly to God’s service, watching our lives and doctrine closely, and persevering in the faith. And, this is for the salvation of human lives.
When in The Stillness / An Original Work / September 26, 2011
When in the stillness
Of this moment,
Speak to me, Lord,
I humbly pray.
Be my desire,
Set me on fire,
Teach me to love always.
Help me to walk in
Fellowship with You,
Listening to You;
Sit at Your feet.
Whisper Your words to me,
Oh, how gently,
Guiding me in Your truth.
While we are waiting
For Your blessing,
Lord, in our hearts
Be King today.
Help us to live for
You ev’ry moment,
List’ning to what You say.
May we not stray from
Your word within us,
Help us obey You,
Lord, in all things,
Walking each moment,
Lord, in Your presence,
Our off’rings to You bring.
Help us to love You,
Lord, our master;
Be an example
Of Your love,
Helping the hurting,
Lift up the fallen,
Showing them Your great love.
Teach them to love You,
Follow You always,
Bearing their cross and
Turning from sin;
Walking in daily
Fellowship with You,
Making You Lord and King.
http://youtu.be/MnTH6DW98EI
Instructions to Timothy
The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron. They forbid people to marry and order them to abstain from certain foods, which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and who know the truth. For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, because it is consecrated by the word of God and prayer.
If you point these things out to the brothers, you will be a good minister of Christ Jesus, brought up in the truths of the faith and of the good teaching that you have followed. Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives’ tales; rather, train yourself to be godly. For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.
This is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance (and for this we labor and strive), that we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, and especially of those who believe.
Command and teach these things. Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity. Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching. Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through a prophetic message when the body of elders laid their hands on you.
Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress. Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.
My Understanding: The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons.
When Paul spoke to Timothy with regard to the later times in which some people would abandon the faith and would follow deceiving spirits, he was not warning him against Satanic cults and/or the worship of Satan. He was not warning him about other religions outside of Christianity in which Satan had a strong influence. He was speaking about the church, into which Satan would infiltrate with his lies and deceptions, and would deceive the hearts and minds of those who claimed to believe in Jesus Christ, so that they would follow demonic spirits, and perhaps while still feeling as though they were following Jesus Christ. And, the way in which Satan would wield his influence would be through teachers in the church who were hypocritical liars, whose consciences had been seared as with a hot iron.
Also, when Paul spoke to Timothy with regard to the teachings of these hypocritical liars whose consciences had been seared, he was not speaking about obvious false teaching, either. Satan is a liar and a deceiver. He slips his lies into the church’s teaching in very subtle ways so it looks and smells like the truth, but it is not the truth. And, he does this very slowly and slyly over a period of time so that it is barely noticeable that changes in teaching have occurred. Yet, many professing Christians accept it as truth because their pastors and teachers teach it as though it is truth, or because some notable clergy wrote about it in a popular Christian book. Usually it is a mixture of truth and lies so that the lies appear to be truth. These lies are man-made teachings that are added to scripture and/or that remove from or twist the truths of scripture in order for these hypocritical liars to pass off as truth whatever lies they wish to promote and/or to follow themselves.
In the case mentioned here to Timothy, these hypocritical liars would forbid people to marry and order them to abstain from certain foods, which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and who know the truth. God sets no such restrictions with regard to food and/or to marriage. These are man-made rules added to the word of God, and there are many such man-made rules that are passed off as Biblical truth within the church today which are perhaps not as obvious. The church of today relies heavily upon the teachings of men. Books written by man often take precedence over and even to the exclusion or denial of scripture within our churches today. Yet, many congregants accept these man-made additions to and/or deletions from scripture because they trust their leaders to tell them the truth, or because they are lazy, and it is easier just to believe what they hear rather than check it out themselves, or because they just have not matured enough in their walks with the Lord to be able to discern lies from truth. Whatever the reason, it is imperative that we all get into the word of God ourselves, seeking God’s face, and asking him and his Holy Spirit to guide us into all truth so we are not deceived.
So, Paul instructed Timothy to point these things out to the believers in Christ, so that the followers of Christ would not get caught up in the lies, but would, instead, be followers of truth. If Timothy did this, he would be a good minister of Christ Jesus, brought up in the truths of the faith and of the good teaching he had followed. Yet, these instructions are not for Timothy or for pastors alone. The church in general is taught to instruct one another (Ro. 15:14). We are all ambassadors for Jesus Christ, as though God were making his appeal through us (2 Co. 5:20). Jesus has given to all of us the ministry of reconciliation (2 Co. 5:18). We are the temple of the Holy Spirit. Jesus Christ lives within us in the person of the Spirit of God. So, we are all to be his representatives. We don’t all have the authority over other believers in Jesus Christ, as did Paul and Timothy, yet we are to speak the truth in love, one to the other, so we, as the body of Christ, will grow up into Christ Jesus and will mature in our faith. We all have the responsibility to turn a brother or sister from error to the truth of God’s word. This is what it truly means to encourage and to edify one another, which is what we are all supposed to do, one to the other.
Train yourself to be godly
Timothy was to have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives’ tales, rather he was to train himself to be godly. A myth is a legend, fable, fairytale, fiction and untruth. Old wives’ tales are also associated with old stories (legends) that are passed down from generation to generation as though they are truth and offer sound wisdom, yet they are also fairytales. And, there are many such myths and old wives’ tales passed off as truth within the teachings of the church which are just legends and man-made stories. The way in which Timothy was to avoid getting caught up in such untruths was for him to train himself to be godly. Physical training obviously has its benefits, but godliness has eternal value. To be godly means to attain and practice the characteristic traits of God in all his holiness, truthfulness, faithfulness, love, mercy, grace, kindness, compassion, etc. And, it involves training, because we must daily put off the flesh, resist the devil, and draw near to God in sincere faith, full surrender and complete obedience to Christ’s commands for our lives. And, we learn how to be godly through time spent each day in His word and prayer.
We have put our hope in the living God
Paul said that he and his fellow laborers in the gospel of Jesus Christ labor and strive for the hope they have in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, and especially of those who believe. He was speaking of Jesus Christ, who is the living God. Jesus Christ died on the cross for the sins of all men (all people). He crucified and buried our sins with him. When he was resurrected from the dead, he conquered death, hell, Satan and sin so that we could go free from sin and its judgment against us and its control over us daily. Though Jesus Christ died for all, not all have believed and accepted him personally as Lord and Savior. The way in which we come to receive Jesus Christ as Savior is by God’s grace and through faith. Faith involves turning from our sins and turning to walk in faith and obedience to Jesus Christ and to his commands. Faith involves putting action to our words, i.e. we show we have genuine faith by what we do, i.e. by our obedience to Jesus Christ and by forsaking our lives of sin. Yet, even the ability to repent of sin and to walk in obedience to Christ are gifts from God that we must appropriate to our own lives through our cooperation with the Spirit of God’s work in transforming our hearts and lives and in making us holy.
Set an example for the believers
Paul instructed Timothy not to let anyone look down on him just because of his youth, but he was to set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity. This certainly applies to all of us. We should not allow fear of man or what they might think of us to cause us to compromise our faith or to shrink back in our commitments to Jesus Christ. For Timothy, he had to overcome his fear of non-acceptance because of his youth. Others of us may have to overcome other human limitations that Satan may use to tempt us to be less than who God intends for us to be or to do less than God intends for us to do. God made us who we are and he placed us just where he wants us to be, and he can work through any human limitations we feel we might have, so that he is the one who gets the glory. So, we should never be threatened or to feel useless to God because man has tried to convince us that some human factor, such as age, can somehow limit what God can do through us. He is God! Nothing is impossible with him! If we have sin in our lives that is not repented of and/or we are living in rebellion and we are not being obedient to Christ and to his word, that certainly can limit our effectiveness for Christ and his gospel, but age or other natural limitations should never cause us to feel inadequate for Christ’s service.
Instead, we should continue in our faith, we should be resolute in our commitments to obey the Lord Jesus in all things, we should keep on speaking in the name of Jesus and in sharing the truths of his words to all who will listen, and we should keep on loving others in all that we do and say. Most importantly here is that our lives and lifestyles should match our words. We should not only share the truths of God’s words with others, but we should live God’s truths found in his word. None of us is going to do it perfectly all the time, but our goal and our commitment should always be to live what we believe and say, and to speak what we live. In doing so, we will not only tell others how to live the Christian life, but we will set an example for them in how to love others, how to be morally pure, how to have a walk of faith and obedience to Jesus Christ, and how to be ones who, by our speech and by the things we do, demonstrate our commitments to Jesus Christ, to godly living, and to the sharing of the gospel of Jesus Christ to a world in need of a Savior.
Do not neglect your gift
We have all been given spiritual gifts by God if we are truly in Christ Jesus. We should seek God’s face to learn what our gifts are, and we should be faithful in ministering for Christ and for his gospel in the way in which he has gifted us individually. We should be diligent, faithful, and to give ourselves wholly to God’s service, watching our lives and doctrine closely, and persevering in the faith. And, this is for the salvation of human lives.
When in The Stillness / An Original Work / September 26, 2011
When in the stillness
Of this moment,
Speak to me, Lord,
I humbly pray.
Be my desire,
Set me on fire,
Teach me to love always.
Help me to walk in
Fellowship with You,
Listening to You;
Sit at Your feet.
Whisper Your words to me,
Oh, how gently,
Guiding me in Your truth.
While we are waiting
For Your blessing,
Lord, in our hearts
Be King today.
Help us to live for
You ev’ry moment,
List’ning to what You say.
May we not stray from
Your word within us,
Help us obey You,
Lord, in all things,
Walking each moment,
Lord, in Your presence,
Our off’rings to You bring.
Help us to love You,
Lord, our master;
Be an example
Of Your love,
Helping the hurting,
Lift up the fallen,
Showing them Your great love.
Teach them to love You,
Follow You always,
Bearing their cross and
Turning from sin;
Walking in daily
Fellowship with You,
Making You Lord and King.
http://youtu.be/MnTH6DW98EI
Saturday, January 28, 2012
God's Grace
Saturday, January 28, 2012, 8:30 a.m. – The Lord woke me this morning with the song, “The Lord’s Anointed,” playing in my mind. Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening. I read 1 Timothy 1:12-20 (NIV 1984):
My Understanding: Paul said that he thanked Jesus Christ that he considered Paul faithful, appointing him to his service. I find that sentence particularly intriguing. When Paul met Jesus, and when Jesus appointed Paul to his service, Paul was on his way to Damascus to imprison and kill believers in Jesus Christ. He was a persecutor and murderer of Christians. He was convinced that he should do all that was possible to oppose the name of Jesus Christ. He put many saints in prison and cast his vote of approval at their deaths. He went from one synagogue to another to punish them, and he tried to get them to blaspheme against the name of Jesus Christ. He said that in his obsession against them, he even went to foreign cities to persecute them. [Ref: Acts 26 here, and next paragraph, too]
It was on one of these journeys, he said, that he saw a light from heaven blazing around him and his companions. They all fell to the ground, and he heard a voice from heaven saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” He asked, “Who are you, Lord?” Jesus responded: “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. Now get up and stand on your feet. I have appeared to you to appoint you as a servant and as a witness of what you have seen of me and what I will show you. I will rescue you from your own people and from the Gentiles. I am sending you to them to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.” Wow! And, then Paul said that he was not disobedient to the vision, but he preached everywhere he went that people “should repent and turn to God and prove their repentance by their deeds.”
Sinners to Repentance
Paul had a heart transformation of the Spirit of God that day on the road to Damascus. God had a plan and a purpose for Paul’s life, not based upon Paul’s (Saul’s) past experiences, but based upon the grace and mercy of God in his life, and what the Lord Jesus planned to do in and through him. So, the faithfulness Paul spoke of here, in I Timothy 1, was future faithfulness, not present, at the time Jesus Christ appointed him to his service. God, who knows all things, knew Paul would be faithful to the calling God had upon his life, because God had the power to change Paul’s life, and to transform him into a faithful servant of Jesus Christ. So, Paul was not appointed to service for the Lord because he was such a good guy, but he was appointed by God’s grace and mercy, and in God’s providence for his life to become the servant and witness for Jesus Christ that God had planned for him to be.
Jesus Christ said that he did not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. Jesus Christ came into this world to save sinners, and to transform our hearts and to make us who he wants us to be. We don’t deserve or earn our own salvation by our own good works done in the flesh of man. Salvation is a free gift offered to each and every one of us because of God’s grace to mankind, and because God loved us so much that he sent his one and only Son to die on the cross for our sins, so that we could go free from sin. He does not call us to his service because of our goodness, but because of his love and grace. Through transformed lives God is able to demonstrate his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life. In other words, we are all sinners, and we have all failed to become who God intended us to be at some time or another, yet the Lord is patient with us, because he is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. This testimony serves as an example to all who might believe, because it encourages us that God can change any life, and can make that life what he wants for his glory. And, Paul gave all the glory to God for what God was doing in and through him, too.
The Good Fight
Then, Paul turned his attention back to Timothy, who had also been appointed to God’s service. Paul was giving Timothy instructions in this letter to him, so that by following the instructions Timothy might “fight the good fight, holding on to faith and a good conscience.” Paul reminded him of how some had “shipwrecked” their faith because they had rejected the instructions (the word of God) given to them to obey, so they were handed over to Satan so that they might be taught not to blaspheme the name of Jesus Christ.
The instructions given to Timothy and these others are the very words of God which have now been given to us via the Holy Bible, and in particular via the New Testament scriptures. And, they are given to us, as well, so that we might “fight the good fight.” In other words, the Christian life is not a breeze. It involves hardship, persecution, difficulties, trials, temptations, etc., and we need the word of God to teach and to train us how to live godly lives, how to resist the devil, and how to draw near to God in sincere faith and obedience to Jesus Christ and to his commands, forsaking sin, and no longer conforming our lives to the pattern of this ungodly world. We do this in the power and strength of the Holy Spirit of God working within us as we hold on to our faith and a good conscience, i.e. as we continue to walk in faith in obedience to Jesus Christ, and we continue to put off the misdeeds of the flesh. Yet, if we continue in stubborn rebellion and we continue to live sinful lifestyles, because we have rejected the truth and we have rejected the Lord’s instructions, God will hand us over to Satan by allowing us to go our own way so that hopefully we will learn that it profits us nothing to forsake God, so we will come to repentance.
Examples of Faithfulness
Timothy and Paul are examples to us of those who have been appointed to God’s service, because all of us who have come to know Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior have been appointed to God’s service. In John 15 it is recorded that Jesus said that he chose us and appointed us to go and bear fruit that will last. And, 1 Thess. 5 says that God appointed us to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. All of us who are in Christ Jesus have thus been called of God to salvation, and have been appointed to Christ’s service and to bear lasting eternal fruit for God’s kingdom. And, what Jesus called Paul (Saul) to do is no different from what he has called us all to do, i.e. to be servants and witnesses for Jesus Christ in opening spiritually blinded eyes by turning them from spiritual darkness to the light of the gospel of Jesus Christ, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and eternal life.
We are not only called of God to salvation, and appointed to his service, but we are also anointed of God to preach the good news, to bind up the brokenhearted, and to proclaim freedom for the captives, by proclaiming to them the grace of God via Jesus’ death on the cross for our sins. This song, “The Lord’s Anointed,” is based off Isaiah 61. Luke’s gospel recorded that Jesus was in the synagogue on the Sabbath day in the town of Nazareth. He stood up to read. The scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him, and he read the first part of this passage from Isaiah concerning himself, the anointing he had received from God the Father, his ministry on the earth, and concerning the plan of salvation which he preached, and which ultimately he brought to the world via his shed blood on the cross for our sins. So, this passage he read was fulfilled in Christ himself and in his ministry.
Yet, when Jesus Christ left the earth and he sent his Holy Spirit to indwell the lives of his followers, we, as well, received an anointing: “Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.” Jesus told his disciples that they would continue on his ministry after he left the earth. As followers of Christ, and as those who have Christ within us, we are also anointed of God to do all these things mentioned in this passage of scripture. We, as his followers, are to be Jesus to the world around us in doing what he did.
As a result of what Jesus Christ did for us in dying on the cross for our sins and being resurrected back to life in conquering death, hell, Satan and sin, we can now come to Jesus Christ in faith and receive his eternal salvation. He will renew us and restore us to a right relationship with God the Father, and God can use us in the lives of others to help them, as well, to be renewed, restored and to rebuild their broken lives. Thus, we serve as priests of the Lord in ministering to the lives of others in the same manner in which Jesus Christ did and now does through us, and in the same manner spoken of in this passage of scripture. And, all the glory, praise and honor belong to Christ Jesus – great things He has done!
The Lord’s Anointed / An Original Work / December 16, 2011
Based off Isaiah 61
The Spirit of the Sov’reign Lord on me;
Anointed to preach the Good News;
Sent me to bind up the brokenhearted;
Proclaim freedom for the captives.
He sent me to preach release for pris’ners
Who are walking in sin’s darkness;
Proclaim God’s grace to all men who’ll listen;
And tell them about God’s judgments;
Comfort all who mourn;
Give crowns of beauty;
Oil of gladness and thanksgiving.
They will be called oaks of God’s righteousness,
A planting of our Savior, God,
For the display of our Lord’s splendor, and
They will rebuild God’s holy church.
God will renew them, and will restore them,
And you’ll be called priests of the Lord.
You will be ministers of our God, and
You will rejoice in salvation.
The Lord loves justice;
He is faithful to
Reward those who are seeking Him.
I delight greatly in the Lord;
My soul rejoices in my Savior, God.
He has clothed me with His salvation,
And in a robe of His righteousness.
He has given me priestly garments to
Wear, as the bride of Jesus Christ.
As the garden of our Lord and Savior,
He causes us to grow in Him.
He makes righteousness,
Praise, and thanksgiving
Spring up before all the nations.
http://youtu.be/PSH4DBpc__U
The Lord’s Grace to Paul
I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me faithful, appointing me to his service. Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief. The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.
Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life. Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen.
Timothy, my son, I give you this instruction in keeping with the prophecies once made about you, so that by following them you may fight the good fight, holding on to faith and a good conscience. Some have rejected these and so have shipwrecked their faith. Among them are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan to be taught not to blaspheme.
My Understanding: Paul said that he thanked Jesus Christ that he considered Paul faithful, appointing him to his service. I find that sentence particularly intriguing. When Paul met Jesus, and when Jesus appointed Paul to his service, Paul was on his way to Damascus to imprison and kill believers in Jesus Christ. He was a persecutor and murderer of Christians. He was convinced that he should do all that was possible to oppose the name of Jesus Christ. He put many saints in prison and cast his vote of approval at their deaths. He went from one synagogue to another to punish them, and he tried to get them to blaspheme against the name of Jesus Christ. He said that in his obsession against them, he even went to foreign cities to persecute them. [Ref: Acts 26 here, and next paragraph, too]
It was on one of these journeys, he said, that he saw a light from heaven blazing around him and his companions. They all fell to the ground, and he heard a voice from heaven saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” He asked, “Who are you, Lord?” Jesus responded: “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. Now get up and stand on your feet. I have appeared to you to appoint you as a servant and as a witness of what you have seen of me and what I will show you. I will rescue you from your own people and from the Gentiles. I am sending you to them to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.” Wow! And, then Paul said that he was not disobedient to the vision, but he preached everywhere he went that people “should repent and turn to God and prove their repentance by their deeds.”
Sinners to Repentance
Paul had a heart transformation of the Spirit of God that day on the road to Damascus. God had a plan and a purpose for Paul’s life, not based upon Paul’s (Saul’s) past experiences, but based upon the grace and mercy of God in his life, and what the Lord Jesus planned to do in and through him. So, the faithfulness Paul spoke of here, in I Timothy 1, was future faithfulness, not present, at the time Jesus Christ appointed him to his service. God, who knows all things, knew Paul would be faithful to the calling God had upon his life, because God had the power to change Paul’s life, and to transform him into a faithful servant of Jesus Christ. So, Paul was not appointed to service for the Lord because he was such a good guy, but he was appointed by God’s grace and mercy, and in God’s providence for his life to become the servant and witness for Jesus Christ that God had planned for him to be.
Jesus Christ said that he did not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. Jesus Christ came into this world to save sinners, and to transform our hearts and to make us who he wants us to be. We don’t deserve or earn our own salvation by our own good works done in the flesh of man. Salvation is a free gift offered to each and every one of us because of God’s grace to mankind, and because God loved us so much that he sent his one and only Son to die on the cross for our sins, so that we could go free from sin. He does not call us to his service because of our goodness, but because of his love and grace. Through transformed lives God is able to demonstrate his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life. In other words, we are all sinners, and we have all failed to become who God intended us to be at some time or another, yet the Lord is patient with us, because he is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. This testimony serves as an example to all who might believe, because it encourages us that God can change any life, and can make that life what he wants for his glory. And, Paul gave all the glory to God for what God was doing in and through him, too.
The Good Fight
Then, Paul turned his attention back to Timothy, who had also been appointed to God’s service. Paul was giving Timothy instructions in this letter to him, so that by following the instructions Timothy might “fight the good fight, holding on to faith and a good conscience.” Paul reminded him of how some had “shipwrecked” their faith because they had rejected the instructions (the word of God) given to them to obey, so they were handed over to Satan so that they might be taught not to blaspheme the name of Jesus Christ.
The instructions given to Timothy and these others are the very words of God which have now been given to us via the Holy Bible, and in particular via the New Testament scriptures. And, they are given to us, as well, so that we might “fight the good fight.” In other words, the Christian life is not a breeze. It involves hardship, persecution, difficulties, trials, temptations, etc., and we need the word of God to teach and to train us how to live godly lives, how to resist the devil, and how to draw near to God in sincere faith and obedience to Jesus Christ and to his commands, forsaking sin, and no longer conforming our lives to the pattern of this ungodly world. We do this in the power and strength of the Holy Spirit of God working within us as we hold on to our faith and a good conscience, i.e. as we continue to walk in faith in obedience to Jesus Christ, and we continue to put off the misdeeds of the flesh. Yet, if we continue in stubborn rebellion and we continue to live sinful lifestyles, because we have rejected the truth and we have rejected the Lord’s instructions, God will hand us over to Satan by allowing us to go our own way so that hopefully we will learn that it profits us nothing to forsake God, so we will come to repentance.
Examples of Faithfulness
Timothy and Paul are examples to us of those who have been appointed to God’s service, because all of us who have come to know Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior have been appointed to God’s service. In John 15 it is recorded that Jesus said that he chose us and appointed us to go and bear fruit that will last. And, 1 Thess. 5 says that God appointed us to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. All of us who are in Christ Jesus have thus been called of God to salvation, and have been appointed to Christ’s service and to bear lasting eternal fruit for God’s kingdom. And, what Jesus called Paul (Saul) to do is no different from what he has called us all to do, i.e. to be servants and witnesses for Jesus Christ in opening spiritually blinded eyes by turning them from spiritual darkness to the light of the gospel of Jesus Christ, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and eternal life.
We are not only called of God to salvation, and appointed to his service, but we are also anointed of God to preach the good news, to bind up the brokenhearted, and to proclaim freedom for the captives, by proclaiming to them the grace of God via Jesus’ death on the cross for our sins. This song, “The Lord’s Anointed,” is based off Isaiah 61. Luke’s gospel recorded that Jesus was in the synagogue on the Sabbath day in the town of Nazareth. He stood up to read. The scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him, and he read the first part of this passage from Isaiah concerning himself, the anointing he had received from God the Father, his ministry on the earth, and concerning the plan of salvation which he preached, and which ultimately he brought to the world via his shed blood on the cross for our sins. So, this passage he read was fulfilled in Christ himself and in his ministry.
Yet, when Jesus Christ left the earth and he sent his Holy Spirit to indwell the lives of his followers, we, as well, received an anointing: “Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.” Jesus told his disciples that they would continue on his ministry after he left the earth. As followers of Christ, and as those who have Christ within us, we are also anointed of God to do all these things mentioned in this passage of scripture. We, as his followers, are to be Jesus to the world around us in doing what he did.
As a result of what Jesus Christ did for us in dying on the cross for our sins and being resurrected back to life in conquering death, hell, Satan and sin, we can now come to Jesus Christ in faith and receive his eternal salvation. He will renew us and restore us to a right relationship with God the Father, and God can use us in the lives of others to help them, as well, to be renewed, restored and to rebuild their broken lives. Thus, we serve as priests of the Lord in ministering to the lives of others in the same manner in which Jesus Christ did and now does through us, and in the same manner spoken of in this passage of scripture. And, all the glory, praise and honor belong to Christ Jesus – great things He has done!
The Lord’s Anointed / An Original Work / December 16, 2011
Based off Isaiah 61
The Spirit of the Sov’reign Lord on me;
Anointed to preach the Good News;
Sent me to bind up the brokenhearted;
Proclaim freedom for the captives.
He sent me to preach release for pris’ners
Who are walking in sin’s darkness;
Proclaim God’s grace to all men who’ll listen;
And tell them about God’s judgments;
Comfort all who mourn;
Give crowns of beauty;
Oil of gladness and thanksgiving.
They will be called oaks of God’s righteousness,
A planting of our Savior, God,
For the display of our Lord’s splendor, and
They will rebuild God’s holy church.
God will renew them, and will restore them,
And you’ll be called priests of the Lord.
You will be ministers of our God, and
You will rejoice in salvation.
The Lord loves justice;
He is faithful to
Reward those who are seeking Him.
I delight greatly in the Lord;
My soul rejoices in my Savior, God.
He has clothed me with His salvation,
And in a robe of His righteousness.
He has given me priestly garments to
Wear, as the bride of Jesus Christ.
As the garden of our Lord and Savior,
He causes us to grow in Him.
He makes righteousness,
Praise, and thanksgiving
Spring up before all the nations.
http://youtu.be/PSH4DBpc__U
Friday, January 27, 2012
For By Grace
This song is based off Ephesians 2:8-9 (NIV 1984): “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.” Salvation is a free gift from God. We do nothing to earn it or to deserve it. The scriptures say: In while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us (Ro. 5:8). There is no one righteous, no not one (Ro. 3:10). All we like sheep have gone astray (Is. 53:6). All have sinned and fall short of attaining God’s glory (Ro. 3:23). The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord (Ro. 6:23). We receive this free gift by God’s grace and through faith: Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out (Acts 3:19). God now commands everyone to repent (Acts 17:30). You must turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus (Acts 20:21). You should repent and turn to God and prove your repentance by your deeds (Acts 26:20). If anyone loves Jesus, he will obey His teaching (Jn. 14:23). If we obey Jesus’ commands, we will remain in his love (Jn. 15:10). We know we have come to know him if we obey his commands (I Jn. 2:3).
For By Grace / An Original Work / January 27, 2012
Based off Ephesians 2:8-9
For by grace we’ve been saved
Of all our sins,
So that with Christ Jesus
Our lives begin.
Cleansing us from sin,
He made pure within
All who trust in Him
As their Savior, friend,
So that with Christ Jesus
Our lives begin.
We’ve been saved through faith;
This not from ourselves,
Lest that we should boast
In our fleshly works.
Our salvation is
A gift from our God,
Who loves us so much
That He gave His Son
To die on the cross
For all of our sins.
So repent of all
Of your sins today,
And He’ll forgive you;
Wipe your sins away.
Obey all of His
Teachings given you,
So that you can walk
With Him now in truth;
So that you can walk
With Him now in truth.
Song lyrics @ Public Domain
Audio, song lyrics and sheet music (free) at
Song on video
For By Grace / An Original Work / January 27, 2012
Based off Ephesians 2:8-9
For by grace we’ve been saved
Of all our sins,
So that with Christ Jesus
Our lives begin.
Cleansing us from sin,
He made pure within
All who trust in Him
As their Savior, friend,
So that with Christ Jesus
Our lives begin.
We’ve been saved through faith;
This not from ourselves,
Lest that we should boast
In our fleshly works.
Our salvation is
A gift from our God,
Who loves us so much
That He gave His Son
To die on the cross
For all of our sins.
So repent of all
Of your sins today,
And He’ll forgive you;
Wipe your sins away.
Obey all of His
Teachings given you,
So that you can walk
With Him now in truth;
So that you can walk
With Him now in truth.
Song lyrics @ Public Domain
Audio, song lyrics and sheet music (free) at
Song on video
False Doctrines
Friday, January 27, 2012, 5:16 a.m. – The Lord woke me this morning with the song, “The Peace of Christ,” playing in my mind. Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening. I read 1 Timothy 1:1-11 (NIV 1984):
My Understanding: Paul told Timothy, a fellow apostle and servant of the Lord, that he should command certain men in the Ephesian church not to teach false doctrines, etc. In making this passage of scripture practical and applicable to our lives today, I thus had to ask the question, “What kinds of false doctrines are being taught in the church today?”
Repent and Obey
The first one that comes to mind, and which I believe is the most blatantly false and critical to understand with regard to our salvation, is how so many church leaders and congregants are being taught and are teaching that repentance (turning from sin) and obedience to Christ and to his commandments are not necessary for salvation. Yet, the scriptures teach just the opposite. Jesus’ first sermon, according to Matthew’s gospel, was “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.” Jesus denounced cities because they did not repent. He chided the chief priests and elders of the people for their lack of repentance. The disciples went out under the authority of Christ and taught that people should repent. Jesus said he came to call sinners to repentance. Jesus said that unless we repent, we will perish. Peter said that Jesus was not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. And, Jesus said there would be rejoicing in heaven over the sinner who repents.
When Jesus predicted his death and resurrection, he also said that “repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations.” Peter’s first sermon on the day of Pentecost began with the word “repent.” In another sermon Peter said, “Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out…” Peter said that God granted the Gentiles repentance unto life. Paul said that God commands all people everywhere to repent. He declared that all men must turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus, and that they must prove their repentance by their deeds. And, the letters to the churches in Revelation 2-3 call for the churches to repent. If they refused to repent, God would judge them. So, obviously repentance is a requirement for salvation. And, to teach otherwise is to teach a false gospel and to give people a false hope of salvation.
Regarding obedience to Christ, Jesus said that if we want to enter life, we must obey his commandments. Jesus commissioned his disciples to go and to make disciples of all nations, teaching them to obey everything Christ had commanded them. Jesus said, “Blessed are those who hear the word of God and obey it.” He said, “If you love me, you will obey what I command.” Again he said, “If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching.” He said that if we obey his commands, we will remain in his love. Peter and the other apostles said that they were witnesses “of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.” Paul, in speaking of Jesus Christ and the eternal gospel, stated that God provided salvation “so that all nations might believe and obey him.” In 2 Thess. we learn that God “will punish those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Jesus became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him. Peter said, “Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth…” John said, “We know that we have come to know him if we obey his commands.” And, “If anyone obeys his word, God’s love is truly made complete in him.” And, “Those who obey his commands live in him, and he in them.” And, “This is love for God: to obey his commands.” And he said, “Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; obey it, and repent.”
Man vs. Scripture
Another false teaching that is prevalent in today’s church in America involves teaching the doctrines, ideas, philosophies, goals and practices of men over and above scripture. Bible studies have been replaced with book studies (books written by men but not scripture), in which the people are being taught human philosophies and practices, whether they agree with scripture or not, and even to the denial and rejection of what the word of God teaches in these matters, in many cases. Teachers of the word are being replaced with facilitators who merely facilitate discussion on the book or topic being discussed, but who are trained not to teach the word. Many pastors spend much more time reading books by men on how to grow big churches and that promote human philosophies than they do reading and studying the word of God. Many spend much more time in meetings to discuss marketing schemes and the ascetics of worship services than they do on their knees in prayer. As a result, the church has become so much like the world that it is hardly distinguishable anymore between the church and the world, as they now blend together as one. Yet, we are taught in scripture to come out and to be separate from the world, to not love the world and the things of the world, and to devote ourselves to the teaching of the word, to the breaking of bread (in communion and true spiritual fellowship), to prayer and to spiritual fellowship.
Church Growth
Many of today’s churches here in the U.S.A. are following the plans of men in how to grow their churches. They are conducting their churches like the corporations and businesses they have become, with copying and adopting marketing schemes and techniques for how to build and grow big businesses. Many make it their practice to plan their church meetings in a way in order to attract the world to the “church” with the use of worldly methods. Yet, the church is not a business, a corporation, a social club, or a public gathering of the people of the world, and the church’s goal should not be to attract the world to the church.
The true church is the body of Christ, i.e. it is comprised of true believers in Jesus Christ who have come to faith in Jesus Christ via turning from their sins and via turning to God in faith in Christ, and with a goal to walk in obedience to Jesus Christ and to please him in every way. The purpose of the gatherings of the church is for the spiritual edification (education; teaching; instruction; and spiritual growth and maturity) of the believers, and for the sharing of gifts, one with the other, to build one another up in the faith, etc. It is, as well, for the strengthening and encouragement of the true followers of Christ so that they will live holy lives, pleasing to God, and so they will go out into the world and to be lights for the gospel in sharing the truths of the (whole) gospel with those who need Christ.
Yet, today’s church leaders and congregants have turned the church into public gatherings for all people – saved and unsaved – and with a primary goal, it appears, to attract the world to the “church” using the same methods the world uses to attract people to businesses. Yet, that is not how the church is supposed to grow. Otherwise, it ceases to be the church and instead is just another big business calling itself a church. If the church is truly the body of Christ and not a denomination, a corporation or a business, then the only way into the church is through the blood of Jesus Christ, and this through genuine faith, which involves repentance (turning from sin) and obedience to Christ and to his commands. The only way into the church, thus, is by the way of the cross in dying to our sins and our old way of living according to the flesh, and by being resurrected by the power of the Holy Spirit to live new lives by faith and obedience to Jesus Christ and to his teachings. Yet, the way of the cross is foolishness and is an offense to those who are perishing, so if we are truly trying to lead people into Christ’s true church by way of teaching them the truth of the gospel, the world will not be attracted to the church, because they will know and understand that the only way into the church is through death to sin and through life in Christ Jesus.
The Goal is Love
Paul told Timothy to command certain men not to teach false doctrines, and he said that the goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. Many people may perceive someone who speaks out against such false teaching as someone who is unhappy, is a complainer, and thus is someone to be ignored. Yet, what they don’t realize is that the person passing along these commands probably does so out of this goal of love. If there are those leaders in our churches who are teaching a false gospel and thus are giving people a false hope of salvation, which then means that those being given the false hope will think they are saved when they are not, and when they come before God will thus hear, “I never knew you, depart from me,” then what could be more loving than to warn those teaching this false doctrine not to teach it any longer? What could be more loving than to tell these leaders who are following the ways of men over the teachings of scripture that they need to rethink what they are doing, and they need to follow the word of God over and above the teachings of men, because they are leading their people to become followers of men instead of followers of God? What could be more loving than to warn these church leaders against trying to grow Christ’s church via worldly methods, which only grows businesses, but does not confront people with their sins, and does not call them to repentance and the cross of Christ, which is their only entry into Christ’s church? If we truly love our church leaders, we will tell them the truth in love.
If we are not in positions of leadership and authority over men, which I believe women should not be, we cannot command our church leaders, such as Timothy could. Yet, we can lovingly and kindly speak the truth in love to them in a setting appropriate for such a discussion, as we would be called of God to encourage and to edify any brother or sister in Christ. I pray we will all obey the Lord in this matter. Ephesians 4:14-16 says this:
The Peace of Christ / An Original Work / October 31, 2011
Based off of Col. 3:1-17; Eph. 5:19-20
Let the word of Christ dwell in you,
As you teach with all wisdom,
Teaching one another to not
Think on earthly things;
Think instead on things above,
Where Christ sits with God, in love,
Saving us from all of our sins,
Cleansing us; made new within.
Let the peace of Christ rule your hearts,
As you sing songs unto Him;
Speak to one another with psalms,
Hymns, and spir’tual songs;
Always giving thanks to God,
In the name of Christ, His Son,
Who gave His life up for us all,
And gave us eternal life.
Let the love of Christ within you
Rule in your hearts; grace within,
Purifying you from your sin,
Make you whole within.
Forgive as the Lord forgave.
Show His kindness ev’ry day.
In word or deed, whate’er you do,
Glory give to Jesus Christ.
http://youtu.be/tW7HXchJ9qE
Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the command of God our Savior and of Christ Jesus our hope,
To Timothy my true son in the faith:
Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.
Warning Against False Teachers of the Law
As I urged you when I went into Macedonia, stay there in Ephesus so that you may command certain men not to teach false doctrines any longer nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies. These promote controversies rather than God’s work—which is by faith. The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. Some have wandered away from these and turned to meaningless talk. They want to be teachers of the law, but they do not know what they are talking about or what they so confidently affirm.
We know that the law is good if one uses it properly. We also know that law is made not for the righteous but for lawbreakers and rebels, the ungodly and sinful, the unholy and irreligious; for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers, for adulterers and perverts, for slave traders and liars and perjurers—and for whatever else is contrary to the sound doctrine that conforms to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which he entrusted to me.
My Understanding: Paul told Timothy, a fellow apostle and servant of the Lord, that he should command certain men in the Ephesian church not to teach false doctrines, etc. In making this passage of scripture practical and applicable to our lives today, I thus had to ask the question, “What kinds of false doctrines are being taught in the church today?”
Repent and Obey
The first one that comes to mind, and which I believe is the most blatantly false and critical to understand with regard to our salvation, is how so many church leaders and congregants are being taught and are teaching that repentance (turning from sin) and obedience to Christ and to his commandments are not necessary for salvation. Yet, the scriptures teach just the opposite. Jesus’ first sermon, according to Matthew’s gospel, was “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.” Jesus denounced cities because they did not repent. He chided the chief priests and elders of the people for their lack of repentance. The disciples went out under the authority of Christ and taught that people should repent. Jesus said he came to call sinners to repentance. Jesus said that unless we repent, we will perish. Peter said that Jesus was not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. And, Jesus said there would be rejoicing in heaven over the sinner who repents.
When Jesus predicted his death and resurrection, he also said that “repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations.” Peter’s first sermon on the day of Pentecost began with the word “repent.” In another sermon Peter said, “Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out…” Peter said that God granted the Gentiles repentance unto life. Paul said that God commands all people everywhere to repent. He declared that all men must turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus, and that they must prove their repentance by their deeds. And, the letters to the churches in Revelation 2-3 call for the churches to repent. If they refused to repent, God would judge them. So, obviously repentance is a requirement for salvation. And, to teach otherwise is to teach a false gospel and to give people a false hope of salvation.
Regarding obedience to Christ, Jesus said that if we want to enter life, we must obey his commandments. Jesus commissioned his disciples to go and to make disciples of all nations, teaching them to obey everything Christ had commanded them. Jesus said, “Blessed are those who hear the word of God and obey it.” He said, “If you love me, you will obey what I command.” Again he said, “If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching.” He said that if we obey his commands, we will remain in his love. Peter and the other apostles said that they were witnesses “of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.” Paul, in speaking of Jesus Christ and the eternal gospel, stated that God provided salvation “so that all nations might believe and obey him.” In 2 Thess. we learn that God “will punish those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Jesus became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him. Peter said, “Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth…” John said, “We know that we have come to know him if we obey his commands.” And, “If anyone obeys his word, God’s love is truly made complete in him.” And, “Those who obey his commands live in him, and he in them.” And, “This is love for God: to obey his commands.” And he said, “Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; obey it, and repent.”
Man vs. Scripture
Another false teaching that is prevalent in today’s church in America involves teaching the doctrines, ideas, philosophies, goals and practices of men over and above scripture. Bible studies have been replaced with book studies (books written by men but not scripture), in which the people are being taught human philosophies and practices, whether they agree with scripture or not, and even to the denial and rejection of what the word of God teaches in these matters, in many cases. Teachers of the word are being replaced with facilitators who merely facilitate discussion on the book or topic being discussed, but who are trained not to teach the word. Many pastors spend much more time reading books by men on how to grow big churches and that promote human philosophies than they do reading and studying the word of God. Many spend much more time in meetings to discuss marketing schemes and the ascetics of worship services than they do on their knees in prayer. As a result, the church has become so much like the world that it is hardly distinguishable anymore between the church and the world, as they now blend together as one. Yet, we are taught in scripture to come out and to be separate from the world, to not love the world and the things of the world, and to devote ourselves to the teaching of the word, to the breaking of bread (in communion and true spiritual fellowship), to prayer and to spiritual fellowship.
Church Growth
Many of today’s churches here in the U.S.A. are following the plans of men in how to grow their churches. They are conducting their churches like the corporations and businesses they have become, with copying and adopting marketing schemes and techniques for how to build and grow big businesses. Many make it their practice to plan their church meetings in a way in order to attract the world to the “church” with the use of worldly methods. Yet, the church is not a business, a corporation, a social club, or a public gathering of the people of the world, and the church’s goal should not be to attract the world to the church.
The true church is the body of Christ, i.e. it is comprised of true believers in Jesus Christ who have come to faith in Jesus Christ via turning from their sins and via turning to God in faith in Christ, and with a goal to walk in obedience to Jesus Christ and to please him in every way. The purpose of the gatherings of the church is for the spiritual edification (education; teaching; instruction; and spiritual growth and maturity) of the believers, and for the sharing of gifts, one with the other, to build one another up in the faith, etc. It is, as well, for the strengthening and encouragement of the true followers of Christ so that they will live holy lives, pleasing to God, and so they will go out into the world and to be lights for the gospel in sharing the truths of the (whole) gospel with those who need Christ.
Yet, today’s church leaders and congregants have turned the church into public gatherings for all people – saved and unsaved – and with a primary goal, it appears, to attract the world to the “church” using the same methods the world uses to attract people to businesses. Yet, that is not how the church is supposed to grow. Otherwise, it ceases to be the church and instead is just another big business calling itself a church. If the church is truly the body of Christ and not a denomination, a corporation or a business, then the only way into the church is through the blood of Jesus Christ, and this through genuine faith, which involves repentance (turning from sin) and obedience to Christ and to his commands. The only way into the church, thus, is by the way of the cross in dying to our sins and our old way of living according to the flesh, and by being resurrected by the power of the Holy Spirit to live new lives by faith and obedience to Jesus Christ and to his teachings. Yet, the way of the cross is foolishness and is an offense to those who are perishing, so if we are truly trying to lead people into Christ’s true church by way of teaching them the truth of the gospel, the world will not be attracted to the church, because they will know and understand that the only way into the church is through death to sin and through life in Christ Jesus.
The Goal is Love
Paul told Timothy to command certain men not to teach false doctrines, and he said that the goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. Many people may perceive someone who speaks out against such false teaching as someone who is unhappy, is a complainer, and thus is someone to be ignored. Yet, what they don’t realize is that the person passing along these commands probably does so out of this goal of love. If there are those leaders in our churches who are teaching a false gospel and thus are giving people a false hope of salvation, which then means that those being given the false hope will think they are saved when they are not, and when they come before God will thus hear, “I never knew you, depart from me,” then what could be more loving than to warn those teaching this false doctrine not to teach it any longer? What could be more loving than to tell these leaders who are following the ways of men over the teachings of scripture that they need to rethink what they are doing, and they need to follow the word of God over and above the teachings of men, because they are leading their people to become followers of men instead of followers of God? What could be more loving than to warn these church leaders against trying to grow Christ’s church via worldly methods, which only grows businesses, but does not confront people with their sins, and does not call them to repentance and the cross of Christ, which is their only entry into Christ’s church? If we truly love our church leaders, we will tell them the truth in love.
If we are not in positions of leadership and authority over men, which I believe women should not be, we cannot command our church leaders, such as Timothy could. Yet, we can lovingly and kindly speak the truth in love to them in a setting appropriate for such a discussion, as we would be called of God to encourage and to edify any brother or sister in Christ. I pray we will all obey the Lord in this matter. Ephesians 4:14-16 says this:
Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.
The Peace of Christ / An Original Work / October 31, 2011
Based off of Col. 3:1-17; Eph. 5:19-20
Let the word of Christ dwell in you,
As you teach with all wisdom,
Teaching one another to not
Think on earthly things;
Think instead on things above,
Where Christ sits with God, in love,
Saving us from all of our sins,
Cleansing us; made new within.
Let the peace of Christ rule your hearts,
As you sing songs unto Him;
Speak to one another with psalms,
Hymns, and spir’tual songs;
Always giving thanks to God,
In the name of Christ, His Son,
Who gave His life up for us all,
And gave us eternal life.
Let the love of Christ within you
Rule in your hearts; grace within,
Purifying you from your sin,
Make you whole within.
Forgive as the Lord forgave.
Show His kindness ev’ry day.
In word or deed, whate’er you do,
Glory give to Jesus Christ.
http://youtu.be/tW7HXchJ9qE
Thursday, January 26, 2012
A Fleet of Bombers
Thursday, January 26, 2012, 5:25 a.m. – I woke this morning from a dream and with the song, “A Lover’s Concerto,” playing in my mind. When I got up to write it down, and to have my quiet time with the Lord, the Lord put the song, “Jesus, Lead Me,” in mind.
THE DREAM: I was staying in a high-rise building. In one sense, I felt as though this building was a hospital building, and yet everyone appeared to be well, and to be able to move about freely. I think we were on the top floor. My room was the next to the last room on the left (west) end of the hall, and on the north side of the hall.
A group of us were in a room – like a day room. I had the sense that the day room was on the left (west) end and north side of the hall, as well. Someone was sitting at a desk and was meeting with a subordinate. The authority person requested my assistance with something, so I walked over to the desk. But, then he continued his conversation with this other individual, and he was scolding him about something, so I took that as my cue to leave. So, I went back across the room and sat at a table with other people, I believe.
There was a man in the room next to me on the west end of the hall (west of me). I made friends with him. I believe he was Japanese. I was interested in learning certain things from him. Then, all of a sudden, one day I had these black electronic sensors stuck into the palm of my hand. They were like splinters, so I began to pull them out of my hand (remove them) one by one, and to drop them on to the floor, or wherever I happened to be at the time I pulled them out of my hand.
Then, I became aware that these sensors signaled bombers where to go to bomb a target, so I gathered up my stuff, which included a cooler, and I moved down the hall to the east, and as far away from my room as I could get, and I moved into a kitchen, I believe, which was also on the north side of the hall.
Out the window to the north I could see an airplane coming our direction (south). Then, the airplane took a nose dive into the ocean, and exploded, sending flames and smoke into the air. The airplane crashed just left (west) of a mountain. I wondered if this nose dive into the ocean was purposeful, and if it was some kind of signal, like to show bombers where to go. Someone else knew it definitely was a signal, and he ordered all of us to get to the basement as quickly as we all could. So, everyone scrambled to get to the basement.
Then, I looked out the window to the north, again, and coming from around the mountain where the airplane had taken the nose dive, and coming from the east in a westerly direction, was a whole fleet of bombers heading our direction (south). So, I high-tailed it out of there, and descended the flight of stairs, along with everyone else. END
Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening. I read 2 Thessalonians 2 (NIV 1984):
My Understanding: The apostles here addressed the issue of the coming of the day of the Lord, and what must precede that day. There must first of all be a rebellion, and the man of lawlessness must be revealed. Rebellion is defined as “an organized attempt to overthrow a government or other authority by the use of violence.” This has already been going on for some time (many years), and has especially become evident since the events of 9/11/01, the invasions of and wars in Iraq and Afghanistan by NATO forces (the majority of which is U.S. forces), and the conquering of other nations, followed by the organization of “unity” governments in various nations throughout the globe who have had uprisings, demonstrations, and various movements within those nations to take over the present governments of those nations, including now in the U.S.A., too, with the “Occupy” movement.
The Lord has consistently revealed to me, via dreams and visions, that these uprisings, and movements, for the purpose of overtaking governments, are the working of a global government that is in the process of consuming all the governments of the entire world. This has been mostly accomplished, and is still in process in some nations, including inside the U.S.A., and factions within (if not the whole of) our own government and military are party to this global effort to conquer all the governments of the entire world and to bring the entire world under one rule of law, which is often referred to as “unity” government in these various nations throughout the globe.
As far as the “man of lawlessness” is concerned, “lawlessness” is defined as “uncontrolled or unregulated; contrary to the law; having no laws; anarchy; chaos; disorder” (Encarta), etc. Lawlessness is definitely a part of this rebellion with all of these uprisings and demonstrations and overthrows of governments worldwide. This global order is a law unto itself, and shows no regard whatsoever for the laws of individualized nations. Man is a term associated with Adam and with humankind, which is sinful and is of the flesh, outside of God. So, the man of lawlessness does not necessarily dictate that this is just one individual, but it could be speaking of the lawlessness of mankind involved in this rebellion, i.e. this could be speaking of a people group or organization, such as this global order, that is taking over the governments of the world via force and via violence, while disguising their actions as uprisings and demonstrations within those specific nations, and pretending that these uprisings are the working of the people of those nations.
This man of lawlessness will set himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God, and he will oppose and exalt himself over anything that is called God or is worshipped. God’s temple is in the hearts of believers in Jesus Christ, and it comprises the church, which is the collection of all true believers in Christ Jesus. I do know that the institutional church, under the 501c3 series of incorporation status, falls underneath the authority of the U.S. government, and that the U.S. government even dictates what can and cannot be said from the pulpit, and even now is in the process of exerting even more control in relation to the gay agenda and same sex marriages. So, in this sense, the U.S. government exalts itself above God when it tells the church what they can and cannot do and what they can and cannot say from the pulpit. The church is a spiritual entity, but by making itself a physical entity and by bringing itself under the authority of the U.S. government, it has allowed the U.S. government to take the place of God, in many respects, within the church, which is supposed to be Christ’s body with him as the head. Yet, a body can’t have two heads.
In praying through this dream, I read several news stories, which I will reference below. The first article spoke about the Pentagon and defense cuts. The article spoke of changing the character of the U.S. military to fit a new global plan, policy or scheme. This new plan of the Obama administration is said to have the danger of being extended or elongated to the point of being too lean and thus not able to handle probable security risks. Predominant in the plan is supposedly a restored emphasis on Asia (the east), where China’s speedy armed forces have upgraded to be more modern, which has increased concern in Washington and has shaken U.S. allies, as well. The Pentagon has agreed to send more soldiers and equipment to worldwide commands to attack back wherever danger occurs. These new commands are supposed to develop new friendships with foreign militaries to help them lead their own operations, etc.
What I saw in relation to this dream is that this high-rise building represents the world. My room represents the U.S. government and military and Washington, D.C. and the White House, i.e. the power and authority of the U.S. government and military. We were on the top floor, so those on the top floor represent those in positions of power, authority and rule. The room next to me (to the west of me) represents Japan. And, the room all the way at the end of the hall to the East represents Asia, and perhaps more specifically China. I made friends with Japan and that friendship produced some kind of sensors being in the palm of my hand like splinters which then served as a signal to bombers where to bomb, i.e. the location of the intended target. There was a plane that did a nose dive and that plane served as a signal to the rest of the bombers as to where to go to bomb, and the bombers headed straight toward us, so we bailed.
Looking at the images in my mind of these bombers, especially in relation to Japan, brought back the memory of the bombing of Pearl Harbor. The Lord has shown me previously, and has verified it through various historical writings, that the U.S. government was behind the bombing of Pearl Harbor in order to get into WWII. The coming of the planes and the scrambling of the people to safety also reminded me of Pearl Harbor, as well as did this friendship with our neighbor, Japan, and how that was somehow connected with their ability to hone in on the target and to bomb us. And, this also fits with the new plan in Washington and at the Pentagon to befriend foreign armies to help them lead their own operations, apparently even if they are against our own people. It sounds as though they are already setting up their “out,” as well, by extending the U.S. military too thin over the world to where they are not able to defend their own selves and countrymen.
Then, moving forward in history nearly 60 years from the bombing of Pearl Harbor, we had the planes that flew into the Twin Towers (high-rise buildings), which then got us into Afghanistan and Iraq. The Lord has shown me numerous times, and has verified it with historical documentaries and scientific evidence, that the attacks on the Twin Towers, the Pentagon and the field in PA was an inside job, and that our own government and military were party to those attacks, too, so that we could get into Afghanistan and Iraq, and Asia and Africa, subsequently. And, the scrambling of people on 9/11/01 to descend the stairs of those high-rise buildings to safety also came to mind as I pictured us hurriedly descending the stairs to the basement level and to safety. So, this “rebellion,” appears to have begun as early as December of 1941, but has become very much pronounced and rapidly increasing in the past 11 + years. And, it sounds as though our leaders intend to “bail” when they know an attack on the U.S. is coming, and to leave our nation as sitting ducks and vulnerable. This is not the first time the Lord has shown me this, either.
This bailing of our lawmakers and leaving the U.S. citizens vulnerable to attack will be on multiple levels, too, including on a financial level, healthcare, etc. For the sake of brevity here, I will include the links to the articles I read and trust the Lord will help you to read between the lines. Basically, what our government and military are doing militarily to sabotage our own nation they are doing on a financial, healthcare, benefits, security, and human rights level, too, and in coordination with leaders of other nations who are doing the same things to their own nations and people, as they are all working together to bring about this global order and this rule of the man of lawlessness over the entire world. Yet, God is in control, and he is bringing this about as his judgment against mankind, and in order to bring his children back into a right relationship with him, which is loosely what the song, A Lover’s Concerto, is about, i.e. how I believe God is using it here.
So, we must pray for much discernment here so that we are not deceived by these deceivers and so that we don’t fall prey to their traps. We must stand firm in our faith and hold on to the teachings of scripture and to the gospel (whole) of Jesus Christ. And, we must pray for much wisdom and understanding concerning the times in which we now live, for truly a time of rebellion and lawlessness is upon us and is leading the way to the rule of the beast of Revelation (to the man lawlessness) who will rule the entire world and who will conquer and put to death believers in Jesus Christ. So, we must pray for the Lord to lead us and to guide us into all truth and to help us to obey him in all things, for truly the days are evil. And, we need to come out of this evil world and be separate and become obedient followers and servants of Jesus Christ.
Jesus, Lead Me / An Original Work / July 22, 2011
Jesus, lead me all the way.
Be my hope and be my stay.
Gently lead me where I should go,
So Your Spirit, I want to know.
Open up my heart to You.
Fill me with Your love and truth.
Make my heart want to obey.
Be my Lord today. Gently lead always.
Jesus, lover of my soul,
Cleanse my heart, and make me whole;
Be transformed in my heart today,
As I turn from my sin and pray.
Make Your will known to my heart.
May I not from You depart.
How I long to hear You now,
As I humbly bow. Jesus, hear me now.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YTIM16o9ldg
Resources:
A Lover’s Concerto (How Gentle is the Rain) - http://www.lyrics007.com/Supremes%20Lyrics/A%20Lovers%20Concerto%20Lyrics.html
Politics of defense cuts: emphasize the positive
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_DEFENSE_BUDGET?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2012-01-26-02-07-31
Navy SEAL raid in Somalia shows campaign ahead
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_SOMALIA_RAID?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2012-01-26-03-42-25
User-friendly health plan summaries at risk
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_HEALTH_OVERHAUL_CONSUMERS?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2012-01-26-02-15-22
Taxpayers still owed $132.9B from bailout: report
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_BANK_BAILOUT_WATCHDOG?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2012-01-26-00-18-48
Davos leaders look to China's investments abroad
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/E/EU_DAVOS_FORUM?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2012-01-26-06-08-30
THE DREAM: I was staying in a high-rise building. In one sense, I felt as though this building was a hospital building, and yet everyone appeared to be well, and to be able to move about freely. I think we were on the top floor. My room was the next to the last room on the left (west) end of the hall, and on the north side of the hall.
A group of us were in a room – like a day room. I had the sense that the day room was on the left (west) end and north side of the hall, as well. Someone was sitting at a desk and was meeting with a subordinate. The authority person requested my assistance with something, so I walked over to the desk. But, then he continued his conversation with this other individual, and he was scolding him about something, so I took that as my cue to leave. So, I went back across the room and sat at a table with other people, I believe.
There was a man in the room next to me on the west end of the hall (west of me). I made friends with him. I believe he was Japanese. I was interested in learning certain things from him. Then, all of a sudden, one day I had these black electronic sensors stuck into the palm of my hand. They were like splinters, so I began to pull them out of my hand (remove them) one by one, and to drop them on to the floor, or wherever I happened to be at the time I pulled them out of my hand.
Then, I became aware that these sensors signaled bombers where to go to bomb a target, so I gathered up my stuff, which included a cooler, and I moved down the hall to the east, and as far away from my room as I could get, and I moved into a kitchen, I believe, which was also on the north side of the hall.
Out the window to the north I could see an airplane coming our direction (south). Then, the airplane took a nose dive into the ocean, and exploded, sending flames and smoke into the air. The airplane crashed just left (west) of a mountain. I wondered if this nose dive into the ocean was purposeful, and if it was some kind of signal, like to show bombers where to go. Someone else knew it definitely was a signal, and he ordered all of us to get to the basement as quickly as we all could. So, everyone scrambled to get to the basement.
Then, I looked out the window to the north, again, and coming from around the mountain where the airplane had taken the nose dive, and coming from the east in a westerly direction, was a whole fleet of bombers heading our direction (south). So, I high-tailed it out of there, and descended the flight of stairs, along with everyone else. END
Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening. I read 2 Thessalonians 2 (NIV 1984):
The Man of Lawlessness
Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to him, we ask you, brothers, not to become easily unsettled or alarmed by some prophecy, report or letter supposed to have come from us, saying that the day of the Lord has already come. Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God.
Don’t you remember that when I was with you I used to tell you these things? And now you know what is holding him back, so that he may be revealed at the proper time. For the secret power of lawlessness is already at work; but the one who now holds it back will continue to do so till he is taken out of the way. And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will overthrow with the breath of his mouth and destroy by the splendor of his coming. The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with the work of Satan displayed in all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders, and in every sort of evil that deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness.
Stand Firm
But we ought always to thank God for you, brothers loved by the Lord, because from the beginning God chose you to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth. He called you to this through our gospel, that you might share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the teachings we passed on to you, whether by word of mouth or by letter.
May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word.
My Understanding: The apostles here addressed the issue of the coming of the day of the Lord, and what must precede that day. There must first of all be a rebellion, and the man of lawlessness must be revealed. Rebellion is defined as “an organized attempt to overthrow a government or other authority by the use of violence.” This has already been going on for some time (many years), and has especially become evident since the events of 9/11/01, the invasions of and wars in Iraq and Afghanistan by NATO forces (the majority of which is U.S. forces), and the conquering of other nations, followed by the organization of “unity” governments in various nations throughout the globe who have had uprisings, demonstrations, and various movements within those nations to take over the present governments of those nations, including now in the U.S.A., too, with the “Occupy” movement.
The Lord has consistently revealed to me, via dreams and visions, that these uprisings, and movements, for the purpose of overtaking governments, are the working of a global government that is in the process of consuming all the governments of the entire world. This has been mostly accomplished, and is still in process in some nations, including inside the U.S.A., and factions within (if not the whole of) our own government and military are party to this global effort to conquer all the governments of the entire world and to bring the entire world under one rule of law, which is often referred to as “unity” government in these various nations throughout the globe.
As far as the “man of lawlessness” is concerned, “lawlessness” is defined as “uncontrolled or unregulated; contrary to the law; having no laws; anarchy; chaos; disorder” (Encarta), etc. Lawlessness is definitely a part of this rebellion with all of these uprisings and demonstrations and overthrows of governments worldwide. This global order is a law unto itself, and shows no regard whatsoever for the laws of individualized nations. Man is a term associated with Adam and with humankind, which is sinful and is of the flesh, outside of God. So, the man of lawlessness does not necessarily dictate that this is just one individual, but it could be speaking of the lawlessness of mankind involved in this rebellion, i.e. this could be speaking of a people group or organization, such as this global order, that is taking over the governments of the world via force and via violence, while disguising their actions as uprisings and demonstrations within those specific nations, and pretending that these uprisings are the working of the people of those nations.
This man of lawlessness will set himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God, and he will oppose and exalt himself over anything that is called God or is worshipped. God’s temple is in the hearts of believers in Jesus Christ, and it comprises the church, which is the collection of all true believers in Christ Jesus. I do know that the institutional church, under the 501c3 series of incorporation status, falls underneath the authority of the U.S. government, and that the U.S. government even dictates what can and cannot be said from the pulpit, and even now is in the process of exerting even more control in relation to the gay agenda and same sex marriages. So, in this sense, the U.S. government exalts itself above God when it tells the church what they can and cannot do and what they can and cannot say from the pulpit. The church is a spiritual entity, but by making itself a physical entity and by bringing itself under the authority of the U.S. government, it has allowed the U.S. government to take the place of God, in many respects, within the church, which is supposed to be Christ’s body with him as the head. Yet, a body can’t have two heads.
In praying through this dream, I read several news stories, which I will reference below. The first article spoke about the Pentagon and defense cuts. The article spoke of changing the character of the U.S. military to fit a new global plan, policy or scheme. This new plan of the Obama administration is said to have the danger of being extended or elongated to the point of being too lean and thus not able to handle probable security risks. Predominant in the plan is supposedly a restored emphasis on Asia (the east), where China’s speedy armed forces have upgraded to be more modern, which has increased concern in Washington and has shaken U.S. allies, as well. The Pentagon has agreed to send more soldiers and equipment to worldwide commands to attack back wherever danger occurs. These new commands are supposed to develop new friendships with foreign militaries to help them lead their own operations, etc.
What I saw in relation to this dream is that this high-rise building represents the world. My room represents the U.S. government and military and Washington, D.C. and the White House, i.e. the power and authority of the U.S. government and military. We were on the top floor, so those on the top floor represent those in positions of power, authority and rule. The room next to me (to the west of me) represents Japan. And, the room all the way at the end of the hall to the East represents Asia, and perhaps more specifically China. I made friends with Japan and that friendship produced some kind of sensors being in the palm of my hand like splinters which then served as a signal to bombers where to bomb, i.e. the location of the intended target. There was a plane that did a nose dive and that plane served as a signal to the rest of the bombers as to where to go to bomb, and the bombers headed straight toward us, so we bailed.
Looking at the images in my mind of these bombers, especially in relation to Japan, brought back the memory of the bombing of Pearl Harbor. The Lord has shown me previously, and has verified it through various historical writings, that the U.S. government was behind the bombing of Pearl Harbor in order to get into WWII. The coming of the planes and the scrambling of the people to safety also reminded me of Pearl Harbor, as well as did this friendship with our neighbor, Japan, and how that was somehow connected with their ability to hone in on the target and to bomb us. And, this also fits with the new plan in Washington and at the Pentagon to befriend foreign armies to help them lead their own operations, apparently even if they are against our own people. It sounds as though they are already setting up their “out,” as well, by extending the U.S. military too thin over the world to where they are not able to defend their own selves and countrymen.
Then, moving forward in history nearly 60 years from the bombing of Pearl Harbor, we had the planes that flew into the Twin Towers (high-rise buildings), which then got us into Afghanistan and Iraq. The Lord has shown me numerous times, and has verified it with historical documentaries and scientific evidence, that the attacks on the Twin Towers, the Pentagon and the field in PA was an inside job, and that our own government and military were party to those attacks, too, so that we could get into Afghanistan and Iraq, and Asia and Africa, subsequently. And, the scrambling of people on 9/11/01 to descend the stairs of those high-rise buildings to safety also came to mind as I pictured us hurriedly descending the stairs to the basement level and to safety. So, this “rebellion,” appears to have begun as early as December of 1941, but has become very much pronounced and rapidly increasing in the past 11 + years. And, it sounds as though our leaders intend to “bail” when they know an attack on the U.S. is coming, and to leave our nation as sitting ducks and vulnerable. This is not the first time the Lord has shown me this, either.
This bailing of our lawmakers and leaving the U.S. citizens vulnerable to attack will be on multiple levels, too, including on a financial level, healthcare, etc. For the sake of brevity here, I will include the links to the articles I read and trust the Lord will help you to read between the lines. Basically, what our government and military are doing militarily to sabotage our own nation they are doing on a financial, healthcare, benefits, security, and human rights level, too, and in coordination with leaders of other nations who are doing the same things to their own nations and people, as they are all working together to bring about this global order and this rule of the man of lawlessness over the entire world. Yet, God is in control, and he is bringing this about as his judgment against mankind, and in order to bring his children back into a right relationship with him, which is loosely what the song, A Lover’s Concerto, is about, i.e. how I believe God is using it here.
So, we must pray for much discernment here so that we are not deceived by these deceivers and so that we don’t fall prey to their traps. We must stand firm in our faith and hold on to the teachings of scripture and to the gospel (whole) of Jesus Christ. And, we must pray for much wisdom and understanding concerning the times in which we now live, for truly a time of rebellion and lawlessness is upon us and is leading the way to the rule of the beast of Revelation (to the man lawlessness) who will rule the entire world and who will conquer and put to death believers in Jesus Christ. So, we must pray for the Lord to lead us and to guide us into all truth and to help us to obey him in all things, for truly the days are evil. And, we need to come out of this evil world and be separate and become obedient followers and servants of Jesus Christ.
Jesus, Lead Me / An Original Work / July 22, 2011
Jesus, lead me all the way.
Be my hope and be my stay.
Gently lead me where I should go,
So Your Spirit, I want to know.
Open up my heart to You.
Fill me with Your love and truth.
Make my heart want to obey.
Be my Lord today. Gently lead always.
Jesus, lover of my soul,
Cleanse my heart, and make me whole;
Be transformed in my heart today,
As I turn from my sin and pray.
Make Your will known to my heart.
May I not from You depart.
How I long to hear You now,
As I humbly bow. Jesus, hear me now.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YTIM16o9ldg
Resources:
A Lover’s Concerto (How Gentle is the Rain) - http://www.lyrics007.com/Supremes%20Lyrics/A%20Lovers%20Concerto%20Lyrics.html
Politics of defense cuts: emphasize the positive
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_DEFENSE_BUDGET?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2012-01-26-02-07-31
Navy SEAL raid in Somalia shows campaign ahead
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_SOMALIA_RAID?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2012-01-26-03-42-25
User-friendly health plan summaries at risk
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_HEALTH_OVERHAUL_CONSUMERS?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2012-01-26-02-15-22
Taxpayers still owed $132.9B from bailout: report
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_BANK_BAILOUT_WATCHDOG?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2012-01-26-00-18-48
Davos leaders look to China's investments abroad
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/E/EU_DAVOS_FORUM?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2012-01-26-06-08-30
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
Respect and Regard
Wednesday, January 25, 2012, 6:11 a.m. – The Lord woke me with the song, “The Peace of Christ,” playing in my mind. Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening. I read 1 Thessalonians 5:12-28:
My Understanding: This last section of this letter to the Thessalonian believers in Christ contains a list of instructions for the church:
Respect those who work hard among you, who are over you in the Lord and who admonish you. Hold them in the highest regard because of their work.
To respect someone means to show him thoughtfulness and consideration; to give him due honor and attention; to value him; to acknowledge him; to give appropriate recognition to him; and to show him love and concern for his thoughts, feelings, wishes, position and/or authority. When we show respect to others, we do not take them for granted, we don’t take advantage of them, and we don’t mistreat them. Showing respect also shows consideration and thoughtfulness with regard to what is best for the individual, too, which may involve speaking the truth in love (tough love) in a respectful manner. This places their true needs above what might be their selfish wishes and desires. To show proper respect, though, never involves us compromising our faith, our values and/or to give way to sin in order to please another human being. Our first allegiance should always go to Jesus Christ.
The believers were asked here to show respect to those who work hard among them, who are over them in the Lord and who admonish them. They were to hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. We have to try to put ourselves in the place of the apostles here and to think like they thought. When they spoke of those who worked hard among the believers, they were speaking of those who worked hard in sharing the (whole) gospel of Jesus Christ, and of those who worked hard in nurturing, discipling, teaching, guiding and leading the people of God to turn from their sins, to walk in fellowship with the Lord, to obey Jesus Christ and his commands, and to live holy lives pleasing to God, etc.
They were not speaking of those who work hard at maintaining corporations and businesses created by men, of those who work hard at developing marketing schemes for how to build big “churches,” of those who busy themselves with planning all kinds of fun activities for church members to get involved in, of those who try to attract the world with worldly methods, or of those who water down the gospel message in order to make it more palatable to their listeners. We should still show proper respect even to these leaders, as their position of authority over us in the Lord dictates that we should do so, yet we should not hold them in high esteem and to honor them in such a way that validates them as though they are ones who are working hard for the sake of the gospel, and who are working hard for our spiritual growth and maturity, unless, of course, that is what they are doing.
Jesus told his disciples that they had to obey the Pharisees, other than in cases where they were being asked to disobey the Lord, but that they were not to do what the Pharisees did. They were not to become like them. Scriptures also warn us much against false teachers who change the gospel into something it is not. We are not to allow them to influence us in such a way that it leads us away from our pure devotion to Jesus Christ, or that it gets us to compromise our faith or the gospel message. The scriptures also warn us against becoming followers of men instead of followers of God. We don’t have to do what our leaders do, and we don’t have to buy into everything they teach, if it is clearly not of God. We still should show proper respect, as their position over us in the Lord dictates that we should do so, but we must be spiritually discerning about who we admire and who we hold in high esteem.
Live in peace with each other.
Jesus said: “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.” Yet, he also said: “Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to turn a man against his father, a daughter against her mother…” When Elizabeth gave birth to John, and Zechariah gave him the name “John,” Zechariah then prophesied concerning Jesus Christ. He spoke of his salvation, and how he has redeemed his people, and then he prophesied concerning his own son, and how he would go before Jesus “to prepare the way for him, to give his people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of sins, because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven to shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace” (see Luke 1). Jesus also said: “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” And: “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
So, obviously there is more than one meaning of the word “peace.” The world sees peace as the absence of all conflict, trouble, and of distress. Yet, this is not the kind of peace that Jesus promised us, nor that he intended when he spoke of peace. We do not become sons of God just because we avoid conflict with other human beings and because we make nice with everyone just so they will like us, even to the point of compromising our faith and the gospel just for the sake of “peace.” Jesus did not come to bring that kind of peace. In fact, he promised us that if we follow him, if we obey him, if we become his servants and his witnesses for the sake of his name and the sake of the gospel, that we will be hated, despised, rejected, afflicted, persecuted, and have false accusations spoken against us, etc. Even members of our own family (birth and church) will turn against us because of our faith and testimony for Jesus Christ and for the (whole) gospel.
So, a peacemaker is not one who compromises his faith and his commitment to Christ in order to avoid conflict with men, because true peace is not external, but is internal, despite what is going on externally. And, true peace only comes through genuine faith in Jesus Christ via repentance (turning from sin), forgiveness of sins, and a walk of fellowship with our Lord in which we obey his commands and we bow to his will and desires for our lives.
We cannot experience true peace with God if we are still walking in darkness. We cannot experience true peace with God if we are living in willful sin against the Lord Jesus. True peace comes with deliverance from bondage to sin. Then, when we are at peace with God, we can also be at peace with others, because we are no longer living to please our own selfish wills, but we are living to please God. Yet, this does not mean others will naturally be at peace with us if our walks of faith in Christ Jesus somehow bring offense to them (the cross is an offense to those who are perishing), to their positions of power (like the Pharisees were jealous and threatened by Jesus), or offend their beliefs that they can have God’s grace in their lives and still walk in sin, etc. That is why the scriptures teach us that we are to make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy, which means if we are living holy lives, we may not be able to be at peace with all men, i.e. they may not be at peace with us. That is why scripture also teaches us that, “If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.” We cannot control how others treat us.
Warn those who are idle.
A person who is idle is one who is “not working, operating, producing or in use; lazy and unwilling to work; and is frivolous and wastes time” (Encarta). Making money or not making money is not necessarily a consideration here, depending upon the person’s circumstances. If the person is the head of the household and is the primary provider for the family, then being idle could include not providing financially for his or her family, if he or she has the means to be able to do so. Volunteer work is still work, though. Yet, the bills must still be paid. So, each household must determine for themselves what income is necessary to maintain the family’s needs (not necessarily wants), and who must work for money and who can work at home in caring for the needs of the family and household, and/or in doing volunteer work. Biblically speaking, generally the woman is the one to stay at home, yet there are always exceptions to this based upon the family’s situation and needs. Yet, we must warn other believers against laziness and against doing nothing.
Encourage the timid. Help the weak. Be patient with everyone.
The timid are those who are fearful. We must encourage them to not be fearful, but to put their trust in the Lord and in his sovereignty over their lives and over their circumstances. We must help those who are weak physically and need physical assistance, as well as we must help those who are weak emotionally and/or spiritually by encouraging them in the Lord through sharing with them the truths of God’s words and by modeling for them how to live and to walk a life of faith in Jesus Christ. And, we must be patient with everyone. We don’t all grow in Christ at the same speed. Now, this does not mean we should ever tolerate or placate willful sin. We are to address matters of sin and to offer words of counsel and Biblical direction in these matters by leading the sinner toward repentance and a walk of obedience to Jesus Christ. Yet, we must not expect everyone else to grow at the same speed as us, and we must be willing to bear with them and to keep helping them unless they express that they just don’t want our help.
Make sure nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else.
We should not make it our goal to get even with people, but to forgive. Kindness has to do with doing what is good for the other person, not necessarily what he or she likes or what makes him or her feel good. In other words, if we make it our goal to always say things to people that they want to hear and that makes them feel good about themselves, and we choose not to ever confront them with the gospel of Jesus Christ or to tell them the truth about their sins, then that is not kindness, even though we may call it kindness. The kindest thing we can do for anyone is what brings the most spiritual benefit to the individual, and that helps them to grow in their faith and knowledge and hope in Jesus Christ. So, being kind means speaking the truth in love, not in flattering others so that they will like us. What is most important is that they love God, not that they like us.
Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
This is one that the Lord reminds me about from time to time when I get weighed down by the cares and concerns I have over the lives of those I love. He reminds me to be joyful, and to take everything to him in prayer, and to be thankful always in all circumstances. There is a scripture that even goes so far as to say that we should “leap for joy” when men hate us, when they exclude us, insult us and reject our names as evil because of our faith and our testimony for Jesus Christ. We are to rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is our reward in heaven (see Luke 6:20-23).
Do not put out the Spirit’s fire; do not treat prophecies with contempt. Test everything. Hold on to the good. Avoid every kind of evil.
A prophecy is a message given by the Lord for the church today through an individual believer. It has its foundation in the word of God, i.e. the word of God is being taught here. Yet, it takes the word of God and applies it practically to our lives today and it considers current events going on in the world, too. The purpose of the gift of prophecy is to speak words that edify (inform; educate; instruct; teach; improve) the church. And, it is for their spiritual growth in the Lord. The preaching of the word is often considered the spiritual gift of prophecy, but it is not confined only to men or to licensed ministers of the gospel. The apostle Paul told the Corinthian church that he wished they would all prophesy, though he also taught that the Holy Spirit gives gifts to men (and women) as he chooses.
When someone, thus, gives a message to the church that they believe is from the Lord, and is founded in the word of God in making the word practical and applicable to our lives today and to our world today, we should not just write off those prophecies just because they may not agree with the way we were taught (by men), or just because they may not agree with our theology (taught by men). We should test them against the word of God and in prayer to see whether or not they truly are of God. But, we must be in a right relationship with the Lord ourselves if we are to truly hear from the Lord in this matter. And, we must be willing for the Lord to show us things that may go against what man has taught us. If we automatically just throw away what others say is the Lord speaking to them, and for them to share with the church, then we might be in danger of putting out the Spirit’s fire. That is why it is important that we test everything, including our own hearts.
Concluding Remarks
Paul concluded his instructions to the church with what some might call a benediction. He spoke words to encourage the believers in their relationship with Jesus Christ. It was his hope for them that God would make them holy so that they could live lives pleasing to God in every way, in forsaking their sins, and in walking in obedience to Jesus Christ. It was his hope that they would remain faithful in their commitment to Christ to walk in obedience so that when the Lord Jesus Christ returned, he might find them walking in faith and in truth. And, truly, this is my hope for the church and for myself, as well.
The Peace of Christ / An Original Work / October 31, 2011
Based off of Col. 3:1-17; Eph. 5:19-20
Let the word of Christ dwell in you,
As you teach with all wisdom,
Teaching one another to not
Think on earthly things;
Think instead on things above,
Where Christ sits with God, in love,
Saving us from all of our sins,
Cleansing us; made new within.
Let the peace of Christ rule your hearts,
As you sing songs unto Him;
Speak to one another with psalms,
Hymns, and spir’tual songs;
Always giving thanks to God,
In the name of Christ, His Son,
Who gave His life up for us all,
And gave us eternal life.
Let the love of Christ within you
Rule in your hearts; grace within,
Purifying you from your sin,
Make you whole within.
Forgive as the Lord forgave.
Show His kindness ev’ry day.
In word or deed, whate’er you do,
Glory give to Jesus Christ.
http://youtu.be/tW7HXchJ9qE
Now we ask you, brothers, to respect those who work hard among you, who are over you in the Lord and who admonish you. Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other. And we urge you, brothers, warn those who are idle, encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone. Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else.
Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
Do not put out the Spirit’s fire; do not treat prophecies with contempt. Test everything. Hold on to the good. Avoid every kind of evil.
May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it.
Brothers, pray for us. Greet all the brothers with a holy kiss. I charge you before the Lord to have this letter read to all the brothers.
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
My Understanding: This last section of this letter to the Thessalonian believers in Christ contains a list of instructions for the church:
Respect those who work hard among you, who are over you in the Lord and who admonish you. Hold them in the highest regard because of their work.
To respect someone means to show him thoughtfulness and consideration; to give him due honor and attention; to value him; to acknowledge him; to give appropriate recognition to him; and to show him love and concern for his thoughts, feelings, wishes, position and/or authority. When we show respect to others, we do not take them for granted, we don’t take advantage of them, and we don’t mistreat them. Showing respect also shows consideration and thoughtfulness with regard to what is best for the individual, too, which may involve speaking the truth in love (tough love) in a respectful manner. This places their true needs above what might be their selfish wishes and desires. To show proper respect, though, never involves us compromising our faith, our values and/or to give way to sin in order to please another human being. Our first allegiance should always go to Jesus Christ.
The believers were asked here to show respect to those who work hard among them, who are over them in the Lord and who admonish them. They were to hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. We have to try to put ourselves in the place of the apostles here and to think like they thought. When they spoke of those who worked hard among the believers, they were speaking of those who worked hard in sharing the (whole) gospel of Jesus Christ, and of those who worked hard in nurturing, discipling, teaching, guiding and leading the people of God to turn from their sins, to walk in fellowship with the Lord, to obey Jesus Christ and his commands, and to live holy lives pleasing to God, etc.
They were not speaking of those who work hard at maintaining corporations and businesses created by men, of those who work hard at developing marketing schemes for how to build big “churches,” of those who busy themselves with planning all kinds of fun activities for church members to get involved in, of those who try to attract the world with worldly methods, or of those who water down the gospel message in order to make it more palatable to their listeners. We should still show proper respect even to these leaders, as their position of authority over us in the Lord dictates that we should do so, yet we should not hold them in high esteem and to honor them in such a way that validates them as though they are ones who are working hard for the sake of the gospel, and who are working hard for our spiritual growth and maturity, unless, of course, that is what they are doing.
Jesus told his disciples that they had to obey the Pharisees, other than in cases where they were being asked to disobey the Lord, but that they were not to do what the Pharisees did. They were not to become like them. Scriptures also warn us much against false teachers who change the gospel into something it is not. We are not to allow them to influence us in such a way that it leads us away from our pure devotion to Jesus Christ, or that it gets us to compromise our faith or the gospel message. The scriptures also warn us against becoming followers of men instead of followers of God. We don’t have to do what our leaders do, and we don’t have to buy into everything they teach, if it is clearly not of God. We still should show proper respect, as their position over us in the Lord dictates that we should do so, but we must be spiritually discerning about who we admire and who we hold in high esteem.
Live in peace with each other.
Jesus said: “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.” Yet, he also said: “Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to turn a man against his father, a daughter against her mother…” When Elizabeth gave birth to John, and Zechariah gave him the name “John,” Zechariah then prophesied concerning Jesus Christ. He spoke of his salvation, and how he has redeemed his people, and then he prophesied concerning his own son, and how he would go before Jesus “to prepare the way for him, to give his people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of sins, because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven to shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace” (see Luke 1). Jesus also said: “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” And: “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
So, obviously there is more than one meaning of the word “peace.” The world sees peace as the absence of all conflict, trouble, and of distress. Yet, this is not the kind of peace that Jesus promised us, nor that he intended when he spoke of peace. We do not become sons of God just because we avoid conflict with other human beings and because we make nice with everyone just so they will like us, even to the point of compromising our faith and the gospel just for the sake of “peace.” Jesus did not come to bring that kind of peace. In fact, he promised us that if we follow him, if we obey him, if we become his servants and his witnesses for the sake of his name and the sake of the gospel, that we will be hated, despised, rejected, afflicted, persecuted, and have false accusations spoken against us, etc. Even members of our own family (birth and church) will turn against us because of our faith and testimony for Jesus Christ and for the (whole) gospel.
So, a peacemaker is not one who compromises his faith and his commitment to Christ in order to avoid conflict with men, because true peace is not external, but is internal, despite what is going on externally. And, true peace only comes through genuine faith in Jesus Christ via repentance (turning from sin), forgiveness of sins, and a walk of fellowship with our Lord in which we obey his commands and we bow to his will and desires for our lives.
We cannot experience true peace with God if we are still walking in darkness. We cannot experience true peace with God if we are living in willful sin against the Lord Jesus. True peace comes with deliverance from bondage to sin. Then, when we are at peace with God, we can also be at peace with others, because we are no longer living to please our own selfish wills, but we are living to please God. Yet, this does not mean others will naturally be at peace with us if our walks of faith in Christ Jesus somehow bring offense to them (the cross is an offense to those who are perishing), to their positions of power (like the Pharisees were jealous and threatened by Jesus), or offend their beliefs that they can have God’s grace in their lives and still walk in sin, etc. That is why the scriptures teach us that we are to make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy, which means if we are living holy lives, we may not be able to be at peace with all men, i.e. they may not be at peace with us. That is why scripture also teaches us that, “If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.” We cannot control how others treat us.
Warn those who are idle.
A person who is idle is one who is “not working, operating, producing or in use; lazy and unwilling to work; and is frivolous and wastes time” (Encarta). Making money or not making money is not necessarily a consideration here, depending upon the person’s circumstances. If the person is the head of the household and is the primary provider for the family, then being idle could include not providing financially for his or her family, if he or she has the means to be able to do so. Volunteer work is still work, though. Yet, the bills must still be paid. So, each household must determine for themselves what income is necessary to maintain the family’s needs (not necessarily wants), and who must work for money and who can work at home in caring for the needs of the family and household, and/or in doing volunteer work. Biblically speaking, generally the woman is the one to stay at home, yet there are always exceptions to this based upon the family’s situation and needs. Yet, we must warn other believers against laziness and against doing nothing.
Encourage the timid. Help the weak. Be patient with everyone.
The timid are those who are fearful. We must encourage them to not be fearful, but to put their trust in the Lord and in his sovereignty over their lives and over their circumstances. We must help those who are weak physically and need physical assistance, as well as we must help those who are weak emotionally and/or spiritually by encouraging them in the Lord through sharing with them the truths of God’s words and by modeling for them how to live and to walk a life of faith in Jesus Christ. And, we must be patient with everyone. We don’t all grow in Christ at the same speed. Now, this does not mean we should ever tolerate or placate willful sin. We are to address matters of sin and to offer words of counsel and Biblical direction in these matters by leading the sinner toward repentance and a walk of obedience to Jesus Christ. Yet, we must not expect everyone else to grow at the same speed as us, and we must be willing to bear with them and to keep helping them unless they express that they just don’t want our help.
Make sure nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else.
We should not make it our goal to get even with people, but to forgive. Kindness has to do with doing what is good for the other person, not necessarily what he or she likes or what makes him or her feel good. In other words, if we make it our goal to always say things to people that they want to hear and that makes them feel good about themselves, and we choose not to ever confront them with the gospel of Jesus Christ or to tell them the truth about their sins, then that is not kindness, even though we may call it kindness. The kindest thing we can do for anyone is what brings the most spiritual benefit to the individual, and that helps them to grow in their faith and knowledge and hope in Jesus Christ. So, being kind means speaking the truth in love, not in flattering others so that they will like us. What is most important is that they love God, not that they like us.
Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
This is one that the Lord reminds me about from time to time when I get weighed down by the cares and concerns I have over the lives of those I love. He reminds me to be joyful, and to take everything to him in prayer, and to be thankful always in all circumstances. There is a scripture that even goes so far as to say that we should “leap for joy” when men hate us, when they exclude us, insult us and reject our names as evil because of our faith and our testimony for Jesus Christ. We are to rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is our reward in heaven (see Luke 6:20-23).
Do not put out the Spirit’s fire; do not treat prophecies with contempt. Test everything. Hold on to the good. Avoid every kind of evil.
A prophecy is a message given by the Lord for the church today through an individual believer. It has its foundation in the word of God, i.e. the word of God is being taught here. Yet, it takes the word of God and applies it practically to our lives today and it considers current events going on in the world, too. The purpose of the gift of prophecy is to speak words that edify (inform; educate; instruct; teach; improve) the church. And, it is for their spiritual growth in the Lord. The preaching of the word is often considered the spiritual gift of prophecy, but it is not confined only to men or to licensed ministers of the gospel. The apostle Paul told the Corinthian church that he wished they would all prophesy, though he also taught that the Holy Spirit gives gifts to men (and women) as he chooses.
When someone, thus, gives a message to the church that they believe is from the Lord, and is founded in the word of God in making the word practical and applicable to our lives today and to our world today, we should not just write off those prophecies just because they may not agree with the way we were taught (by men), or just because they may not agree with our theology (taught by men). We should test them against the word of God and in prayer to see whether or not they truly are of God. But, we must be in a right relationship with the Lord ourselves if we are to truly hear from the Lord in this matter. And, we must be willing for the Lord to show us things that may go against what man has taught us. If we automatically just throw away what others say is the Lord speaking to them, and for them to share with the church, then we might be in danger of putting out the Spirit’s fire. That is why it is important that we test everything, including our own hearts.
Concluding Remarks
Paul concluded his instructions to the church with what some might call a benediction. He spoke words to encourage the believers in their relationship with Jesus Christ. It was his hope for them that God would make them holy so that they could live lives pleasing to God in every way, in forsaking their sins, and in walking in obedience to Jesus Christ. It was his hope that they would remain faithful in their commitment to Christ to walk in obedience so that when the Lord Jesus Christ returned, he might find them walking in faith and in truth. And, truly, this is my hope for the church and for myself, as well.
The Peace of Christ / An Original Work / October 31, 2011
Based off of Col. 3:1-17; Eph. 5:19-20
Let the word of Christ dwell in you,
As you teach with all wisdom,
Teaching one another to not
Think on earthly things;
Think instead on things above,
Where Christ sits with God, in love,
Saving us from all of our sins,
Cleansing us; made new within.
Let the peace of Christ rule your hearts,
As you sing songs unto Him;
Speak to one another with psalms,
Hymns, and spir’tual songs;
Always giving thanks to God,
In the name of Christ, His Son,
Who gave His life up for us all,
And gave us eternal life.
Let the love of Christ within you
Rule in your hearts; grace within,
Purifying you from your sin,
Make you whole within.
Forgive as the Lord forgave.
Show His kindness ev’ry day.
In word or deed, whate’er you do,
Glory give to Jesus Christ.
http://youtu.be/tW7HXchJ9qE
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Cake and Icing
Tuesday, January 24, 2012, 8:30 a.m. – I woke for the second time this morning with the song, “Jesus, Rescue Me,” playing in my mind. I also woke from a dream.
THE DREAM: I was following a recipe for how to make a round layer cake, and for how to ice it. I made the cake from scratch. Then, I picked up a long and narrow rectangular-shaped box. Inside the box were many small boxes, and inside each of those boxes were tubes (or containers) of icing. The instructions had me apply layer after layer of various kinds of icing to this round layer cake, using some kind of kitchen tool to spread the icing around the cake.
The next to the last layer of icing was blue, and the last layer of icing was white, only I applied those two final layers to a white toilet, as well. I used the layers of blue and white to clean the toilet, I believe. END
Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening. I read I Thessalonians 4:13-5:11 (NIV 1984):
My Understanding: Just in looking at the definitions of the key words in this dream, alone, I saw that this cake represents some type of cover – “a thick layer of something that has collected over a period of time; that is to be divided up,” perhaps; and/or represents “a covering of dirt (mud), grease or grime,” such as something caked in mud, for instance. Since it is round, with a flat surface, I also saw it in relation to the earth/world/globe.
As well, the icing was applied in layers of different kinds of icing, one on top of the over, i.e. one layer of icing covering another, covering another. Icing is used for decoration (embellishment; making something look good outwardly), and is often a term associated with embellishing (stretching) or sugar-coating the truth. As well, to cover something can mean to conceal, hide, disguise, obscure or mask what is underneath. And, layers are also associated with covering something over top of something else, and/or it can involve levels of hierarchy in an organization, stages in a progression, steps in a process, or a series of events, one above the other in order of importance.
I was following a recipe for how to make this cake, so I was utilizing a formula; method; technique; instructions; and/or steps that I had been given and/or that I had acquired from someone else. In other words, I did not come up with this formula on my own, but I was following orders (instructions). I made the cake from scratch. Several words associated with the word “scratch” are withdraw; abandon; leave; delete; and/or scrap. And, the instructions told me to add these layers of various kinds of icing to the cake. The last two layers were applied to a white toilet, as well. A toilet is “a bowl-shaped fixture with a waste drain and a flushing device connected to a water supply, used for defecating and urinating.” A toilet is also a seat, and a seat is a center of administrative power. As well, a toilet is associated with the gutter, the sewer, with feces and with human waste, i.e. with vulgarity, nastiness, immorality, selfishness, greed, and unethical behavior.
The icing was supplied to me with instructions on how to apply it, and in what order of sequence. The icing was contained inside small boxes that were inside one large rectangular-shaped box. A box can be “a square or rectangular shape printed on paper, or on a computer screen, usually containing information or requiring information to be entered in it; and/or an enclosed area in a public building or at a sports venue, especially a theater, stadium, or racetrack, that contains the best and most luxurious seats.” A seat, again, is a center of administrative power, and in a democracy, these officials are elected by ballot, which very well could be what these individualized boxes within a larger box represent. In fact, I believe that is exactly what they represent.
Today’s News
I, as well as researching the definitions of these key terms, read several news stories, which I will reference below. The first story I read was an analysis on Romney’s defeat in the South Carolina primary and on his new approach going into the Florida primary. The article mentioned how Romney spent years assembling and/or developing his presidential candidacy, which was founded upon company achievement, a super spick-and-span image, and an impression or appearance of being the one people would choose to elect.
I immediately made a connection here to these layers of icing being applied to this cake which I had made (assembled), and how I believe they represent, in this case, Romney’s assembling of his own political career (the cake), and the layers of “icing” being these various accomplishments upon which he had based his success. I noted that two out of the three accomplishments had to do with image and appearance (icing layers) and how one of them had to do with a spick-and-span image, which brought to mind the toilet seat and how I had covered it with blue and white icing as a means of cleaning the seat. And, in all of this, I am reminded that I was just following someone else’s directions, which I believe means Romney is just following orders given to him by levels above him, and that he is just one of the boxes in a row of boxes that are filled with icing, and that are all part of one big box, I believe representing a global (round cake) order.
As well, Gingrich was mentioned in this article as having a sudden air or impression of being a person who puts the needs of others before his own, avoids confrontations, does favors, gives emotional support, etc. [Ref: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nice_guy] In other words, more layers of icing on the cake. Then, the article mentioned the Republican institution possibly having to layer more condemnations on Gingrich in this political boxing match. Again, I saw these layers of criticism on Gingrich as more layers of icing on the global cake.
In another article concerning Obama’s State of the Union Address and his political campaign for reelection, the article mentioned Obama’s political opponents as fighting (scratch; scrap) for the privilege of contesting with him. This brought to mind how I had made this cake from scratch (fights) and how I had made it using someone else’s instructions. Yet, they are not the only ones involved in this fight. Obama is coming out with his fists ready, too, and he, as well, is just following instructions given to him by someone else. And, all of the good things being said about his presidency and all the bad things he is saying about his opponents, and all the good things they are saying about their own political careers, and all the bad things they are saying about Obama are all the various kinds of icing being applied to this global “cake”, i.e. this global order that has consumed (and is still in process) the entire world, bringing the world under one rule of government. The book of Revelation talks about such a time when the beast will rule the earth for a time, times and half a time.
Then, I read a news article about Syria. This article mentioned international coercion and bullying, which is assembling or developing (like Romney’s political career) on Syria. This, again, has to do with this making of the cake by scratch (fighting) and under instructions by someone else. The international community is often associated with this new global order that is consuming the planet. Syria is being forced to make (like I made the cake) a countrywide unity administration in two months. The cake had two layers, one on top of the other. I believe this represents this “unity” government of this global order on top of national governments and joined together. In reading the news stories of the past several years concerning the various nations throughout the world that are experiencing, or have experienced uprisings and takeovers of governments, the Lord Jesus has continually revealed to me, his servant, how all of this is the working of this global order (the cake), and that these uprisings, demonstrations, battles, etc. are also the working of this global order, for that is how they are building their “unity” global government by force.
And, this includes these various movements within the U.S.A. to change how things are being done in Washington, too, and supposedly by the citizens of the U.S.A. who are concerned for making America a nation of the people, by the people and for the people once again. Yet, these are the working of this global order of government, including the Tea Party Movement, and the purpose is to bring the U.S.A. completely under this “unity” government (the global order), too. That brings me, thus, to the toilet seat, as I believe it represents the government of the USA being taken over by this global order. The blue is a color closely associated with this global order and white icing would thus represent some kind of whitewashing, i.e. trying to make it appear as something else other than what it is so that the American public does not yet see what is really happening in Washington. As well, this could reveal that we are already under this “unity” government and that the blue icing (the global government) is being covered by the white icing (the White House administration) to make it look like we are still under the government of the U.S.A.
To the Word
The passage of scripture I read is concerning the time of the Lord’s return. There is encouragement here for those who have had loved ones die in the Lord. We are not to grieve as those who have no hope, because the Lord Jesus will bring with him, when he returns, those who have died in him, i.e. those who have died physical deaths but who had the hope of eternal life with God through faith in Jesus Christ when they were still physically alive. When Jesus returns, the dead in Christ will rise first. Then, if we are still here on the face of the earth when he comes back, we will be “caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.” Amen!
None of us knows when that time will be. To those who are not watching and waiting for his return, he will come like a thief in the night. These are the people who are saying, “Peace and safety,” i.e. they are the ones who ignore the prophecies of scripture with regard to the last days, and to God’s judgments on the earth and on mankind, and they teach that everything is good and that things will get better. This reminds me of these various layers of icing on the cake being applied by our political leaders in Washington and by those vying for such political positions. They are all part of this larger order (global), and they are all working for the same power people, and are just following instructions on how to build this global order. And, their job is to convince us (lie to us) that they plan to make things better for us so that we will place our hope and trust in them. May that not be! They are not working for our good. Their plan is to betray our trust. So, may we be ones who place our hope and trust solely in God/Jesus Christ and in his word. God will never fail us!
I have heard many people quote I Thessalonians 5:2 – “for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night,” for believers in Christ Jesus, as though we should have absolutely no idea how soon we should expect our Lord’s return. Yet, this is speaking of those who walk in darkness and who deny the prophecies of scripture. For those of us who are “sons of the light and sons of the day,” the Lord’s return should not surprise us like a thief in the night, for we should be expecting him, and we should be able to discern the signs of the times, as well. In other words, we should believe what the Bible teaches so much so that we actually expect and should be observing and discerning the fulfillments of what the prophecies of scripture teach with regard to these last days, and we should realize, and should be able to discern the things that are going on around the world and in our nation and how these events fit in with Biblical prophecy and to the ultimate fulfillment of the prophecies with regard to the final days on the earth.
Yet, so many believers in Jesus are asleep and are buying into the lies of men, hook, line and sinker. They believe that if we vote in the right political candidate that we can make a better world for ourselves in the U.S.A. The Bible teaches us much about not putting our trust in “princes,” but that our trust should be in God alone. And, the Bible teaches us that things are going to go from bad to worse in our world, and not get better. It warns us much about liars and deceivers and about a time of a great deception, and yet so many professing Christians are buying right into the deception. They believe whatever they read in the news and the lies being fed to them by political candidates. They believe there really is a right and a left politically, and that our vote really matters. And, they close a blind eye to what is really going on all around the world and to how our own country and government is involved in what is happening globally. It is easier to believe the lies than to accept the truth. Yet, we need to be seekers of truth. We need to pray and ask the Lord Jesus to show us how prophecy of scripture is being fulfilled daily right before our eyes. And, we need to ask him to reveal to us any lies we are believing, and to show us where our true loyalties lie.
Instead of being asleep, we need to be awakened and to have our eyes opened to what is truly going on all around us. We need to be alert and self-controlled instead of being blind followers of men. We need to daily put on our spiritual armor with which to fight off Satan’s lies, including putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet (covering of protection for our minds and hearts). God did not appoint us as his followers to suffer wrath (eternal punishment in hell), but he appointed us to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. He died for our sins so that we could be free from the control of sin while we still live on the face of this earth, and he died so that we could live with him forever in heaven.
Many are true believers in Jesus who are just caught up in the deception of men on a political level and need to be awakened to what is going on around them in fulfillment of prophecy of scripture. Yet, others, some of whom are professing Christians, are truly spiritually asleep, but may have the false notion that they are alive, because they have believed lies of men concerning their own salvation. They need to have a spiritual awakening and to be rescued from Satan’s lies.
I pray that we would each examine our hearts before God to see whether or not we are truly in Christ Jesus, so that we have that hope of eternity with God. True faith involves repentance (turning from sin) and obedience to Jesus Christ. And, I pray that all believers in Jesus Christ would seek God’s face, inquiring of him with regard to any lies of men they are believing, and any allegiances or alliances with men they have that are not of God, and that they would ask God to reveal to them how prophecy of scripture is being fulfilled right before their eyes on a daily basis, so that they are discerning of the times, and so they are spiritually prepared and ready for the events of the last days, and for Christ’s return.
Jesus, Rescue Me / An Original Work / September 18, 2011
Based off of Romans 7:7-8:39
Jesus, rescue me today.
Listen while I bow and pray.
I need Your help to obey You;
Live for You always.
Meet me in my hour of need, Lord,
As I pray to You.
Help me walk in fellowship, Lord,
Living in Your truth.
Jesus, how I long for You to
Change my heart anew.
Father, God, my heart’s desire
Is to live for You this hour
In Your Holy Spirit’s power
Living in me now.
Teach me to walk in Your love, Lord,
Guiding me each day.
Help me to show love and kindness
To the lost, I pray.
Father, teach me to love others
As You love always.
Holy Spirit come in pow’r.
Revive our hearts in this hour.
Change our hearts to be like You, Lord;
Live for You each day.
Help us to forsake our sins, Lord,
As we humbly pray.
Teach us how to live for You, Lord,
Obey You always.
Holy Spirit come in power,
Revive us today.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SSILqpD-WJA
Resources:
Encarta Dictionary (all definitions unless otherwise noted)
Analysis: Romney tries pit bull approach in Fla.
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_GOP_DEBATE_ANALYSIS?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2012-01-24-07-02-20
Obama to take on economy in State of the Union
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_STATE_OF_THE_UNION?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2012-01-24-07-44-47
FM says Syria has duty to confront armed groups
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/M/ML_SYRIA?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2012-01-24-08-56-13
JFK library to release last of his secret tapes
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_KENNEDY_TAPES?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2012-01-24-06-28-35
THE DREAM: I was following a recipe for how to make a round layer cake, and for how to ice it. I made the cake from scratch. Then, I picked up a long and narrow rectangular-shaped box. Inside the box were many small boxes, and inside each of those boxes were tubes (or containers) of icing. The instructions had me apply layer after layer of various kinds of icing to this round layer cake, using some kind of kitchen tool to spread the icing around the cake.
The next to the last layer of icing was blue, and the last layer of icing was white, only I applied those two final layers to a white toilet, as well. I used the layers of blue and white to clean the toilet, I believe. END
Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening. I read I Thessalonians 4:13-5:11 (NIV 1984):
The Coming of the Lord
Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope. We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. According to the Lord’s own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage each other with these words.
Now, brothers, about times and dates we do not need to write to you, for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying, “Peace and safety,” destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.
But you, brothers, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief. You are all sons of the light and sons of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be alert and self-controlled. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night. But since we belong to the day, let us be self-controlled, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet. For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.
My Understanding: Just in looking at the definitions of the key words in this dream, alone, I saw that this cake represents some type of cover – “a thick layer of something that has collected over a period of time; that is to be divided up,” perhaps; and/or represents “a covering of dirt (mud), grease or grime,” such as something caked in mud, for instance. Since it is round, with a flat surface, I also saw it in relation to the earth/world/globe.
As well, the icing was applied in layers of different kinds of icing, one on top of the over, i.e. one layer of icing covering another, covering another. Icing is used for decoration (embellishment; making something look good outwardly), and is often a term associated with embellishing (stretching) or sugar-coating the truth. As well, to cover something can mean to conceal, hide, disguise, obscure or mask what is underneath. And, layers are also associated with covering something over top of something else, and/or it can involve levels of hierarchy in an organization, stages in a progression, steps in a process, or a series of events, one above the other in order of importance.
I was following a recipe for how to make this cake, so I was utilizing a formula; method; technique; instructions; and/or steps that I had been given and/or that I had acquired from someone else. In other words, I did not come up with this formula on my own, but I was following orders (instructions). I made the cake from scratch. Several words associated with the word “scratch” are withdraw; abandon; leave; delete; and/or scrap. And, the instructions told me to add these layers of various kinds of icing to the cake. The last two layers were applied to a white toilet, as well. A toilet is “a bowl-shaped fixture with a waste drain and a flushing device connected to a water supply, used for defecating and urinating.” A toilet is also a seat, and a seat is a center of administrative power. As well, a toilet is associated with the gutter, the sewer, with feces and with human waste, i.e. with vulgarity, nastiness, immorality, selfishness, greed, and unethical behavior.
The icing was supplied to me with instructions on how to apply it, and in what order of sequence. The icing was contained inside small boxes that were inside one large rectangular-shaped box. A box can be “a square or rectangular shape printed on paper, or on a computer screen, usually containing information or requiring information to be entered in it; and/or an enclosed area in a public building or at a sports venue, especially a theater, stadium, or racetrack, that contains the best and most luxurious seats.” A seat, again, is a center of administrative power, and in a democracy, these officials are elected by ballot, which very well could be what these individualized boxes within a larger box represent. In fact, I believe that is exactly what they represent.
Today’s News
I, as well as researching the definitions of these key terms, read several news stories, which I will reference below. The first story I read was an analysis on Romney’s defeat in the South Carolina primary and on his new approach going into the Florida primary. The article mentioned how Romney spent years assembling and/or developing his presidential candidacy, which was founded upon company achievement, a super spick-and-span image, and an impression or appearance of being the one people would choose to elect.
I immediately made a connection here to these layers of icing being applied to this cake which I had made (assembled), and how I believe they represent, in this case, Romney’s assembling of his own political career (the cake), and the layers of “icing” being these various accomplishments upon which he had based his success. I noted that two out of the three accomplishments had to do with image and appearance (icing layers) and how one of them had to do with a spick-and-span image, which brought to mind the toilet seat and how I had covered it with blue and white icing as a means of cleaning the seat. And, in all of this, I am reminded that I was just following someone else’s directions, which I believe means Romney is just following orders given to him by levels above him, and that he is just one of the boxes in a row of boxes that are filled with icing, and that are all part of one big box, I believe representing a global (round cake) order.
As well, Gingrich was mentioned in this article as having a sudden air or impression of being a person who puts the needs of others before his own, avoids confrontations, does favors, gives emotional support, etc. [Ref: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nice_guy] In other words, more layers of icing on the cake. Then, the article mentioned the Republican institution possibly having to layer more condemnations on Gingrich in this political boxing match. Again, I saw these layers of criticism on Gingrich as more layers of icing on the global cake.
In another article concerning Obama’s State of the Union Address and his political campaign for reelection, the article mentioned Obama’s political opponents as fighting (scratch; scrap) for the privilege of contesting with him. This brought to mind how I had made this cake from scratch (fights) and how I had made it using someone else’s instructions. Yet, they are not the only ones involved in this fight. Obama is coming out with his fists ready, too, and he, as well, is just following instructions given to him by someone else. And, all of the good things being said about his presidency and all the bad things he is saying about his opponents, and all the good things they are saying about their own political careers, and all the bad things they are saying about Obama are all the various kinds of icing being applied to this global “cake”, i.e. this global order that has consumed (and is still in process) the entire world, bringing the world under one rule of government. The book of Revelation talks about such a time when the beast will rule the earth for a time, times and half a time.
Then, I read a news article about Syria. This article mentioned international coercion and bullying, which is assembling or developing (like Romney’s political career) on Syria. This, again, has to do with this making of the cake by scratch (fighting) and under instructions by someone else. The international community is often associated with this new global order that is consuming the planet. Syria is being forced to make (like I made the cake) a countrywide unity administration in two months. The cake had two layers, one on top of the other. I believe this represents this “unity” government of this global order on top of national governments and joined together. In reading the news stories of the past several years concerning the various nations throughout the world that are experiencing, or have experienced uprisings and takeovers of governments, the Lord Jesus has continually revealed to me, his servant, how all of this is the working of this global order (the cake), and that these uprisings, demonstrations, battles, etc. are also the working of this global order, for that is how they are building their “unity” global government by force.
And, this includes these various movements within the U.S.A. to change how things are being done in Washington, too, and supposedly by the citizens of the U.S.A. who are concerned for making America a nation of the people, by the people and for the people once again. Yet, these are the working of this global order of government, including the Tea Party Movement, and the purpose is to bring the U.S.A. completely under this “unity” government (the global order), too. That brings me, thus, to the toilet seat, as I believe it represents the government of the USA being taken over by this global order. The blue is a color closely associated with this global order and white icing would thus represent some kind of whitewashing, i.e. trying to make it appear as something else other than what it is so that the American public does not yet see what is really happening in Washington. As well, this could reveal that we are already under this “unity” government and that the blue icing (the global government) is being covered by the white icing (the White House administration) to make it look like we are still under the government of the U.S.A.
To the Word
The passage of scripture I read is concerning the time of the Lord’s return. There is encouragement here for those who have had loved ones die in the Lord. We are not to grieve as those who have no hope, because the Lord Jesus will bring with him, when he returns, those who have died in him, i.e. those who have died physical deaths but who had the hope of eternal life with God through faith in Jesus Christ when they were still physically alive. When Jesus returns, the dead in Christ will rise first. Then, if we are still here on the face of the earth when he comes back, we will be “caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.” Amen!
None of us knows when that time will be. To those who are not watching and waiting for his return, he will come like a thief in the night. These are the people who are saying, “Peace and safety,” i.e. they are the ones who ignore the prophecies of scripture with regard to the last days, and to God’s judgments on the earth and on mankind, and they teach that everything is good and that things will get better. This reminds me of these various layers of icing on the cake being applied by our political leaders in Washington and by those vying for such political positions. They are all part of this larger order (global), and they are all working for the same power people, and are just following instructions on how to build this global order. And, their job is to convince us (lie to us) that they plan to make things better for us so that we will place our hope and trust in them. May that not be! They are not working for our good. Their plan is to betray our trust. So, may we be ones who place our hope and trust solely in God/Jesus Christ and in his word. God will never fail us!
I have heard many people quote I Thessalonians 5:2 – “for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night,” for believers in Christ Jesus, as though we should have absolutely no idea how soon we should expect our Lord’s return. Yet, this is speaking of those who walk in darkness and who deny the prophecies of scripture. For those of us who are “sons of the light and sons of the day,” the Lord’s return should not surprise us like a thief in the night, for we should be expecting him, and we should be able to discern the signs of the times, as well. In other words, we should believe what the Bible teaches so much so that we actually expect and should be observing and discerning the fulfillments of what the prophecies of scripture teach with regard to these last days, and we should realize, and should be able to discern the things that are going on around the world and in our nation and how these events fit in with Biblical prophecy and to the ultimate fulfillment of the prophecies with regard to the final days on the earth.
Yet, so many believers in Jesus are asleep and are buying into the lies of men, hook, line and sinker. They believe that if we vote in the right political candidate that we can make a better world for ourselves in the U.S.A. The Bible teaches us much about not putting our trust in “princes,” but that our trust should be in God alone. And, the Bible teaches us that things are going to go from bad to worse in our world, and not get better. It warns us much about liars and deceivers and about a time of a great deception, and yet so many professing Christians are buying right into the deception. They believe whatever they read in the news and the lies being fed to them by political candidates. They believe there really is a right and a left politically, and that our vote really matters. And, they close a blind eye to what is really going on all around the world and to how our own country and government is involved in what is happening globally. It is easier to believe the lies than to accept the truth. Yet, we need to be seekers of truth. We need to pray and ask the Lord Jesus to show us how prophecy of scripture is being fulfilled daily right before our eyes. And, we need to ask him to reveal to us any lies we are believing, and to show us where our true loyalties lie.
Instead of being asleep, we need to be awakened and to have our eyes opened to what is truly going on all around us. We need to be alert and self-controlled instead of being blind followers of men. We need to daily put on our spiritual armor with which to fight off Satan’s lies, including putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet (covering of protection for our minds and hearts). God did not appoint us as his followers to suffer wrath (eternal punishment in hell), but he appointed us to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. He died for our sins so that we could be free from the control of sin while we still live on the face of this earth, and he died so that we could live with him forever in heaven.
Many are true believers in Jesus who are just caught up in the deception of men on a political level and need to be awakened to what is going on around them in fulfillment of prophecy of scripture. Yet, others, some of whom are professing Christians, are truly spiritually asleep, but may have the false notion that they are alive, because they have believed lies of men concerning their own salvation. They need to have a spiritual awakening and to be rescued from Satan’s lies.
I pray that we would each examine our hearts before God to see whether or not we are truly in Christ Jesus, so that we have that hope of eternity with God. True faith involves repentance (turning from sin) and obedience to Jesus Christ. And, I pray that all believers in Jesus Christ would seek God’s face, inquiring of him with regard to any lies of men they are believing, and any allegiances or alliances with men they have that are not of God, and that they would ask God to reveal to them how prophecy of scripture is being fulfilled right before their eyes on a daily basis, so that they are discerning of the times, and so they are spiritually prepared and ready for the events of the last days, and for Christ’s return.
Jesus, Rescue Me / An Original Work / September 18, 2011
Based off of Romans 7:7-8:39
Jesus, rescue me today.
Listen while I bow and pray.
I need Your help to obey You;
Live for You always.
Meet me in my hour of need, Lord,
As I pray to You.
Help me walk in fellowship, Lord,
Living in Your truth.
Jesus, how I long for You to
Change my heart anew.
Father, God, my heart’s desire
Is to live for You this hour
In Your Holy Spirit’s power
Living in me now.
Teach me to walk in Your love, Lord,
Guiding me each day.
Help me to show love and kindness
To the lost, I pray.
Father, teach me to love others
As You love always.
Holy Spirit come in pow’r.
Revive our hearts in this hour.
Change our hearts to be like You, Lord;
Live for You each day.
Help us to forsake our sins, Lord,
As we humbly pray.
Teach us how to live for You, Lord,
Obey You always.
Holy Spirit come in power,
Revive us today.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SSILqpD-WJA
Resources:
Encarta Dictionary (all definitions unless otherwise noted)
Analysis: Romney tries pit bull approach in Fla.
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_GOP_DEBATE_ANALYSIS?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2012-01-24-07-02-20
Obama to take on economy in State of the Union
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_STATE_OF_THE_UNION?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2012-01-24-07-44-47
FM says Syria has duty to confront armed groups
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/M/ML_SYRIA?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2012-01-24-08-56-13
JFK library to release last of his secret tapes
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_KENNEDY_TAPES?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2012-01-24-06-28-35
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