Jesus Christ

Defense

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If I rejoiced at the destruction of him that hated me, or lifted up myself when evil found him: neither have I suffered my mouth to sin by wishing a curse to his soul. If the men of my tabernacle said not, “Oh that we had of his flesh! we cannot be satisfied.” The stranger did not lodge in the street: but I opened my doors to the traveller.  If I covered my transgressions as Adam, by hiding mine iniquity in my bosom:  did I fear a great multitude, or did the contempt of families terrify me, that I kept silence, and went not out of the door?
Job 31:29-34

Job is reminding God of his life, and how he has helped people, and that he has not ever wished evil  or curse on  an enemy.  Neither should the one’s who are in Christ Jesus.

No Mediator?

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We are in the book of Job today. I am reading three days reading from the DAY BY DAY CHRONOLOGICAL BIBLE and I read the first thirteen chapters of Job.

Recapping what has taken place in these thirteen chapters; Job, a very wealth, and godly, righteous man by God’s declaration, not mine, has lost all the wealth he had. Not only did he lose that, but he lost his ten children to a great whirl wind.  Then he lost the support of his wife.

He has had three good friends to come visit him, to comfort and encourage him.  They do not speak for some time. My thought of that is they should have gone home.  The names of Job’s friends are Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar. Job is the first to speak, and they could not help but answer back. In one of Job’s speeches he says the following, speaking of God…

For He is not a man, as I am, that I should answer Him, and we should come together in judgment.  Neither is there any daysman betwixt us, that might lay his hand upon us both.  Let Him take His rod away from me, and let not His fear terrify me:  then would I speak, and not fear Him; but it is not so with me.
Job 9:32-35

Job is most likely feeling forsaken by God.  Abandoned, left to figure these things out for himself.  Yet, never opens His mouth in cursing the LORD.  He says “Neither is there any daysman betwixt us, that might lay His hand on us.”  At that point in time there was a Mediator with God, but He was not known by them; because in First Timothy of the New Testament, the Bible says: “There is one God, and there is one Mediator between God and men; the Man Christ Jesus”  (1 Timothy 2:5-6).  Jesus Christ who has always been, and has become man in the flesh, without sin had to die on the cross for the sins of the world, becoming sin for us, that we might be made the righteousness of God.

Job so ached to be able to speak to God, but God was not speaking to Him.  The following thought or saying that is quite true; “The teacher is always silent during the test” is a good reminder of why God seems far away.  It is a test for our growing faith and love for Christ and the Father and Spirit  of God.

I do have great confidence in my Mediator who stands before me and the Father in my stead, and in yours too when you have called on the name of the LORD to save you He hears, and forgives you and calls you His child.

A Father with His Sons

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Jacob/Israel was in Egypt with all of his family, and he knows that he is about to die from this world. So, he calls all twelve of his sons and tells them how they have lived, and will be known by how they have lived.

I share here today only what Jacob said of Joseph:

Joseph is a fruitful bough, even a fruitful bough by a well; whose branches run over the wall:  The archers have sorely grieved him, and shot at him, and hated him: But his bow abode in strength, and the arms of his hands were made strong by the hands of the Mighty God of Jacob; (from thence is the shepherd, the stone of Israel:)  Even by the God of thy father, who shall help thee; and by the Almighty, who shall bless thee with blessings of heaven above, blessings of the deep that lieth under, blessings of the breasts, and of the womb:  The blessings of thy father have prevailed above the blessings of my progenitors unto the utmost bound of the everlasting hills: they shall be on the head of Joseph, and on the crown of the head of him that was separate from his brethren.
Genesis 49:22-26

Most of chapter forty nine is given to Jacob’s words concerning each son.  Jacob saw the character of each son, but Joseph’s character is above them all.

Sometimes it seems  that people do not care about character; their own, or anyone else’s.  Character is who you are when you think no one is watching – what you do, and what you say, even what you think.

We all have character, and it matters what kind of character you are. You either have a godly character, on an ungodly character. The godly character is in touch with God through the devoted reading, being read by, and study of God’s word – the Bible; and putting the word to work in our lives. They desire that Jesus Christ will be seen at work in their lives.

We see godly character in Joseph when he is alone with Potiphar’s wife, and she tries to seduce him, and he tells her that he would not only be sinning against her husband who has trust for him, and for her; but even worse  he  would be sinning against God.

The person with ungodly character would say something like, I am pure” and then turn around and go to bed with a prostitute when no one was around. Maybe some other thing as well.  An ungodly character would also tell you one thing, and some else something different, about the same thing.

How can we have a godly character?  The first way is to come to Jesus Christ in faith, confessing Him as Lord, and believing in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, and you will be saved.  Then as a newborn Christian you get into the word of God, searching the word daily.  Start reading the Scriptures first in the Gospels – Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, and I think, beginning with the Gospel of John.

The Psalmist wrote, “Your word have I hid in my heart, that I might not sin against You.”  Psalm 119;11 and verse 9 of that Psalm says, “How shall a young man cleanse his way?  By taking heed according to Your word.”  That is the way to growing godly character.

Will you begin today building godly character by calling on the name of Jesus Christ the Son of the Living God?

The Dreams

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And Jacob dwelt in the land wherein his father was a stranger, in the land of Canaan.  These are the generations of Jacob. Joseph, being seventeen years old, was feeding the flock with his brethren; and the lad was with the sons of Bilhah, and with the sons of Zilpah, his father’s wives: and Joseph brought unto his father their evil report.  Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age: and he made him a coat of many colours.  And when his brethren saw that their father loved him more than all his brethren, they hated him, and could not speak peaceably unto him.  And Joseph dreamed a dream, and he told it his brethren: and they hated him yet the more.  And he said unto them, “Hear, I pray you, this dream which I have dreamed: for, behold, we were binding sheaves in the field, and, lo, my sheaf arose, and also stood upright; and, behold, your sheaves stood round about, and made obeisance to my sheaf.”  And his brethren said to him, “Shalt thou indeed reign over us? Or shalt thou indeed have dominion over us?” And they hated him yet the more for his dreams, and for his words.  And he dreamed yet another dream, and told it his brethren, and said, “Behold, I have dreamed a dream more; and, behold, the sun and the moon and the eleven stars made obeisance to me.” And he told it to his father, and to his brethren: and his father rebuked him, and said unto him, “What is this dream that thou hast dreamed? Shall I and thy mother and thy brethren indeed come to bow down ourselves to thee to the earth?”
Genesis 37:1-10

Here in the latter part of Genesis we begin to learn about Jacob’s son by Rachel. He is a special son to Jacob, and God is using Him to accomplish His purposes.

Joseph is a shadow of the Lord Jesus Christ; in that he was hated by his brethren.  He was sold for 20 pieces of silver – Jesus was sold by Judas for 30 pieces of silver.

Joseph spent most of his life in Egypt, with several of those years as a slave in Potiphars house; then when  he is falsely accused he is put in prison.

One of the things that has become clear to me in the reading of the story of Joseph is that the sovereign hand of God is very much at work.

Do you know that there are no surprised by any thing that happens in this world, in this nation or through out the whole world; neither is he surprised by anything in your or mine.

He directs the affairs of kings and queens, of presidents, and prime ministers, and even dictators, or despots.  He sets up kingdoms and He pulls them down with  a word.  So, if and since God is Sovereign over all things; why would He be surprised by anything we do.  This is a statement not a question.

Let us who are of God, that is Christian live as Christ Jesus would have us to live, being faithful to God and His word, sharing the good news of Jesus Christ with all who are perishing in their sin,  and lead them into the light.

Jesus Christ was hated by His own people, rejected by His brethren, and He was crucified on an old wooden cross dying for our sins, He was buried, and He rose again.  He is one day going to return. How will He find you?  Are you ready for Him to come?  Will He find you in His favor? Or will He find you in sinful behavior?

The Birthright

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And the boys grew: and Esau was a cunning hunter, a man of the field; and Jacob was a plain man, dwelling in tents.  And Isaac loved Esau, because he did eat of his venison: but Rebekah loved Jacob.  And Jacob sod pottage: and Esau came from the field, and he was faint: and Esau said to Jacob, “Feed me, I pray thee, with that same red pottage; for I am faint:” therefore was his name called Edom.  And Jacob said, “Sell me this day thy birthright.”  And Esau said, “Behold, I am at the point to die: and what profit shall this birthright do to me?”  And Jacob said, “Swear to me this day;” and he sware unto him: and he sold his birthright unto Jacob.  Then Jacob gave Esau bread and pottage of lentiles; and he did eat and drink, and rose up, and went his way: thus Esau despised his birthright.
Genesis 25:27-34

Within the inspired word of God, “Birthright” was what was to be given to the firstborn son within a family.  When the father and mother had departed from this life the elder son or the one who had received the birthright, received all that went with it.  He would become the head of the family, receive most of any wealth the family may have, and if his mother was still living it was his responsibility to care for her and see to it that she had all that she needed.  It was an honor, a blessing, and a great responsibility.

We see in our text for today, looking at Esau and Jacob, that Esau did not think too much of his birthright,  and Jacob (the heel catcher) knew its worth, and desired to have it; he got it.

We are told that “Esau despised his birthright” in verse 34.  When Isaac, their father had called Esau to go hunting and prepare him a meal, then he would receive the blessing as the elder son, it appears that he wanted the blessing.  However he had sold the birthright for a bowl of pottage, bread and lentils, because he felt himself near death.

Esau is used as an example of how we need not  be.  For example:we

“Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright.”  Hebrews 12:16

We are also told about Esau:

By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come. Hebrews 11:20

When Esau had returned to Isaac for the blessing, and found out what his brother Jacob had done He sought, with tears, for the blessing. He received a  blessing, but not the blessing of the first born. Because he had despised the birthright.

As a Christian we have a birthright given to us through the Lord Jesus Christ. We are “joint heirs” with the only begotten Son of God’ and all that is His is ours, to be received when we see  Him in glory (Romans 8:17; Galatians 3:29; Titus 3:7).

When we are born again through the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ that is when become joint-heirs with Christ, and that includes the suffering with Him (Romans 8:17), and includes being glorified with Him.

Admit that you are a sinner, that you have sinned, Confess Jesus as your Lord. Believe in your heart that God raised Jesus from the dead. You will be saved, and be an heir with Jesus Christ.

While The Earth Remains

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I started reading through the DAY BY DAY CHRONOLOGICAL BIBLE reading three days each reading to read it through before the end of this year.  It is the Christian Standard Bible.  I will be using the KJV on The Fire and Hammer.

And God spake unto Noah, saying, “Go forth of the ark, thou, and thy wife, and thy sons, and thy sons’ wives with thee.  Bring forth with thee every living thing that is with thee, of all flesh, both of fowl, and of cattle, and of every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth; that they may breed abundantly in the earth, and be fruitful, and multiply upon the earth.”  And Noah went forth, and his sons, and his wife, and his sons’ wives with him: every beast, every creeping thing, and every fowl, and whatsoever creepeth upon the earth, after their kinds, went forth out of the ark.  And Noah builded an altar unto the LORD; and took of every clean beast, and of every clean fowl, and offered burnt offerings on the altar.  And the LORD smelled a sweet savour; and the LORD said in his heart, “I will not again curse the ground any more for man’s sake; for the imagination of man’s heart is evil from his youth; neither will I again smite any more every thing living, as I have done.  While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease.
Genesis 8:15-22

The greatest, most drastic disaster, that has ever taken place on earth was the flood, and we have this covenant from God that He will never destroy the earth with a flood.

There are  lot of doomsday prognosticators who have been telling us that we have a thing called global warming; now climate change, and trying to scare people into submission to  governments, and science (falsely so called). Is there climate change? If you lived in southwest Missouri, you know there is. It changes every day. It has changed every day of my life.

The climate has changed every day since the flood, from which God delivered only eight  people and many, many animals.  If the climate is changing it is in the hands of the Almighty God. There is a time coming when there will be cataclysmic earth events, which are  God’s judgment upon the earth lovers, rather than lovers of God (Revelation 7  –  20).  God made this world and everything in it; including you and me; all of humanity since Adam and Eve.  He is sovereign over all that there is. He is the All Powerful, All Knowing, All Present God, who never changes, and His word  never changes.

Do not fear the doomsday reports that humans are destroying the earth.  We do not have the ability to destroy it. We have God’s promise in the verses above, “While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease.”  God created this earth to go on for a very long time until He gives us a new earth and a new  heaven.  He also created humanity to  live forever.

Adam lost that in the garden when he ate from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.  Since that time there has been death, destruction, decay. Through Christ Jesus the Second Adam there is eternal life. The Second Adam lived a sinless  life which qualified Him to be the sacrifice for all who would believe in Him (1 Corinthians 15:45-49).

The first man, Adam brought sin and death into this world. The Second Man, Christ Jesus brought peace, and life eternal into the world for those who will come to Him.  He died the cross for you and me.  He was buried. He rose up from the grave, and is alive forever more. Confess to Him that you are a sinner, confess Him as Lord, and believe in His resurrection, and you shall be saved (Romans 10:9-10).

The Rebels Against The Mark

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And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.  But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years.
Revelation 20:4-6

The following is from a post on this blog back in June of 2006

Those John sees on the throne are most likely the saved of God. It could be that John saw the twenty four elders on the thrones, but that does not negate the above statement if we keep in mind that the “elders” represent the redeemed. A great emphasis is placed upon the martyrs. Saints who gave their physical lives for Jesus during great trials and persecutions.
Sometime shortly after the fall of Babylon – religious, economic, political – those who die for Jesus during the Great Tribulation are resurrected and given new bodies. These are the last to be resurrected before the millennium begins. These are the ones who have part in the “first resurrection” along with all those who were raptured at the beginning of the tribulation. The “first resurrection” began with the bodily resurrection of Jesus, and others who came out of their graves also (Matthew 27:51-53). A third group to be raised – of the “first resurrection – are those who “died in Christ” before the time of “Jacob’s trouble” (the tribulation period). This will take place at the rapture when both the dead and living [in Christ] will be “caught up together” (1 Thes. 4:16-18).
In verse six we find the fifth of the seven Beatitudes in the Revelation. “Blessed [Happy] and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection:…” The promise is that “the second death” – eternal damnation will have no power, no affect, or effect on them. What a blessing it is. Those who have part in the first resurrection will be “priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years”.

The Song They Sing

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And I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvellous, seven angels having the seven last plagues; for in them is filled up the wrath of God.  And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God.  And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying,

“Great and marvellous are Thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are Thy ways, Thou King of saints. Who shall not fear Thee, O Lord, and glorify Thy name? For Thou only art holy: for all nations shall come and worship before Thee; for Thy judgments are made manifest.”

And after that I looked, and, behold, the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was opened:  and the seven angels came out of the temple, having the seven plagues, clothed in pure and white linen, and having their breasts girded with golden girdles. And one of the four beasts gave unto the seven angels seven golden vials full of the wrath of God, who liveth for ever and ever.  And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God, and from his power; and no man was able to enter into the temple, till the seven plagues of the seven angels were fulfilled.
Revelation 15:1-8

That is the Song of Moses, and the Lamb. That is the One called, “the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.” (John 1:29). Jesus Christ is called “the Lamb of God,” because He came to die on a cross for the sins of the world, and all  who believe in Him, believing in His death, burial, and resurrection shall be saved unto eternal life.

Those who will believe Him will be delivered from the wrath to come. Will you call on His name in faith? Will you face the wrath of Almighty God? That is your choices.

Around The Heavenly Throne

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After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, “Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter.”  And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and One sat on the throne.  And He that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone: and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald.  And round about the throne were four and twenty seats: and upon the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment; and they had on their heads crowns of gold.  And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices: and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God.  And before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto crystal: and in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, were four beasts full of eyes before and behind.  And the first beast was like a lion, and the second beast like a calf, and the third beast had a face as a man, and the fourth beast was like a flying eagle.  And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying,

“Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.”

And when those beasts give glory and honour and thanks to Him that sat on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever, the four and twenty elders fall down before Him that sat on the throne, and worship Him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying,

Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for Thou hast created all things, and for Thy pleasure they are and were created.

Revelation 4:1-11

An Ascription Of Praise To God

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Now unto Him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, to the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.
Jude 1:24-25

Jude has written a short and powerful epistle,  including the very old words of Enoch, who was the seventh from Adam, the second coming of Jesus Christ. Words of encouragement for those who will believe, and trust the LORD God.

These last two verses of Jude are called a Doxology, A song of praise to the Most High God.  He is the One capable of keeping us from falling. He is the One who will present us faultless in the presence of His glory,  It is with much joy to the only all wise God our Savior.  To Him be all glory majesty, dominion and power now and forever more.  All praise and glory be to God our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

They That Do the Will of God Lives Forever

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Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.  For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.  And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.
1 John 2:15-17

Jesus tells  us “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son…” Now we read verses from God’s infallible word which seems to contradict the verse of John 3:16. There is no contradiction, but rather a meaning of the word, “world.”

God did love His creation, so much that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.

On the other hand the evil that is done in this world God hates, just as much as He loves what He created, He hates the evil. Why? Because He is Holy. He is Righteous. He is Just, and cannot look on iniquity (Habakkuk 1:13). Therefore those whom He redeems receive His grace of deliverance from sin and death, have also received His Spirit into our lives, and causes us to love what/whom God loves, and hate what He hates.

One of His own cannot love the evil, and wickedness going on in the world. If you love the world’s lust of the  flesh, lust of the eyes, and the pride of life you are, in fact the enemy of God.  When you love God and hate the evil you are a friend of God.

You have a choice to make.  You have two choices to choose from.  Will you choose the path of vile evil and wickedness of this world?  Will you follow the way of Christ Jesus, and eternal life? Jesus died for us?

Turn from the world, to Jesus Christ, confessing with your mouth the Lord Jesus,  and believing in your heart that God raised Him from the dead (Romans 10:9-10), and you will have eternal life.

No Private Interpretations

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For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of His majesty.  For He received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to Him from the Excellent Glory, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”  And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with Him in the holy mount.  We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: knowing this first, that no prophecy of the Scripture is of any private interpretation.  For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.
2 Peter 1:16- 21

Able To Save Him From Death

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So also Christ glorified not Himself to be made an High Priest; but He that said unto Him, “Thou art My Son, to day have I begotten Thee.”  As He saith also in another place, “Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.” Who in the days of His flesh, when He had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto Him that was able to save Him from death, and was heard in that He feared; though He were a Son, yet learned He obedience by the things which He suffered; and being made perfect, He became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey Him; called of God an High Priest after the order of Melchisedec.  Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing.
Hebrews 5:5-11

I have heard people say, “God did not hear the prayer Jesus prayed in the garden of Gethsemane.” O really. Have you read these verses. God heard, God answered. God delivered His Son from death.

Now, because of His complete faithfulness to His Father is our High Priest not according to the first covenant, which is the law, but by the second covenant, in the death of Christ Jesus on the cross, His burial, and resurrection – His deliverance from death, and now the power of an endless life,  “after the order of Melchisedec,” who seems to be a man without a mother or father, beginning or end.

God, the Father was listening to the Son, and was quite able to raise His Son up from the dead, delivering Him from death, by resurrecting Him from the grave,  Now, because He is raised, we too (those who have confessed Him as Lord,  and believe our hearts that  God raised Him from the dead), have everlasting, that is eternal life.

Believe Him. He is able to save you from death. Not from dying in the flesh, but from an eternity without God.

The Good Works

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For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto Himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
Titus 2:11-14

In the second chapter of Ephesians, the Apostle Paul, by the Holy Spirit tell us,

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast.  For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.   Ephesians 2:8-10

So we receive grace to believe God, and we trust Him to justify us through faith in His finished work on the cross, where He took our place for the judgment we rightly deserve.

In our text for today from Titus we  see that as we wait for the blessed hope; which I believe is the rapture of the Church (the Body of Christ;) and the glorious appearing of the great God, and our Savior Jesus Christ. The glorious appearing is the second coming of Jesus Christ when He returns to earth as the prophet  Zechariah says in chapter fourteen.

In the text of Paul’s writing to pastor Titus we are told how as those who are believers are waiting for these great events to take place we are to live soberly or sound mind, righteously, and godly in this present world we live  in. If it was so of Paul’s day; it seems to be even as so, or more so in this present evil world. Remember the light of Christ shines brighter in the darkness, and grace is greater than our sin.

Christ Jesus gave Himself for us that we might be redeemed from all our iniquities. When we are redeemed from all our iniquities, then we have a changed heart, and new desires. We have desires that honor and glorify Him and are zealous to do good works.

If you have never called on the name of the Lord Jesus for His redeeming grace, because of His death on the cross, His burial,  and resurrection.  I plead with you to do so today. Do not wait another minute, or it could be too late.

Persuaded and Committed

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Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God; who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began, but is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel: whereunto I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles.  For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed unto Him against that day.
2 Timothy 1:8-12

These verses, at least a couple of them are familiar to many Christians; the last one especially.

Being ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ should cause us to be on guard of our slips and falls in faith. It happens to the strongest, and to those who are weak.

This is not the first time Paul says, “I am not ashamed..” He says it very clearly in Romans 1:16. Let us not be ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Let us be fully persuaded, and committed to faithfully serving Him and others in His name.

For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed unto Him against that day.
2 Timothy 1:8-12

Is Jesus able to keep us? He most certainly is.  Who else has that ability to keep us?  If you are persuaded and committed to Him.  He will keep you in His gracious hands.

…Not as the words of men…

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For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.  For ye, brethren, became followers of the churches of God which in Judaea are in Christ Jesus: for ye also have suffered like things of your own countrymen, even as they have of the Jews: who both killed the Lord Jesus, and their own prophets, and have persecuted us; and they please not God, and are contrary to all men:  forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they might be saved, to fill up their sins alway: for the wrath is come upon them to the uttermost.
1 Thessalonians 2:13-16

The words of men are not as powerful, as are the words of God which the apostle knew since he had delivered to the Lord while going to Damascus to torture, capture and kill those people which were drawing people away from Judaism.

We need more Christians believing the word of God, and trusting Him more than men.

Complete In Him

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According to Philippians 1:6 God will finish what He begins in us. Philippians was part of my reading this morning and as I read this verse I feel, and by faith know that God is not finished with me just yet. The Scripture I share with you today is found in Colossians 2:8-10.

Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.  For in Him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.  And ye are complete in Him, which is the head of all principality and power…
Colossians 2:8-10

The Christian cannot fall prey to  to the philosophies of the world, that are contrary to God’s word, neither their vain deceits. We are to follow Jesus Christ, by living for Him, through the power of the Spirit and His word.

Why? Because He is the fullness of the Godhead in the body of flesh, and He is the supreme power over all principality and power. He completes those who follow Him.

 

A Life Under Control

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And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.
Ephesians 5:18-21

Many people have no control of their lives, or they feel like other people or things, or troubles, sickness or something else controls them. I hope you are not one of them.

The Bible text of Ephesians 5:18 and following verse 20 of chapter 6, is speaking of a Christian having and living a life filled with the Holy Spirit of God. What does verse eighteen say about control, “Be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit…” that is, do not be controlled by any thing other than the Spirit of God Himself. You notice the behavior of those who get drunk on alcohol, and/or drugs,  they have no control of their own actions. They stumble around, and many times fall. If they drive a car, they can hit another car or pedestrian on the side of the road, a not even realize what they have done.

When the Christian is filled with the Spirit of God, which is Christ in you, you have the heart to sing song of melody, Psalms of praises and adoration to the Lord. In your marriage and in your family you will follows the principles between the husband and the wife (5:22-33).

The children will follow the principles of chapter 6:1-4.

We are even given the filling of the Holy Spirit in our place of employment. These verses are applicable to the work place chapter 6:5-9. The employer is  also included, that if he is a Christian man he is by the filling of the Holy Spirit treat his employs right, paying them rightly, and treating them like brethren.

Lastly, but finally, we are to get suited up daily for the battles of the day ahead. It is the filling of the Spirit that encourages us to do this everyday, “Put on the whole armor of God.” That includes the committing our selves to soaking up the word of God, hiding His word in our hearts that we might not sin against Him (Psalm  119:11).

If you desire to have control of your life, give your life to the One who died for you. His name is Jesus. He died for our sins on a cross, was buried, and He rose from the dead. When He ascended a few days later He sent His Spirit to live in all those who will believe in Him. That same Spirit will guide you, and He will fill you to overflowing. Call on His name in faith.

Also read Galatians 5:16-26.

 

Another Jesus?

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What is this “Another Jesus” all about? What does the Apostle Paul mean by being jealous over these Christians in Corinth? Let’s look and see from our text and others.

Would to God ye could bear with me a little in my folly: and indeed bear with me.  For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.  But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.  For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.
2 Corinthians 11:1-4

The Apostle Paul loved the Corinthians Christians with great love, and did not want them to be drawn away from the Christ that he preached of. The Jesus Paul preached, and the Jesus some preached were two different people.  For instance consider these…

  1.  The true Jesus is the Son of God – the Incarnation of God; the other Jesus is not;
  2.  The true Jesus was crucified on the cross dying for our sins was buried and rose again; the other Jesus died and was buried, but did not rise again.
  3.   The true gospel is that we are saved by grace alone, by faith alone; the other gospel you are saved by law and grace.

If the Jesus you worship, trust in, and is all love, and does not hate sin, neither condemns sin, that is not the Biblical Jesus. You are worshiping a god of your own minds doing..

Jesus Christ, born as a baby, became a flesh and blood man, who gave His life for us sinners. He is the Son of God, God the Son, and He was the perfect sacrifice for sin fulfilling the prophecies of the Old Testament. That same Jesus is returning, and I am praying, “Come Lord Jesus,” because I greatly desire to meet Him face to face.

How about you? Do you know the true Christ who died on the cross for our sins, was buried, and rose again to life?

The Gospel Is Hidden

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Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not;  but have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.  But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: in whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.  For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake.  For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
2 Corinthians 4:1-6

The gospel is many times rejected, because the god of this age; who is Satan; has blinded the eyes of those who are lost. Most of the time that is due to the fact of their ignorance of God, and of God’s word.

The gospel of Jesus Christ is Light in the darkness.  It shows us what is holy, righteous, just and true; and changes the lives of those who believe. The gospel is this – That Jesus Christ died for our sins, He was buried, and He rose again. To believe this and trust in this great work for our salvation, will lead you to Himself, and you will call on His name, and He will hear your cry, and He will deliver you from the darkness of death into His glorious light.

The Resurrection’s Promise

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The resurrection of Jesus Christ is not only truth, it is historical truth, and the evidence is in those who witnessed the Person of the resurrected Christ. There were, in all more than 500 witnesses.

But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.  For since by man came death, by Man came also the resurrection of the dead.  For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.  But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at His coming.  Then cometh the end, when He shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when He shall have put down all rule and all authority and power.  For He must reign, till He hath put all enemies under His feet.  The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.  For He hath put all things under His feet. But when He saith all things are put under Him, it is manifest that He is excepted, which did put all things under Him.  And when all things shall be subdued unto Him, then shall the Son also Himself be subject unto Him that put all things under Him, that God may be all in all.
1 Corinthians 15:20-28

The Apostle Paul was one of those witnesses. He met Jesus on the road to Damascus with orders from the high priest of Judaism, to capture and even to torture and kill any who professed faith in the risen Lord. However, when he  met Jesus he had his life completely turned around (Acts 9).

In these verses of Scripture is evidence also of a promise of God, of rapture of the Church of Jesus Christ. Paul gives us information that things are in order as it cannot be confusion. So here is the order of events that take place after the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

  1.  Jesus Christ is raised first, and His ascension into the heavens;
  2.  Then those who are His at the time of His coming for the purpose of getting His own;
  3.  Then the end when He has delivered the kingdom of God, even the Father, and He puts down all rule, authority, and powers;
  4.  He must reign till all enemies are put under His feet; the last enemy being death.

The Father will put everything under His feet, except Himself. When all other things are under His feet the Son will be subject to the wholeness of the God head. That God may be all in all. Then there will be universal peace, and no disagreement that God is sovereign over all.

There is a resurrection in type that take place when you come to faith in Jesus Christ. You are dead in sin, then when you receive Christ as your Lord and Savior you are no longer dead, but alive to God, and your will, and selfish desires are no longer important to you.

In Christ Jesus we have the promise of the resurrection to come. In that resurrection we shall forever be with the Lord. If you have not received that promise, all you need to do is call on His name confessing your sin, turn from  it, believing in the work of Christ on the cross, His burial, and resurrection. You will receive salvation and have eternal life.

Bought and Paid For

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Sometimes we purchase things without paying for them, except on credit. That is probably not the best way to buy things, but sometimes necessary to get what one needs.

Our topic for today does not anything to do with finances. It does have to deal with our bodies. Here is our Scripture text for today –

Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body.  What? Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?  For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.
1 Corinthians 6:18-20

This letter of First Corinthians was written to a wayward, thought they were loving congregation who closed their eyes to those who were sexually immoral. In chapter 5 Paul mentions one in the church, a young man, is having sex with his father’s wife. The Corinthian Church was doing nothing about it. It was evidently well known to all the congregation.

Paul tells them if a man joins himself with a harlot, then he becomes one with her. The Apostle, then speaks those words, “You were bought with a price.” He tells us that we are not our own.  Which means that as Christians this body we have is not ours to do with as we please. Being sexually immoral hurts your body and mind.

“What? Know you not that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit which is in you, which you have of God, and you are not your own?” Quite clearly the apostle Paul is speaking to people he saw was Christians. So Christian, how is your life with the Lord? Are you living outside of God’s direction? Are you living with someone outside of marriage, the only place where sex is beautiful, and sanctified by God.

As a Christian we have been purchased by God with the shed blood of Jesus Christ. He gave his life that we might be freed from sin. He did not give us freedom to sin. Sexual immorality is harmful to all who participate in  it. You have no right to destroy your body, then your mind and soul.

Since we have been bought with the tremendous price of the blood of Jesus, then let us glorify God in our body and spirit which are God’s own possession.

The Revelation of the Mystery

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Now to Him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, but now is made manifest, and by the Scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith:  To God only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ for ever. Amen.
Romans 16:25-27

These verses are a doxology to the Lord. Words of a hymn or praise to Him. What about the mystery? There is the revelation of the mystery, and that revelation is how the Gentiles can be saved by God, only partly, and mostly the whole counsel of God.

There is much in the Gospel of Jesus Christ that is revealed to us through the knowing of Christ such as the Incarnation of God – God became flesh and dwelt among us, The Trinity – the Holy Triune God. God becoming Man that He might die for His enemies, then to be buried, then to prove it all He is raised from the grave, which proves that all that He said, and taught is truth (Romans 1:4). It also proves all the words of Moses, the prophets, and the wisdom books of the Old Testament.

I am thankful that He has revealed Himself to me through His Spirit, by the Old and New Testaments.

If you will call on the name of Jesus through faith, believing that He died for your sins, was buried, and He rose from the dead you will be saved (Romans10:9-10).

Living Sacrifice

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This a call for Christians to give their lives for the cause of Jesus Christ,

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.   And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
Romans 12:1-2

The Christian is called to be dead to sin, but alive to righteousness and holiness; acceptable to God. The only way for us to be acceptable to God is through the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus. There is no other way.

This is not a call to martyrdom it is a call to living for Christ as a devoted, committed follower of the Christ who died for our sins. We cannot conform to the world, but to be transformed by the renewing of the mind, and that means, for myself at least, every day; maybe more than once a day, through the means of prayer, the reading and study of the word of God, by living as a true witness of the Lord Jesus. By the renewing of our minds and being a faithful witness of Jesus we prove what is that good and acceptable will of God. We will always accept the perfect will of God

Be a living sacrifice for Jesus Christ

A Storm In Life

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We all face storms in our lives. Actual storms in weather patterns and in day to day life and living. God’s people, followers of Jesus Christ, are not immune to any of these storms either.

One of the storms of my life has been, since September 22, 2023 I was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, and it  is not a pleasant thing to deal with. God is so good. He has given me a family: my wife, our sons and daughters and their spouses have been so helpful in helping in so many ways. This is the storm I am dealing with, as it seems sometimes to be getting worse. I still mow our yard. I can still drive, but I do not know how much longer I should. I am not scaring my wife yet. Well that is enough about that.

When Paul was on a ship headed to Rome, he had warned them of danger if they left Crete at that time scheduled. When they had been in the storm for fourteen days, here are the apostle’s words,

But after long abstinence Paul stood forth in the midst of them, and said, “Sirs, ye should have hearkened unto me, and not have loosed from Crete, and to have gained this harm and loss.  And now I exhort you to be of good cheer: for there shall be no loss of any man’s life among you, but of the ship.  For there stood by me this night the angel of God, whose I am, and whom I serve, saying, ‘Fear not, Paul; thou must be brought before Caesar: and, lo, God hath given thee all them that sail with thee.’  Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer: for I believe God, that it shall be even as it was told me.  Howbeit we must be cast upon a certain island.
Acts 27:21-26

The Lord had sent an angel to Paul, and told him to “Fear not”, there would be no loss of life, they would be grounded, the ship being destroyed, and that the Lord had given him all those who were on the ship with him, including the ship master, the soldiers guarding him and the other prisoners.

Storms are sometimes very frightening. It is always comforting and encouraging to know that God has these things in His Almighty hands. Even when that storm is your feet feeling like they are slipping, and they are not. Even when you balance is gone awry. When you are falling down more than you ever did. Even when it feels as though you are losing your strength, and you have no energy to go on. Have faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not be afraid. “Fear not,” said the angel of the Lord to Paul; and to you and me.

Christ Jesus died so that we might be forgiven all our sins. He was buried in a borrowed tomb. He rose up out of that tomb, and came out alive forever more. Through Him we too are alive forever more. Believe Him, and be saved.