"Soil"

January 31, 2014

“Soil”

Blessings folk!

One last time for now…

Matthew 13:18-23
18 “Hear then the parable of the sower.
19 When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is the one on whom seed was sown beside the road.
20 The one on whom seed was sown on the rocky places, this is the man who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy;
21 yet he has no firm root in himself, but is only temporary, and when affliction or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he falls away.
22 And the one on whom seed was sown among the thorns, this is the man who hears the word, and the worry of the world and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.
23 And the one on whom seed was sown on the good soil, this is the man who hears the word and understands it; who indeed bears fruit and brings forth, some a hundredfold, some sixty, and some thirty.”


It is obvious that the same seed brings forth different results in different soil.

  • Beside the road...hard...the seed is snatched away by the evil one. Again, the evil one snatched away that “which was sown in his heart”. The seed was sown. The heart was hard. The enemy stole the seed.

  • Rocky places...received it with joy...but no firm root...temporary. When tough times come...affliction, persecution...comes, he turns/falls away.

  • Thorns...hears the Word...as all have...yet the “YeahButs, WhatAbouts” choke the word. The worry of the world, the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word. Unfruitfulness is the result.

- Good soil...hears the Word...understands...bears fruit 100x, 60x, 30x

We see all of these within the professing church today.
Only one is true salvation.
Only one is a Believer.
Only one is OneAnother.
The Good Soil.

All others are NonAnother.
Which are you?

"Seed"

January 30, 2014

“Seed”

Blessings folk!

Do you believe what Jesus says?
Really believe?
Think now.
Too often we jump to a quick mental assent.

Do you believe what Jesus was saying in this parable?
His interpretation?

Matthew 13:18-23
18 “Hear then the parable of the sower.
19 When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is the one on whom seed was sown beside the road.
20 The one on whom seed was sown on the rocky places, this is the man who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy;
21 yet he has no firm root in himself, but is only temporary, and when affliction or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he falls away.
22 And the one on whom seed was sown among the thorns, this is the man who hears the word, and the worry of the world and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.
23 And the one on whom seed was sown on the good soil, this is the man who hears the word and understands it; who indeed bears fruit and brings forth, some a hundredfold, some sixty, and some thirty.”


A sower sows a seed.

According to the Lord, what is the seed?

  • Word of the kingdom, v. 19
  • Word, v. 20, 21
  • Word v. 22
  • Word v. 23

What happens to the Word, according to the Lord
  • heard, v. 19, 20, 22, 23
  • no understand, v. 19
  • snatched away, v. 19
  • received immediately with joy, 20
  • choked, v. 22
  • understood, v. 23
  • bears fruit, v. 23

More later.
For now, reread.

Note:
  • the same seed
  • the same sower
  • different soil/ground
  • different responses
  • different fruit

Which describes you?


"Will You Believe?"

January 29, 2014

“Will You Believe?”

Blessings folk!

Jesus told the disciples a parable…

Matthew 13:1-8
1 That day Jesus went out of the house and was sitting by the sea.
2 And large crowds gathered to Him, so He got into a boat and sat down, and the whole crowd was standing on the beach.
3 And He spoke many things to them in parables, saying,
“Behold, the sower went out to sow;
4 and as he sowed, some seeds fell beside the road, and the birds came and ate them up.
5 Others fell on the rocky places, where they did not have much soil; and immediately they sprang up, because they had no depth of soil.
6 But when the sun had risen, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away.
7 Others fell among the thorns, and the thorns came up and choked them out.
8 And others fell on the good soil and *yielded a crop, some a hundredfold, some sixty, and some thirty.
9 He who has ears, let him hear.”


He then answered the question of why He spoke in parables...

Matthew 13:10-17
10 And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables?
11 He answered and said unto them,
Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.
12 For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath.
13 Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.
14 And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive:
15 For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.
16 But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear.
17 For verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them.


Now, Jesus interprets the parable.
We do well to pay close attention to the interpretation.
Not only for the immediate parable at hand, but also for insight into how to interpret other parables.

Matthew 13:18-23
18 “Hear then the parable of the sower.
19 When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is the one on whom seed was sown beside the road.
20 The one on whom seed was sown on the rocky places, this is the man who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy;
21 yet he has no firm root in himself, but is only temporary, and when affliction or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he falls away.
22 And the one on whom seed was sown among the thorns, this is the man who hears the word, and the worry of the world and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.
23 And the one on whom seed was sown on the good soil, this is the man who hears the word and understands it; who indeed bears fruit and brings forth, some a hundredfold, some sixty, and some thirty.”


We will look at each of these in detail.

For now, a couple of simple questions.

Will you believe Jesus?
Or, will you believe “what you think?”

We each must decided whether we believe what the Lord says...or what man says.

Believe God.
The definition of faith.

"But…Blessed…"

January 28, 2014

“But...Blessed…”

Blessings folk!

One last look at this passage.
Read again.
Give close attention to verses 16-17.

Matthew 13:10-17
10 And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables?
11 He answered and said unto them,
Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.
12 For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath.
13 Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.
14 And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive:
15 For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.
16 But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear.
17 For verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them.


One of the most powerful words in the Word is “but”.

Verse 16…”But blessed…”

Believers are blessed.
Our eyes see...not because of any power and revelation on our part…
Our ears hear...not because of wisdom of man…

We see and hear because we believe.
In believing, the Lord releases HImself within us and we understand.

Many prophets and righteous men desired to see what we see, to hear what we hear, to experience what we experience.

Rejoice in what the Lord had given.
Take it not for granted.
Live in the blessing of seeing, hearing, understanding.

"Refusing to See/Hear/Understand"

January 27, 2014

“Refusing to See/Hear/Understand”

Blessings folk!

Matthew 13:10-17
10 And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables?
11 He answered and said unto them,
Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.
12 For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath.
13 Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.
14 And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive:
15 For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.
16 But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear.
17 For verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them.


Isaiah had prophesied that the people would react this way.

  • seeing, yet they see not
  • hearing, yet they hear not
  • experiencing, yet not understanding

Isaiah tells us what happened.
The Lord quotes it.

  1. The people’s heart had waxed gross, became dull, had grown callous. This was due to the people turning to their desires rather than the Lord. They chose their way in contrast to God’s way. Their hearts hardened. God gave them over to their hard hearts.
  2. The people’s ears became dull of hearing, they scarcely would hear, hard of hearing. With a hard heart they heard what they wanted to hear.
  3. The people closed their eyes. When they could no longer ignore the truth with the senses God has granted, they ceased the sense. They closed their eyes to see not. Amazing.

They did all this to keep from having a true encounter with the Lord.
Lest at any time they should see with their eyes…
Lest they should hear with their ears…
Lest they should understand with the hearts...
Lest in doing all this they should be converted from the hard heart of man to the heart of God...and the Lord heal them.

The same occurs today.
Except, we do so with our eyes wide shut.
We have wonderful, slick presentations that enable to soulishly “enjoy” a corporate gathering all the while not seeing, not hearing and being inoculated to true understanding.

This is the status of the NonBeliever in the organizational church.
They refuse to hear, while listening all the time.
They refuse to see, while watching everything.
They refuse to understand with their heart that which they debate with the mind.

Therefore we should not be surprised when we encounter NonBelievers in the organization.

We will see more later...tares/wheat/etc…

For now, love OneAnother in the Spirit.
Love the NonAnother seeking their salvation.

"Seeing/Hearing: Not!"

January 26, 2014

“Seeing/Hearing: Not!”

Blessings Folk!

Yesterday we read a parable from the Lord.
Refresh…

Matthew 13:1-8
1 That day Jesus went out of the house and was sitting by the sea.
2 And large crowds gathered to Him, so He got into a boat and sat down, and the whole crowd was standing on the beach.
3 And He spoke many things to them in parables, saying,
“Behold, the sower went out to sow;
4 and as he sowed, some seeds fell beside the road, and the birds came and ate them up.
5 Others fell on the rocky places, where they did not have much soil; and immediately they sprang up, because they had no depth of soil.
6 But when the sun had risen, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away.
7 Others fell among the thorns, and the thorns came up and choked them out.
8 And others fell on the good soil and *yielded a crop, some a hundredfold, some sixty, and some thirty.
9 He who has ears, let him hear.”


The disciples had a question.
They wanted to know why Jesus spoke in parables.
In other words, “can’t you just be clear?”

Jesus was clear.
There was a purpose.

I find it very interesting that Jesus dealt with this issue before He gave them understanding/interpretation of this foundational parable.

Read the following.
Meditate upon it.
Look at the clear truths.
Then, do any of these truths give us insight to the differences in OneAnother and NonAnother?

Matthew 13:10-17
10 And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables?
11 He answered and said unto them,
Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.
12 For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath.
13 Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.
14 And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive:
15 For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.
16 But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear.
17 For verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them.

Look at these amazing truths.

  • It is given to us (true Believers) to know the mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven
  • It is not given to those who are not believers.

Jesus spoke to them in parables so that…
  • seeing they see not
  • hearing they hear not
  • they do not understand

Jesus stated they were fulfilling that prophesied by Isaiah.
We will look at that tomorrow.

For now, re-read the passage.

Which are you?

If a Believer, rejoice.
Knowledge of the mysteries is yours.

Not a Believer, uncertain?
Then you will not understand.
Your mind is yet to be regenerated.




"NonAnothers: Be Not Surprised"

January 25, 2014

“NonAnothers: Be Not Surprised”

Blessings Folk!

Yesterday I mentioned the “NonAnothers”.
Those who believe they are saved and in correct relationship with the Lord due to their church membership/heritage/affiliation/family/etc.

We should not be surprised that there will be those in the organization that are not of the Body.

Jesus tells us of such.

We will take a couple of days looking at this.

Read and meditate upon a portion of what the Lord says…

Matthew 13:1-8
1 That day Jesus went out of the house and was sitting by the sea.
2 And large crowds gathered to Him, so He got into a boat and sat down, and the whole crowd was standing on the beach.
3 And He spoke many things to them in parables, saying,
“Behold, the sower went out to sow;
4 and as he sowed, some seeds fell beside the road, and the birds came and ate them up.
5 Others fell on the rocky places, where they did not have much soil; and immediately they sprang up, because they had no depth of soil.
6 But when the sun had risen, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away.
7 Others fell among the thorns, and the thorns came up and choked them out.
8 And others fell on the good soil and *yielded a crop, some a hundredfold, some sixty, and some thirty.
9 He who has ears, let him hear.”

Do not let a spirit of familiarity rob you of what the Lord desires to reveal.
Fear not. The Lord interprets this for us later.
For now, pay attention to the Word of the Lord.

There is a sower.

What does he do?
Sows.

What does he sow?
Seed.

Note the places where the seed landed.

  • beside the road
  • rocky places
  • among the thorns
  • good soil

Note the response of the seed.
  • beside the road=birds ate
  • rocky places=sprang up immediately/not much soil/scorched by sun/no root/do depth of soil
  • among the thorns=chocked out
  • good soil=yielded crop 100/60/30

What does the Lord mean by this?
What is He saying to us?
Why parables?...He answers that next…

Again, this relates to “NonAnothers”...and to OneAnothers…

...more later...



"Non-Another Deeds"

January 24, 2014

“Non-Another Deeds”

Blessings folk!

A difficulty in lov’n OneAnother is one another.

Those who are true Believers love OneAnother through the Spirit of the Most High God.
There is a common connection.
We are of the same Body through the Spirit.

Many of the relationships we have within the organizational church is with what will be references as “Non-Anothers”. Those who think they are in correct relationship with the Lord.

They think they are saved, yet they are not.

They are a part of a religious organization.
They often do extensive good works.
They often are faithful to the agenda and calendar of the organization.

Yet, the fruit of the Spirit is absent.
The works of the flesh is evident.

Galatians 5:19-21

19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

I see many of these on a daily basis within the organizational church...idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, wrath, strife, heresies, envyings. A life-time of such usually ends in bitterness that consumes all.

Non-Anothers seek to love “OneAnother” yet they cannot.
OneAnother love cannot be manifest in the flesh.
Such love is only attained through the Holy Spirit.

The fruit of the Spirit:

Galatians 5:22-24

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

One last thought for the day...we will continue tomorrow…

Galatians 5:14

14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.


...next...tare/wheat...


"Master! Lookt At the Beautiful Buildings…"

January 23, 2014

“Master! Look At the Beautiful Buildings…”

Blessings folk!

Jesus said the world would know that we are His disciple by our love for OneAnother.

The world should be forgiven for their confusion.

The world looks.
From their perspective it appears that the Kingdom consists of:
  • buildings
  • organization
  • programs
  • rules/regulations
  • theological arguments

This is nothing new.
The things of the world have often distracted the Kingdom.
One of Jesus’ disciples experienced it...tried to distract Jesus.

Mark 13:1
1 As He was going out of the temple, one of His disciples *said to Him, “Teacher, behold what wonderful stones and what wonderful buildings!”


Jesus was walking out of the temple after an intense encounter with the religious rulers - woe to them.

I believe the disciple was innocently trying to “lighten” the moment and distract Jesus.
Jesus was having nothing to do with it.
He told them that the buildings would be destroyed.

We as the Body of Christ - OneAnother - often communicate, perhaps unintentionally, that the “church” is the building where we meet.

Often within the organization church the NonAnothers (a term that refers to those who would claim to be believers, who are “members” of the organization, yet are not truly saved...the tares...more later) push the things that are of the world in the name of the Lord.

This happens more often than not.

Where do you stand?

Are you truly saved and living the life of love manifested in lov’n OneAnother?
Or, are you living the religious life of the NonAnother who busy themselves with worldly things in the name of the Kingdom?

Seek first His kingdom.
Trust Him for all else.



"In utero"

January 22, 2014

“in utero”

Blessings folk!

Today is a date that is honored and exalted among many in the land.
It is viewed as a day of “freedom”, of “choice”.

It is actually a day that reveals the evil of man’s heart.

On this date, forty-one years ago, the Supreme Court found a previously unseen “right” in the Constitution to kill unborn infants...in the name of “choice”.

The federal government has no right to such a decision.
The States do, but we are not speaking of that at the moment.

Some 55 million have died in the exercise of this “right”.
It is a holocaust beyond anything done by Hitler, Mussolini, Stalin, Lincoln et al.

Perhaps the saddest thing in my eyes is that many professing believers find nothing wrong with such. There are many phrases thrown about to support the horror, yet the truth of the Lord is clear.

“In utero” is life.
Life developing.
Life growing.

Psalm 139:13-24

13 For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother's womb.
14 I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.
15 My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.
16 Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.
17 How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them!
18 If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: when I awake, I am still with thee.
19 Surely thou wilt slay the wicked, O God: depart from me therefore, ye bloody men.
20 For they speak against thee wickedly, and thine enemies take thy name in vain.
21 Do not I hate them, O Lord, that hate thee? and am not I grieved with those that rise up against thee?
22 I hate them with perfect hatred: I count them mine enemies.
23 Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:
24 And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

Hear the Truth

  • God possessed our reigns
  • God has covered us in the womb
  • We are fearfully and wonderfully made
  • None of our substance in the womb was hid from God
  • He saw all...even as we developed
  • He fashioned
  • He wrote in His book all about us
  • God’s thoughts of us are precious
  • God will judge the wicked

May we all do what verse 23 states…
  • Search me O God
  • Know my heart
  • Try me
  • Know my thoughts
  • See if there be any wicked ay in me
  • Lead me in the everlasting way

The way of murder is wickedness.
Repent.
Confess.
Then, trust the Lord to lead in the way everlasting.
He will…to the praise of the glory of His grace...

"Filled/Speak/Sing/Thanks/Submit"

January 21, 2014

“Filled/Speak/Sing/Thanks/Submit”

Blessings Folk!!

So…
Do not be drunk.
Be filled with the Holy Spirit.

As we live full of the Holy Spirit we will…

Ephesians 5:18-21

18 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;
19 Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;
20 Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;
21 Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.

  • speak to OneAnother in psalms, hymns, spiritual songs
  • sing, make melody in our heart to the Lord
  • give thanks always for all things...unto God...in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ
  • submit ourselves to OneAnother in the fear of the Lord


We learn much about lov’n OneAnother in this passage.

We are to submit ourselves to OneAnother in the fear of the God.
Most do not do this. Especially leaders within the Body.
If we live in mutual submission in the Lord the life of the Body would be transformed.

We are to speak to OneAnother in psalms, hymns, spiritual songs.
How different our conversation would be if we spoke only from the Holy Spirit.
How different the life of the Body would be if we praised the Lord constantly (psalms), if we spoke of the great works and doctrine of God (hymns) and if we spoke only what the Spirit desired to say through us (spiritual songs).
Singing.
Making melody in your heart to the Lord.

We are to give thanks in all things.
Not give thanks “for” all things. Many things are difficult.
We are to give thanks unto God the Father in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Meditate upon that.

Let us do these things today.
Filled.
Speak.
Sing.
Thanks.
Submit.

The Lord will release His glory!

"Not Drunk. Filled!"

January 20, 2014

“Not Drunk. Filled!”

Blessings Folk!

We continue to see the instructions of the Lord related to lov’n OneAnother and walk’n in the Spirit.

Today we will look at one verse.
One instruction.

This one verse is quoted...partially…often in our community.
The part that is not quoted is often ignored, left out, unconsidered...to the detriment of the Kingdom.

Ephesians 5:18
18 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;


We are told to “be not drunk with wine.”

We, as believers, are not to be drunk with wine.

I am unaware of anywhere in the Scripture (outside of a Nazarite vow) that forbids the ingestion of fermented drink.

We create a standard that communicates something that God does not say.

God says be not drunk...do not abuse such.
We say, none at all. This is incorrect.

We are very inconsistent in our application of the Word.

In my experience, those who have been the strongest advocates of misinterpreting the Scripture related to the subject, ignore the balance of the following verses.

Proverbs 23:20
Do not be with heavy drinkers of wine, Or with gluttonous eaters of meat;

Proverbs 23:21
For the heavy drinker and the glutton will come to poverty, And drowsiness will clothe one with rags.

Matthew 11:19
The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Behold, a gluttonous man and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ Yet wisdom is vindicated by her deeds.”


Heavy drinkers...abusers...of wine are often seen with abusers of food.

How many who rant and rave over any drink, carry the evidence in their bodies of gluttony?
Most I know.

Rather than pointing the finger with our Pharisaical interpretation, we should be doing what the Word states simply.

Do not be drunk.
Be filled with the Holy Spirit.

Many, many professing believers are not filled with the Holy Spirit.
We will chase that around later.

For now.

Love OneAnother.
Be not drunk.
Be filled with the Holy Spirit.

"Walk Not As Fools…"

January 19, 2014

“Walk Not As Fools…”

Blessings folk!

At the beginning of Ephesians 5 we saw that we are commanded to walk in love with OneAnother as Christ has loved us.

The balance of the chapter reveals elements of how to do such.

We press on.

Ephesians 5:15-17
15 See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,
16 Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
17 Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.

“See then…”
An instruction.
A commandment.
Something that we “control” and choose to do.

We are to see then that we walk circumspectly.
Circumspectly?
Yes. It means “careful”. We are to walk carefully.
This is not speaking of the actual act of walking...though it does us well to do that carefully also.
It speaks of walking in love and in the Spirit.

This portion of the Word tells us to walk in wisdom, to be not fools.

Why?
“Redeeming the time.”
In other words, times-a-wast’n.
There is not time for foolishness.
Time is not to be wasted upon that which is not of the Kingdom.

The days are evil.
Evil will increase.

We are not to be unwise.
We are to be wise.
We are to understand what the will of the Lord is.
Foolishness will blind us to the will of God.


"Light! Exposer and Eradicator of Dark"

January 18, 2014

“Light! Exposer and Eradicator of Dark”

Blessings folk!

As the bearer of the Light of the World we shine in darkness.

Ephesians 5:11-14
11 Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them; 12 for it is disgraceful even to speak of the things which are done by them in secret. 13 But all things become visible when they are exposed by the light, for everything that becomes visible is light.
14 For this reason it says,
“Awake, sleeper, And arise from the dead, And Christ will shine on you.”

We are told forthright to not participate in deeds of darkness.
We saw earlier in the chapter what some of these are.
Rather, we are to expose them.

We see that it is disgraceful to even speak of these things which are done in secret by the world.

Yet, we are to expose them.
In love.
In mercy.
In compassion.
In grace.

Arise from death.
Turn to Christ.
He is the Light of the World.
He will shine on you.
You will shine on darkness...exposing and eradicating the dark!





"Liv'n the Light: Lov'n OneAnother"

January 17, 2014

“Liv’n the Light: Lov’n OneAnother”

Blessings folk!

Walking in love for OneAnother manifest the Light of the Lord.
We are the Living Light of the Most High God!

Look…

Ephesians 5:8-10
8 For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:
9 (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truthWinking
10 Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.

We once were in darkness.
We once lived in the manner of the world.
But now?
Now, we are Light in the Lord.
Think on that a moment.
As a true believer (examine yourself to see if you be of the faith) you are Light.

Therefore,
Walk as children of Light.

The fruit of Light is…

  • all goodness
  • all righteousness
  • all truth

We are seeking, discerning and proving that which is acceptable to the Lord.
We are loving OneAnother.

Living as Light loving OneAnother will draw the world to the Kingdom.

"Let No Man Deceive You…"

January 16, 2014

“Let No Man Deceive You...”

Blessings folk!

Ephesians 5:6-7
6 Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.
7 Be not ye therefore partakers with them.

A command.
An instruction.
Let no man deceive you.

We as believers have a role, a responsibility, to be not deceived.
Especially with vain words.

So many vain words are spoken “in the name of the Lord”.
Beware.
Be not deceived.
Knowing the Word will protect us from deception.
Living full of the Spirit will protect us from deception.

“Because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.”

What things?
The things mentioned in the previous verses:

  • fornication
  • uncleanness
  • covetousness
  • filthiness
  • foolish talk
  • course jesting
  • whoremongering
  • idolatry

The children of disobedience to these.

Another command/instruction.

Be not partakers with them.

Do not do these things.

Love OneAnother and do not the things done by the children of disobedience.

"Love Talk"

January 15, 2014

“Love Talk”

Blessings Folk!

We saw yesterday that as followers of the Lord we are to walk in the love of the Lord.
This will be a pleasing, sweet-smelling savor unto the Lord.

Give note to the next word…”but”…
Now, read...what do we learn...

Ephesians 5:1-5
1 Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children;
2 And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.
3 But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints;
4 Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks.
5 For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.

Love will have fruit.
Positive fruit...we will do certain things…
Negative fruit...we will not do other things…

Several items are listed here.
Many are things that we readily agree should not be done…

  • fornication
  • uncleaness
  • covetousness

Yes. We should not do these things as Believers.

Then, there are other things that often Believer think are not that serious...yet are.
  • filthiness
  • foolish talking
  • course jesting

We are to act as holy people - saints.
Rather than using speech for filthiness, foolishness and course jesting, we should be giving thanks constantly.

The Lord describes those who do such as whoremonger, unclean, covetous, idolater.
The Lord tells us that such people will not inherit the Kingdom of Christ and of God.

True love for OneAnother will manifest in holy living, in giving of thanks.
Anything else is not of the Kingdom.

"Smell"

January 14, 2014

“Smell”

Blessings folk!

How do you smell?
Let me rephrase that.
What do you smell like?
Not much better. Happy

We are to love OneAnother.
Such love is a pleasing aroma to the Most High.
How do I know?
The Word says so.

Note the following:
  • We are to be followers/imitators of God
  • We are the children of God, imitating Him.

Ephesians 5:1
1 Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children;


Then, this:

  • walk in love, as Christ loves us
  • as Christ gave Himself up...an offering, a sacrifice, a sweetsmelling savour.

Ephesians 5:2
2 And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.



Walking in love for OneAnother is pleasing to the Lord.
It smells good to Him.

We walk in love in the same way that Christ has loved us.
We give ourselves up for OneAnother, as Christ did.
We love OneAnother as a sacrifice to God, as Christ did.

So, again.
What smell do you provide?
It is the sweetsmelling savour pleasing to the Lord?
I believe this is detectable by man.
They see something.
They smell something different about us.

The next word in verse 3 is “but”...we will look at that tomorrow.
For today, may we manifest the fragrance of the Rose of Sharon.

"Love/Hate"

January 13, 2014

“Love/Hate”

Blessings folk!

1 John 4:19-21
19 We love him, because he first loved us.
20 If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?
21 And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.


Here is a foundational truth of the issue of loving OneAnother.

Remember, we as Believers love because He first loved us.
It is the love of the Lord in which we choose to live.

Therefore, if someone claims to love God, yet they hate their brother, then they are a liar.

Simple to understand.
Again, if you claim to love God, yet hate a brother, you are a liar.

Liars will not inherit the Kingdom.

How can one love God, who he has not seen, and yet hate his brother, who he has seen?

We have the commandment - love OneAnother.
We have the power to do so...if truly saved...because the love of the Lord is in us.

If you love God, then love OneAnother.

"No Fear! Love!"

January 12, 2014

“No Fear! Love!”

Blessings folk!

1 John 4:17-19
17 Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.
18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.
19 We love him, because he first loved us.

We have seen that God is love.
His love is manifested in us.
We are to love OneAnother by/through the love of the Lord.

Our love is “made perfect” in manifesting the love of the Lord unto others.

If we love this way, we will have boldness at the day of judgment.
That is interesting.
I wonder what it means?

As He is, so are we in this world.

No fear!
There is no fear in love.
This perfect love of God does away with fear.
We who love as the Lord has instructed will not be tormented with fear.

It is simple.
This is possible only through God.
Only in the true salvation of the Lord.
We love Him, because He first loved us.
We love OneAnother because He loves.

"Abide in Love…"

January 11, 2014

“Abide in Love…”

Blessings folk!

1 John 4:15-16
15 Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. 16 So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.


The Lord drives home the point that we are to abide in love.
We especially see this in the writing of the Apostle John…who describes himself as the “disciple whom Jesus loved.”

Note the process.

One must confess that Jesus is the Son of God.
Not just a soulish confession of the flesh.
Not a confession of the demons who believe and tremble.
A true confession.

God abides within the one who confesses and believes.
The one who confesses and believes abides in God.

This is the source of love.
God is love.

We abide in love because God abides in us and we abide in Him.

Can we choose to step outside of this abiding?
Yes.
I think this is a good definition of “sin” in the life of a believer - stepping outside the abiding Presence of God.

If we abide, we will not sin.
If we abide, we will love with the love of God.

Confess.
Believe.
Abide.
Love.


"Lov'n OneAnother Is Seeing God"

January 10, 2014

“Lov’n OneAnother Is Seeing God”

Blessings folk!

1 John 4:12-14

12 No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.
13 Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit.
14 And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.


No one has seen God face-to-face.

Interesting that this statement is made in the context of loving OneAnother.

The very next phrase states “if we love one another…”

We see that if we love OneAnother then God dwells within us.
If we love OneAnother His love is perfected in us.

Think on that for a moment…

Loving OneAnother is the very manifestation of God.
It is literally “seeing God”.
No man has seen God.
But, when we love, we are revealing and we are seeing God.

The world in drawn to the Lord by such.

Also, His love is “perfected” in us.
This does not mean that His love was “imperfect”.
It means that the love of the Lord is complete...fulfilled...when it is expressed to OneAnother through us.

The Power of the Lord released through love.

The Lord continues.

We know that we dwell/abide in Him because He has given us His Spirit.

If we refuse to love, we are refusing the Spirit and embracing the flesh.
We are to be alive in the Spirit and dead to the flesh.

John testifies that he has seen that the Father has sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.

Do we testify the same?
Does our love for OneAnother testify?

If not, repent.
Perhaps you are not truly saved.
Perhaps you have been trying to love, but it has been in the flesh.
Today is the day of salvation.
Today is the day that the Lord will set you free and empower you to love OneAnother.





"God First…"

January 9, 2014

“God First…”

Blessings folk!

It is really very simple.
If you do not love, you do not know God.

Oh, you might put on a good show.
But, you do not truly know God.

1 John 4:8-11

8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.
9 In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.
10 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.

We see how God manifested His love to us.

  • God sent His only Son into the world

Why
  • that we might live through Him

It is through the love of God manifested in His Son that we may live.
No other way.

This is love.
Not that we loved God.
No.
He loved us!
He sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

He loved us first.
We then respond to this love.

If God loved us this way, ought we not to love OneAnother?

Loving OneAnother is manifestation of the love of God in the true Believer.
Anything else is false.

God initiated.
We responded.
We are transformed to love.
We love.


"Beloved…Love…"

January 8, 2013

“Beloved...Love…”

Blessing Saints!

A new commandment - Love OneAnother.
The world we know we are Jesus’ disciples - by our love for OneAnother.

Let’s look further into 1 John 4

1 John 4:7-8

7 Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.
8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.

The Lord, speaking through John, calls us to love OneAnother.

Did you see the “how and whys”?

True love is of God.
If we are born of God…
If we know God…
Then we love.
Especially OneAnother.

If we do not love?
Then we do not know God.
We may be religious.
We may be moral.
But, if we “loveth not”, then we are not born of God and we do not know God.

Why?
Because God is love.

If you love not, then examine yourself to see if you be of the faith.





"Even As I Loved You…"

January 7, 2014

Even As I Loved You…”

Blessings folk!

John 13:34-35
34 "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another.
35 "By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another."


A new commandment.
Love OneAnother.

The world will know that we are His disciples by our love for OneAnother.

How do we do this?

Jesus gives us the answer in these verses.
Do you see it?

Even as I have loved you…”

We are to love OneAnother as Jesus loves us.
Without limit.
Without qualification.
Without agenda.
Wtihout...you get the idea.

Jesus manifests grace in love.
Jesus manifests mercy in love.

We are to love likewise.
We are to walk in love as Jesus did, giving ourselves up for OneAnother, sacrificing.

Ephesians 5:2
2 And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.


We will see more later.
For now, if God loved us this much, should we not love OneAnother?

1 John 4
10 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.

Do it.
Love.

"The Greatest"

January 6, 2014

“The Greatest”

Blessings folk!

Love OneAnother.
A new commandment of the Lord.

A place to begin again.
Given by the Lord to those who will receive.

We saw yesterday how this love is manifest...review a moment…

1 Corinthians 13
1 If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.
2 If I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.
3 And if I give all my possessions to feed the poor, and if I surrender my body to be burned, but do not have love, it profits me nothing.
4 Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant,
5 does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered,
6 does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth;
7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
8 Love never fails; but if there are gifts of prophecy, they will be done away; if there are tongues, they will cease; if there is knowledge, it will be done away.
9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part;
10 but when the perfect comes, the partial will be done away.
11 When I was a child, I used to speak like a child, think like a child, reason like a child; when I became a man, I did away with childish things.
12 For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known.
13 But now faith, hope, love, abide these three; but the greatest of these is love.

Do we love OneAnother this way?

  • patient
  • kind
  • not jealousy
  • no bragging
  • not arrogant
  • not acting unbecomingly
  • not seeking own
  • not provoked
  • not taking into account a wrong suffered
  • does not rejoice in unrighteousness
  • rejoices in truth
  • bears all things
  • believes all things
  • hopes all things
  • endures all things

Look at verse 8 again.
Love never fails.

Not the love of man.
Not the love of flesh.
Not the love of the soulish realm.

The love of the Lord manifested in OneAnother.
This never fails.

The Lord has equipped the Body of Christ with all we need, many marvelous things…
  • prophecy
  • tongues
  • knowledge
  • faith
  • hope

All these are functioning in the Body today.
But, love is greater than all.

Loving OneAnother is evidence of maturity in the faith.
No longer do we think as a child.
No longer do we reason as a child.
We have put away the childish things of immaturity and put on the maturity of love.

We know some, in part.
We will know fully in time to come.

For now faith, hope, love.

The Lord tells us this wonderful truth - the greatest of these is love.

Love OneAnother.

"The Look of Lov'n OneAnother"

January 5, 2014

“The Look of Lov’n OneAnother”

Blessings Folk!

John 13:34-35
34 
A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.
35 
By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.



A new commandment.
Love OneAnother.

Jesus said that by this love all men would know that we are His disciples.
Is this important?
Apparently. Jesus mentions it.
Why?

The world will see the love of OneAnother.
They will be drawn to it.
They will be drawn to the Lord because of what they see in His disciples.

Such is often not the case now.
The world is repulsed, for the most part, by what they see in professing believers.
They see:

  • arrogance
  • pride
  • greed
  • sin
  • false piety
  • etc. etc.

In other words, much of the professing church is no different from the world.

We need to quit strategizing to be “attractive” to the world.
We need to love OneAnother as the Word says.

This change would have major implications on what we do as the Body.

We will think upon some of these things as we progress through our time together.

For now, look at how the love of OneAnother looks…

1 Corinthians 13
1 If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.
2 If I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.
3 And if I give all my possessions to feed the poor, and if I surrender my body to be burned, but do not have love, it profits me nothing.
4 Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant,
5 does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered,
6 does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth;
7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
8 Love never fails; but if there are gifts of prophecy, they will be done away; if there are tongues, they will cease; if there is knowledge, it will be done away.
9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part;
10 but when the perfect comes, the partial will be done away.
11 When I was a child, I used to speak like a child, think like a child, reason like a child; when I became a man, I did away with childish things.
12 For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known.
13 But now faith, hope, love, abide these three; but the greatest of these is love.

Do we love OneAnother this way?

  • patient
  • kind
  • not jealousy
  • no bragging
  • not arrogant
  • not acting unbecomingly
  • not seeking own
  • not provoked
  • not taking into account a wrong suffered
  • does not rejoice in unrighteousness
  • rejoices in truth
  • bears all things
  • believes all things
  • hopes all things
  • endures all things

Love never fails.
Let us love OneAnother first, then trust the Lord to do as He desires...

"OneAnother"

January 4, 2013

“OneAnother”

Blessings Folk!

The Body of Christ does so much “in the name of the Lord”.
We...and I’m speaking of true Believers...are often very busy with Kingdom work.

Yet, we neglect the very things the Lord instructs us to do.

A primary commandment is often ignored, especially across man-made denominational, doctrinal, etc. lines.

The Body of Christ would be transformed if we were to implement, adhere, function within this one commandment.

Hear the Word of the Lord.

John 13:34-35
34 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.
35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

A simple commandment...at least on the surface.
Somewhat reflective of that which we see in the Garden of Eden - “do not eat of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil.”

One instruction.

Again, this is speaking of true Believers...we will look at the tares later.

We are to love OneAnother.

We are to love OneAnother as Jesus loves us.

Humm...what does that mean?

  • without limit
  • in the Power of the Lord
  • unto death
  • selflessly
  • consistently
  • in Truth
  • etc. etc.
We then see what the fruit of this love is.

All men will know that we are disciples of Jesus by our love for OneAnother.

Again, we will look at much detail through the days.

For now, love OneAnother.

As evil increases we must live in the love of OneAnother.
We need OneAnother in an organic way that few understand, much less experience.

The True Body of Christ will arise in the love of OneAnother.
Protection is in the love of OneAnother.
Power is in the love of OneAnother.
Provision is in the love of OneAnother.

Life is in the love of OneAnother.

OneAnother is the design of the Most High.

Will we live as God has designed, or will we seek our own way?

Decide.
Today.
Love OneAnother.


"A Place of Beginning Again"

January 3, 2014

“A Place of Beginning Again”

At the beginning of a new year I am always reminded of Ken Medema’s story-song “A Place of Beginning Again”...tried to find a recording, youtube...anything...to no avail.
It is Ken’s account of the following passage in John 8. I remember being strongly impacted by Ken’s bottom-line redaction of the passage.

The Lord gave the woman a “place to begin again.”

Read the account:

John 8:1-11

1 Jesus went unto the mount of Olives.
2 And early in the morning he came again into the temple, and all the people came unto him; and he sat down, and taught them.
3 And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst,
4 They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act.
5 Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou?
6 This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not.
7 So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.
8 And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground.
9 And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst.
10 When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee?
11 She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.


We have examined this passage several times in the past.
So much here.
Remember…
The Religionists were using the woman to setup Jesus.
She was caught in the very act.
Where is the “he” of the act?
Likely a Religionist who volunteered for the plot.
The Religionists could not have cared less about the woman.

Jesus saw the trap.
Jesus saw the hurt of the woman.

Jesus did not justify her sin.
He did not condemn her, though the Law did.

Jesus told her to go and sin no more.

A vivid picture of the grace of the Lord.
A profound example of the mercy of the Lord.

Many think that their sin is beyond the forgiveness of the Lord.
Such is not true.

He forgives.
He will give us a place to begin again.
Will we take it?
At the beginning of this new year, will we “go and sin no more”?





"Beginning of the Year…"

January 2, 2014

“Beginning of the Year…”

Blessings Folk!

Exodus 12:1-2
1 And the Lord spake unto Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt saying,
This month shall be unto you the beginning of months: it shall be the first month of the year to you.


A new year…

The Lord stated that this month (Nisan) in the spring would be the beginning of the year for His people. The Lord then gives detail about how they are to worship Him - The Sabbath and The Feasts of the Lord - Exodus 12, Leviticus 23.

This beginning of months was for what we call the “sacred” calendar.

The first day of the seventh month - Tishri - would become the beginning of the “civil” calendar. This is still celebrated today much like we have “new year”.

We do the same type of thing today.
January 1 is the beginning of the “calendar” year.
Many organizations have “fiscal” years that begin on different dates.

What might a “sacred” year look like?
Many portions of the Body of Christ celebrate/worship around a “sacred calendar” reflecting the birth, death, resurrection of the Lord.

Each one of us personally have our own calendar...beginning with the day that we are born.
We celebrate it.

The Lord showed the nation of Israel how to worship year round.
The Lord has shown us what to do with each new year…are we?

Pursue His Kingdom.
Pursue His Righteousness.

Matthew 6:33
33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

"Blessed…"

January 1, 2014

“Blessed…”

Blessings folk!

A New Year!

Many a “happy new year” has been and will be proclaimed.

How to attain such?

Simple.

Do what Jesus said.

Blessed/happy are those who do what the Lord instructs.
Rather than seeking the “happiness” of the flesh and soul, Believers are to function within the blessing that the Lord has provided.

Blessed in the Lord does not “look like” what the world expects.

Hear the Word of the Lord!

Matthew 5
2 And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying,
Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.
Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.
Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.
Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
13 Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.
14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.
15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.
16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

Blessed are:
  • the poor in spirit
  • those that mourn
  • the meek
  • those who hunger/thirst for righteousness
  • the merciful
  • the pure in heart
  • the peacemakers
  • those who are persecute for righteousness sake
  • those who are reviled/persecuted

Why?:
  • theirs is the kingdom of heaven
  • they shall be comforted
  • they shall inherit the earth
  • they shall be filled with righteousness
  • they shall obtain mercy
  • they shall see God
  • they shall be called the children of God
  • theirs is the kingdom of heaven

What are Believers to do?
  • Rejoice!
  • Be exceeding glad!
  • Be the salt of the earth!
  • Be the light of the world!
  • Good works...which will cause others to glorify God

“Happiness” is found only in the Lord.
Seek His Kingdom first.
All other things will be added.

Blessed New Year!