A Living Sacrifice

Wednesday, April 09, 2014, 10:00 a.m. – the Lord Jesus put the song in mind “All Through the Night.” Speak, Lord, your words to my heart. I read Romans 12 (NIV).

Pleasing to God

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

Because of what Jesus Christ did for us in dying for our sins so that we could go free from the power of sin over our lives, we are strongly encouraged here to offer ourselves to God as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God. To sacrifice something means to forgo, forfeit, surrender, give up and/or let go of something which we might naturally want to hold on to. In this case, the offering is “prescribed by God; hence an offering the Lord accepts because it is offered on His terms” (Source: http://biblehub.com/greek/2378.htm). In other words, the correct and appropriate response to God’s love, grace and mercy toward us is for us to surrender and submit our lives (mind, heart, soul and body) to him, and for his purposes.

When we come to faith in Jesus Christ, by God’s grace and the working of the Holy Spirit in our lives, we are crucified with Christ so that we (the “I” in us) no longer live, but Christ now lives within us, and the lives we live, we live by faith in the Son of God who gave himself up for us (See Gal. 2:20). We died to sin, so that we should no longer live in it (See Ro. 6). He died so we would no longer live for ourselves but for him who died for us (See 2 Co. 5:15). This is our true and proper worship of him to give ourselves to God in order to live holy lives pleasing to him, no longer conformed to the ways of this sinful world, but transformed by the Spirit of God within us in the renewing of our minds away from sin and toward walking in God’s righteousness and holiness (See Eph. 4:17-24; Ac. 26:16-18; Tit. 2:11-14).

With this attitude in mind, we are then able to do the following by God’s grace and mercy and love within us, and in his power and strength and life working in and out through us.

Humble in Heart

For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.

If we have truly died to sin, in the power and working of the Spirit of God within us, and we have been transformed in heart and mind away from sin and toward walking in Christ’s righteousness and holiness, and the life of Christ is now being lived out through us, and we have given our lives over to God as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to him, although our flesh may still fight against us at times, we can, by the grace of God, live lives of humility and service to others. We can have the appropriate self-image which sees ourselves through God’s eyes, both in seeing where we have come from, and what we have become by God’s grace, so that we do not exalt ourselves beyond measure, nor do we degrade ourselves.

Sincere in Love

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

In Christ Jesus we can thus have sincere love for one another. Not all of what we call “love” is truly sincere or truly love, though. Sometimes we get this “Hollywood” or “Cultural” or “Societal” idea of what love is instead of the Biblical teaching on what love is, and thus we end up doing and saying things in the name of “love” which are actually contradictory to what true love is really all about. True love cares more about the true needs of others than it does about itself, often risking its own reputation and acceptance in order to demonstrate divine love and grace to others. Divine love hates what is evil and it clings to what is good. It does not placate evil (sin), it is not entertained by it, and it does not ignore it in favor of making others “feel good” about themselves. True love shows compassion, mercy, kindness, generosity, and affection, et al, yet it is not false to those whom it claims to love all in the name of “love and kindness.” True love is sincere, honest, open, genuine and straight. It never compromises truth, faith and commitment to God for acceptance of others.

Live in Harmony

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

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

“If your enemy is hungry, feed him;

    if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.

In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”

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

When we have truly died to sin by God’s grace, and we have given ourselves to God as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to him as our true and proper worship of him, we will most likely face persecution and even hatred from those who oppose or who are disposed to being indifferent to such a relationship with God/Christ. Yet, we are not to trade “tit for tat,” but we are instead to treat our enemies well and/or to speak well of them, not in insincerity or in false flattery, but we should treat them with kindness and not in retaliation. We should not rejoice over sin and wrongdoing, but we should share in other’s joys as is appropriate, as well as we should sympathize with them in their sorrows, again as is appropriate for God’s holy people.

As far as it depends on us, we should live at peace with everyone. Yet, we should never compromise our faith and convictions or the word of God, nor should we deny Christ in order to please humans. We are to live to please God, not humankind. Yet, as far as we are able to please others and to be at peace with them without compromising our faith and convictions, we should do so. We should treat our enemies with kindness and respect, giving to them as they have need, and as we are able, yet we should not become one with them thinking that is the way to “win” them to Christ. We should continue to stand for Christ and for the gospel of Jesus Christ and to give ourselves to God as living sacrifices even in the face of severe persecution and hatred directed toward us.

All Through the Night / An Original Work / December 7, 2013

Based off Various Scriptures

Blessed are you when you’re persecuted

Because of your faith in Jesus Christ.

Blessed are you when people insult you,

And falsely say what leads folks to doubt.

Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is

Great in the heavens. You’re not alone.

When you are persecuted in one place,

Flee to another. God will be there.

You will be hated by all the nations

Because you testify of God’s grace.

Many will seize you and persecute you,

And put to death the foll’wers of Christ.

Yet, do not fear what humans may do to you,

For I’m with you all through the night.

I tell you, love your enemies with my love,

And forgive as I forgave you.

Pray for those who do evil against you.

Rest in my love and grace from above.

http://originalworks.info/all-through-the-night/

Did They Hear?

Tuesday, April 08, 2014, 6:00 a.m. – The Lord Jesus put the song in mind, “Only in Him.” Speak, Lord, your words to my heart. I read Romans 10 (NIV).

Zealous for God?

Brothers and sisters, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for the Israelites is that they may be saved. For I can testify about them that they are zealous for God, but their zeal is not based on knowledge. Since they did not know the righteousness of God and sought to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness. Christ is the culmination of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes.

Paul was obviously addressing these words to the matter of his people, the Jews, who had not yet trusted in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior of their lives. So, his comments were specific to a unique group of people who were unlike any others in the history of man. They had been God’s chosen people, yet when they rejected God’s Son, Jesus Christ, as their Lord and Messiah, they ceased to be God’s chosen people. He cut the nation of Israel off from the vine, though not all Jews disbelieved. Many did trust in Christ Jesus as their Savior.

They were once, as a people group, God’s chosen ones and the children of the promise. Now they are among the unbelieving and are no longer, as a people group, or as a nation, the children of promise. Instead, the children of promise are now all those who have trusted in Jesus Christ to be Lord and Savior of their lives, whether Jew by birth or Gentile (non-Jew) by birth. So, there is no exact parallel we can make here to any other people other than to the Jewish nation, yet there are Biblical principles here that can be applied, I believe, both to the unsaved (in/out of the church) and to the idolatrous and adulterous church of today.

There are many in today’s world, I am most confident, who are part of the institutional church who call themselves Christians, and who believe they are numbered among God’s elect, and yet they never made a genuine decision to truly trust in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior of their lives. They may be religious, and they may be faithful in going through forms of religion and religious practice, but they lack a vital and personal relationship with Almighty God through personal faith in Jesus Christ. They do not have the Spirit of God within them because they were never ever truly born again of the Spirit of God.

As well, I believe there are many in today’s church who had genuine faith in Christ when they first believed, but at some point in time their trust in God began to give way to the cares or temptations of this world and so now they live for themselves and for what they want and desire. Grieving the Spirit of God, they make their own plans without consulting God, and they rely heavily upon the teachings and philosophies of humankind, which are often in direct contrast to the teachings of scripture. Even though God’s righteousness has been credited to them via Jesus’ shed blood for our sins and their faith in him, they now go their own way with little thought or regard for God’s way of righteousness, and with little to no submission thereof in their daily practice (See the letters to the churches in Rev. 2-3).

Believe and Confess

Moses writes this about the righteousness that is by the law: “The person who does these things will live by them.” But the righteousness that is by faith says: “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’” (that is, to bring Christ down) “or ‘Who will descend into the deep?’” (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). But what does it say? “The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,” that is, the message concerning faith that we proclaim: If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. As Scripture says, “Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.” For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

For a Jewish person in that day to confess Jesus Christ as Lord of their lives, and to believe in his sacrifice for our sins on the cross, and in his resurrection, would not be unlike anyone of another religion today (not associated with Christianity in any way) making the decision to believe in Jesus Christ and then making public testimony to such faith. It would mean possible loss of job, income, family, friends, associations and reputation, as well as it could mean being rejected, ostracized, kicked out of family and home, much persecution and perhaps even imprisonment, beatings and death for their faith. It was no small matter for a Jew of that day to believe in Jesus Christ.

So, to translate these words into American culture today is difficult, for they do not hold the same weight. Confessing with our mouths that Jesus Christ is Lord, or even believing that he died and rose again, can be little more than intellectual acknowledgment of such or an emotional experience of the moment with no heart transformation of the Spirit of God actually taking place, for such a confession may have little impact on one’s life here.

So, to confess with our mouths that Jesus is Lord must bear the weight with it that we have trusted in him as Lord (master; ruler) of our lives, and to believe in his death for our sins and in his resurrection must also carry with it the idea of trust in him which submits to his righteousness, and which cooperates with his work of grace in our lives in turning our hearts from the darkness of sin to the light of Christ; and from the power of Satan and sin over our lives to the rule and authority of God Almighty over our lives, so that we submit ourselves to that authority. As well, to call on the name of the Lord must mean more than just verbally speaking his name or saying a prayer, but must bear the weight of calling upon him in faith, trusting in his salvation, resting in his love and mercy, and yielding to his Lordship. (See Ac. 26:16-18; Ro. 6-8; Gal. 2:20; Eph. 4:17-24; Tit. 2:11-14 and 1 Jn. 1-5.)

Did They Hear?

How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”

But not all the Israelites accepted the good news. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our message?” Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ. But I ask: Did they not hear? Of course they did:

“Their voice has gone out into all the earth,

    their words to the ends of the world.”

Again I ask: Did Israel not understand? First, Moses says,

“I will make you envious by those who are not a nation;

    I will make you angry by a nation that has no understanding.”

And Isaiah boldly says,

“I was found by those who did not seek me;

    I revealed myself to those who did not ask for me.”

But concerning Israel he says,

“All day long I have held out my hands

    to a disobedient and obstinate people.”

The Jewish people were given the promise of the Messiah to come all throughout the writings of the prophets of old. They were not without knowledge that God intended to send them a Savior for their sins. They were the people of God. They knew his grace, love, presence, provisions, providence, care, justice and mercy. Yet, when he sent his Son, their Messiah, and although he revealed himself to them in many ways, still, as a people group, they refused to accept him and instead they hung him on a cross to die, as though he was a common criminal. They were the first to receive the message of the gospel of salvation, yet, as a nation, they rejected the gospel and chose, instead, to continue in their old ways. So, their lack of faith was not due to lack of knowledge or due to not hearing the gospel. They heard! They just refused to believe. So, God was holding out his hands to a disobedient and obstinate people who refused his Son and his provision of the promised Messiah and his salvation for their lives from sin.

Today, in America, we are not hurting for knowledge of Jesus Christ and his gospel, nor are we in want of the scriptures, for Bibles can be purchased anywhere almost. Spirit-led music and the hymns of old and preaching can be heard on many radio stations, TV channels and on the internet, including on YouTube. There are no real serious constraints in place yet which prevent us from hearing the gospel or from believing in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior of our lives. But, I believe a time of severe persecution is in order for us.

Again, although there is no exact parallel to the Jews’ situation here, I believe that there are many professing Christians here in America, and throughout the world, who have also not believed in Jesus Christ; and who have not truly trusted in him and submitted to his righteousness. As well, I believe there are those within the church who have made Christ their Savior by his grace through faith but have since wandered off to follow after the gods of this world, and who have forsaken their first love, and/or who have fallen back into the ways of this world. I believe that God is presently speaking loud and clear to the gatherings of his church throughout the world, inviting the unbelieving among them to faith in Christ, and calling out to his rebellious ones to return to the Lord, and to find their trust to be only in him.

ONLY IN HIM / An Original Work / February 19, 2014

Based off Isaiah 30

Woe to those who look to man’s help;

Who turn away from Jesus Christ;

Forming an alliance not in step with God;

Making their own plans, and praying not.

Willing not to listen to truth,

They close their ears to what is right.

Pleasing words are all that they’ll hear;

Feel good messages that bring cheer.

Trust in your Lord; turn from your sin.

Put your faith now ONLY IN HIM.

Do not turn to idols. They’ll not satisfy.

Jesus will save you. That’s why He died.

Your Lord will be gracious to you.

He cares all about you, ‘tis true.

He forgives you all of your sin

When you give your life up to Him.

Oh, how truly gracious He’ll be

When you bow to Him on your knees;

Turning now from your sin; walking in his ways.

He’ll lead and guide you all of your days.

Now you will sing praises to Him.

He delivered you from your sin.

You’ll tell others now of His grace,

So they may see Christ face-to-face.

http://originalworks.info/only-in-him/

In Christ Jesus

Monday, April 07, 2014, 8:49 a.m. – the Lord Jesus put the song in mind, “His Tender Mercies.” Speak, Lord, your words to my heart. I read Romans 8 (NASB).

How do we become “In Christ Jesus”?

Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death. For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God did: sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh, so that the requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.

There is no condemnation (no guilty verdict; and no damnatory sentence of eternal punishment in hell) for those who are “in Christ Jesus.” So, how do we get to be “in Christ Jesus”? Well, first of all, we must understand that, as humans, we are born into sin, bearing the image of Adam, and separated from God. We are destined to die in our sins, to remain eternally separated from God, and to face eternal punishment in hell. Then, we must know and understand that God sent his Son Jesus Christ (God the Son) to earth in the likeness of sinful flesh to be our sin offering, though he remained sinless. In his death on a cross (in his crucifixion) he put our sins to death, nailing them to the cross with him, burying them with him, and conquering them through his resurrection. He died for the sins of the whole world.

Yet, not all are saved. We must individually make the decision to accept God’s invitation to his great salvation by faith – a faith which is a gift from God, I believe, as is God’s grace to us in providing the way of salvation (See Eph. 2:8-9). By faith we appropriate to our individual lives what Christ Jesus did for us on the cross in dying for our sins. In other words, this faith willingly agrees to allow the Spirit of God to transform our lives out of the darkness of sin into the light of Christ and his salvation, which he provided in his death. This faith cooperates with God’s work of grace in our lives in turning us away from living for sin and self to lives which are given over to Jesus Christ and to walking in his righteousness and holiness (See Ac. 26:16-18; Eph. 4:17-24; Ro. 6; Gal. 2:20; Tit. 2:11-14 and 1 Jn. 1-5). 

What does “In Christ Jesus” look like?

For those who are according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace, because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so, and those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him. If Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, yet the spirit is alive because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.

So then, brethren, we are under obligation, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh— for if you are living according to the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God…

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us…

If we are in Christ Jesus, we do not live (in lifestyle; in daily practice) according to the sinful nature, but according to the Spirit of God. We have our minds set (firm; determined; resolute) on what the Spirit desires, not on what our sinful flesh desires. We know and experience God’s life and peace within us. Although our bodies may see death, we will live on forever with God in glory. We submit to God’s law (his precepts; teachings; instructions; his word). We desire to and live to please God. We are controlled by the Spirit of God and not by the sinful nature. Our spirits are alive because of Christ’s righteousness. We are obligated to not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit, and so, by the Spirit, we put to death the misdeeds of the body. As well, we are led (directed; managed; guided) by the Spirit of God. And, we share in his sufferings. God, in love, predestined us to be conformed to the image (likeness) of his Son, Jesus Christ. [See also Ro. 6; 1 Jn. 1-5]

What are some of the benefits and/or blessings of being “In Christ Jesus”?

In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words; and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.

And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose…

What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things? Who will bring a charge against God’s elect? God is the one who justifies; who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us. Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? Just as it is written,

“For Your sake we are being put to death all day long;
We were considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”

But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

When we are “In Christ Jesus”:

·         The Holy Spirit helps us in our times of weakness

·         He intercedes for us when we don’t know what to pray

·         In all things God works for the good of us who love him

·         With God on our side, no adversity can prevail against us

·         God’s grace will be more than sufficient to help us through everything

·         Nothing can separate us from God’s/Christ’s love

·         In all tribulation, distress, persecution, etc. we are able to overwhelmingly conquer through him who loved (loves) us

His Tender Mercies / An Original Work / January 26, 2014

Fear not! I’m with you.

Be not dismayed!

God watches o’er you.

Trust Him today.

He’ll lead and guide you;

Give you His aid.

He’ll love and keep you

With Him always.

Walk in His footsteps.

He’ll lead the way.

Trust in His love;

Believe that He cares.

He will not leave you.

Faithful He’ll be.

His tender mercies

Now you will see.

Fellowship with Him

Throughout the day.

Tell Him your heartaches.

He’ll heal always.

Rest in His comfort.

He is your friend.

Your faith He’ll strengthen,

True to the end.

http://originalworks.info/his-tender-mercies/

Under Grace

Saturday, April 05, 2014, 4:30 a.m. – The Lord Jesus put in mind the song “Give Me Jesus.” Speak, Lord, your words to my heart. I read Romans 6 (NIV).

A New Life

What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.

For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his. For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin— because anyone who has died has been set free from sin.

To baptize literally means to dip under, immerse, to sink and/or to submerge. Another meaning is “to make clean with water” (Source: http://biblehub.com/greek/907.htm). To immerse means to engross, engage, occupy and/or to throw yourself into or to absorb yourself in something. To “dip under,” in this context, means: “to immerse yourself into a condition of subjection” (enslavement; under the control of another). [Source: Merriam-Webster Dictionary] In other words, to be “baptized” into Christ involves so much more than just to follow his example of water baptism as a symbol of our faith in Christ, but rather it also carries with it the idea of willingly bringing ourselves underneath his authority, dying to and immersing ourselves in death to sin, so that we may live a new life in Christ Jesus.

So, coming to faith in Jesus Christ means so much more than just the promise of eternity with God in heaven. It means so much more than just the receiving of spiritual blessings from above – joy, peace, etc. It also means so much more than just the promise of Christ’s enduring love, mercy, grace, forgiveness and kindness towards us; and his continued presence, counsel, strength and power abiding within us. True faith in Jesus Christ means death to sin, willingly submitting ourselves to God’s work of grace in our lives in crucifying the sinful nature so that we can live for God in his righteousness and holiness. This is not optional! This is what our salvation is all about. We are not saved just so we can go to heaven one day. We are saved so we can be set free from slavery (bondage) to sin while we still walk the face of this earth. Jesus died so that our bodies (lives) which were once given over to sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin.

Alive to God

Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him. The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God. In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus.

Something jumped out at me in these verses that had not stood out to me before. In verse ten it says, “The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God.” What stood out to me is how verse ten fits with the next verse which says, “In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus.”

Jesus Christ not only made the way possible for us to be saved, but he set the example for us to show us what his salvation entails for us. In other words, he died to sin, so we are also to die to sin. Now he was sinless, yet when he died he took upon himself the sins of the entire world so that he could put our sins to death. Yet, it doesn’t end there. We are saved, not only by his grace, but by faith, which he gives us, but which we must willingly appropriate to our lives. This faith is not just an experience, a religion, an emotion, thought or a feeling. True faith willingly dies with Christ to sin, and it willingly lives to God; alive to God in Christ Jesus (cf. Lu. 9:23-25; Eph. 4:17-24; Tit. 2:11-14; Gal. 2:20; 1 Jn. 1-5).

Slaves to Righteousness

Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer every part of yourself to him as an instrument of righteousness. For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace.

What then? Shall we sin because we are not under the law but under grace? By no means! Don’t you know that when you offer yourselves to someone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one you obey—whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness? But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you have come to obey from your heart the pattern of teaching that has now claimed your allegiance. You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness.

I am using an example from everyday life because of your human limitations. Just as you used to offer yourselves as slaves to impurity and to ever-increasing wickedness, so now offer yourselves as slaves to righteousness leading to holiness. When you were slaves to sin, you were free from the control of righteousness. What benefit did you reap at that time from the things you are now ashamed of? Those things result in death! But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

A slave is “someone who is legally owned by another person and is forced to work for that person without pay; a person who is strongly influenced and controlled by something” (Merriam-Webster Dictionary). A slave, in this Biblical context, is also “properly, someone who belongs to another; a bond-slave, without any ownership rights of their own; …used with the highest dignity in the NT – namely, of believers who willingly live under Christ's authority as His devoted followers” (Source: http://biblehub.com/greek/1401.htm).

So, what does this mean for us? Well, for one it means that when we come to faith in Jesus Christ, not only do we willingly die with Christ to our old lives of sin, and not only do we willingly choose to live for God in his power and strength and his Spirit within us, but we also willingly submit ourselves to his Lordship (mastery) over our lives, with us as his slaves. What this means for us is that coming to faith in Jesus Christ involves us now coming under the ownership of Christ with us now no longer having ownership rights of our own, but we willingly live under his authority as his devoted followers. Wow! I pray that I would daily live my life as though Christ is truly my master, that I belong now to him, and that I no longer have ownership rights of my own over my own life. I pray that I will daily submit myself to his will and purposes for my life, and that I would live to please him.

Give Me Jesus

Oh, What Gladness!

An Original Work / December 2, 2013

Give me Jesus. He’s my Savior.

I’ll walk with Him in His favor.

I’ll abide in His love always;

Follow His ways to the end.

Jesus is the Son of God.

He died upon a cruel cross.

He’s forgiven all my failures

By His mercy and His love.

Give me Jesus – His compassion,

And His mercy; loving kindness.

Let Him teach me how to love Him,

And to please Him. He’s my friend.

Jesus died for all our sin

So we could have eternal life.

He will free you from your bondage

If you trust Him with your life.

Give me Jesus. Let me trust Him.

May I listen to His teachings.

May I follow where He leads me

In His service. He’s my Lord.

Jesus Christ will come again

To take His bride to be with Him.

Oh, what gladness; free from sadness

When I meet Him in the air.

http://originalworks.info/give-me-jesus-oh-what-gladness/

We Have Peace

Friday, April 04, 2014, 3:11 a.m. – the Lord Jesus put the song in mind, “His Tender Mercies.” Speak, Lord, your words to my heart. I read Romans 5:1-5 (NIV).

Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.

Justified Through Faith

Jesus Christ, God the Son, came to earth, took on human flesh, yet he remained sinless. He died (was crucified) on a cross, at which time he took upon himself the sins of the entire world, putting them to death with him, and conquering them in his resurrection. Through faith in him, we can be justified, i.e. we can be completely forgiven of all sin, cleared of all the charges against us, and made righteous (blameless) in God’s sight, by His grace. This faith shows itself to be genuine in that it willingly allows for Christ to put our sins to death and to transform us in heart and mind away from our sinful lifestyles and toward a walk in the Spirit of God, in his righteousness and holiness. By God’s grace (favor), and through faith, we forsake our sinful lifestyles, and we choose to live and to walk in Christ’s purity and holiness (See Lu. 9:23-25; Ro. 6; Gal. 2:20; Eph. 4:17-24; Tit. 2:11-14; 1 Jn. 1-5).

Peace with God

This peace is God’s gift to us who have believed on Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. It is first of all reconciliation with God, i.e. by God’s grace, through faith, we are restored back to a right relationship with Almighty God – a relationship which was severed due to the sin of Adam, and which can only be restored through the blood of Christ, and because of what he did on the cross in dying for our sins, and through our God-given faith in him. This peace is not absence of external conflict, difficulties, pain and sorrow, but it is an inward assurance of our reconciliation with God, of our fellowship with him, and of the promises he has given to us of eternity with him in heaven, and of his continued love, mercy, care, help, presence, strength, power and grace to see us and to guide us through all that comes our way.

Glory in Sufferings

To glory in our sufferings appears to carry with it the idea that we are able, by God’s grace, to keep our “heads up high (upright)” in our suffering - not in arrogant pride, but in a calm assurance and “God-given confidence” which knows and believes that we possess the correct foundation (source) in Christ Jesus in order to be able to handle (deal with) and to respond appropriately to whatever difficulties may come our way; and such as is able to apply that knowledge and understanding to any given circumstance in our lives. [Source: http://biblehub.com/greek/2744.htm]

In other words, to glory in our sufferings means that we don’t let them undo us. We don’t fall apart emotionally, give in to discouragement, run away and hide, give way to fear or give up in despair whenever tough things come our way, but we commit ourselves into God’s capable hands, trusting him to work all things out for the good of us who love him and who have been called according to his purpose (See Ro. 8:28).

As well, to glory in our sufferings means we have the appropriate understanding of the purpose of them, and the good intended by God through them in our lives, and that we allow God to work good in our lives through them. Through times of distress, trouble, hardship, persecution, trials and tribulations, when we have the correct heart response to them, God is able to work in our lives perseverance (persistence, steadfastness and endurance), to develop within us godly character (temperament), and to increase our faith. So, we can choose to grow through our trials, or to allow them to undo us, but in Christ we have the confident assurance that these difficulties can be used in our lives to strengthen us in our faith, to give us increased stick-to-itiveness, and to develop within us godly character traits (to mature us in Christ), so that we can become more effective in our walks of faith, in our witness and service to our Lord Jesus Christ, and in our love for others.

Hope Not Disappoints

When our hope (trust; faith; confidence) is in Jesus Christ, it will never disappoint (fail) us. Humankind will fail us, as will the things of this world, but God will never fail us. He has poured out his love into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, whom Jesus promised to his followers, and whom God has given to us. God will never fail to keep his promises. What he says, he will do. What he provides is a sure thing, the promise of which will never go away. And, what he guarantees we can count on most assuredly. We never have to be afraid or feel that we have to take matters into our own hands. God will provide! He may not give us all our wants and human desires, but he will provide all we need. He also may not work as swiftly as we might hope or expect, but he will act when the time is right, and, in fact, he is always working. We just may not see it right now. Yet, hope that is seen is not hope at all. “But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently” (See Ro. 8:24-25).

His Tender Mercies / An Original Work / January 26, 2014

Fear not! I’m with you.

Be not dismayed!

God watches o’er you.

Trust Him today.

He’ll lead and guide you;

Give you His aid.

He’ll love and keep you

With Him always.

Walk in His footsteps.

He’ll lead the way.

Trust in His love;

Believe that He cares.

He will not leave you.

Faithful He’ll be.

His tender mercies

Now you will see.

Fellowship with Him

Throughout the day.

Tell Him your heartaches.

He’ll heal always.

Rest in His comfort.

He is your friend.

Your faith He’ll strengthen,

True to the end.

http://originalworks.info/his-tender-mercies/

Many Will Be Purified

Tuesday, April 01, 2014, 10:16 a.m. – the Lord Jesus put in mind the song “He Reached Down.” Speak, Lord, your words to my heart. I read Daniel 12 (NIV). http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Daniel+12&version=NIV

A Time of Great Distress

“At that time Michael, the great prince who protects your people, will arise. There will be a time of distress such as has not happened from the beginning of nations until then. But at that time your people—everyone whose name is found written in the book—will be delivered.

Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt. Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever. But you, Daniel, roll up and seal the words of the scroll until the time of the end. Many will go here and there to increase knowledge.”

…When the power of the holy people has been finally broken, all these things will be completed.”

I heard, but I did not understand. So I asked, “My lord, what will the outcome of all this be?”

He replied, “Go your way, Daniel, because the words are rolled up and sealed until the time of the end. Many will be purified, made spotless and refined, but the wicked will continue to be wicked. None of the wicked will understand, but those who are wise will understand…

Overview of Chapters 11-12

The antichrist:

• Will vent his fury against the holy covenant (new covenant relationship with God)

• Will show favor to those who forsake the holy covenant (relationship with Christ)

• His armed forces (false teachers, false church leaders and lying and deceptive government and military) will damage the temple fortress (gospel of Christ & our salvation) and will abolish the daily sacrifice (See Rom. 12:1-2; cf. Lu. 9:23-25)

• They (false teachers and false church leaders, assisted by lying government) will set up the abomination that causes desolation (unrepentant and rebellious idolatry among God’s people, Christ’s church, which will warrant God’s divine judgment)

• With flattery he will corrupt those who have violated the covenant (will corrupt those living in idolatry and spiritual adultery against God, via man’s philosophies and marketing schemes, man-made goals & visions, & false teaching/false gospel, etc.)

• Will do as he pleases.

• He will exalt and magnify himself above every god, and will say unheard-of things against the God of gods.

• Will be successful until the time of wrath is completed

• Will honor the god of fortresses

• Will attack the mightiest fortresses with the help of a foreign god

• Will greatly honor those who acknowledge him – he will make them rulers over many people and will distribute the land at a price

• Will invade many countries and sweep through them like a flood & many will fall

• He will also invade the Beautiful Land (holy land as symbol of Christ’s church)

• Edom, Moab & the leaders of Ammon will be delivered from his hand – looks like modern-day Jordan and Saudi Arabia

• Will extend his power over many countries, incl. Egypt, Libya and Sudan (2011/12)

• Will set out in great rage to destroy and annihilate many (I believe most all of this listed above has been going on since Christ’s death and resurrection, to some degree, but that it has increased in severity and intensity in recent years)

• Will come to his end

The saints of God:

• The people who know their God will firmly resist the antichrist king

• Those who are wise will instruct many

• The faithful will be killed by sword or fire, captured and/or plundered

• When they fall (are persecuted), they receive a little help, but will be joined by many who are not sincere in their faith (like spies or private police, perhaps)

• They will face this persecution so that they may be refined, purified and made spotless until the time of the end

• Everyone whose name has been written in the book of life will be delivered from or through the time of great distress

• The dead in Christ will be raised to everlasting life (the other dead to shame and everlasting contempt)

• Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever.

• When the power (willpower, rebellion, idolatry, & pride) of the holy people (Christ’s church) has been finally broken (humbled), all these things will be completed

• Those who are wise will understand, but the wicked will not understand

Their Power Broken

When God comes to judge the earth and the people of the earth, he will also visit his adulterous and idolatrous church in judgment (See Rev. 2-3). In fact, I believe scripture teaches that judgment begins with the family of God. Many Old Testament prophets prophesied concerning God judging his adulterous people in the last days before his return, and for the purpose of refining them, purifying them and making them a holy people unto Him. Through divine judgment (correction/discipline/rebuke) the church will be revived, their pride and arrogance broken. They will repent of their evil ways, return to the Lord, and the gospel of Jesus Christ will spread throughout the world unlike any time ever before, I believe, and many will come to Christ and to salvation (See Isaiah 2). In this way, God will rescue his (and many) people out of the grip of Satan and his deceptions (deep waters).

He Reached Down / An Original Work / February 3, 2014

Based off Psalm 18

How I love You, Lord,

My Rock and my strength.

My God is my fortress;

I hide in Him.

He is my shield and the horn of

My salvation, whom I praise.

I have found my refuge in Him.

He reached down from heaven

And rescued me;

Drew me out of waters

So deep, I’d sink.

He delivered me from Satan

And my slavery to sin;

Gave me hope of heaven with Him.

My God turned my darkness

Into His light;

Opened up my blinded eyes;

Gave me sight.

As for God, his way is perfect.

He gives strength to stand secure.

I have found my vict’ry in Him.

My Lord lives!

Praise be to my Savior God,

Jesus Christ, who died

On a cruel cross.

He is my Rock and the source

Of my salvation, whom I trust.

I will give praise always to Him.

http://originalworks.info/he-reached-down/

His Sanctuary Thrown Down

Monday, March 31, 2014, 8:00 p.m. – the Lord Jesus put the song in mind, “The Letters.” Speak, Lord, your words to my heart. I read Daniel 8 (NIV): http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Daniel+8&version=NIV

…While I, Daniel, was watching the vision and trying to understand it, there before me stood one who looked like a man. And I heard a man’s voice from the Ulai calling, “Gabriel, tell this man the meaning of the vision.”

As he came near the place where I was standing, I was terrified and fell prostrate. “Son of man,” he said to me, “Understand that the vision concerns the time of the end.”

While he was speaking to me, I was in a deep sleep, with my face to the ground. Then he touched me and raised me to my feet.

He said: “I am going to tell you what will happen later in the time of wrath, because the vision concerns the appointed time of the end. The two-horned ram that you saw represents the kings of Media and Persia. The shaggy goat is the king of Greece, and the large horn between its eyes is the first king. The four horns that replaced the one that was broken off represent four kingdoms that will emerge from his nation but will not have the same power.

“In the latter part of their reign, when rebels have become completely wicked, a fierce-looking king, a master of intrigue, will arise. He will become very strong, but not by his own power. He will cause astounding devastation and will succeed in whatever he does. He will destroy those who are mighty, the holy people. He will cause deceit to prosper, and he will consider himself superior. When they feel secure, he will destroy many and take his stand against the Prince of princes. Yet he will be destroyed, but not by human power.

“The vision of the evenings and mornings that has been given you is true, but seal up the vision, for it concerns the distant future.”

I, Daniel, was worn out. I lay exhausted for several days. Then I got up and went about the king’s business. I was appalled by the vision; it was beyond understanding. ~ vv. 15-27

The Time of The End

Taken from: The Daily Sacrifice - Friday, March 9, 2012: Daniel had a vision. He saw himself in what is now Iran. He was near the Iranian/Iraqi border, not far from the Persian Gulf. He saw a ram with two horns. It appears this ram symbolizes this area of the world (Iraq, Iran, and possibly Afghanistan). In history, around 334 B.C., Alexander the Great (of Greece) conquered the entirety of the Persian Empire – including what is now today: Turkey, Egypt, Syria, Iraq, Israel, Iran, Afghanistan, and Pakistan, etc. Notice with me how many of these countries have recently had uprisings and how many of them are now under (or are in the works of being under) a “national unity government.” In 2010: Afghanistan. In 2011: Tunisia, Egypt, Gaza Strip, West Bank, Turkey, Iraq, Libya, Pakistan, Yemen, and Greece, etc. In 2012: Syria (in process). I know there are others, too. Iran is being targeted presently, as well.

This kind of unity (government, et al) here is forced unity through intimidation, deceit, false teaching, man-made rules, unnatural disasters, war, uprisings, conflict, etc. This kind of forced unity is taking place inside the institutional church, as well as the institution of the N.W.O./NATO is forcing it upon the governments of the world. Yet, this is not the kind of unity spoken about in the Bible, nor the kind God intends for us to have. This is about bringing the nations of the world under one global rule of government, and it is about bringing the various religions of the world under a one-world religion that shows tolerance and acceptance of other religions, and does not try to convert people to faith in Christ.

The US government and their allies have gone into these various countries listed above, some of them under the guise of national uprisings, supposedly with the mission of helping them to resolve their internal conflicts and to help them form “democratic” governments; some of them under the guise of going after “terrorist” threats to the USA; and still others as purported “rescue” efforts following supposed natural disasters. Yet this is a revival of Alexander the Great’s empire, and we are the conquerors. So, the goat today is world powers (the USA and allies, or the U.N. or the New World Order, of which we are a part). The Lord has shown me previously that the large horn between the eyes of the goat, which represents the first king of Greece, represents Roosevelt and/or the U.S. government in these last days, beginning with Roosevelt’s presidency. He instituted the United Nations which is divided into four kingdoms – Asia, Africa, the Americas and Europe.

NATO, which is the military force of the New World Order, in July of 2011, in Afghanistan alone, had 90,000 US troops, compared to 10,000 from Great Britain and 5,000 or less each from 5 other countries. So, the USA comprises well over half the NATO troops in Afghanistan, and less than half of the troops come from other countries. So, if the goat is this New World Order, and NATO is its military force, and US troops comprise well over 50% of the NATO troops in Afghanistan, then it appears the US could be the prominent horn, that it will be broken off, and it will be taken over by other nations and divided up (parceled out) and/or the horn represents Roosevelt, who instituted the U.N., and the four horns represent the four continents of the world, out of which will arise this stern-faced king.

The Stern-faced King

The stern-faced king, a master of intrigue and deception, will become strong, but not by his own power. He will cause astounding devastation and will succeed in whatever he does. He will destroy military troops (even those of his own nation) and he will destroy God’s holy people, God’s true church. He will trample on the saints of God (true followers of Jesus Christ who bear his testimony). He will set himself up to be as great as Jesus Christ, he will remove from him the daily sacrifice, and he will bring the place of his sanctuary low. The host of the saints, on which he will trample, and the daily sacrifice will be given over to this king, and under his leadership, truth will be thrown to the ground.

When we think today of God’s sanctuary, what comes to mind? Many people think of church buildings and their “sanctuaries”. This is far from the truth. God no longer dwells in buildings built by human hands. He dwells in human hearts – the hearts of those who are truly his. So, we, “the holy people” are the sanctuary of God. So, how has it been brought low in the U.S.? By taking it back in time and making it into a building, a form of worship, a business, private (members only) clubs, and by bringing it under the regulation of the US government, whose authority supersedes that of Jesus Christ when it comes to decisions concerning what the institutional church can and cannot do and can and cannot preach from the pulpit. That sounds a whole lot like the king setting himself up to be as great as Christ.

And, how has the daily sacrifice been taken away? Well, since Jesus’ sacrifice for our sins on the cross, the daily sacrifice has been described in Romans 12:1-2 as the presentation of our bodies as “living sacrifices, holy and acceptable to God, which is our reasonable service of worship.” And, we are “not to be conformed to the pattern of the world,” but we are to be “transformed by the renewing of our minds, so that we can prove what the will of God is, his good, pleasing, and perfect will.” Jesus said that if any man was to come after him that he must deny himself and take up his cross DAILY and follow HIM. This means that we must reject our old sinful lifestyles and sinful life patterns, and we must daily die to sin (repentance) and follow Jesus Christ in obedience if we are to truly be his disciples.

This teaching on the daily sacrifice, though, has been replaced by teaching that tells people that repentance and obedience to Christ are not necessary for salvation, and that God is pleased with us no matter what we do, so that many professing “believers” in Christ do not see the necessity of this “daily sacrifice.” Their relationship with Jesus is often confined to a worship service once a week and not to a personal, vital, daily, obedient relationship to God. Thus the stern-faced king removes the people’s need for this kind of daily sacrifice from the gospel of salvation, and truth is thrown to the ground, and people are given a false hope of salvation, which brings the true temple of God, his church, down low.

As well, he tramples on the saints of God through persecution. Those who hold to the truth of the gospel and believe Jesus Christ is the only way to heaven, are ostracized, criticized, rejected, ridiculed, mocked, and are falsely accused of being “disunifiers, fault finders and grumblers and complainers.” And, they are invited to leave many institutionalized churches, because the leaders are afraid they might tell the people the truth about the gospel and might offend some people. They will even be accused of being terrorists because they stand for the truth of the gospel and they are opposed to the rule of the beast, and they will be imprisoned and even killed for their faith, because they have not joined in with the New World Order and with this unifying of religions and agreement to not share the gospel.

I don’t know where we are exactly in time with respect to the time of tribulation in the final days before Christ’s return, but what I do know is that the things talked about in Daniel 8 are happening in real time in 2012 (and in 2014). We need Jesus Christ to lead us, to be our strength, and to open our eyes to the truth of what is going on in our world, so that we are not among the ones who are being deceived. We need him to fill us with his truth. And, we need to obey what he shows us. If you have not yet turned from your sin and turned to walk in faithful obedience to Jesus Christ, I pray you will do that today. Time is running out.

The Letters / An Original Work / December 17, 2013

Based off Revelation 2-3

To the angels of all the churches write:

These are the words of your Lord and your God.

I know all your deeds, and your witness, too,

And who holds to My words and tells what’s true.

I know all your hard work and your perseverance,

Yet I hold against you: you’ve forsaken Me.

Listen to what I say to you.

You have people there who deny My name,

And who put the cross of Christ up to shame.

They entice the people to Me, profane,

And their worship of Me is all in vain.

They are so adult’rous as they chase their idols,

And you put up with them easily enough.

Listen to what I say to you.

You give off an image of godliness,

But what you present is so fraudulent,

Or else you lack passion for Jesus Christ,

So you look to others to tell what’s right.

I say turn from your sin, or you will face judgment.

He who overcomes will have eternal life.

Listen to what I say to you.

I know your afflictions and poverty;

How you suffer for your Lord patiently.

Do not fear the devil and company.

You be faithful to your Lord endlessly.

I know all your weakness and your dedication.

You have kept My Word and not denied your Lord.

I will write on you My new name.

http://originalworks.info/the-letters/