June 2015

"Do Not Be Deceived"

June 30, 2015

“Do Not Be Deceived”

Blessings folk!

All true Believers have been…
  • washed
  • sanctified
  • justified

1Co 6:11
Such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God.


False/fraudulent/fake believers have not.
They are still of the world.

What was the background of these “such were some of you…”.
To what does the “such” refer.

Back up a couple of verses…

1Co 6:9-11
Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals,
nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God.
Such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God.

The immediate context (1 Cor. 6) is that Believers were taking each other to pagan courts over issues. Paul said such should not be.

The Spirit clearly states that the unrighteous will not inherit the Kingdom of God.
Clear.

The total teaching of the Word shows that those who “practice unrighteousness”...as a pattern of life...will not inherit the Kingdom of God.

The Lord gives a list of the unrighteous that will not inherit the Kingdom of God.

We will examine each.

For today, be not unrighteous.
Do not be deceived.
Seek the Kingdom.
Know that the Lord Jesus is the Hope for all those in sin.

"Some of You..."

June 29, 2015

“Some Of You…”

Blessings folk!

So, let’s look at the answer.
Let’s look at the hope.
Let’s look at the solution.

We will look at what the Word of God has to say about the issues of the day.
Very simple.
What sayeth the Word?
The church is so lacking the simple Truth of what the Word of the Lord says.
So many dance around issues.
So many will barrage with an overwhelming flow of words only to back away and avoid the simple truth.
So many have no discernment.

Therefore, we will look first at what the Lord says is the solution.

1Co 6:11
Such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God.

“Such were some of you…”
Were?
They had been.
They were no longer.
What were they?
We will examine that later.

For today, look at what happened.

They were washed...wash away, washed fully.
They were sanctified...purified, separated from vain things, made holy.
They were justified...rendered/declared righteous, to be declared as one ought to be.

How were they totally washed of sin?
How were they made holy?
How were they declared righteous...justified?

In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.
In the Spirit of God.

This is the solution.
This is the answer.

Rejoice in the name of the Lord and the Spirit of God.

Regardless of the sin, washing/sanctifying/justifying...Salvation...is available to those who repent, confess and believe.

"If It Be So..."

June 28, 2015

“If It Be So…”

Blessings folk!

We saw yesterday that nothing can separate us from the Love of God.

Not the foolishness of man…”oh, the flag caused the murder”, “the inanimate caused the murder”.

Nor the evil of man.

Nothing.

But, what are we to do as we see evil increasing exponentially.
Especially the evil perpetrated by so-called “good”.

I believe it is time...has been for a long time...for the “Daniel stance”.

Allow me to give all the Scripture.
Do take time to read it…

Daniel 3 King James Version (KJV)
1 Nebuchadnezzar the king made an image of gold, whose height was threescore cubits, and the breadth thereof six cubits: he set it up in the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon.
2 Then Nebuchadnezzar the king sent to gather together the princes, the governors, and the captains, the judges, the treasurers, the counsellors, the sheriffs, and all the rulers of the provinces, to come to the dedication of the image which Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up.
3 Then the princes, the governors, and captains, the judges, the treasurers, the counsellors, the sheriffs, and all the rulers of the provinces, were gathered together unto the dedication of the image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up; and they stood before the image that Nebuchadnezzar had set up.
4 Then an herald cried aloud, To you it is commanded, O people, nations, and languages,
5 That at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, ye fall down and worship the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king hath set up:
6 And whoso falleth not down and worshippeth shall the same hour be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.
7 Therefore at that time, when all the people heard the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and all kinds of musick, all the people, the nations, and the languages, fell down and worshipped the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up.
8 Wherefore at that time certain Chaldeans came near, and accused the Jews.
9 They spake and said to the king Nebuchadnezzar, O king, live for ever.
10 Thou, O king, hast made a decree, that every man that shall hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, shall fall down and worship the golden image:
11 And whoso falleth not down and worshippeth, that he should be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.
12 There are certain Jews whom thou hast set over the affairs of the province of Babylon, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego; these men, O king, have not regarded thee: they serve not thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.
13 Then Nebuchadnezzar in his rage and fury commanded to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Then they brought these men before the king.
14 Nebuchadnezzar spake and said unto them, Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, do not ye serve my gods, nor worship the golden image which I have set up?
15 Now if ye be ready that at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, ye fall down and worship the image which I have made; well: but if ye worship not, ye shall be cast the same hour into the midst of a burning fiery furnace; and who is that God that shall deliver you out of my hands?
16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar,
we are not careful to answer thee in this matter.
17 If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king.
18 But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.

19 Then was Nebuchadnezzar full of fury, and the form of his visage was changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego: therefore he spake, and commanded that they should heat the furnace one seven times more than it was wont to be heated.
20 And he commanded the most mighty men that were in his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, and to cast them into the burning fiery furnace.
21 Then these men were bound in their coats, their hosen, and their hats, and their other garments, and were cast into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.
22 Therefore because the king's commandment was urgent, and the furnace exceeding hot, the flames of the fire slew those men that took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.
23 And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.
24 Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonished, and rose up in haste, and spake, and said unto his counsellors, Did not we cast three men bound into the midst of the fire? They answered and said unto the king, True, O king.
25 He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.
26 Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the mouth of the burning fiery furnace, and spake, and said, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, ye servants of the most high God, come forth, and come hither. Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, came forth of the midst of the fire.
27 And the princes, governors, and captains, and the king's counsellors, being gathered together, saw these men, upon whose bodies the fire had no power, nor was an hair of their head singed, neither were their coats changed, nor the smell of fire had passed on them.
28 Then Nebuchadnezzar spake, and said, Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who hath sent his angel, and delivered his servants that trusted in him, and have changed the king's word, and yielded their bodies, that they might not serve nor worship any god, except their own God.
29 Therefore I make a decree, That every people, nation, and language, which speak any thing amiss against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, shall be cut in pieces, and their houses shall be made a dunghill: because there is no other God that can deliver after this sort.
30 Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, in the province of Babylon.

Their response?
“King, we do not have to think long...we will not serve your god”.
God can deliver us.
He does not have to.
Either way, we will not serve the gods of man.

Some call this “civil disobedience”.
I understand what they mean.

But, I rather view it as God-fearing Obedience to the Most High.

What will you do?

Remember, fear not. It is gonna get worse.

"Nothing!"

June 27, 2015

“Nothing!”

Blessings folk!

Nothing can separate the true Believer from the Love of God…

Rom 8:38-39
For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers,
nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Are you convinced?
If you are a Believer, you should be living “The Convinced” life.
If not a believer, or a fraudulent one, it will be impossible to live such a life.

Nothing can separate us from the Love of God…
Not…

  • death
  • life...that is interesting…
  • angels
  • principalities...powers that be ranging from political to demonic
  • things present...impending threat
  • things to come...at the point of doing/suffering something
  • powers
  • height
  • depth
  • nor any other created things

Did you note the totality reflected?

Nothing.
Absolutely nothing.

Rejoice.
Live as one of The Convinced.
We are “in” the Love of God.
It will change your life.

"Conquerors"

June 26, 2015

“Conquerors”

Blessings folk!

Who will bring a charge against God’s elect?
God is the one Who justifies.

Who condemns?
Christ Jesus died, rose from the dead, sits at the right hand of God interceding for us.

Can anything separate us from the love of God?
Person? Situation? Circumstance? Ourselves?

Rom 8:35-37
Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
Just as it is written,
“FOR YOUR SAKE WE ARE BEING PUT TO DEATH ALL DAY LONG;
WE WERE CONSIDERED AS SHEEP TO BE SLAUGHTERED.”
But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us.

Nothing can separate the true Believer from the love of Christ.
Nothing.

We conquer through Him Who loved us.
Overwhelmingly conquer.
In the midst of tribulation, distress, persecution, famine, nakedness, peril, sword…
Though we be put to death continually as sheep lead to the slaughter…
Still we are conquerors in and through Him.

Remember this if you are true Believer.
Repent if you are a fraudulent “believer”… you know...a “good” person, a religious church-goer...yet not truly saved.
Repent for today is the day of salvation.

The wheat and tare are being sifted.
Fear not, it will get worse.

"Who Charges, Condemns, Intercedes"

June 25, 2015

“Who Charges, Condemns, Intercedes?”

Blessings folk!

Who can bring a charge against the elect of the Lord?
Who can condemn us?

No one.

Here is why…

Rom 8:33-34
Who will bring a charge against God’s elect? God is the one who justifies;
who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us.

God justifies us...no one can bring a true charge against the elect of the Lord.
Christ Jesus died for us…he was raised for us...he sits at the right hand of Father.
Jesus intercedes for us.

This is the reality of “now” in the life of the true Believer.

We need not fear the charge of the world - God has justified us.
We need not fear the condemnation of the world and fraudulent religious - Jesus died for us...He rose from the dead...He is alive...He intercedes with us before the Father.

Now.
At this second.

Therefore, fear not.
Yes, things will become much worse.
Fear not.

"God Is For Us"

June 24, 2015

God Is For Us”

Blessings folk!

A quick reminder of what we have seen.
Do not forget this.

Rom 8:29-30
For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; 
and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified.


Believers are…

  • predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son
  • called
  • justified
  • glorified

God knows.
God has a plan.

Hear a conclusion from the Word.

Rom 8:31-32
What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us?
He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?

What shall we say?
If...since...God is for us...who is against us?

Since we are God’s…
Since He is for us…
Then there is nothing that can come against us that will be victorious.

This does not mean that things will not come agains us.
It does mean that the Most High will be victorious.

He gave us His Son to deliver us from sin.
Will He not freely give all other things we need?
Yes, He will.
Live in Him.

"Predestined, Called, Justified, Glorified"

June 23, 2015

“Predestined, Called, Justified, Glorified”

Blessings folk!

Believers are foreknown by God - from before the foundation of creation.
Believers are predestined by God - to become conformed to the image of His (Father’s) Son. He (Son) is the firstborn among many brethren.

Now, observe the additional truths…

Rom 8:29-30
For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; 
and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified.


Note the action.
“He”...the Most High God…He does all this.

He predestined.

Those He predestined He “called” = kaleo

  • to call aloud...to call forth
  • to invite
  • to give a name

Those He called He also “justified” = dikaioo
  • render righteous
  • declare, pronounce one to be as he should be

Those He justified He “glorified” = doxazo
  • to think, suppose, be of opinion
  • to praise, extol, magnify, celebrate
  • to honor, do honor to, hold in honor
  • to make glorious, adorn with luster, clothe with splendor

As Believers, the Lord has called us forth, He has declared us to be as we should be - righteous, and He releases praise, honor and glory now and in the future...in and through us.

Rejoice!
Walk in these truths that the Lord has done for us.

"Predestined"

June 22, 2015

“Predestined”

Blessings folk!

Back in the ole college days I remember being constantly accosted...yes, that is the only word...by fellow believers related to certain things.

One was this…”do you believe in predestination?”

{Now-a-days it is the same…”do you believe in predestination? are you a Calvinist? do you believe in the pretribulation rapture?” etc. etc. Folk will debate, yet refuse to learn what the Word says.}


I always thought it was a curious question considering how the Scripture uses the word and variant many times...three to six times depending upon the translation.

We are looking at what the Word says.
Not at what man thinks.

Rom 8:29-30
For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; 
and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified.


Believers are foreknown.
We are also predestined.

“Predestined” = proorizo
- to predetermine, decide beforehand
- in the NT of God decreeing from eternity

  • to foreordain, appoint beforehand
The Lord determined beforehand that we should be conformed to the image of His Son.

Think on that.
That is the determination of the Most High before He spoke anything into existence.
A determination for each true Believer.

“Conformed” = symmorphos
  • having the same form as another, similar, conformed to

Those who are foreknown are predestined to have the same image as the Son.
The Son, the firstborn among many brethren.
The Son, the firstborn among the dead.

Resist not the determination of the Lord.
Allow Him to conform you moment by moment into His likeness.
Conformed now.
Conformed later.

Rom 12:1-2
Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.
And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.

"Foreknew..."

June 21, 2015

“Foreknew…”

Blessings folk!

Precept upon precept.
Line by line.
Word by Word.

We shall slowly continue to consider this passage…

Rom 8:29-30
For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; 
and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified.


The Lord foreknew.
“Foreknew”=”proginosko”
- to have knowledge before hand

  • to foreknow of those whom God elected to salvation
  • to predestinate

“Foreknew” from what time perspective?
Before the foundations of the creation were spoken into existence.

Such knowledge is too wonderful for us.
We cannot comprehend.
We are created beings existing in a time-line that moves forward.

The Lord God is not.

He knows..
  • all that has been/all that could have been
  • all that is/all that could be
  • all that will be/all that could be
There is no limit to the knowledge of God.
God is not limited by time.
He knows past, present, future and all permutations thereof.

Such is the wonder and the glory of the Lord.
Trust in Him.
Rest in Him.

"For Those Whom He Foreknew..."

June 20, 2015

“For Those Whom He Foreknew…”

Blessings folk!

God causes all things to work together for the good…
  • to those who love God.
  • to those who are called according to His purpose.

We are upon holy ground with these truths.
These are often rejected.
Rejected out of ignorance.
Rejected out of fear.
Rejected out of unbelief.

Do this.
Simply read the Scripture.
Ask the Spirit what He is saying in the Word.
Set aside “what we think” and allow the Word to speak.

Remember how we learn the Word…

Isa 28:10
For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little:

Now…

Rom 8:29-30
For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; 
and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified.

Today, look at what God has done/does for those who are/will be Believers.

He…

  • foreknew
  • predestined
  • conformed
  • called
  • justified
  • glorified.

A clear, concise layout of what the Lord has done for Believers.

Sadly, the meaning of many of these terms has been perverted by man.
We will see more.

If you are true Believer, rejoice that you are foreknown, predestined, conformed, called, justified, glorified.

"For Good..."

June 19, 2015

“For Good…”

Blessings folk!

As we have been covering a small portion of the book of Romans, it is obvious that it is foundational to the faith.

The next few verses are very familiar.
Keep in mind the context that we have seen in recent days.

Rom 8:28
And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.

“We know…”
Do we know?
Do we live in this knowledge?
What do we know?

That God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God…
God causes.
He causes all things to work together for good.
This does not mean that all things that happen to us are good.
But, for those who love God, he works it together for good.

Working together for good…

  • to those who love God
  • to those who are called according to His purpose

As Believers we love God.
As Believers we are called.
Called to a specific purpose.
Called to His purpose.

Understanding these truths will transform the way we live.

Meditate upon them.
Live them.
Trust Him.

"Helps and Intercession"

June 18, 2015

“Helps and Intercession”

Blessings Folk!

Ah, the work of the Spirit.

Paul is revealing how we are to live in the Spirit and not in the flesh.

Rom 8:26-27
In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words;
and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.

The Spirit:

  • helps our weakness...the struggle with the flesh. The Spirit helps.
  • intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words...because we do not know how to pray as we should.
  • intercedes for the saints...according to the will of God

“He Who searches the hearts”...Father.
He knows the mind of the Spirit.
The Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.

All to the praise of the Lord!
We are not abandoned.
We are not ill-equipped.
We have the Spirit.
Live in the Spirit.

"Hope"

June 17, 2015

“Hope”

Blessings folk!

Our hope is in the Lord.

It is in the Lord that we place our hope of salvation.

Rom 8:24-25
For in hope we have been saved, but hope that is seen is not hope; for who hopes for what he already sees?
But if we hope for what we do not see, with perseverance we wait eagerly for it.

We have been saved.
We have yet to see the fruition of salvation.
We continue to hope for the completion.
We hope in that which is not seen.
Although not seen, it is true.

If we can see something it is not hope.
No one hopes in the seen.

We hope in the unseen yet to come.
We persevere meanwhile.
We eagerly await the hope of our salvation.

Even more so as evil increase in these last days.

Be certain of your salvation.
Be certain of your hope.
Your hope must be in the Lord Jesus Christ.
Not in man.
Not in man’s organizations...as “good” as they may be.

There is but One in Who we persevere and eagerly await.

"First Fruits of the Spirit"

June 16, 2015

“First Fruits of the Spirit”

Blessings folk!

We have seen that creation is moaning and groaning awaiting the revealing of the sons of God.

We are part of creation.

Rom 8:23
And not only this, but also we ourselves, having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body.

We groan within ourselves.
Why?
Awaiting our adoption as sons.
But...wait...I thought we were already adopted?
We are.
But, we will be with the Lord forever.
The adoption has yet to be fully consummated with us in His Presence for eternity.

Notice something else about believers.
We have the first fruits of the Spirit.
Interesting phrase.
The Spirit that is in us…the Most High God Himself… is but the beginning of what we will be in glory.

There is a struggle...a moaning...a groaning between the Spirit and this body of flesh.

We eagerly await our adoption.
We eagerly await the redemption of our body.
Then, no longer will there be the struggle.

Meanwhile, we aggressively wait empowered by the first fruits of the Spirit.

"Creation Reveals the Godhead"

June 15, 2015

“Creation Reveals the Godhead”

Blessings folk!

The point cannot be made enough.
God created.
Ex nihilo - “out of nothing”.

Read the passage again.
Pay attention to the relationship between creation and the sons/children of God.

Rom 8:19-22
For the anxious longing of the creation waits eagerly for the revealing of the sons of God.
For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope
that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God.
For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now.


Creation is bound in slavery and corruption.
This is due to man’s rebellion in the garden of Eden.
The rebellion affected creation.
Thorns and thistles came forth.
The ground was cured.
Creation was changed at the Deoxyribonucleic acid level (DNA).
It was subject to futility.
It was enslaved to corruption.
It now groans and suffers the pains of childbirth...awaiting the revealing of the sons of God.

There is hope.
There is glory to come.

Creation moans and groans awaiting the day.

Creation declares the wonder and glory of the Godhead.

Rom 1:20
For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.

Creation declares…

  • the invisible attributes of God
  • the eternal power of God
  • the divine nature/Godhead of God
  • and reveals the Triune Nature of God

We understand about God through His creation.
Creation speaks of Him.
Everyone is without excuse.

Note how the KJV uses the term “Godhead”.
A word sadly missing from contemporary translations.

Rom 1:20
For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:

Rejoice in the Lord and His creation which declares His glory.

"Creation"

June 14, 2015

“Creation”

Blessings folk!

We will spend a couple of days looking at the next few verses.

Read the passage.
What did you learn about “creation”?

Rom 8:19-22
For the anxious longing of the creation waits eagerly for the revealing of the sons of God.
For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope
that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God.
For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now.

Creation:

  • anxiously longing
  • awaits eagerly for the revealing of the sons of God
  • subjected to futility...not willingly
  • God subjected it in hope…
  • hope to be set free from slavery to corruption
  • set free into freedom of the glory of the children of God
  • groans...the whole
  • suffers the pains of childbirth until now

One last thought.
One foundation thought.

We are speaking of “creation”.
All that is was created.
“Creation” requires a Creator.

The Word speaks of Creation and a Creator.

God created - ex nihilo - out of nothing.
This is not in conflict with true science.
It is the Truth.
Rest in it.
Rejoice in it.

"Suffering Vs. Glory"

June 13, 2015

“Suffering Vs. Glory”

Blessings folk!

A simple, yet profound thought today.

Too often, true Believers become distracted…
  • by circumstance
  • by cares and concerns of the world
  • by fear
  • by suffering, etc.

Hear the Word of the Lord.
Receive correction.
Receive exhortation.
Receive encouragement.

Rom 8:18
For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us.

Paul considered the present suffering and circumstance to be not worthy to be compared to that yet to come.

The glory that awaits all Believers...that which will be revealed in us...will make suffering seem insignificant.

Suffering may be unpleasant.
Suffering is for a season.

Glory is forever.

Rejoice in the glory yet to come...

"The Spirit Himself Testifies"

June 12, 2015

“The Spirit Himself Testifies”

Blessings folk!

Continue to allow the Spirit to impart:
  • truth
  • exhortation
  • encouragement
  • comfort
  • understanding to who you are

Rom 8:16-17
The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God,
and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him.

People question their salvation.
The Spirit testifies that we are children of God.
Note how is is stated - “the Spirit Himself…”
Not through another.
The Spirit.
Note how the Spirit does so.
He testifies with our spirit.
Not through another.
The Spirit to our spirit.

Ask the Lord.
Listen to His Spirit.
Many who think they are in “right” relationship with God are not.

Those that are children of God are heirs.
Think on that.
Heirs of Father.
Fellow heirs of the Son.

Suffering might be required.
Suffering as He suffered.
But, after the suffering we will be glorified as He is.
We will be glorified with Him.

Rejoice and press on!

"Abba! Father!"

June 11, 2015

“Abba! Father!”

Blessings folk!

Receive this Word of encouragement.
Receive the Truth.
Know who you are as a True Believer.

Rom 8:14-15
For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.
For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, “Abba! Father!”

Those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.
Those who are truly sons of God will be led by the Spirit of God.

We should no longer fear.
No longer fear situation.
No longer fear circumstance.
No longer fear our status and relationship with God.

We have not a spirit of slavery and all the fear entailed.
We have received a spirit of adoption.
We are the Lord’s.
We can...and should...cry out “Abba! Father!”

God is Father.
Believers are sons.

Rejoice.
Never fear in the flesh again.
Freedom reigns in the adopted sons of the Most High God!

"Make the Axe Head Float"

June 10, 2015

“Make the Axe Head Float”

Blessings folk!

Three contemporary stories.
All true.
Forgive the length, but they must be told together.

(1) Yesterday, my daughter Lenee, covenant son Aaron and kids “lost” a dog.
Here is Aaron’s account as posted on his Facebook page...

So yeah, we somehow lost Pongo our dalmatian puppy. I'll admit I lost it a bit. Yes, I am sure I looked crazy standing in the street with my hands on my head while looking in every car window driving by hoping to see our Pongo. As well our neighbors probably thought I had lost my mind as I walked the streets, knocked on doors and prayed aloud that Jesus would bring back our pup. Then as I was headed back home I thought about how God must have felt having His creation walk astray from Him. How Jesus revealed for us just how much the father loved us. We were that one lost sheep that the shepherd went in search of. It may have seemed crazy to some, but when you see how much God loves us through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus, how much grace He gives us, my little moment of anguish seems miniscule.
Yes we found Pongo. Really Jesus answered the prayer of little Jude as He asked Him to bring his puppy back. It was there that we, as well as our son saw immediate fulfillment of prayer. Pongo was no where to be found, but at the end of that prayer Lenee' turned around and there he was. You may think me to be silly, but I believe Jesus cares that much. It is a lesson my kids will not forget. Our Father is there. He always hears us and He cares deeply for us.

This reminded me of something that happened 15 years ago.

(2) We were having a Bible study with “college-age” men and women.
Met at Victory Park...it had just become available to us.

While meeting, my wife and two youngest daughters arrived with a new puppy (whoopie :/… I think he was a “Wal-mart Parking Lot” dog).
Everyone played with the puppy.
Suddenly the puppy took off into the night.
Into the dark.
Into the drizzling rain.
Into the wood.

We searched and searched to no avail.
But, something had crossed my mind.
I thought the Lord was about to teach us something.
He did.
We gathered everyone in a circle and held hands.
I recounted this...

2Ki 6:1-7
Now the sons of the prophets said to Elisha, “Behold now, the place before you where we are living is too limited for us.
“Please let us go to the Jordan and each of us take from there a beam, and let us make a place there for ourselves where we may live.” So he said, “Go.”
Then one said, “Please be willing to go with your servants.” And he answered, “I shall go.”
So he went with them; and when they came to the Jordan, they cut down trees.
But as one was felling a beam, the axe head fell into the water; and he cried out and said, “Alas, my master! For it was borrowed.”
Then the man of God said, “Where did it fall?” And when he showed him the place, he cut off a stick and threw it in there, and made the iron float.
He said, “Take it up for yourself.” So he put out his hand and took it.

We were about to pray that the Lord would “make the axe head float”.
Something obviously impossible in the natural.
When we were about to “assume the position” (bow our heads), the puppy came running out of the dark and stood in the circle of some 15-20 folk.
One of the young ladies stated “what just happened?”
We laughed and rejoiced.

And yes, we named the puppy “Elisha”.

  1. Lastly, it was some years later and a few years back.

We needed to find a beloved family member.
We had not heard from them in a long time.
I felt that I was to travel and find them.
A rather long journey.

We, the Body of Christ, gathered and prayed that the Lord would “make the axe head float”.

I traveled some 14 hours.
Spent the next morning looking.
Finally parked and said, “Well God, I’ll stay here…”
In less than a minute the family member walked by on a busy, busy boardwalk.

Thus are the ways of the Lord.
Do we have eyes to see?
Do we have ears to hear?
Do we truly believe?
Are we willing to live in belief/faith rather than by what we can only see?

Trust the Lord.
Cast your cares upon Him.
He cares for you...and the puppies.
Happy

"Obligation"

June 9, 2015

“Obligation”

Blessings folk!

“So, then…”

A powerful term of conclusion.

The next verse begins with it.

We are learning about how to control the flesh by the Spirit.

Rom 8:12-13
So then, brethren, we are under obligation, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh— for if you are living according to the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live.

We are not under obligation to the flesh.
We have power over the flesh.
No longer will “the flesh made me do it” suffice as an excuse.

We who are Believers live by the Spirit.
We are putting to death the deeds of the body.
We live.

Those who are of the flesh are living according to the flesh...and must die.

Today, choose to live in the Spirit, putting to death the flesh.

"The Spirit of Him Who Raised Jesus From the Dead..."

June 8, 2015

“The Spirit of Him Who Raised Jesus From the Dead…”

Blessings folk!

We are to consider our bodies dead to sin.
In the flesh, we are dead.
In the Spirit, we are alive.
If Christ is in us...

Rom 8:10
If Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, yet the spirit is alive because of righteousness.


Sin will continue to seek to gain sway in our lives.
Be dead to it.

The Spirit will bring life and guide us.
He will lead us to righteousness.

Give heed to what we learn of the Godhead in this verse.
Also, what do you see about the future of true believers?

Rom 8:11
But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.

“The Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead…”
The Spirit - Holy Spirit
Him - Father
Jesus - Son

Father raised Jesus from the dead.
The Spirit that Father sent to us through Jesus dwells within us.
He Who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will give life to our mortal bodies...through His Spirit, the Spirit that dwells within us.

Life now in our mortal bodies.
Life later in bodies immortal.
Life in the Lord.
Life in the Spirit.

Why would we seek the things of the flesh?

"In the Spirit"

June 7, 2015

“In the Spirit”

Blessings Folk!

Some powerful truths related to the Spirit and the flesh.

We are walking through them step by step.

Meditate upon them.
Walk in them.
It will change your life.

Rom 8:9
However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him.

Note the “however”.
Paul had just said…

Rom 8:6-8
For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace,
because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so,
and those who are in the flesh cannot please God.


You are not “in the flesh”…
But, you are “in the Spirit”…
IF…
the Spirit of God dwells in you.
If you are truly saved.
If you are truly Spirit filled.

If you do not have the Spirit of God, then you are not saved.
You do not belong to Him.
You may belong to an organization, e.g. a “church”, but you are not of the Kingdom Body of Christ.

If you do not belong to Him, you live in the flesh
If you do belong to Him, you can live in the Spirit and reject the flesh.
You have the Spirit.
Choose the Spirit.
Die to the flesh.
The flesh cannot please God.

"The Flesh Is Hostile Toward God"

June 6, 2015

“The Flesh Is Hostile Toward God”

Blessings folk!

Set your mind on the things of the Spirit…

Rom 8:5
For those who are according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.


There is more...much more…

Rom 8:6-8
For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace,
because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so,
and those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

Paul is bringing it all together for us.
All the things he had said previously…

The mind set on the flesh is death.
The mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God.
The mind set on the flesh does not subject itself to the Law of God.
The mind set on the flesh is not able to follow God.
The mind set on the flesh cannot please God.

Simple.
Forthright.

What is your mind set upon?
Do you always think about stuff?
Or, is your mind constantly dwelling upon the things of God?

The mind set on the Spirit is life and peace.
A mind set on anything else will not provide life and peace.

Be not hostile toward God.
Seek Him.
Let your mind dwell and rest in Him.
Live the Life of the Spirit in peace.

"Set Your Mind..."

June 5, 2015

“Set Your Mind…”

Blessings folk!

Upon what is your mind set?
Upon what is your mind stayed?
Do you know what the Word of the Lord says of such?
The Spirit, through Paul, continues...

Rom 8:5
For those who are according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.

Those of the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh.
This is often seen in those who profess to be believers...yet they are not.
Their lives reveal the truth.

Those who are truly saved…
Those who are “according to the Spirit…
Set their minds upon the things of the Spirit.

Examine yourself.
Ask yourself the questions above.

Remember this…

Isa 26:3
Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.

"Likeness and Offering"

June 4, 2015

“Likeness and Offering”

Blessings folk!

We learn more about what the Law could not do.
We learn more about what God did...through His Son.

Rom 8:3-4
For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God did: sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh,
so that the requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.


Jesus, the Son, put on flesh...He came in flesh…

Phl 2:5-7
Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus,
who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped,
but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men.

Through God, He humbled Himself.
He humbled Himself to the point of putting on His creation - flesh.
He emptied Himself of the Godhead.
He took on the form of a bond-servant...made in the likeness of man.

Jesus did so to become The Offering for sin.
When He did, He condemned sin in the flesh.

He fulfilled the requirements of the Law,
Therefore, we who are in Him, fulfill the Law.

We are empowered to walk in the Spirit rather than in the flesh.

Do so.

"Spirit of Life"

June 3, 2015

“Spirit of Life”

Blessings folk!

Paul reaches a conclusion.
How do I know?
We have been examining Romans 7...the Law and sin.
The next verse (remembers there is no chapter division nor versification in the original) begins with “therefore”… “In light of”, “considering”, “because of this…”.

Rom 8:1-2
Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death.

Most of us are very familiar with this passage.
Did we know the context?
Did we know that it is the answer to the struggle Paul previously addressed?

In light of all we have learned, there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
Those who are in Christ Jesus.
Those who abide in Him.
Those who are His.
No condemnation from the Law.
Not for those who profess some belief, and yet are not His.

Why?
Because we have been set free.
The law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus has set us free from the law of sin and of death.

We have a new “law”.
The Spirit of Life.
The Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus.

We fulfill the Old Covenant Law through Jesus.
We received the Spirit of Life through Jesus.
We are set free from the law of sin...no longer miserable crying for help.
We are set free from death.
Sure, we may experience a temporary separation from our physical bodies.
But, we as a person will never die.

Rejoice!
Life in the Spirit of Life.

"Thanks Be to God..."

June 2, 2015

“Thanks Be To God…”

Blessings folk!

Paul has been describing the struggle between the flesh and the desire to do good.
He is speaking from experience.

One would nearly think that the situation is hopeless...especially if the “rest of the story” is not noted.

Rom 7:22-24
For I joyfully concur with the law of God in the inner man,
but I see a different law in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin which is in my members.
Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death?

Paul describes himself as a wretched man.

There is debate as to what is meant.

Was Paul speaking of himself before he was saved?
When he was dependent upon the Law for “righteousness”?
Perhaps.
This is definitely a picture of life under the Law.

Was Paul speaking of himself after salvation?
Was he revealing that, though we are redeemed and new creatures, we are still in the shell of the flesh? The sin of flesh will tempt.
Likely.

Paul cried out “who will set me free from the body of this death?”

The next verse is the answer.

Rom 7:25
Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, on the one hand I myself with my mind am serving the law of God, but on the other, with my flesh the law of sin.

Jesus Christ our Lord...therefore Paul is speaking from the perspective of one saved… has set us free.

Paul acknowledges that on the one hand his mind is serving the Law of God. We “keep the law” through the Lord Jesus.

But, on the other hand, his flesh seeks to keep the law of sin.

Paul gives thanks to God through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Why?

Because it is only through the Lord Jesus Christ that we are reconciled to God.
It is only through Jesus Christ that we can live and serve God while in the flesh.

Today…
Die to the flesh
Give thanks to God.

"A Different Law..."

June 1, 2015

“A Different Law…”

Blessings folk!

Paul continues the explanation of the struggle with the flesh.

Rom 7:20-23
But if I am doing the very thing I do not want, I am no longer the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me.
I find then the principle that evil is present in me, the one who wants to do good.
For I joyfully concur with the law of God in the inner man,
but I see a different law in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin which is in my members.

He was doing the very thing he did not want to do.
Sin in him tempted and lead him.
Evil is present in him...in the flesh.

Though he desired to do good…
Though he joyfully concurred with the Law of God in the inner man…

He acknowledged that a different law was at work in the members of his body.
The flesh waged war against the law of his mind.
He was a prisoner of the law of sin in his body.

A vivid description of the struggle between flesh and spirit.

What to do?

Joyfully concur with God in the inner man.
Die to the different law of the members of our bodies.