Today is like no other. The sun is brighter, darkness is gone, HOLY HARMONY everywhere. This day is SANCTIFIED, it has the FRAGRANCE OF LIFE, the only thoughts we have are those of PRAISE and REJOICING. This is a day that will NEVER BE FORGOTTEN. YES, JESUS AROSE! WE HAVE ETERNAL LIFE! "THIS IS THE DAY THE LORD HAS MADE; WE WILL REJOICE AND BE GLAD IN IT..." (Psalm 118:24).
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There was a tear and stain on her best dress. Her arthritic hands reached out to comfort. And she made sure you weren't hungry by giving the last of whatever she had. When others had given up on you, she would remind you of Scripture and Pray for you. No matter how old you were she would hold you; and you could feel her Peace and Courage. Her eyes would light up, even when you came for a short moment. Did our Mother's "love cover a multitude of OUR SINS" (1 Peter 4:8). Was "Her love of the LORD Praised" (Proverbs 31:30)? Do we still think of THOSE PRECIOUS MOMENTS?
Ten "easy steps" in how to read the Bible. How many times do we encounter someone with the "FIX ALL SOLUTION" for knowing GOD? Is the Bible just some words telling us about GOD, or is it the DIVINE WORD being spoken by GOD HIMSELF? Hebrews 4:12, "...the WORD of GOD is living and active, sharper than any two edged sword, piercing even to the dividing of SOUL and SPIRIT..." Soul AND Spirit, NOT Soul FROM Spirit. This Scripture talks about LIVING; powerful and ACTIVE and able to discern the thoughts of the heart. These are all LIVING descriptions, not the "Past tense" where some Philosopher left us with "words of wisdom". It is THE NOW OF GOD, THE PRESENCE OF GOD penetrating the invisible parts of us AND WE KNOW IT! We know Scriptures are alive, because when we hear them, they CONVICT and ENCOURAGE the parts of us that no one else knows. We never understand something by "READING HOW"; it is only when we HEAR AND LIVE. GOD IS ALIVE!
LIVE.... Some teachers present their subjects in such a way that we begin to experience their excitement and enthusiasm. It is not a "have to" it is "want to", a "need to", that we go out and tell others what we have learned. In reading the Scriptures do we experience the "awareness" of THEIR virtues, powers and excellencies? Do we want to share "WITHOUT" that which has taken place "WITHIN"? Do we want to show others what we have been admitted to see? 1 Peter 2:9, "...you are chosen...royal priests...GOD'S very own possession..." IT DOESN'T JUST HAPPEN, YOU ARE CHOSEN.
So many different Bibles explaining GOD'S WILL for us; and even more "interpretations and explanations" of what each means. The children of GOD are being taught contrary doctrines from the same "texts". We are warned, threatened and intimidated until we "pull back" from any Biblical teaching. Do we really think that "bad things" happen to "good people" to "punish" us? Suffering and loneliness does NOT make us more dear to GOD. The agony of the SOUL takes away our worldly interests and our FULL FOCUS is on GOD. Our prayers become GODLY Prayers where we surrender earthly idols and desire only the HOLINESS OF GOD. 2 Corinthians 7:9, "...I rejoice, not because you were grieved, but because you were grieved into repenting". IS OUR PAIN, GODLY SORROW OR WORLDLY SORROW? No interpretation needed, IT IS WHAT IT IS. AMEN! THANK YOU HOLY SPIRIT! You are about to do something, then THE VOICE comes and tells you not to. Is it your conscious, your imagination, or could it be the HOLY SPIRIT? You want to do it (so it's not the imagination), it appears to be good (so it's not the conscious) but still "something" inside says NO. John 16:13, "But when HE, the SPIRIT of TRUTH comes, HE will guide you into all the TRUTH..." How do we know we have the "FULLNESS" of the HOLY SPIRIT, unless we have known the experience of "BEING FILLED"? When we OBEY the HOLY SPIRIT against all reason and feelings, we have ALL OF GOD, and HE HAS ALL OF US.
Love, defines itself and its effects. Love is beyond words, actions and feelings; it is the "Relationship" in which we are the Recipient and the Giver. It is so much as to who we are, that if we don't have this GRACE we cannot rest until we have it. Love changes who we are; where we prefer the welfare of others above our own praise, profit or pleasure. 1 Corinthians 13:7, "Love bears all things, hopes all things, endures all things." Are we sometimes "Humbled" by LOVE, in order to KNOW HOW TO LOVE? ONLY AFTER BEING THE RECIPIENT OF LOVE, DO WE KNOW HOW TO GIVE LOVE. GOD IS LOVE.
Have we ever noticed that with the LITTLE we know, that we take this part of "imperfect" knowledge to assume and conjecture what we call the WHOLE TRUTH? 1 Corinthians 13:12, "...now I know in part, but then shall I know even as I am known..." What little we know now is distorted and imperfect, but when we come FACE TO FACE with GOD there is no distortion or imperfections. When we come FACE TO FACE with GOD, we KNOW and LIVE in TRUTH; then those who know us but do not know GOD, will come to KNOW HIM, BECAUSE THEY KNOW US. It is because we don't take the little we know, and ASSUME AND CONJECTURE WHAT WE DON'T KNOW.
Can we imagine the serenity of a Sunday afternoon walk, thinking about what Truth the Scriptures reveal, and yet we have many questions? Our hearts desire the Heart of GOD so intensely that our Passion for HIM is all consuming. We begin to speak out loud for HIM to hear our burdens and our Joys. We are not experiencing Fear, Threats, or selfish desires; we are having a deep conviction, a full absorption and occupation of our mind with the TRUTH about HIM. We find HE comes along with us when we seek HIM so fervently, when we form no preconceived opinion of WHO HE should be, but know and accept WHO HE IS. Luke 24:32, "...Did not our heart burn within us, while HE talked with us by the way, HE explained the Scriptures..." Let us ask the HOLY SPIRIT to walk with us today and REVEAL THE SCRIPTURES. It is our questions (not the questions others tell us we should ask), and our doubts that we can ask JESUS, and when we are confronted with the TRUTH; OUR HEARTS WILL BURN WITHIN US FOR MORE.
This is our day to walk side by side with JESUS.... "...To be mistreated along with the people of GOD rather than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a short time..." (Hebrews 11:25). We talk about our Bible Study, our NEW awareness of the Power of THE HOLY SPIRIT, or "riding the wave" of the latest "anointed Revelation" TO THE GLORY OF GOD. We loosen our belts (from having plenty to eat), get dressed (having many clothes to choose from), and go to our weekly Bible Study or Church meeting (IF WE GO AT ALL). While our Christian Brothers and Sisters in Saudi Arabia are persecuted by Muslim and other non-Christian factions, Missionaries in Israel undergo severe persecution paralleling the days of the "early" Church. There are people tortured for being caught Praying or having a page of the Bible in their possession. Do we have the zeal and passion to seek THE THINGS OF GOD, NO MATTER WHAT THE COST?
There are Modern Day Martyrs... |
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December 2015
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