I have heard, "if you want to know the truth about yourself, ask your enemies because your friends are afraid of hurting your feelings". It is true that your enemies may exaggerate, but what they say is based upon some undesirable trait you may have. JESUS said, "No longer do I call you servants...but I have called you friends..." (John 15:15). JESUS does not "mince" words about who we are, but HE always did, and does, it with love. Today may we love those we know, and BE A BETTER FRIEND IN LOVE!
Psalm 139: 23-24 Isaiah 43:1 GOD IS GOD!
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Mark 11:23, "...I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, Be removed and be cast into the sea..." Do we think of our "mountains" as being financial burdens or health problems? What about guilt or carrying a grudge? Is our "biggest" mountain the lack of forgiveness? A woman went to Heaven and there was greeted by St. Peter. He said, all you have to do is spell any word and you may enter. She said, ok, Love, L-O-V-E. He welcomed her to heaven, then asked her to take his place for a few minutes and greet people the same way he was doing and ask them the same question. As she stood there her X-husband appeared to enter. He asked her what he needed to do? She replied, spell a word correctly and you may enter. He asked, "what word"? She replied, CZECHOSLOVAKIA. Is one of our mountains Forgiveness? IF YOU DO IT FOR GOD, YOU DO IT FOR YOURSELF.
Psalm 139: 23-24 Isaiah 43:1 GOD IS GOD! If GOD is the REAL THING then HE is the excellence of all things and we should seek HIM passionately! If GOD is not GOD and Christianity is just "wishful thinking"; then be vehemently against HIM! JESUS said, indifference here is inexcusable! If GOD be GOD, follow HIM; if HE is not, don't, but there is no room for neutrality. Revelation 3:16, "So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot not cold, I will spit you out of my mouth." Is your "neutrality" because you just don't know, or is it really because it frightens you; or are you thinking "I don't want to know, because I will have to give up my worldly pleasures"? You need to KNOW! Being indifferent and dispassionate IS A DANGEROUS PLACE TO BE!
Psalm 139: 23-24 Isaiah 43:1 GOD IS GOD! Have you ever had that time in your life when you just knew; there were no distractions, really no emotions, but a deep satisfaction, maybe the beginning of JOY? At that time you understood beyond a doubt what GOD said in 1 Corinthians 13:8-13, "Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away...as for knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away...So now faith, hope and love abide...but the greatest of these is love." Life is a dream that soon evaporates and passes away, but love is the Vision of Eternity. After all IT'S ALL THERE REALLY IS!
Psalm 139: 23-24 Isaiah 43:1 GOD IS GOD! In accounting the financial strength of a Company depends upon its Internal Controls; "incompatible" functions soon destroy its every being. Mark 7:15, "...but the things that come out of a person are what defile him." When we turn away from GOD and seek significance, security and satisfaction through desires of the flesh this leads to a blatant absence of self-control. Our "inner most" being, controls our mind, emotions and will. When we are obedient to the HOLY SPIRIT we will have no "Incompatible" desires and GOD gives us INTERNAL CONTROLS.
Psalm 139: 23-24 Isaiah 43:1 GOD IS GOD! Amos was told by the Chief Priest to go somewhere else to Preach and Prophesy. Then he insulted Amos by telling him he was not a member of the "royal guild" of prophets (Amos was not a part of the "world's" recognized and approved preachers). The self-interest, distorted moral ethics and misplaced authority by the Chief Priest did not discourage Amos; rather it encouraged him and even became a "badge of courage" because Amos was not paid to say what he was saying, he was inspired by GOD! Amos 7:14-15, "...I was no prophet, nor a prophet's son...the LORD said to me, 'Go, prophesy to my people..." Do we not feel adequate or worthy to share GOD'S WORD because we don't know the Bible like we think we should; or because someone has tried to discourage us? We are Blessed to be persecuted for loving CHRIST and that is WHEN AN INSULT BECOMES A COMPLIMENT!
Psalm 139: 23-24 Isaiah 43:1 GOD IS GOD! How do we know this life isn't the end? How do we know Heaven isn't just "wishful thinking on our part? Maybe because in each of us is an inner sense or feeling that death is not the end, that there must be something beyond the grave. Even if we try to deny or ignore it, this inner yearning is still there - and it is universal. Where did it come from? The Bible tells us GOD placed it within us: Ecclesiastes 3:11, "HE set eternity in the Hearts of men..." How can we know beyond a shadow of doubt that there is life after death? As hard heartened as we are, we might say; "well if someone were to die, go to Heaven, then come back and tell us about it, then we would believe! What if I told you I knew someone who did, would it help in our unbelief? How about JESUS HIMSELF, HE died, rose on the third day and if that wasn't enough, there are over 500 eye witnesses to verify this! HEAVEN IS REAL, IT'S NOT JUST WISHFUL THINKING!
Psalm 139: 23-24 Isaiah 43:1 GOD IS GOD! If you have ever been in a "Hog Wallow" you will remember it forever! The "stench" covers your body, penetrates your nostrils and makes your eyes water. Everyone knows where you've been. Psalm 139:21-22, "Do I not hate those who hate YOU, O'LORD?...Search me, O'GOD, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts!" When we try to keep one "foot in Heaven" and the "other in the Hog Wallow" (old unbelieving friends, those whose fruits or actions do not not agree with their words, or still "hang out" in our old places) others see and smell the "Stench"! Do we really want to be associated with them, or be regarded as one of them? If so, THERE IS NO AMOUNT OF PERFUME (actions, "Rosie Words"), THAT COVERS THE "STENCH" (the sinful ways that do not change).
Psalm 139: 23-24 Isaiah 43:1 GOD IS GOD! Have you ever been so confident (not arrogant) of something, that when you are challenged you respond calmly, with power and no matter what they say you respond in love. We Christians are certainly comfortable around other Christians, encouraging one another and shouting Halleluiah, Amen and Preach on Brother or Sister! Christians get "uncomfortable" when challenged or confronted about their faith in GOD, especially by an atheist. Truth cannot be destroyed by lies and ignorance; but on the other hand, just ask them why you should believe any other way. As you listen, their "monologue" of nonbelief will destroy itself. You will hear that "Intellectuals" don't believe in GOD in our highly advanced society. They will argue that an omniscient, omnipotent and omnibenevolent GOD is contradictory as well as incompatible in a world that has evil and suffering. Encourage their dialogue by asking; If humanity is the absolute source of ethics and values why is there still evil and suffering; if your premise is to analyze competing hypotheses that make the fewest assumptions and offers the simplest explanation then why choose atheism; and if our Intellect has evolved to such great advancement, why can't we accept the simplest form of Truth in the Prophesies? Finally, for an atheist to ascertain that GOD does not exist, takes a greater leap of faith than Christianity! An atheist is fearful, they want to believe but we have done a poor job listening and letting them hear and see the Gospel. We have not loved them to CHRIST! 1 Peter 3:14-15, "Have no fear of them...but always being prepared to tell anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect." MAKE YOURSELF AVAILABLE, they need GOD and we can SOAR ON WINGS OF EAGLES; HALLELUJAH, AMEN!
Psalm 139: 23-24 Isaiah 43:1 GOD IS GOD! We eventually discover that our anticipation of something, never occurs. The closer we get to achieving our goal, the anticipated satisfaction fades away until we are left "longing" for something greater. Nothing (no career, achievement or recognition), ever delivers the JOY it seemed to promise. Genesis 1:29, "Then GOD said, Let us make man in OUR image, after OUR likeness..." If there is no satisfaction or pleasure from worldly experiences, in all probability, we were made for another world! IT AROUSES A FAR GREATER NEED!
Psalm 139: 23-24 Isaiah 43:1 GOD IS GOD! |
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December 2015
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