Our Only Hope

Friday, November 10, 2017, 6:38 a.m. – The Lord Jesus put in mind the song “God Be with You till We Meet Again.” Speak, Lord, your words to my heart. I read Isaiah 2 (Quoting select vv. NASB).

Influences from the East (vv. 5-8)

Come, house of Jacob, and let us walk in the light of the Lord.

For You have abandoned Your people, the house of Jacob,

Because they are filled with influences from the east,

And they are soothsayers like the Philistines,

And they strike bargains with the children of foreigners.

Their land has also been filled with silver and gold

And there is no end to their treasures;

Their land has also been filled with horses

And there is no end to their chariots.

Their land has also been filled with idols;

They worship the work of their hands,

That which their fingers have made.

This morning, the Lord directed me to read a few news articles. One was about a supposed US-China trade package, and the other was a news article about Trump talking tough on trade in Vietnam. Purportedly, our president, Donald Trump, was in attendance at the “Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit” in Vietnam. And, he had some words to say while he was there.

I believe the Lord also led me to read this passage of scripture in Isaiah 2, and that he has a message from this passage for the church in America, and maybe for the world, too, with regard to what the US government and these other world governments are actually doing and deciding when they gather together.

The church, at large, in the USA, is married to the US government, i.e. they partnered with the government via the 501c3 not-for-profit tax exempt status by incorporating as a business under the headship of the government. And, God is not pleased, because he forbids his church from partnering (being unequally yoked together) with the ungodly (unbelievers). Also, by partnering with the government, a large part of the church turned God’s house (the body of Christ) into a marketplace (a business), which God also forbids, and which Jesus spoke harshly against. And, this partnership places the US government in the position as head over the church, superseding Christ, so this is placing another god before the One and Only God.

In Revelation 18 we read about a voice from heaven, saying, “Come out of her, my people, so that you will not participate in her sins and receive of her plagues; for her sins have piled up as high as heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities.” I believe God is saying this to his church here in America with regard to her partnership with the US government, and that he is saying this to individual believers in Christ, calling them to remove themselves from partnering with the government by removing themselves from institutional churches which partner with the US government, for if they don’t, they will share in her sins and in her punishment.

So, why do I believe this? Well, since 2004 the Lord Jesus (God) has been teaching (showing) me what is going on in my nation and in our world and how this relates to prophecy of scripture regarding these last days before Christ returns. What he has been showing me is that our government is not our real government. Instead, there is a shadow government of the Elite, wealthy and powerful of the world who is the de facto government of these United States, and our government leaders are just puppets in their hands. The Lord has also been opening my eyes to see that there is, thus, no right and left, but Republican and Democrat are just two sides of the same whole, and that our news media is owned and operated by the Elite, so they report what the Elite wants us (and the world) to believe, but most of it is fake or partially fake (created in the minds of humans).

Also, the USA was created to bring about this rule of the beast (Rev. 13), which is a global one-world order, which is evidenced by our national seal. And, the beast is now rising and is conquering nations, peoples and Christians, too. They are overtaking sovereign nations, are confiscating their natural resources, lands, etc., are killing their people, and are faking uprisings and terrorist activities, etc., so that they can go into these nations to take them over, and now including within the USA, too, and our leaders are party to this. So, when they tell us that America is first, that is a lie. The New World Order is first and foremost, and our nation will be sacrificed just like all the other nations of the world in order to bring about this rule of the beast and its one-world government and religion. And, the majority of the church is partnering with this evil government which is serving Satan.

So, when our government leaders tell us all the stuff they tell us about what they are doing inside our nation and in other countries, and with these trade agreements, or whatever else they are trying to convince us they are doing, most, if not all of it is a pack of lies. What they are doing is forging this New World Order, period. And, what that means is that we are going to lose our sovereignty and our human rights and the freedom to worship God as we now can, and that the beast is going to come after us Christians here in America, too, to destroy us. He has already been doing this via deception, but it will be militarily, too, as Christians in other nations have already been experiencing. So, what they are plotting is not for our good, but for our demise. President Trump is not our savior! Only Jesus Christ is!

And The Lord Alone (vv. 9-11)

So the common man has been humbled

And the man of importance has been abased,

But do not forgive them.

Enter the rock and hide in the dust

From the terror of the Lord and from the splendor of His majesty.

The proud look of man will be abased

And the loftiness of man will be humbled,

And the Lord alone will be exalted in that day.

So, God has a judgment in store for the USA, and for the world, but I believe the Lord is showing me, in particular, the USA right now, with regard to the institutional church which has partnered with this evil government. And, these words spoken here in this passage of scripture are a warning to our nation that God intends to judge the church here and the government for all its crimes against humanity, but that, as a result of this judgment, the Lord alone will be exalted when all is said and done.

Idols will Vanish (vv. 18-22)

But the idols will completely vanish.

Men will go into caves of the rocks

And into holes of the ground

Before the terror of the Lord

And the splendor of His majesty,

When He arises to make the earth tremble.

In that day men will cast away to the moles and the bats

Their idols of silver and their idols of gold,

Which they made for themselves to worship,

In order to go into the caverns of the rocks and the clefts of the cliffs

Before the terror of the Lord and the splendor of His majesty,

When He arises to make the earth tremble.

Stop regarding man, whose breath of life is in his nostrils;

For why should he be esteemed?

Another result of this coming judgment, I believe, is that the idols of this nation and its institutional churches are going to vanish and that people in this nation will realize that their idols cannot save them, and that they serve them no valuable purpose, and so they will discard them. Partly this will be because they are running for their lives and they can’t take the stuff with them, but I can’t help but believe, and I believe scripture teaches this, that through this judgment God is going to revive people’s hearts, and thus they will willingly, in many cases, forsake their idols and they will turn their hearts back to God, and he will be exalted in their lives.

So, the message here is that we, as the people of God, should stop placing our trust in human beings, and we should stop putting people up on pedestals and looking to them to save us. Trump is not our savior, and neither is the US government or our military. We can’t trust the lot of them or our media, for they are all part of this beast which is taking over the world one nation and one government at a time. And, they are working hard in the USA to pit us one against the other, too, so we should not let them! So, stop believing them and put your trust solely in God; in Christ Jesus! For, he is our ONLY hope!

God Be with You till We Meet Again

Jeremiah E. Rankin, William G. Tomer

God be with you till we meet again;

by his counsels guide, uphold you,

with his sheep securely fold you;

God be with you till we meet again.

God be with you till we meet again;

neath his wings securely hide you,

daily manna still provide you;

God be with you till we meet again.

God be with you till we meet again;

when life's perils thick confound you,

put his arms unfailing round you;

God be with you till we meet again.

God be with you till we meet again;

keep love's banner floating o'er you,

smite death's threatening wave before you;

God be with you till we meet again.

Till we meet, till we meet,

till we meet at Jesus' feet;

till we meet, till we meet,

God be with you till we meet again. 

Our Chief

Thursday, November 9, 2017, 6:28 p.m. – The Lord Jesus put in mind the song “Trust and Obey.” Speak, Lord, your words to my heart. I read Isaiah 2 (Quoting select vv. NASB).

The Chief Mountain (vv. 1-2)

The word which Isaiah the son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem.

Now it will come about that

In the last days

The mountain of the house of the Lord

Will be established as the chief of the mountains,

And will be raised above the hills;

And all the nations will stream to it.

The last days are considered to be the Messianic age, beginning with Jesus Christ’s first coming and consummated with his second coming, when he returns for his bride; his church; the saints of God, who are his body.

Here in verse three (in the next section below this one) it mentions the “mountain of the Lord” and “the house of the God of Jacob.” Then it says “He will teach us his ways…” Grammatically speaking, the “he” refers back to the subjects “mountain” and “house.” As well, the “he” refers back to the “law” that will go out from Zion and the “word of the Lord” that will go out from Jerusalem. And, in keeping with the understanding that we are speaking of the Messianic era here, the “temple” of God is both Jesus Christ (See Jn. 2:19-21) and it is his church, the body of Christ (See 2 Co. 6:16). Also, Zion is a reference to the church (See Heb. 12:22), as well as is Jerusalem, for physical Jerusalem is now of Hagar, the slave woman, but we are of the free woman. And we, who are Christ’s followers, are the children of promise, i.e. we are heavenly Jerusalem (See Gal. 4:21-31).

So, understanding all of what we just discovered above, we can read this passage as thus: In the last days, i.e. in the days of the Messiah and his church, Jesus Christ will be established as superior to all other gods, and things that are worshiped, and also places of worship (Ref: mountains as high places of worship). He will be exalted above the heavens (See Heb. 7:26). In fact, “God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name…” (See Ph. 2:9). And, all nations will stream (run) to him – to his gospel of salvation – people from every nation and all tribes and peoples and tongues (cf. Rev. 7:9-10).

That He May Teach Us (v. 3a)

And many peoples will come and say,

“Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord,

To the house of the God of Jacob;

That He may teach us concerning His ways

And that we may walk in His paths.”

The many peoples here are the people from all tribes and nations and languages who are turning their hearts to Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior in these last days before Jesus’ return. And, they are the ones inviting others to also come to faith in Jesus Christ. But, they aren’t inviting them to put their faith and trust in Jesus Christ just so they can go to heaven when they die. They are calling them to come to him, to learn from him, and to be taught concerning his ways, so that they can walk (in lifestyle) in his paths of righteousness. They are people, thus, who understand what true faith in Jesus Christ means. They are not those who are just looking for an easy out from punishment, or a free ride to heaven.

So, what are God’s/Jesus Christ’s ways in which we are to walk? And, that we should be telling others about, so that they can walk in them, too?

Fundamentally, it is that Jesus died that we might die to sin and live to righteousness, not just so we can escape hell and have the promise of heaven when we die (1 Pet. 2:24). It is also that we who believe in Jesus have been called out of darkness (sin, wickedness) into God’s wonderful light (truth, righteousness), and that we have been rescued from the dominion of darkness and of Satan so that we can now walk in the ways of the Lord (See: Acts 26:16-18; 1 Pet. 2:9; Col. 1:13). As well, it is that the righteous requirement of the law is fulfilled in us who walk, not after the flesh, but according to the Spirit, for if we walk according to the flesh, we will die in our sins. But, if by the Spirit we are putting to death the deeds of the flesh, then we will live with Christ for eternity (Rom. 8:1-17; Lu. 9:23-25).

Come, Let us Walk (vv. 3b, 5)

For the law will go forth from Zion

And the word of the Lord from Jerusalem…

Come, house of Jacob, and let us walk in the light of the Lord.

Jesus Christ is the Word. And, his Word is the scriptures (the Bible). He is the fulfillment of the law. And, his (agape) love is also the fulfillment of the law, but then He IS Love (agape). So, HE is to go forth from us, as well as is his Word, and as is his love. In other words, as followers of Jesus Christ, we are to be Jesus to the world around us in carrying his word, and his love, and his ministry to the people of this world. But, what we take to the world needs to be HIS words, representing HIS truth and HIS ways and not man’s words and man’s ways. And, it needs to be HIS love, which is divine love, which prefers what God prefers, i.e. that which is moral, just, upright, honorable, honest and decent. So, we need to be discerning to make certain our “mission” is not of man, for today’s idea of being “missional” often has little to do with Jesus Christ or his gospel or true agape love. Just noting!

So, our message, both in word and in deed, needs to be consistent with what Jesus taught and lived, NOT consistent with our culture, which we are NOT to immerse ourselves in just so that we can show the love of Jesus to people. And, we need to make certain we are truly loving others as Jesus did, and not as man thinks Jesus did or would like to project that he did. Yes, he went around healing the sick and afflicted, casting out demons, raising the dead, feeding the hungry and comforting the sorrowful. BUT, he also preached repentance and obedience for the forgiveness of sins and for eternal life with God in heaven. And, he confronted sin in sinful humans, and he told people the cost of being one of his disciples. And, he warned of judgment and was quite bold in his stern rebukes against the Pharisees.

So, although we are not to be combative, mean or harsh, we also are not to water down the gospel message so that people will like us or so they will feel more comfortable about believing in Jesus. We need to tell people the truth, and we need to live the truth, and that is that faith in Jesus Christ means death to sin and living to righteousness. If we want to walk in the light of the Lord, then we need to walk in his truth, and in what his word teaches us with regard to holiness and righteousness and forsaking sins and cutting out of our lives that which leads us into sin. The way of the Lord is not a broad road that many travel, but it is a narrow road that few travel, and that is because it is the way of holiness, and not of compromise with the world.

Trust and Obey  

John H. Sammis / Daniel B. Towner

When we walk with the Lord

in the light of His Word,
What a glory He sheds on our way!
While we do His good will,

He abides with us still,
And with all who will trust and obey.

Not a shadow can rise,

not a cloud in the skies,
But His smile quickly drives it away;
Not a doubt or a fear,

not a sigh or a tear,
Can abide while we trust and obey.

Not a burden we bear,

not a sorrow we share,
But our toil He doth richly repay;
Not a grief or a loss,

not a frown or a cross,
But is blessed if we trust and obey.

But we never can prove

the delights of His love
Until all on the altar we lay;
For the favor He shows,

for the joy He bestows,
Are for them who will trust and obey.

Then in fellowship sweet

We will sit at His feet.
Or we’ll walk by His side in the way.
What He says we will do,

Where He sends we will go;
Never fear, only trust and obey.

Trust and obey, for there’s no other way
To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.

If It Fits

Thursday, November 9, 2017, 9:54 a.m. – The Lord Jesus put in mind the song “Jesus, I Am Resting, Resting.” Speak, Lord, your words to my heart. I read Isaiah 1 (Quoting select vv. NASB).

OLD and NEW

The nation of Israel of Old Testament times, and before Jesus Christ’s death on a cross for our sins, was in a unique situation, to be unequalled by any other nation on this earth, including by the present-day physical nation of Israel. It was not only a self-governed physical nation, but it was also a spiritual nation comprised of the (then) people of God, who were the Jews. No other self-governed nation on this earth will be like that again. For, God’s people, his holy nation, now is not a physical nation, but solely a spiritual one. And, it is comprised ONLY of those who are followers of Jesus Christ.

So, although we can’t make exact parallels between the Israel of old, and true spiritual Israel today, there is much which can be learned from this passage of scripture and applied to the church today, but, perhaps more specifically, to locations where this type of situation now exists among God’s people, his church. So, as the saying goes, “If the shoe fits, wear it.”

This Trampling (vv. 10-15)

Hear the word of the Lord,

You rulers of Sodom;

Give ear to the instruction of our God,

You people of Gomorrah.

“What are your multiplied sacrifices to Me?”

Says the Lord.

“I have had enough of burnt offerings of rams

And the fat of fed cattle;

And I take no pleasure in the blood of bulls, lambs or goats.

“When you come to appear before Me,

Who requires of you this trampling of My courts?

“Bring your worthless offerings no longer,

Incense is an abomination to Me.

New moon and sabbath, the calling of assemblies—

I cannot endure iniquity and the solemn assembly.

“I hate your new moon festivals and your appointed feasts,

They have become a burden to Me;

I am weary of bearing them.

“So when you spread out your hands in prayer,

I will hide My eyes from you;

Yes, even though you multiply prayers,

I will not listen.

Your hands are covered with blood.

Today, the bulk of the church in America fits this scenario, I believe, only not with the literal sacrifices of burnt offerings, but with religious exercises, such as attending church services, serving in church ministry, and feeding the poor, etc. They go through the motions of Christian service, but their hearts are far from God, because they are still living like the world, engaging in the same sinful behaviors as the world, and closing their eyes and ears to God’s commands, many of them thinking they don’t have to obey God because they are now under grace. Yet, they forget that God’s grace instructs us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives while we await Christ’s return (Tit. 2:11-14).

So, because they go through the motions of sacrifice to God, but they are not willing to put their own lives on the altar of sacrifice, as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God, which is their acceptable worship of God, God is not pleased with them. But, it isn’t just that he is displeased with them, but he is indignant about their hypocrisy, much like Jesus was with the Pharisees in the New Testament (same idea), or with the money changers in the temple who were turning God’s house of prayer into a marketplace. He is tired of them bringing their sacrifices to him while they “play church” and then they “veg out” on fantasy, immorality and all kinds of wickedness, all for the sake of entertainment, thinking God’s grace now covers it all.

He sees many of their religious services as a “trampling” of his courts, and that is, indeed, what many of them are. Houses of prayer have been turned into theatres and stage productions, i.e. houses of entertainment and sensuality. He sees many of their shepherds (pastors/elders) as clowns whose goal it is to entertain the people and to coddle them, and not as men of God, holy and righteous, who are preaching repentance, holiness, and obedience as necessary parts of genuine believing faith in Jesus Christ. And, he sees many of his people, and/or those who profess to belong to him, acting all religious, when in a gathering of the church, but living not much different from the world outside of such gatherings.

Wash Yourselves (vv. 16-17)

“Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean;

Remove the evil of your deeds from My sight.

Cease to do evil,

Learn to do good;

Seek justice,

Reprove the ruthless,

Defend the orphan,

Plead for the widow.

So, this is a call to those to whom “the shoe fits” to wash yourselves, and to make yourselves clean, not that any of us can do this in our own flesh, but only in the power of the Spirit of God. And yet, we must submit to the Spirit’s work in our lives, and yield to the will of God, and follow in his ways, if we are to be clean (pure, holy). And, this is not just OT. This is what the NT teaches, too (See: Jas. 4:7-10; 2 Co. 7:1; 2 Tim. 2:21; 1 Jn. 1:5-9).

So, how do we do this? First of all, we have to humble ourselves before God, and before others whom we have sinned against, and we must confess and repent of our sins, not just generally, but specifically, and then we must turn away from those sins and turn to follow our Lord in obedience and in surrender to his will for our lives. I know this sounds over-simplified, so let me explain it in a little more depth. If you continue to play with fire, you will get burned. You can’t walk in victory if you are still playing with temptation. If you are not willing to go the distance to cleanse your lives of your sins of adultery against God, then you most likely will keep repeating the same sins.

In other words, you will not have victory over lust if what you are taking into your mind every day is images of adultery, fornication, sensuality, seductiveness, flirtation, and what is sexually suggestive. You will not conquer your addiction to pornography, or sexual addiction of any kind, if you keep following the same old patterns you have been following, and you don’t guard your heart, and you are not willing to cut out of your life what leads you down this path. You will not lose weight if you keep stuffing your face with food every couple of hours. You will not stop gossiping if you surround yourselves with people who love to gossip or if you will not stop in mid-sentence and admit that what you were saying was not kind. If we don’t take sin seriously, we will stay on the merry-go-round and never get off!!

Let Us Reason (vv. 18-20)

“Come now, and let us reason together,”

Says the Lord,

“Though your sins are as scarlet,

They will be as white as snow;

Though they are red like crimson,

They will be like wool.

“If you consent and obey,

You will eat the best of the land;

“But if you refuse and rebel,

You will be devoured by the sword.”

Truly, the mouth of the Lord has spoken.

So, let us reason together. What shall you choose? You may say you want to be free or that you are trying, but are you really? And, this is not just about cutting out of our lives what is displeasing to God, but this is also about submitting to him in obedience to his will for our lives, and choosing to walk in his ways. If all we do is cut out the bad stuff, and then we do nothing, then we are like a thief between jobs. As soon as the temptation comes our way again, it is so easy to just slip back into those old (or regular) patterns. So, we have to develop new patterns, but this is not just about behavioral modification, for if it is, it won’t last, either.

There has to be a heart change. Now, when we truly believe in Jesus as Lord and Savior of our lives, we die with Christ to sin and we are resurrected with Christ to newness of life, in him, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. The old has gone. The new has come. We are born again of the Spirit of God to new lives in Christ which are to be lived to his praise and glory, but not in our own flesh, but in the power of the Holy Spirit. But, this does not mean we will never sin again (See: 1 Jn. 2:1-2). And, this is not to say that we can’t ever drift away from our pure devotion to Christ and fall back into some of our old sin patterns (See: Rev. 2-3, for example). And, thus we will be in need of being revived (brought back to life) in the Spirit.

So many teachers of the Word today are falsely teaching that repentance and obedience are no longer required by God now that we are under grace. This has left many people still floundering in their sin, either not having ever died with Christ to sin, or feeling at liberty to return to some sins, thinking that God’s grace covers it all. And, so we have churches full of people who are still in bondage to sin in one way or another. This should not be! Jesus died that we might die to sin and live to righteousness, not that we should use his grace as a cop-out for sinful practices. Jesus wants us to not just be free of the punishment of sin, but of our addictions to sin, which is why he died! And, he has made the way for us to be free. We just have to take it!

Jesus, I am Resting, Resting 

Jean Sophia Pigott

Jesus, I am resting, resting,

In the joy of what Thou art;

I am finding out the greatness

Of Thy loving heart.

Thou hast bid me gaze upon Thee,

And Thy beauty fills my soul,

For by Thy transforming power,

Thou hast made me whole.

O, how great Thy loving kindness,

Vaster, broader than the sea!

O, how marvelous Thy goodness,

Lavished all on me!

Yes, I rest in Thee, Belovèd,

Know what wealth of grace is Thine,

Know Thy certainty of promise,

And have made it mine.

Simply trusting Thee, Lord Jesus,

I behold Thee as Thou art,

And Thy love, so pure, so changeless,

Satisfies my heart;

Satisfies its deepest longings,

Meets, supplies its every need,

Compasseth me round with blessings:

Thine is love indeed!

Ever lift Thy face upon me

As I work and wait for Thee;

Resting ‘neath Thy smile, Lord Jesus,

Earth’s dark shadows flee.

Brightness of my Father’s glory,

Sunshine of my Father’s face,

Keep me ever trusting, resting,

Fill me with Thy grace.

Jesus, I am resting, resting,

In the joy of what Thou art;

I am finding out the greatness

Of Thy loving heart.

Kindred Minds

Tuesday, November 7, 2017, 4:35 p.m. – The Lord Jesus put in mind the song “Blest Be the Tie that Binds.” Speak, Lord, your words to my heart. I read various scriptures related to the subject of “kindred minds.”

So, what is a “kindred mind”? It means “having the same attitude, belief or feeling” (dictionary.com) or having “similar interests or concerns” (M-W Dictionary). It also means “like-minded, of the same mind or spirit,” having similar (alike, common) values, and being similarly motivated. And, it means that “believers (when led by God) will treat the moral weight of a matter similarly, i.e. with the same (Spirit-produced) conviction” (biblehub.com).

Of Like Mind (Philippians 2:1-2 NIV’84; cf. Phil. 2:19-21 NASB)

If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose.

If you are a believer in Jesus Christ, united with Christ through faith, and a member together with other believers in one body, the body of Christ, and you have spent any amount of time with that body of believers, you probably realize, by now, that having “kindred minds” is no small task. For, we are all different, uniquely designed by God. We are male and female, old and young, and with varied backgrounds, cultures, nationalities, races, and theologies. So, how is it possible for us to be like-minded, having kindred spirits, being one in spirit and purpose? Does this even seem feasible?

Well, it all begins first with each of us, individually, being like-minded with God, having the same (agape, God-like) love, attitudes, values, concerns, passions, desires, interests, motivations and convictions that he has. So, how does that happen? First we must be genuinely in Christ Jesus, through faith in him, via being crucified with him in death to sin, and being resurrected with him to newness of life, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness (Eph. 4:17-24). Thus, we will be born again of the Spirit of God, and we will have the Spirit of God living within us, which means we will have the mind of Christ within us, too (See: 1 Co. 2:16).

Yet, we must also yield control of our lives over to God, submit to his will, and choose to follow him in obedience. We have to give the Spirit control, and surrender to his work of grace in our lives, so that the Spirit can live the life of Christ out through us. If we resist and stifle the Spirit’s working in our hearts, we won’t be like Christ in mind, attitude, or values, etc. And, thus we also won’t be like-minded with other followers of Christ. As well, if we hold on to living according to the ways of this sinful world, adopting the world’s thinking, philosophies, attitudes and values, we also will not be like-minded with Christ or with other believers who are like-minded with Christ.

When we have died with Christ to sin, now born again of the Spirit of God, and we have yielded our lives over to God, and his Spirit comes to dwell within us, then we also need to be growing in our walks of faith. This is because being like-minded with Christ (with God) is a process that takes place in our lives as we spend time with our Lord in his Word, listening to hear what he wants to teach us, and then obeying what he shows us. The more we get to know him and his will for our lives, and the more we walk in the light which he gives us, the more like him we will become. And, when we are more like him, we will also be like-minded with other followers of Christ.

For What Partnership (2 Corinthians 6:14-16a ESV)

Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? What accord has Christ with Belial? Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever? What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God.

Now, this is also key to us being like-minded with Christ and with other believers who are also of kindred mind with Christ Jesus, our Lord. We can’t be in close, intimate or binding relationships with people who are not believers in Jesus, or who profess Christ as Savior, but who are not living like they have been set free from their sin. For there is no fellowship (no partnership) between light (truth, righteousness) and darkness (lies, wickedness). We should be in the world, and we should associate with the people of the world, yes, but not join in with them in their wickedness, but rather be the light of Christ to them by our lives and by our words.

The reason we are not to be unequally yoked together with the unrighteous, I believe, is that we tend to become like the people with whom we most closely affiliate. That is why, in the Old Testament times, God did not want the Israelites intermingling with people of other faiths. But, many of them did anyway, and they ended up worshiping pagan gods and following pagan customs, and God was not pleased. God has called us to be righteous, to be pure, and to be holy, which means to be set apart (unlike, different) from the world because we are being conformed to the likeness of Jesus Christ. So, those who are the unrighteous, or those who are living ungodly lives, should not be our closest friends and companions, for bad company corrupts good character. So, we are to come out from their midst and be separate.

Now, regarding marriage, the scriptures teach, I believe, that we are not to marry (be unequally yoked together, partner) with unbelievers. So, if you are a follower of Jesus Christ, you should not knowingly enter into a marriage contract with someone who is not a believer in Jesus Christ. But, I would add to that, that you also should not marry someone who claims to be a follower of Christ, but who is still walking according to the flesh, and not according to the Spirit, because it is still light partnering with darkness, and this cannot be. Nonetheless, if you are already married to someone who is a non-believer, or who is a believer by profession only, or who is living in rebellion against God and who is not walking in the ways of God, the scriptures do teach, I believe, that we should stay with that person, because we might be able to win that person to Christ by our godly example.

Everything in Common (Acts 2:42-44 NIV)

They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common.

This is one good model for us as to what being of kindred minds with other believers should look like, wouldn’t you agree? Yet, it is possible to be devoted to attending church services, and to be dedicated to church ministry, and even to be faithful in tithing, and still not be like-minded with Christ or with other like-minded (with Christ) Christians. Just because we gather together with other believers, and we study the Word of God together, and we pray, and we even minister to the needs of the saints of God and we care for the needs of the poor, it does not necessarily mean we are like-minded with Christ or with one another. Does this make sense?

The reason for this is that it goes back to what was discussed at the beginning of this writing. It has to do first of all with our relationships with Jesus Christ, and us being dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus, and it has to do with obedience and submission to our Lord, and walking in the light that he gives us, and no longer walking in the ways of the flesh.

Then, we can begin this process of becoming like-minded with Christ and with one another, and then we will want to gather together and study God’s Word, but not for intellectual or social stimulation, but for the practical reality of God’s Word being lived out through our lives. We will desire Christ above all else, and we will begin to think like he thinks, and share his morals, values, passions and zeal, so when we do gather together, we will have common interests and concerns, and thus we will act accordingly in unity in the bond of Christ, and of his Spirit, and God will be pleased with our worship of him and with our expressions of love, one for the other.

Blest Be the Tie that Binds

John Fawcett / Hans G. Nageli

Blest be the tie that binds

Our hearts in Christian love;

The fellowship of kindred minds

Is like to that above.

Before our Father’s throne,

We pour our ardent prayers;

Our fears, our hopes, our aims are one,

Our comforts, and our cares.

We share our mutual woes,

Our mutual burdens bear;

And often for each other flows

The sympathizing tear.

When we asunder part,

It gives us inward pain;

But we shall still be joined in heart,

And hope to meet again.

That I May Learn

Tuesday, November 7, 2017, 4:44 a.m. – The Lord Jesus put in mind the song “I’ll Walk with God.” Speak, Lord, your words to my heart. I read Psalm 119:65-72 (NASB).

Teach Me (vv. 65-66)

You have dealt well with Your servant,

O Lord, according to Your word.

Teach me good discernment and knowledge,

For I believe in Your commandments.

When I think of God as having dealt well with me, or having done good to me, I can’t help but think of his grace. God, who is rich in mercy, sent his Only Begotten Son into the world to die on a cross for our sins. When Jesus Christ, God the Son, was crucified on that cross, he who knew no sin became sin for us that we might become the righteousness of God. When we put our faith and trust in Jesus Christ, we die with him to sin, and we are resurrected with him to new lives, in Christ Jesus. The old has gone; the new has come. Thus, he set me free from sin, he delivered me out of darkness, and he brought me into his wonderful light. He removed the sackcloth, and he clothed me with joy, that my heart may sing to him and not be silent.

But, his grace did not end there. His grace and mercies are new to me each day. He not only saved me from my sins, but he set me free from slavery to sin so that I might walk in his righteousness, in his truth, and in his ways. And, there is no better way to live than walking in the ways of the Lord. Each new day he has something he wants to teach me. He shows me places in my life where I need maturing or strengthening, or where I need to let go of something and trust him in those circumstances. The Christian life is a process, in other words, of daily communion with our Lord, listening to him speak to our hearts, and then walking in obedience to what he shows us – all in his power, wisdom and strength, which he bestows upon us.

Before and After (vv. 67-68, 71-72)

Before I was afflicted I went astray,

But now I keep Your word.

You are good and do good;

Teach me Your statutes.

It is good for me that I was afflicted,

That I may learn Your statutes.

The law of Your mouth is better to me

Than thousands of gold and silver pieces.

Although, when we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we die with him to sin, and we are given new lives in him, to be lived to his glory, we still live in flesh bodies. We still have a propensity to sin. Yet, sin should no longer have dominion in our lives. We should not be ruled by it. We should not have sin addictions. We should not walk in its ways. But, that is not to say that we will never sin (See: 1 Jn. 2:1-2). But, when we do sin, we have an advocate to the Father, Jesus Christ, the righteous. But, this does not mean that God now looks the other way when we sin, or that he doesn’t notice, or that our sin no longer matters to him. It does!

So, the Bible teaches us that God disciplines those he loves. He chastises, rebukes, and scourges us. He allows us to go through tough stuff in order to make us holy, to conform us to his likeness, and to mature us in Christ and in our walks of faith. Through trials and tribulations, we learn to rely upon God and not on ourselves. God is pruning us. He is purifying us. He is also teaching us compassion so that we can encourage others with the encouragement we received from Him when we are going through life’s difficulties. We, as well, learn patience and perseverance, and we grow in the character of Christ. And, for those of us who have been trained by his discipline, it produces in us the fruit of his righteousness. So, this is for our good, that we may learn his ways, and that we may walk in them.

The Arrogant (vv. 69-70)

The arrogant have forged a lie against me;

With all my heart I will observe Your precepts.

Their heart is covered with fat,

But I delight in Your law.

Nonetheless, walking in the ways of the Lord is not accepted by everyone as a good thing. There will be those, even within the church, who will be jealous of us, and who will resent us, hate us, reject us, speak evil against us and will persecute us, and all because we follow in the ways of God and we walk in his truth. This is not to say, though, that people won’t reject us because of things we have done in the flesh that were not good, or because they just don’t like something about us that has nothing to do with our faith. That will most certainly happen, too, as we are all human. But, as followers of Christ, if we are doing what He says, we will be hated and persecuted.

The sad reality in all of this, though, is that often much of this persecution and rejection comes from people within the church who are supposed to also be walking in the ways of the Lord. But, many are not. Many people who call themselves Christians are not much different from those who make no claims to faith in Christ, at all. Much of today’s modern church here in America has gone the way of the world, and thus they have incorporated worldly practices into the gatherings of the church and into church administration, and many of our church pastors/elders are even discouraging repentance, obedience and submission to Christ. They would rather keep things light and fluffy so that church is fun for everyone, because they want to draw in large crowds of people, their customer base.

Yet, we should not let this discourage or dishearten us. This is not to say we will not be hurt by these rejections and persecutions, but that our God will heal our hurts, if we will let him. He is our comforter, our encourager and our strength in such troubled times as this. And, having gone through these times of rejection, we should become even stronger in our faith and in our determination and commitments to keep hearing God’s voice, and to keep following in his ways, even if an army is raised up against us, and even if we feel as though, sometimes, that we are all alone, and that no one is walking with us. It is then we must know that our Lord will never leave us or forsake us, for if we are walking with him, we are not walking alone, ever!

I’ll Walk with God

Nikolaus Brodszky / Paul Francis Webster

I'll walk with God

From this day on

His helping hand I'll lean upon…

And I'll never walk alone

While I walk with God

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u-hjhePLVmE

Love Never Fails

Monday, November 6, 2017, 3:33 p.m. – The Lord Jesus put in mind the song “Oh, To Be Like Thee, Blessed Redeemer.” Speak, Lord, your words to my heart. I read 1 Corinthians 13:4-8a (ESV/NASB).

Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends (ESV).

Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails (NASB).

I am quoting this passage from two different translations, as each one adds a different aspect, in some cases, to the completeness of thought.

What is Love?

The Greek word for love, in this context, is agapē, which is divine (God-like) love, which prefers what God prefers, i.e. what is moral, righteous, virtuous, holy, pure, honest and honorable. Agapē love is self-sacrificial, and puts the welfare of others above its own. It is also not based in human emotion, but in the will of God, and so it is an act of our will, based on God’s will, to love others with this kind of love. And, it is of God, who is love, so we can only love like this because of God’s love living within us and out through us.

So, in order for us to have this kind of love, one for another, we must first of all be in intimate relationship with the one who is love, through faith in Jesus Christ, God the Son (the Son of God). Thus, we must be crucified with Christ, by the Spirit of God, via death to sin, and be resurrected with Christ, by the Spirit, to new lives in Christ Jesus, “created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.” This begins when we accept God’s invitation to his great salvation through faith in Jesus Christ, yet it is also a daily process of dying to sin and self and of following our Lord Jesus in obedience and in surrender to his will for our lives. To love others in this way, thus, we must be indwelt by and surrendered to the ONE who IS LOVE.

[Eph. 4:17-24; Gal. 2:20; Ro. 6:1-23; Lu. 9:23-25; 2 Co. 5:15; Ro. 8:1-14]

Love is…

Patient

Agapē love is patient (long-suffering). It doesn’t quit. It doesn’t give up on people, even though they may be difficult or even hurtful towards us. We persevere in loving them, but sometimes that means exercising tough love.

Kind

Love is kind. It is thoughtful and demonstrates a desire to help others. Yet, telling people lies just to make them feel good is never kind. Speaking the truth in love is kind, because it cares more about what the other person really needs than it cares about itself, or its own reputation, even being willing to be mistreated or misunderstood, in return for showing love.

Not Envious

Love is not jealous (or envious). Yet, this word translated as “jealous” can be used in both a positive and a negative context. So, jealously is not always bad or unloving, in other words. We can be jealous for others with a godly jealousy, wishing to see them forsake their idolatry (adultery) and to return to their “first love” (See: 2 Co. 11:1-4). Envy, on the other hand, is bad, for it incorporates such terms as “greed, bitterness, resentment, spite, and hatred” etc. It wants what others have, and it will even become bitter or resentful if it does not get it, but often this is without being willing to go the honest (right) course in order to rightfully receive what it desires.

Not Boastful or Proud

Love does not brag (boast), it is not arrogant (proud, conceited, puffed-up). I think those speak for themselves. It is not full of itself, in other words.

Not Rude

Love does not act unbecomingly. In some translations this is translated to say that love is not rude (impolite). Yet, rudeness can be defined by the culture in which we live and/or by tradition, and it may or may not agree with what scripture teaches. In some cultures, it is polite to lie to people, but lying is sinful. In some cultures, it is impolite to speak the truth in love, yet that is what scripture teaches us we must do.

The gospel of our salvation is an offense to those who are perishing, and so the world (or worldly church) may consider us as being rude (impolite) because we preach the gospel, because it offends people. Yet, we must preach the gospel, and that is agapē love. So, we must never compromise the truth of God’s word or what he teaches us we must do, in love, so as not to offend people.

So, rudeness must always be defined by scripture and not by culture (not by the world). A better translation of “does not act unbecomingly” would read that love is not dishonorable (shameful; vile; wicked) or indecent (crude, impure, vulgar). That makes more sense.

Unselfish

Love does not seek its own. In other words, love is unselfish and it regards the legitimate needs (necessities) of others above itself. It willingly gives of itself to meet others’ needs, and is self-sacrificial, giving of time, money, resources, energy, etc. for others.

Not Irritable

Love is not easily provoked (not easily angered). If we are hot-headed, we can’t be acting in love.

No Tit for Tat

Love does not take into account (keep records of) a wrong suffered; it is not resentful. This is much like “tit for tat,” i.e. it has to do with keeping books (like a score sheet or a ledger) for the purpose of retaliation, i.e. for evening out the score, i.e. for getting even with others for what they do to us.

No Pleasure in Sin

Love does not rejoice in unrighteousness (does not delight in evil). We should get no pleasure out of the evil things people do or out of seeing evil done to others, and this includes watching TV shows and movies where we are entertained by such evil and even rejoice when people are killed or get their “just due.” And, we should not take pleasure in evil (sinful) thoughts, words, or behaviors in our own lives, for Jesus set us free from all that.

We should grieve over such evil, not find pleasure in it. We should grieve in repentance before God if we should commit sin, and our hearts should break over all the evil we see committed every day in this world of ours. And, we should rejoice with the truth, even when the truth cuts straight to the heart.

Love… All Things

Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Again, what this says here must be defined by scripture and not by culture. This is not talking about believing lies or being tolerant of sin or trusting in a false hope or enduring false teaching. This is agape love, so it must be defined by how God loves, by his character and nature, and by his holiness and righteousness. It prefers what God prefers, so it bears, believes, hopes and endures only as God does, and as he requires of us.

Thus, this does not refer to anything outside the scope of what would be approved by God and for God and for the ultimate good of others. Our beliefs and hopes must always be centered in God and in his Word. So, we must endure trials, hardships, troubles and unjust suffering and persecution for the sake of his name, and for the sake of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Love Never Fails

Human love will fail us. It will end. That is why there are so many divorces now days. Human love ended. That is why people murder, commit adultery, lie, cheat, and steal, etc. This is why children turn against their parents, and parents against their children. Yes, people sin because we are born into sin, with sin natures, but many people end up hurting others because they didn’t know or they didn’t draw upon (tap into) God’s love, and the human love they had didn’t hold up when temptation gave them an alternative to love. This is one reason why there are so many lonely and hurting people in our societies, because human love failed them at some time or another.

Not so with God’s love, because he is love. His love is everlasting. So, when we walk in his love, and we allow his love to flow out through us, it will not fail to act according to God’s will, preferring what God prefers, and doing what is in the best interest of others, not according to human standards, but according to God’s. So, in all things we must love God and love others as God loves us and gave himself up for us.

Oh, to Be Like Thee, Blessed Redeemer

Thomas O. Chisholm / W. J. Kirkpatrick

Oh, to be like Thee! blessèd Redeemer,

This is my constant longing and prayer;

Gladly I’ll forfeit all of earth’s treasures,

Jesus, Thy perfect likeness to wear.

Oh, to be like Thee! full of compassion,

Loving, forgiving, tender and kind,

Helping the helpless, cheering the fainting,

Seeking the wandering sinner to find.

O to be like Thee! lowly in spirit,

Holy and harmless, patient and brave;

Meekly enduring cruel reproaches,

Willing to suffer others to save.

O to be like Thee! while I am pleading,

Pour out Thy Spirit, fill with Thy love;

Make me a temple meet for Thy dwelling,

Fit me for life and Heaven above.

Oh, to be like Thee! Oh, to be like Thee,

Blessèd Redeemer, pure as Thou art;

Come in Thy sweetness, come in Thy fullness;

Stamp Thine own image deep on my heart.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KrYhiK2nQBg

Devoted to God

Sunday, November 5, 2017, 5:55 a.m. – The Lord Jesus put in mind the song “Total Praise.” Speak, Lord, your words to my heart. I read various scriptures on the subject of being devoted to God (NIV/NASB).

Devoted – dedicated, fervent, zealous, loyal, faithful, committed, dutiful.

Faithful to the Lord

Matthew 6:24: “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.”

Romans 8:12-14: Therefore, brothers and sisters, we have an obligation—but it is not to the flesh, to live according to it. For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live. For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God.

Romans 6:16: “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?”

As followers of Christ, we can’t be spiritual “fence riders,” not really taking a stand on one side or the other, neither hot nor cold, but spiritually lukewarm. Jesus didn’t call us to have a so-so relationship with him. He came to give us life, but abundant life in him. He called us to commitment, to take up our cross daily, and to follow him. He said that if we don’t do this, or if we love our family members more than him, that we are not worthy of him. Jesus died that we might no longer live for ourselves, but for him who gave his life up for us. He said, in essence, that if we hold on to our old lives, of living for sin and self, we will lose them for eternity. But, if we lose our lives (die with him to sin), for his sake, that we will have eternal life.

Devoted to One Another

Romans 12:10-13: “Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor; not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer, contributing to the needs of the saints, practicing hospitality.”

1 Corinthians 16:15: “You know that the household of Stephanas were the first converts in Achaia, and they have devoted themselves to the service of the Lord’s people.”

1 Peter 4:10: “Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.”

If we are truly devoted to Jesus Christ, as his faithful servants, we will be devoted to one another in Christ’s love, which prefers what God prefers, i.e. what is moral, upright, honest, decent, and honorable. This type of devotion, in other words, does not come from the flesh, but from the Spirit. It does not have the mind of the flesh, but the mind of the Spirit. So, it will not serve the flesh, but the Spirit. So, this type of service and devotion will never be contrary to God’s Word, and it will never involve sinful practices, but it will always consider what is in the best interest of one another, not according to the desires of the flesh, though, but according to the desires of the Spirit for our individual lives. So, not only will we not do anything to lead another into sin, but we will steer others toward what is godly and righteous.

Fruit of the Spirit

Galatians 5:22-23: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.”

Titus 2:11-14: “For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus, who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds.”

If we have died with Christ to sin, and we have been resurrected to new life in Jesus Christ, of the Spirit of God, and the Holy Spirit now lives within us, our lives should display this fruit of the Spirit, not perfectly, but consistently. And, daily, by the Spirit, we should be putting to death the deeds of the flesh and putting on Christ and his armor and his holiness. This is what it means to be in Christ, and to be walking in his ways, according to the Spirit. For, Jesus didn’t die just so we can escape hell and so we can go to heaven when we die. He died that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. His grace, as well, is not free license to continue in willful sin against God, in sinful addiction, yet without guilt. His grace, as this says, instructs us to live godly and holy lives and to say “No” to sin and worldly passions (lusts).

Committed to Christ

Revelation 2:10: “Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you life as your victor’s crown.”

Acts 2:42: “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.”

1 Corinthians 4:2: “Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful.”

When we are committed to Christ and to his service, and we are walking according to the Spirit, and not according to the flesh, we will face opposition, persecution, hatred and perhaps even violence against us for our stand for Christ and for his gospel of salvation. And, some of this may even come from family members, neighbors, friends, and church members, and even from church leaders/rulers. Remember, this describes the people who persecuted and killed our Lord Jesus Christ, and he said that we would be treated the same as he was treated when we become his followers. Yet, we should not be surprised by this, and we should not let this undo us, but we should commit ourselves to Christ, remain faithful to his service, and keep on doing what he has called us to do, even to the point of death.

One day Jesus is going to come back for us and take us home to be with him, and we will no longer suffer in this way. But, while we wait for his return, we are to remain faithful to him in every way. Daily we are to spend time with him in his Word, listening to his voice speak his truths to our hearts. And, then we must respond to what he teaches us with obedience to what he shows us. And, part of what he will show us is his calling on our lives and the gifts he has given us with which we are to minister to the body of Christ. So, we must be obedient to his calling on our lives, and do what he shows us, not just because we must, but because we love him, because we want to please him, and because he has changed our hearts so that we want to be like Jesus in all that we do, and no longer live to gratify our flesh.

Yet, we don’t do this in our own flesh, or according to our own timetable, or fitting to our own comfort level, but we obey our Lord and we follow him in the power, wisdom and strength of His Spirit, now living and working his grace within us, and all for his glory and praise. Amen!

Total Praise / Richard Smallwood

Lord, I will lift mine eyes to the hills

Knowing my help is coming from You

Your peace You give me in times; of the storm

You are the source of my strength

You are the strength of my life

I lift my hands in total praise to You.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jCjaUwEsMdQ