Grace

Inhabitants of the Earth, and Two Seals

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And when He had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held: and they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost Thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth? And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled. And I beheld when He had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood; and the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind. And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places. And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains; and said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of Him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: for the great day of His wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand? Revelation 6:9-17 (KJV)

The Lamb opens the fifth seal to reveal “Souls of them that were slain for the Word of God, and for the testimony which they held”.

There have been Christian martyrs ever since the near beginning of the Church. These are a different set of martyrs unless of course, you see this as merely historical, and that, in my opinion, does not fit with the rest of scripture. Who, then, are these martyrs mentioned in verses 9-11?

The Church is in Heaven praising and worshipping God around the throne as seen in the twenty-four elders. Whereas, man has been allowed (after the translation of the Church), by the coming of the rider on the white horse, to have his way on the earth to the point of destroying the human race; these martyrs are those who opposed him and died for the faith believing God’s Word and bearing testimony to that affect.. These martyrs are people who believe God and reject the rule of the “man of sin”, or “son of perdition”.

The cry of those who were slain is their cry for justice upon the unrighteous. These, are at this time without resurrection bodies. Yet, it is said, “White robes were given unto every one of them” (v. 10). It is not known how a spirit can support a robe, but they do seem to have some type of body. They are waiting to receive their resurrection bodies at the last part of “The first resurrection” (Revelation 20:4-6). (EXPLANATION: The first resurrection began with the bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ and those who came out of their graves (Matthew 27:52-53); it continues with the translation [rapture] of the believers, dead and living (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18), before the time of judgment begins in Revelation six. The first resurrection ends when all those who died because of faith during the judgment will be raptured and given resurrection bodies.) These martyrs are told they must wait until all who will die for the faith have died.

The sixth and final seal of chapter six is opened by the Lamb and now begins the intervention of the divine judgment. The Lamb of God “Slain from the foundation of the world” is now wreaking judgment upon a God-hating, Christ rejecting world. As far as a time frame on this there is no certainty, but let me lay out a small outline of a proposed time. The first four horses and horsemen would represent the first three and one-half years of Daniel’s seventieth week (Daniel 9:24-27). The fifth horse and horseman would be at the end of this three and one-half years, partly due to the “prince” of Daniel breaking the covenant, and causing the death of all who believe in Jesus Christ. The sixth seal would then begin the latter half of the three and one-half years, with the seventh seal continuing the judgment upon the earth, and the “Inhabiters of the earth” (8:13 & 12:12). The “Inhabiters of the earth” are those whose heart is on the things of earth, rather than God and His Christ.

Earthquakes are not in the power of man, nor are the other celestial bodies in the realm of human control. The earthquake is probably one so violent the whole world shakes. Every living thing feels the shaking, heaving and volcanic eruptions which take place.

The sun is darkened. There appears to be no reason to see these as symbols of something else. It is simply divine judgment upon mankind. The moon turns as red as blood. Stars fall to the earth. We have meteor showers all the time, but this will be a spectacle of catastrophic proportions, such as never seen before, nor, will be again. Not only is the earth shaken, but it seems the entire solar system is shaken. Only the divine could accomplish that. Hebrews 12:25-29 could be a reminder and warning to God’s people of what is truly important. The Almighty God is doing this in order to build an unshakable kingdom.

When faced with this divine judgment the people of earth flee from God. Notice there is no economic, social or religious group which receives special favor among the unrighteous. Each is equal before the judgment of God. Many times today, when we face divine judgment we flee to God – at least that is the heart of a child of God. Because of the hardness of heart by sin, these flee from God and cry out for death rather than to face holiness. They cannot hide. Even in death, they will face their Creator and His eternal judgment.

From whom are they fleeing? From the Lamb and His wrath. The gentle, meek, bloodless (because He shed His for us), Jesus Christ the Lamb of God.

For those of you who believe that God is only love, and would never consign anyone to eternal judgment, you have never read the Revelation or either have chosen not to believe it. The Revelation makes it quite clear that the One who died for our sins will also severely judge those who reject His gift of eternal life.

Who shall stand in the great day of His wrath? Only the redeemed of the Lord.

BEHOLD. The wrath of the Lamb on the inhabitants of the earth.

The Grace of God

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For the child of God, the grace of God is the Son of God.  God gave us, and shows us His grace through His Son Jesus Christ.

“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. These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee.” Titus 2:11-15 (KJV)

The “grace of God” which has “appeared to all men” can be no other than the Lord Jesus.  That appearance took place on Calvary where the best and holiest God had to give gave His life as our very sufficient sacrifice for our sin.  Today I want us to hear what the Believer’s Bible Commentary says about these verses.

Titus 2:11  For the grace of God … has appeared. Here the grace of God is virtually synonymous with the Son of God. God’s grace appeared when the Lord Jesus visited our planet and especially when He gave Himself for our sins. He appeared for the salvation of all men. His substitutionary work is sufficient for the redemption of all. A bona fide offer of pardon and forgiveness is made to all. But only those who truly receive Him as Lord and Savior are saved. There is no suggestion here or elsewhere in the Bible that everyone will be saved at last. Universal salvation is a lie of the devil.
2:12 The same grace that saves us also trains us in the school of holiness. There are “No-No’s” in that school which we must learn to renounce. The first is ungodliness, which means irreligion. The second is worldly lusts—not just sexual sins, but also the lust for wealth, power, pleasure, fame, or anything else that is essentially worldly.
On the positive side, grace teaches us to live soberly, righteously toward others, and godly in the pure light of His presence. These are the virtues that should characterize us in this world, where everything about us is going to be dissolved. It is the place of our pilgrimage and not our final home.
2:13 While living as aliens in the world, we are inspired by a magnificent hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ. By this are we to understand the Rapture, when Christ appears in glory to the church and conveys it to heaven (1 Thess. 4:13–18)? Or does it refer to Christ’s coming to reign, when He appears in glory to the world, puts down His foes, and sets up His kingdom (Rev. 19:11–16)? Basically we believe Paul is speaking of the first—Christ’s coming for His bride, the church. But whether it is His coming as Bridegroom or as King, the believer should be prepared and looking for His glorious arrival.
2:14 As we await His Return we never forget the purpose of His First Coming and of His self-sacrifice. He gave Himself not only to save us from the guilt and penalty of sin but to redeem us from every lawless deed. It would have been a half-way salvation if the penalty of sin had been canceled but its dominion in our lives was left unconquered.
He also gave Himself to purify for Himself His own special people.
2:15 These are things that Titus was commissioned to teach—every thing discussed in the foregoing verses, and particularly the purposes of the Savior’s passion. He was to exhort or encourage the saints to lives of practical godliness and to rebuke any who contradicted the apostolic teachings either by word or by life. And he didn’t have to be apologetic in carrying on a forceful ministry; let him do it with all authority and boldness of the Holy Spirit. Let no one despise you. Titus need have no qualms about his youth, his Gentile background, or any natural disability. He was speaking the word of God, and this made all the difference. BELIEVER’S BIBLE COMMENTARY

Let us in the grace of God love the Lord Jesus Christ with all our hearts, all of our souls, all of our minds, and all of our strength.  He loved you and me enough to die on the cross.

 

The Foundation of God

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Building on anything other than God’s foundation will lead to disaster; the fall of the building, and the fall of a life as well (Matthew 7:21-27).  The Church, neither the individual Christian life can survive without being founded and set sure upon the foundation of God.  Hear the apostle Paul…

“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness. And their word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus; who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some. Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are His. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.” 2 Timothy 2:15-19 (KJV)

“Be diligent to present yourself approved to God…” is the reading of the NKJV in the first part of 2 Timothy 2:15.  Study is one of the first ways of being diligent to show yourself approved unto God.  Without knowledge of God’s Word you cannot stand and defend the word of God against error.  We must certainly continue in preaching, and teaching the Scriptures, lifting up Christ and His cross.

Paul uses a couple of men who must have been notorious for their twisting of Scripture, leading to ungodliness.  It has been said, “It does make a difference what you believe”.  What you believe will affect the way you live.  Either to godliness or unto ungodliness.  The apostle says that the teachings of Hymenaeus and Philetus were like a canker/cancer.  Cancer works unseen, and kills and destroys whatever it touches.  So too does profane and vain babblings which are teachings of ungodliness.  These men were even “…saying that the resurrection is past already” meaning the resurrection of the living and the dead; a possible reference of the rapture of the Church being already past.

The foundation of God is where the child of God, and the preacher of God will stand.  God’s foundation is unmoveable, unstoppable, and unchanging.  When all other foundations are shaking and trembling, God’s foundation stands true and strong.  It begins by placing your faith in God’s gift of life through His Son Jesus Christ; the One who gave His life on the cross, was buried, and was raised to life and forever lives with the Father in glory.

Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity.

Reconciliation and the Son

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O how the race of Adam needs to be reconciled to God.  My how lost can a race of people get, and by lost I mean astray from God, His word, His Son, and His Spirit.  He did say, “My Spirit shall not always strive with man” (Genesis 6:3).  God is the one who stepped out of eternity, and limited Himself to the confines of human flesh, to pay the redemption price for our reconciliation.  Hear the words of the apostle Paul…

“For it pleased the Father that in Him should all fulness dwell; and, having made peace through the blood of His cross, by Him to reconcile all things unto Himself; by Him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven. And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath He reconciled in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in His sight: if ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister…” Colossians 1:19-23 (KJV)

There was never a time the Son of God who is God become flesh (John 1:14) was not with God the Father in heaven.  Father, Son [the Word] and the Holy Spirit were working as One in Creation, walking in the garden with Adam and Eve.  There was never a time when Jesus was not “…the fullness of the Godhead bodily” (Colossians 2:9).

By Him; through Him mankind, Adam kind has been reconciled to God.  We were alienated, unable on our own to reach God; but He has reached us through the cross – the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ the Son of God, God the Son.  It is the work, the gift, the grace of God by which you can believe, and receive this wonderful gift.

You can be at peace with God by the reconciling work of Jesus Christ on the cross.  It pleased the Father to strike Him on our behalf (Isaiah 53:10), and to put away the condemnation of sin and death. By His crucifixion, we are presented to the Father holy and without blame.  He through faith is working in us to ground us, and keep us unto Himself.

Be reconciled to God through Jesus Christ the Son by His death on the cross, burial, and resurrection (Romans 5:1), by which we have peace with God – Reconciliation.

Salvation with Fear and Trembling

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O how we need to get this straight.  Salvation by grace continues to work in us following our regeneration or justification in Christ and God.  How the churches today need regenerated people sitting in the pews, in our places of employment, our recreation,  working out their salvation with fear and trembling.

“Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure. Do all things without murmurings and disputings: that ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world…” Philippians 2:12-15 (KJV)

It is God in us who does the work of grace.  It is God in us by His grace that enables us to do the work that brings honor and glory to His name and it is His grace that brings us on to the final glory of Jesus Christ in us.  It is the grace of God through the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ that causes us, enabling us to do those works, and gives us the mind of Christ (Philippians 2:5-8).

Paul the apostle makes it clear in these verses that “…It is God which worketh in you to will and to do of His good pleasure.”  That we are to do those works as blameless and harmless sons of God, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation – culture and world we live in – shining as lights in a dark world.

Let us remember it is God who works in us.  Let us work it out with fear and trembling, that others see Him in us.

It is About…

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…God; not you or me.

“But God, who is rich in mercy, for His great love wherewith He loved us, even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) and hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: that in the ages to come He might shew the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. 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 2:4-10 (KJV)

Do we forget or is it simply ignorance?  Do we forget that God saves us because of His great love, not that He owes us something, or that we are worthy of His salvation?  I hear the phrase sometimes, “God owes everyone a chance for salvation?”  Remember this,  God owes us nothing.  When a soul is saved it is by God’s grace alone.

Something we need to remember too is that there is a threefold work in salvation;  the first is past, the second is present, and the third is future.  The theological terms are Justification, second Sanctification, and the third is glorification.  All a work of God’s wonderful, marvelous grace.  We do nothing to deserve it and can do nothing to earn it.  When a man, woman, boy or girl is justified by God through the cross of Christ that individual is eternally saved, and the work of God will continue in and through that person throughout their lifetime (sanctification), and when their body dies they will be glorified.

God is rich in mercy.  So rich in fact, that He raises us to life, and justifies us through the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ; then through that same death, burial and resurrection He sanctifies us unto Himself as we daily walk through this world and that is His workmanship in us.  One day we have the eternal promise of being with Him through all eternity.

Why is He doing this?  “That in the ages to come He might shew the exceeding riches  of His grace in His kindness toward us…”  It is About God.

Who Will Inherit the Kingdom of God?

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“Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.” 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 (KJV)

We all can admit there is a whole lot of the above mentioned sins going on in our world.  Maybe, if you cannot admit it, it is because of your guilt in those matters of sin.  Paul the apostle says none of these will inherit the kingdom of God.  That really includes the whole human race.  So I am guilty.  You are guilty.

We all need to know that no unrighteous person can enter the presence of holy God.  None of us on our own merit can enter.

I love the apostle’s words, “… And such were some of you…”  Don’t you just love that word “were“?  It is in the past tense and means that they are no more.

O people, we humans can be so vile, and sometimes show such contradiction of goodness at the same time out of the same life, and heart.  God is consistent in His mercy, love, and grace.  He will not tolerate sin.  He loves us so much that He gave His only Son Jesus as a sacrifice for our sins, that we all might come into His presence, have eternal fellowship with Him and have inheritance in the kingdom.

There is nothing you or I can do to inherit the kingdom of God or eternal life.  It has been done by the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ the Son of God, God the Son.  Receiving His gift is all we do, believing He is the One who is powerful to save all who will believe.

“Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; which He shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; that being justified by His grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.” Titus 3:5-7

And from the gospels…

“And when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto His disciples, Why eateth your Master with publicans and sinners? But when Jesus heard that, He said unto them, They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick. But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” Matthew 9:11-13

Let none think that they can enter the kingdom of God and eternal life by their own efforts, works, and righteousness.  None will.  It is the gift of God (Ephesians 2:8-10).

The Day of Small Things

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“Who art thou, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel thou shalt become a plain: and he shall bring forth the headstone thereof with shoutings, crying, Grace, grace unto it. Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house; his hands shall also finish it; and thou shalt know that the LORD of hosts hath sent Me unto you. For who hath despised the day of small things? For they shall rejoice, and shall see the plummet in the hand of Zerubbabel with those seven; they are the eyes of the LORD, which run to and fro through the whole earth.”  Zechariah 4:7-10 (KJV)

There are a few things in these verses that call for our attention.  One,  it is the word of the LORD.  Two, there is one phrase which goes through all of Scripture, which we do need to remember, and it is this…  “…Thou shalt know…”.  Three, that, small things should not be despised. Four, “…the eyes of the LORD…” (See 2 Chronicles 16:9).

The temple had been rebuilt.  It was smaller, and the people; especially those who were discouraged by its size; needed to realize God’s blessing on them because they were renewing their place of worship with the LORD of all things.

The phrase mentioned above in its total reads… “…Thou shalt know that the LORD of hosts hath sent Me unto you” and is a reference to the “Angel of the LORD” who is the pre-incarnate  Christ who will one day come and build a more glorious temple than even that of Solomon.

Let me leave  you with a study note from the Jeremiah Study Bible on verses 7-10,

4:7-10 The first statement to the great mountain issues a challenge to whatever opposes God’s might.  The latter statement opposes anyone who disdains small things (Neh. 4:2-4).  In both cases, divine truth and perspective are what ultimately matter.  Grace, grace to it! simultaneously extols God’s freely given blessing on the work now completer and implores Him to continue to look with favor on the temple and all that it represented.

Even the small things are things which God works through and uses.

The death of the God Man Jesus Christ on the cross is nothing we like to remember.  It is not a pleasant thing to think about, but for our salvation it was and is the greatest event that has happened on earth, and that is due to the fact of His bodily resurrection.  He went through the pain, agony, rejection and death of the cross, and was buried, and rose again that lost, condemned and dying people might receive eternal life before the face of GOD.

Let the Earth Keep Silence

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“What profiteth the graven image that the maker thereof hath graven it; the molten image, and a teacher of lies, that the maker of his work trusteth therein, to make dumb idols? Woe unto him that saith to the wood, Awake; to the dumb stone, Arise, it shall teach! Behold, it is laid over with gold and silver, and there is no breath at all in the midst of it. But the LORD is in His holy temple: let all the earth keep silence before Him.” Habakkuk 2:18-20 (KJV)

Habakkuk was a prophet like others, and other people who have asked the question “Where is God in the matter of justice?”; or “Why does God not judge wickedness?”  I have noticed in reading these questions, and having asked them myself a time or two, that God never gives a direct answer, but always takes us to Himself.

God had told this prophet that He was basically judging evil, even by using an evil king and nation to do it.  I have learned that if we want to know about evil and justice, then we first need to look inward.

With Habakkuk, the LORD was showing that this nation which He was using to chastise His own people was idol worshipers.  They would one day find out that they were going to experience justice as well; the judgment of God.

Every idol will one day be exposed for what it is.  There is idolatry in every nation on earth; yes, even the U. S. of A.  We have an idol in New York harbor, that we hold more dear than we do the word of the LORD.  We revere the words of physicians over the word of the LORD.  We hold the word of financiers as more valuable than the word of the LORD.  We value science over the word of the LORD.  These idols will one day come crashing down.

However, “…The LORD is in His holy temple…”, and that is speaking of His heavenly throne, and in this world His temple is also within those who have believed in Him through His Son Jesus, and the cross, burial, and resurrection of Jesus the Son of God, God the Son (1 Corinthians 6:19-20).  Let the children of God, all Christians, cast off the works of the flesh, and put on the garments of salvation (Romans 13:12, 14; Galatians 3:27), and show forth the glory of Jesus our Lord and Savior.  This would be revival in the truest sense of the word.

When God’s people repent of their sins, and come out of the world, then by the grace and power of God, there will be change in the hearts and minds of the inhabitants of the earth.

 

The Offense of the Cross…

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“And I, brethren, if I yet preach circumcision, why do I yet suffer persecution? Then is the offence of the cross ceased.” Galations 5:11 (KJV)

Because Jesus died for our sins He then arose from the grave; and because He lives we live eternally with Him.  The following is a sermon excerpt from a sermon preached by George Henry Morrison…

“Then is the offence of the cross ceased.” Galations 5:11

“There is a great lesson there for Christian teachers, and for all who are trying to advance Christ’s kingdom. The more earnest and eager they are to have men saved, the more willing they are to go all lengths to meet them. And that is right, for we must be all things to all men–to the Jews as a Jew, to the Romans as a Roman; but remember, there are a few great facts we cannot yield, though they run counter to the whole spirit of the age. It were better to empty the church and preach the cross, than to fill it by keeping silent like a coward. It were better to fail as Paul failed with the Jews, than to succeed by being a traitor to the cross. And that is why I look with such uncertainty on much thatthe church is trying to do today. Religion can never be a pleasant entertainment. When the offense of the cross ceases, it is lost.”
A sermon preached by George Henry Morrison who lived 1866 – 1928

Without the cross of Jesus there would not have been the resurrection from the dead.  Have a Blessed Resurrection day.

 

It is Best to Listen to Wisdom

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“Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded; but ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof: I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh; when your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind; when distress and anguish cometh upon you.” Proverbs 1:24-27 (KJV)

For the month of March I will be endeavoring to do a short study from the Wisdom book of Proverbs.

In the above verses the message begins from Wisdom in verse 20.  So Wisdom is personified by Solomon here and in chapters 8 and 9.  We will get to those later.  For the study today we focus on 1:24-27.

Wisdom will not be ignored.  When we speak of Wisdom we speak of God’s Wisdom.  Compare godly wisdom to the wisdom of men…

“Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? Let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom. But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.” James 3:13-18

Since this wisdom is godly wisdom it comes from none other source than the  heart of God Himself.  It comes from His Word, His promises, His power, His Spirit, and His works – His works that He does even, maybe especially, in His people; as His people yield to His wisdom.

When the child of God chooses his/her own way rather than God’s way and wisdom we end up showing our bitterness, envy, anger, strife, and we start disbelieving the word of God; until God gets ahold of us, and sets us right.  It is not a pleasant thing for the child of God for Him to get ahold of us (Hebrews 12:6-8).

When we are not right with God; walking with Him in His Spirit, then, there will be great fear with no peace to face it.

Those who reject God, His wisdom, and His grace will one day find themselves being laughed at and mocked because your own wisdom fails you; and your calamity will be an eternal one.

O turn to the One who is All Wise, believe His promises, and trust His grace and mercy that He has given mankind by that God-Man Jesus the Christ who died on the cross for our sins, was buried and He rose again;  believing He is the Son of God; God the Son.  That is where Wisdom begins.

No Yoke

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Sometimes there is strife, and arguments in the Church.  Maybe that is whey there are so many different denominations; but I think it probably goes beyond our differences.

Even in the early Church there was conflict.  Since the first members of the first Church were Jewish, having believed the Law, the Prophets, and the Wisdom literature – all of Scripture; then they had to deal with how the Gentiles fit into their beliefs.  That is what the conflict was over in Acts 15.

“And the apostles and elders came together for to consider of this matter. And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe. And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as He did unto us; and put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith. Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they. Then all the multitude kept silence, and gave audience to Barnabas and Paul, declaring what miracles and wonders God had wrought among the Gentiles by them.” Acts 15:6-12 (KJV)

There were some in the Jerusalem Church who were teaching that the Gentile believers which had believed needed to agree with the law of Moses, and follow Jewish practices.  The verses above are the apostles defense of salvation by grace through faith in Christ alone.

The Holy Spirit had been given to the Gentile believers without the Law.  Why would, or why should they be expected to be put under the “Yoke” of the Law, “…Which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear…”.

We must understand, however, that freedom from the “Yoke of the Law” does not mean freedom to sin.  Since Jesus Christ died on the cross for our sins, was buried carrying sins death, condemnation, guilt, and bondage with Him; then rising from death leaving those things far away; we are free.  It does mean freedom from sin, and its yoke of bondage and death.

It is stated again in the text above.  “…We believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they…”  Jews and Gentiles are saved by grace through faith in the work of the Lord Jesus (Ephesians 2:8-10).

…Purchased with money

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“But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money. Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God. Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee. For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity. Then answered Simon, and said, Pray ye to the Lord for me, that none of these things which ye have spoken come upon me. And they, when they had testified and preached the word of the Lord, returned to Jerusalem, and preached the gospel in many villages of the Samaritans.” Acts 8:20-25 (KJV)

There are two men of God in this chapter.  Philip seems to be the one who was preaching when Simon the sorcerer makes a decision, and speaks, “This man is the great power of God” (v. 10).

Sorcery has always been rejected by God because it distracts from God, His power and authority and Spirit.  In the case of this sorcerer it appears to mean “Magical arts” or the “work of a magician”.  For Simon it was used to deceive people purposely for his own personal gain.  In our day we might call him a “Scam artist”.  He did, however, recognize Philip as a man of God.

The words of the verses above were spoken by the apostle Peter.  He had spoken and laid hands on some of the believers of Samaria, and they received the Holy Spirit.  For clarity the Holy Spirit comes into, is given by God to an individual when receive the gift of God in Jesus Christ for salvation.

Simon saw this laying on the hands, as a “Power” which could be bought with money; and Peter rebukes him, even heavily condemns him for believing such a thing.

The gift of the Spirit of God has no price.  He is given by the grace of God upon one’s salvation through faith in Jesus Christ, His death on the cross, His burial and His resurrection.  He is given as “Christ in you,” empowering us to live by the Spirit, and when we live in the Spirit we walk with God in full agreement with Him.

I do not know the outcome of Simon.  He did ask for prayer “…That none of these things which you have spoken come upon me..”   I do know that God is gracious and merciful, and if this Simon truly was born again through faith in Christ Jesus he is forgiven, and walking with Jesus in glory today.

No matter what you have done know today that God loved you so much that He gave His only begotten Son that if you will believe in Him you will never perish, but have eternal life with Him.

Jesus in Genesis (2)

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LOOKING FOR JESUS – GENESIS (2)

“For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy” (Revelation 19:10c).

Can Jesus and the gospel be found in the Old Testament? It is my declaration that He can and that the gospel is there as well.

Look in Genesis 3. This is the chapter of the fall of man and sin entering into the world. After the sin of Adam and Eve we find God’s declarations to the serpent, to Eve and last of all to Adam. Within this chapter there is a prophecy of a Savior who would come, and a type (picture, shadow) of what would take place by that Savior who would come. This is what we will look at in this post.

In God’s Word to the serpent He said (v. 15),

“I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise His heel.”

We can see the enmity (fear, strife) between the serpent and the children of Eve. It is even present to this day. When I see a snake it causes fear in me. That is one of God’s creatures which I want absolutely nothing to do with. In my mind they are a symbol of all that is vile and wicked and evil. If you want to handle the things, you go right ahead. If it bites you you cannot blame anyone but yourself. The same thing is true of sin. When you play with sin, it will bite you, and it already has.

The seed of the woman, the one who would bruise the head of the serpent is the promised Redeemer who would come. When Eve had Cain it seems as though she expected him to be the one. There was such expectancy. It is seen in what she named him

“Cain…I have gotten a man from the Lord” (4:1).

It was not to be Cain, because he was not a man who had a heart for the things of God. This prophecy would not be fulfilled for about four thousand years. It is fulfilled in Jesus Christ. On the cross, upon which Jesus died Satan (that old serpent) “Bruised the heel” of the Seed of the woman. Upon that same cross the head of the serpent was not only “bruised” but the power of Satan was crushed, and his authority over men taken away. After the cross Jesus rose from death showing that He was indeed the Son of the living God, and God the Living Son (Romans 1:4). By that same resurrection we have the promise of eternal life.

There is also a shadow/type of the cross seen in this chapter of Genesis. In Verse 21 it says,

“Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them.”

Now in the minds of some, this verse may seem very insignificant, but I do not think it will be to many who are reading this. Remember Adam and Eve had been warned by God that they would die if they ate fruit from the forbidden tree. Now they had eaten fruit from the tree, and God provided redemption for them. It was a covering for their sin. It was in the form of animal skins, and I personally believe the skins to be lamb skins. Life was taken; blood was shed. This was the first time death had come into the world, and it was God who did the killing. In this shadow of the cross there were animals put to death for the sins of these two sinners. God in his holy and righteous way provided a means of salvation which would bring salvation to the human race. To think that God in His wisdom, power, love and grace was showing us the wonderful life of Jesus Christ in providing covering for Adam and Eve. They had tried to cover themselves in fig leaves, but it was not good enough for God. The “Fig leaves” of religion, self-righteousness, good works, or ceremonial laws will never satisfy the righteousness of God. The blood or the righteous Lamb of God alone has done that.

Isn’t the love, grace and mercy of God something wonderful. It is the most wonderful knowledge that we could have. It is, in fact the most wonderful thing we could have in our lives.

Christmas Day 2016

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What do I want for Christmas today?

I want every Christian to remember this is another Lord’s Day, not unlike any other; it is only as special as we ourselves make it; if we honor, praise and glorify our Lord Jesus Christ only today we do nothing more than slap His face, and stomp His shed blood in the ground, and make it of no affect in our lives or the lives of others;  Remember Christians that He came as a Baby in a manger, in order to die for our sins, and He desires your love, worship and praise 365 – 366 days every year.

I want you to have a VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS, but it will only be so if you love Him and live for Him everyday of the year.

“But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth His Son, made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.” Galations 4:4-5 (KJV)

Christmas Day 30

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What do I want for Christmas today?

I want to be (today and everyday) a Christian in the words that I speak, the life that I live, and to be one who shares the love of God in Christ Jesus wherever I may be; to whom ever I am with, and no matter their economic, religious, political, moral, or ethnic place in this world; to share the word of God, and the love of God shown on Calvary’s cross.

“He that hateth dissembleth with his lips, and layeth up deceit within him; when he speaketh fair, believe him not: for there are seven abominations in his heart. Whose hatred is covered by deceit, his wickedness shall be shewed before the whole congregation.” Proverbs 26:24-26 (KJV)

For the Seven Abominations see Proverbs 6:16-19.

Christmas Day Eighty and Five

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What do I want for Christmas today?

Since it is the LORD’S Day I want to go to worship the LORD God, through the death, burial and resurrection of the Son of God Jesus Christ; with the saints of God in our house of worship; and by His grace, help and strength I will not forsake the assembling of myself with others, as is the manner of some, but will exhort, and be exhorted by others; especially as I see the day of our Lord’s coming drawing near.

See Hebrews 10:25.

Christmas Day 120

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119 more “Christmas Day” posts.  Are you glad.

What do I want for Christmas today?

I want to have a clear heart, mind, and a clean heart and mind for living the life that will honor and glorify my God and Savior Jesus Christ; today especially since this is the Lord’s Day.

 

Christmas Day One Hundred Twenty and One

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What do I want for Christmas today?

I want to be sure and share the Gospel of Jesus Christ with you:

God; holy and without sin; just, righteous, All Present, All Powerful, All Knowing and Immutable; created Adam in His image and likeness.  God created Eve, the woman, the first wife, and told them to go and multiply and fill the earth (Genesis 1:27-31).  Adam and Eve sinned against God in the perfect environment He had placed them in (Genesis 3).  God sacrificed and innocent animal to clothe the man and the woman and to cover their nakedness.

Because of Adam’s sin; we are all sinners (Romans 3:10, 23; 6:23) condemned, dying, eternally separated from God our Creator, Savior, Sustainer and Judge.

God sent His Son Jesus who was with Him in the creation of all things (John 1:1-5, 14), because He loved the world (John 3:16), and offered Him as the sacrifice for all our sins.

Jesus the Son of God, and God the Son, was tried unjustly, cruelly, by the hands of wicked, and evil men; He had committed no sin – the only man who ever lived that can be said of – and He died for our sins according to the Scriptures (1 Corinthians 15:1-6).  He was buried, and in being buried He carried all our sins away, left them in the grave, and He came out of the grave alive.

All you must do is believe on Him.  Remember what Jesus said, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes on Him, shall not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16

And the apostle Paul quoting the Old Testament wrote, “Whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” Romans 10:13.

There is only one hope for the presence of God, and heaven, and that is through the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

I want you to know that today; more importantly, GOD wants you to know that.

Thank You – Christmas Day One Hundred Twenty and Six

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What do I want for Christmas today?

I want to thank my Lord and God first of all for His love, mercy and grace; and His many, many blessings; and I want to thank him for you the ones who come to this site and take the time to read these posts on Christmas Day.

There are many of you who come here day after day, and some ever since day one (December 26, 2015) for these Christmas daily wants.

We are well over halfway through the task, and it has been a blessing to me; but I do need to say I will be glad when Christmas Day actually arrives.  I do not know that I would do it again.  It has been a time of great thought, and provocation for me.

Again, to all of you THANK YOU.

Prophets Speak – Christmas Day One Hundred Thirty and Two

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“It is of the LORD’S mercies that we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is Thy faithfulness. The LORD is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in Him.” Lamentations 3:22-24 (KJV)

Though the prophet Jeremiah is lamenting the tragedy of Judah and Israel, he recognizes that the mercies of the LORD  are without fail.  They are “New every morning”.  Mercy is a great power and offering from our Lord to us every day.

What do I want for Christmas today?

When I wake up of the mornings I want to be thankful for the LORD’S mercy that He has given me another day, that I am breathing, that I have a beating  heart, for all the manifold blessings He has given me; and I want to share that mercy, those mercies, as much as within me, with my family, friends, neighbors, and those who may not be at peace with me.

Through the mercies of God we can know His grace through the death, burial and resurrection of His Son Jesus, God the Son.

Prophets Speak – Christmas Day One Hundred Thirty and Three

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“And it came to pass in the seven and thirtieth year of the captivity of Jehoiachin king of Judah, in the twelfth month, in the five and twentieth day of the month, that Evilmerodach king of Babylon in the first year of his reign lifted up the head of Jehoiachin king of Judah, and brought him forth out of prison, and spake kindly unto him, and set his throne above the throne of the kings that were with him in Babylon, and changed his prison garments: and he did continually eat bread before him all the days of his life. And for his diet, there was a continual diet given him of the king of Babylon, every day a portion until the day of his death, all the days of his life.” Jeremiah 52:31-34 (KJV)

Jehoiachin was a king who “…Did evil in the sight of the LORD” (2 Chronicles 36:9) yet finds Nebuchadnezzar to be merciful, and releases him from prison, and gives him a seat with himself.

What do I want for Christmas today?

I want to always walk in the mercies of GOD, to behold His goodness, mercy,  love and grace; and I want all to know the same mercy, love and grace that has been shown to me throughout my whole life that has been given to all who will receive it through the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ Son of God, God the Son.

Wisdom Speaks – Christmas Day One Hundred Sixty and Four

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“Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth—
For your love is better than wine.
Because of the fragrance of your good ointments,
Your name is ointment poured forth;
Therefore the virgins love you.
Draw me away!” Song of Solomon 1:2 (NKJV)

Believing that the Song of Solomon is written to show a king’s love for His spouse before their marriage, and following the ceremony, and that Marriage is a portrait in type of God in Christ’s love for His Bride the Church…

What do I want for Christmas?

I want my Marriage, and my love for my wife Madge, to reflect the love of God in Christ to all people; and for people to know there is no better or greater love than the love the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit displayed on the cross of Calvary for all mankind.

Wisdom Speaks – Christmas Day 170

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“An ungodly man digs up evil,
And it is on his lips like a burning fire.
A perverse man sows strife,
And a whisperer separates the best of friends.
A violent man entices his neighbor,
And leads him in a way that is not good.
He winks his eye to devise perverse things;
He purses his lips and brings about evil.” Proverbs 16:27-30 (NKJV)

What do I want for Christmas?

I want to always be a man of honesty, integrity, and strength in the LORD; and to never sow strife between friends, or enemies, but to seek to bring others together through the love, power, mercy, and grace of our Lord.