One of the failures of natural Israel almost from its inception has been the misunderstanding it was meant to be a light to the nations; meaning it was to not only embrace and represent who God was to one another, but to spread that across the world.
That failure was primarily the result of it time after time failing to meet the standards of God, which ended up with Israel taking on the nature of other nations, rather than being a peculiar people as they were meant to be, by showing forth the glory of God.
Now the followers of Jesus Christ are meant to take on that responsibility, by first, walking as Jesus walked, and from that total separation from the ways of the world, becoming a light to the nations in the name of Jesus Christ. That's one of the reasons believers in Christ were called Israel in the Scriptures, as the purpose of God for the natural Jews had now passed on to all of those that call upon the name of the Lord and obey Him.
That brings of the question of who we primarily owe our allegiance to. As true followers of Jesus Christ, our allegiance is and also should be first to the kingdom of God and He who heads it up. That means whatever nation on earth we may reside in only gets our loyalty secondarily; and that only in a small proportion in comparison to God's kingdom.
That doesn't suggest we become traitors or enemy combatants on behalf of one nation against another, but that the overriding nation we serve is a heavenly one, and one of our reasons for existence is to take the will of God and do it, and from there work and pray to see that and the kingdom of God increasingly be done and to come on earth.
For that reason I believe it's a mistake to think of any nation as a so-called Christian nation. While it can be true that Christianity and Christ were a part of the influence on a nation, and thus had some of the characteristics of Christ as part of the culture of that nation, the fickle nature of man, as seen in the growing decadence in the United States, reveals we can't simply call a nation a Christian nation, when what it once embraced and acknowledged is rejected for an opposing world view and ideology. America is no longer a Christian nation, and neither are many nations that once at minimum, revered Christ at least outwardly.
No matter what country any of us live in, we need to pray and work towards the kingdom of God to permeate those living in the country, as the kingdom of God is expected to fill the earth, meaning the person of Christ as revealed in the Bible will fill everything with who He is. That's what it means when we are told that God will be all in all. It's also a reference to being conformed to His image.
We are to be like Him; totally loyal to who He is. We are to learn what He want and then obey in it. Once we mature, we then share who He is with others, and also call upon those around us to obey Him.
Ultimately we not only will increase the kingdom of God in individuals, but start to work locally on transforming the many areas of life into what He wants. That includes individuals, families, education, government, the arts, and business, along with any other area of life that needs to submit unto the Lordship of Jesus Christ.
While we can appreciate the city or country we live in, that is nothing compared to the heavenly kingdom of God that we are to pray to come and fill the earth. Eventually all nations that respond to this will receive the multiple blessings of God He promises. Those that reject Him will be found to be fighting against the God of heaven and earth.
Our ultimate loyalty is to Jesus Christ and His kingdom. Everything else should be an extension of that kingdom in order to make where we live like what heaven is like. That is what Jesus had in mind when He taught us to pray for His kingdom to come and will to be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Monday, August 11, 2014
Saturday, August 9, 2014
Daniel 2:40-45 (KJV)
40 And the fourth kingdom shall be strong as iron: forasmuch as iron breaketh in pieces and subdueth all
things: and as iron that breaketh all these, shall it break in pieces and bruise.
41 And whereas thou sawest the feet and toes, part of potters' clay, and part of iron, the kingdom shall be divided; but there shall be in it of the strength of the iron, forasmuch as thou sawest the iron mixed with miry clay.
42 And as the toes of the feet were part of iron, and part of clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong, and partly broken.
43 And whereas thou sawest iron mixed with miry clay, they shall mingle themselves with the seed of men: but they shall not cleave one to another, even as iron is not mixed with clay.
44 And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever.
45 Forasmuch as thou sawest that the stone was cut out of the mountain without hands, and that it brake in pieces the iron, the brass, the clay, the silver, and the gold; the great God hath made known to the king what shall come to pass hereafter: and the dream is certain, and the interpretation thereof sure.
There are few things, if any, related to the history of human events and how God views them, than this portion of Scripture, and the verses immediately preceding them. It clearly states not only the period of time when the promised Messiah would appear, but what His appearance meant to the nations.
Some think this is only a reference to what Jesus Christ would do to the Roman Empire over time once He appeared, but my thesis is not only is this a reference to Rome, but to all of those nations or groups of nations that attempt to become world empires. Once Jesus Christ revealed Himself as man, that would no longer be allowed. History itself bears this out, as empire after empire rises and falls, while the eternal Kingdom of God continues to rule from heaven.
All of the second chapter of Daniel needs to be read to get the full gist of what is being revealed, but these scriptures above are enough to reveal the idea.
In verse 44, the issue doesn't only refer to the four kingdoms listed up to Rome, and then the kingdom of God is finished doing its work once Rome was allegedly conquered by Christianity. Rather, it's a reference to the purpose of God for all of history concerning the nations, that they shouldn't rise up in a manner that attempts to control and dominate the world. This is a Satanic aspiration; one that has no place in the hearts and minds of men, even though the temptation by the evil one is ever there for man to grab hold of if he wishes.
The implications of this are enormous. God, once His son, who is the only true King of kings and Lord of lords, ushered in the germination of the kingdom of God on earth, He no longer allows nations the luxury or goal of attempting to dominate the earth as some nations leading up to Rome had done before the appearance of Jesus.
From that moment on the earth was required to operate under the rule of the kingdom of Heaven, meaning the heavenly nature of Jesus Christ was to be embraced and permeate the people, which in turn would rule from a heavenly perspective; or based upon the very person and will of Jesus Christ, who was an exact representation of His Father.
What that means is there should be a total freedom where people are allowed to choose their own destinies, as far as nations go, and there should be all sorts of nations being born and dying throughout history. Now that has happened, although primarily from wars. I'm talking about voluntary creation of nations here, not nation building as the U.S. has partaken of.
There is nothing better I would like to see, as far as the U.S. goes, than to see it break up into all sorts of smaller nations. The idea of America is now over, whether people realize it or not, as what it was once in the past is no longer in existence; although there are pockets of it in certain regions of the country.
Now I'm only using America as an example here. I believe that should be the case for any region of the world that wants to take on nationhood.
I know that some people that equate America with Christianity will almost consider this heresy, but the fact is the Holy Scriptures clearly state the kingdom of God will smash those attempting to build empires on the earth. His is the only kingdom, and all nations, no matter how many there are, are required to submit unto the principles of His kingdom.
Jesus, as far as ruling and reigning on the earth goes, is primarily interested in cities or localities. You can see this in the way the church grew after Pentecost.
To give you an idea of how Christ has no interest in a world kingdom or center on earth, look how it wasn't a problem for Him to destroy Jerusalem, which was considered by the Jews and many others as the center or religion in the world. Even though the church was flourishing there, eventually it was driven out not long before the destruction of Jerusalem, and believers spread all over the world from that time on.
The point is, Jesus was ruling from Heaven, and while always building on the earth, has no interest in building Tower of Babel, which He of course ended by confusing the languages, resulting in the many races now seen on the earth.
Interestingly, as I write in 2014, there has been a growing discontent with the idea of empire, whether world or regional, and a number of secessionist movements are underway. If it's time for the breaking up of more countries and alliances with the goal of dominating the world, it couldn't happen soon enough. I'm not saying the time is here, but the idea has taken root, and I believe ultimately that idea has come from Jesus Christ Himself.
What is at issue isn't necessarily the geographic area under governance. For example, Mongolia is huge geographically, but has very few people in it. No matter what its size, it simply doesn't have the capacity to do much world governing, although on a smaller scale, its government is overreaching with the Oyu Tolgoi mine, which it has an ownership in. That is a not towards the inner evil in man to always use the government to control resources and the idea of a free market.
When the Scriptures above refer to breaking these empires to pieces, it's not necessarily a reference to total destruction, but to the influence of the kingdom of God in generating the desire within the hearts of man for self-rule under the principles of almighty God. Breaking them to pieces, I'm sure, is a reference to decentralization of power, and the goal of Jesus Christ to have people focus on local rule.
Obviously there are all sorts of things to work out with that. There has to be enough resources or industry for a small nation or city-state to generate productivity to the point of being self-sufficient. There is also the interesting probability of a wide range of trading partners specializing in specific goods or services to help the small nations to survive and thrive. That's of course the practical side. When man obeys God, He will bless in a way that He'll give us the wisdom to figure all of these challenges out.
This is an extremely brief introduction to my thought on this. If you were to read the second chapter of Daniel in light of these thoughts, you'll find the implications so staggering, that you'll either block it out of your mind, or enter a spiritual and intellectual pursuit that could easily take up several human life spans, as the kingdom of God and Jesus Christ works to permeate the world will all that He is. That's what the end result of the eternal purpose is, that we should be conformed to the image of Jesus Christ, that God may be all in all.
That will be worked out practically on this earth, although never perfectly.
For now, I believe we need to pray that God will continue to work to fracture and decentralize the governments of the world and the nations, so we can get a better chance at freedom and working at local levels in a way that reflects the kingdom of Jesus Christ, which is being worked out perfectly in heaven. We are called to pray that the same perfect kingdom and will of God is expressed in the earth.
Monday, August 4, 2014
We hear a lot about the new world order attempted to be implemented by some people holding positions of power or with a lot of money, and it's true that there are those trying to order world events according to their will, quietly influencing and manipulating the unsuspecting through media, education, and faux news stories; spun to coincide with their world view.
What we don't hear anything about is about Jesus Christ and His new world order, which quietly and invisibly appeared after He ascended to heaven. By quietly, I don't mean there wasn't some noise on Pentecost when the Holy Spirit came to dwell within those who believe in Jesus Christ, rather I mean that other than that relatively small and obscure group of people, it was not known what had happened and its powerful meaning.
Jesus Christ has come back to the earth in the person of the Holy Spirit, and put into action His plan from before the foundation of the world: that He would dwell not only with man, but in man. That was one of the great mysteries hidden from the foundation of the world.
Even though we see and understand some of what these people of money and power are doing to shape the world they want to see emerge, there is always a powerful move of the Spirit happening within people that allow them to not only resist this movement, but overcome it through Christ.
Most Christians don't understand that the coming of the Holy Spirit was the introduction of Christ's new world order, identified in the Bible as the new creation. What was different about the physical and initial creation is the new creation was birthed directly from God, and if fact, was God within us through Christ. That's what truly being born again signifies. It's an entire new world introduced that Satan and his earthly followers have attempted to hide, obscure and overwhelm through the loudness of various media outlets and education in order to keep people from quieting down and seeing the beauty of this new creation that broke into this world over 2,000 years ago.
The significance is Jesus Christ isn't sitting idly by in heaven doing nothing, but rather throughout the entire world has counterattacked and is slowly teaching His people how to combat the evil that has invaded God's earth, and repel it and eventually make it weak in the face of the person of Jesus Christ in His people.
Jesus' new creation has already overcome the attempt to destroy His earth, and as we move into His victory, will find ourselves not only rejecting despair, but growing in love, wisdom, and authority, which will ultimately lead to the amazing end result of God being all in all.
We will be conformed to the image of Jesus Christ, and that won't stay only within, but will flow out like a river of water to touch all the earth. That's our calling and destiny in this life, and I'm one that is going to take it as far as I can while I live.
.... See my new blog called Jesus' New World Order
Saturday, August 2, 2014
It is far past time we reject this idea that loving God has little to do with obeying what He has revealed to us in His word. Jesus Himself said this: "If you love me, keep my commandments."
There is nothing confusing or ambiguous about this. Love, as far as it relates to Jesus Christ, is determined by our level of obedience to Him. It's that simple. What must be obeyed is revealed in the Scriptures.
Living for Christ isn't difficult to understand. It's summarized like this: What does the Bible say, and what are we going to do about it? Those who don't want to obey are those who create an image of Christ they want to serve; one that has little to do with the real Christ our Lord.
Where do nice feelings come in? They don't. That doesn't mean we won't have an affection for the Lord out of appreciation for what He's done for us. But that doesn't determine whether or not we love Him, or define love as explained specifically by Him.
I'm also not talking about how we are to relate to one another. I'm talking specifically about what loving God means. It's no more or less than obedience to His word.
Now the question we all have to ask is, what are we going to do about it.
Thursday, May 29, 2014
Romans 3:23 - For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God
1 John 2:5-6 - 5 But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.
6 He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.
When taking into consideration the scripture "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God," we can miss the overall implications of what it is saying. We must understand what the glory of God is in order to comprehend what it is we have all fallen short of.
The glory of God is nothing less than the person and nature of God Himself. We are expected by God to be like Him. That is, after all, why we were created, in order to bear His image and spread who He was across the face of the earth. That is the real meaning of the presence of God.
It's not some general presence that makes people feel good while they listen to some worship song. It's the taking on of the characteristics of Jesus Christ Himself, resulting in the world seeing who God is by our obedience to not only His words, but who He is, which His words represent.
This is why John said those who say they abide in the Lord will walk as Jesus walked. To do otherwise is a contradiction that can't be reconciled. We either obey and walk as Christ walked, or we aren't Christ's. It's impossible to be born again by the Spirit and continue to live as we have in the past.
As for sin, the word itself means to 'miss the mark.' What's the mark? Jesus Christ and who He is. What's the glory of God? Who God is as revealed in Jesus Christ.
All of us has come short of His glory in that regard. But salvation has not only brought us back in right standing with God, but brings the requirement that we open our hearts to Him and allow Him to change us into His image. We are expected to be like Christ, and anything less isn't acceptable to God.
Now this is the immediate expectation of God for His people, but it is worked out one step at a time.
We are given the goal and expectation of being perfect by God, which means becoming like Jesus. While we may never reach perfection in his lifetime, this is what we are to shoot for. God does.
Keep in mind, the entire purpose for creating man was that man would be like God in his characteristics and purpose (not Godhood). For example, we are to be patient as God is, while understanding we're totally separate from God in His Deity.
Take any revelation of Jesus Christ in the Bible and we're expected to be conformed to that very image. This is our privilege and responsibility. The Holy Spirit within us empowers us to be able to accomplish this.
False teachers have lowered the bar of Jesus Christ, making excuses and using cheap grace teachings to undermine the power and ability of the Holy Spirit to perfect His work in us.
This isn't something to be considered negative and weighty, but rather an invitation and command from God to be perfect as He is perfect. He wouldn't tell us to do something we aren't able to do with His help.
We have all sinned or missed the mark, but we don't have to accept continuing to live in sin. Jesus Christ is our pattern to live by, and when we surrender to Him, the Holy Spirit will take and work within us to conform us to what He is like. This is what was intended before man was ever created, and it is what God is after for eternity.
1 John 2:5-6 - 5 But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.
6 He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.
When taking into consideration the scripture "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God," we can miss the overall implications of what it is saying. We must understand what the glory of God is in order to comprehend what it is we have all fallen short of.
The glory of God is nothing less than the person and nature of God Himself. We are expected by God to be like Him. That is, after all, why we were created, in order to bear His image and spread who He was across the face of the earth. That is the real meaning of the presence of God.
It's not some general presence that makes people feel good while they listen to some worship song. It's the taking on of the characteristics of Jesus Christ Himself, resulting in the world seeing who God is by our obedience to not only His words, but who He is, which His words represent.
This is why John said those who say they abide in the Lord will walk as Jesus walked. To do otherwise is a contradiction that can't be reconciled. We either obey and walk as Christ walked, or we aren't Christ's. It's impossible to be born again by the Spirit and continue to live as we have in the past.
As for sin, the word itself means to 'miss the mark.' What's the mark? Jesus Christ and who He is. What's the glory of God? Who God is as revealed in Jesus Christ.
All of us has come short of His glory in that regard. But salvation has not only brought us back in right standing with God, but brings the requirement that we open our hearts to Him and allow Him to change us into His image. We are expected to be like Christ, and anything less isn't acceptable to God.
Now this is the immediate expectation of God for His people, but it is worked out one step at a time.
We are given the goal and expectation of being perfect by God, which means becoming like Jesus. While we may never reach perfection in his lifetime, this is what we are to shoot for. God does.
Keep in mind, the entire purpose for creating man was that man would be like God in his characteristics and purpose (not Godhood). For example, we are to be patient as God is, while understanding we're totally separate from God in His Deity.
Take any revelation of Jesus Christ in the Bible and we're expected to be conformed to that very image. This is our privilege and responsibility. The Holy Spirit within us empowers us to be able to accomplish this.
False teachers have lowered the bar of Jesus Christ, making excuses and using cheap grace teachings to undermine the power and ability of the Holy Spirit to perfect His work in us.
This isn't something to be considered negative and weighty, but rather an invitation and command from God to be perfect as He is perfect. He wouldn't tell us to do something we aren't able to do with His help.
We have all sinned or missed the mark, but we don't have to accept continuing to live in sin. Jesus Christ is our pattern to live by, and when we surrender to Him, the Holy Spirit will take and work within us to conform us to what He is like. This is what was intended before man was ever created, and it is what God is after for eternity.
Tuesday, May 13, 2014
Warren Buffett, the liberal billionaire whose quips and folksy humor has endeared him to the unsuspecting public, has been secretly and quietly donating over $1.2 billion to murderous abortion organizations from 2001 to 2012.
The Berkshire Hathaway CEO has largely gotten away with this because of his lining up with the liberal agenda, which includes benefiting from the intrusion of the government into the market.
With approximately half of the population in the United States being pro life, you would think this would be a story that would garner a lot of coverage.
Obviously the news media don't want to tarnish the image of their favorite billionaire son.
Since 2001, Buffett has donated a gigantic $289,811,421 to Planned Parenthood murder mill, although even there he isn't listed among the top donors. It's obviously an outrageous cover up.
If Buffett is so strong on aiding the murder of babies, why doesn't he have the integrity and courage to be transparent in his actions and ideology? There is no doubt he doesn't want his conservative or Christian investors to pull their money out of the company or challenge him and Berkshire Hathaway on it.
From this day forward we must continue to hold Warren Buffett's feet to the fire. He has been given a free pass by the media in almost everything he has done.
But when you consider the hypocrisy of Buffett after calling for transparency from companies, you can see his legacy continues to slip and fall, as his high-tax, Federal Reserve-supporting ways are just one stain on the image of Buffett, with the worst being his aid and abetting of abortionist in the murder of the most innocent and defenseless of human beings.
Estimates are the contributions to Planned Parenthood alone would fund approximately 2.7 million abortions.
Buffett the Butcher indeed.
Thursday, May 8, 2014
The cowardly HGTV network cancelled a reality TV show after an anti-Christan radical left-wing website “Right-Wing Watch,” pressured the network after writing about the two brothers and their opposition to homosexuality and abortion.
Appearing in the series would have been David and Jason Benham, who were helping people in need to acquire a home of their dreams.
Norman Lear of the despicable People of the American Way, is the force behind the corrupted Right Wing Watch.
There were several reasons given for cancelling the show, but there is no doubt their opposition to the deviant homosexual lifestyle is the catalyst behind the cancellation of the show.
While that's true, the reason this attack on their faith in Jesus Christ came at this time, is homosexuals were beaten to a pulp over the attempt to persecute Phil Robertson of Duck Dynasty, who was wildly backed by the public for his opposition to homosexuals.
They knew if more Christians were presented in a positive and popular light, it would devastate their agenda, and further boost opposition to their sinful lifestyle. So now the new battlefront will be to abort the people not approving of their lifestyle before they make an impact.
All of this is to say that we as Christians must develop our own businesses and distribution networks to showcase the content we create.
I've been working on this very thing for some time, and if you have an interest in this, let me and other readers know in the comments.
It would be a good idea to stop tuning into HGTV, as it has shown it won't stand up for what is moral and right, but instead has chosen to oppose the silent majority in America. Let the silent majority turn away from HGTV to show it can't continue to do this with impunity.
Appearing in the series would have been David and Jason Benham, who were helping people in need to acquire a home of their dreams.
Norman Lear of the despicable People of the American Way, is the force behind the corrupted Right Wing Watch.
There were several reasons given for cancelling the show, but there is no doubt their opposition to the deviant homosexual lifestyle is the catalyst behind the cancellation of the show.
While that's true, the reason this attack on their faith in Jesus Christ came at this time, is homosexuals were beaten to a pulp over the attempt to persecute Phil Robertson of Duck Dynasty, who was wildly backed by the public for his opposition to homosexuals.
They knew if more Christians were presented in a positive and popular light, it would devastate their agenda, and further boost opposition to their sinful lifestyle. So now the new battlefront will be to abort the people not approving of their lifestyle before they make an impact.
All of this is to say that we as Christians must develop our own businesses and distribution networks to showcase the content we create.
I've been working on this very thing for some time, and if you have an interest in this, let me and other readers know in the comments.
It would be a good idea to stop tuning into HGTV, as it has shown it won't stand up for what is moral and right, but instead has chosen to oppose the silent majority in America. Let the silent majority turn away from HGTV to show it can't continue to do this with impunity.
Tuesday, April 15, 2014
If they can see you love them, you can say anything to them.
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Be careful how you spend your time: Spend your time in nothing which you know must be repented of.
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If family religion were duly attended to and properly discharged, I think the preaching of the Word would not be the common instrument of conversion.
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Remember the perfections of that God whom you worship, that he is a Spirit, and therefore to be worshipped in spirit and truth; and that he is most great and terrible, and therefore to be worshipped with seriousness and reverence, and not to be dallied with, or served with toys or lifeless lip-service; and that he is most holy, pure, and jealous, and therefore to be purely worshipped; and that he is still present with you, and all things are naked and open to him with whom we have to do. The knowledge of God, and the remembrance of his all-seeing presence, are the most powerful means against hypocrisy.
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Make careful choice of the books which you read: let the holy Scriptures ever have the preeminence. Let Scripture be first and most in your hearts and hands and other books be used as subservient to it.
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God never saved any man for being a preacher, nor because he was an able preacher; but because he was a justified, sanctified man, and consequently faithful in his Master’s work. Take heed, therefore, to yourselves first, that you be that which you persuade your hearers to be, and believe that which you persuade them to believe, and heartily entertain that Savior whom you offer to them.”
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Lord, it belongs not to my care, Whether I die or live; To love and serve Thee is my share, And this Thy grace must give
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Though selfishness hath defiled the whole man, yet sensual pleasure is the chief part of its interest, and, therefore, by the senses it commonly works; and these are the doors and windows by which iniquity entereth into the soul.
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Lord, whatever you want, wherever you want it, and whenever you want it, that's what I want.
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I have pain; but I have peace, I have peace.
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Prayer is the breath of the new creature.
==========
It is one thing to take God and heaven for your portion, as believers do, and another thing to be desirous of it as a reserve, when you can keep the world no longer. it is one thing to submit to heaven, as a lesser evil than hell; and another thing to desire it as a greater good than earth. it is one thing to lay up treasures and hopes in heaven, and seek it first; and another thing to be contented with it in our necessity, and to seek the world before it and give God what the flesh can spare. Thus differeth the religion of serious Christians and of carnal, worldly hypocrites.
==========
Naturally, men are prone to spin themselves a web of opinions out of their own brain, and to have a religion that may be called their own. They are far readier to make themselves a faith, than to receive that which God hath formed to their hands; are far readier to receive a doctrine that tends to their carnal commodity, or honor, or delight, than one that tends to self-denial.
==========
We reach perfection not by copying, much less by aiming at originality, but by constantly and steadily working out the life which is common to all, according to the character that God has given us.
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Despair of ever being saved, "except thou be born again," or of seeing God "without holiness," or of having part in Christ except thou "love him above father, mother, or thy own life." This kind of despair is one of the first steps to heaven.
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When the Son of God comes to rescue us and bring us back to God, He does not find in us the ability to believe.
==========
Christ leads me through no darker rooms Than He went through before.
==========
I must confess, as the experience of my own soul, that the expectation of loving my friends in heaven principally kindles my love to them while on earth.
==========
Be careful how you spend your time: Spend your time in nothing which you know must be repented of.
==========
If family religion were duly attended to and properly discharged, I think the preaching of the Word would not be the common instrument of conversion.
==========
Remember the perfections of that God whom you worship, that he is a Spirit, and therefore to be worshipped in spirit and truth; and that he is most great and terrible, and therefore to be worshipped with seriousness and reverence, and not to be dallied with, or served with toys or lifeless lip-service; and that he is most holy, pure, and jealous, and therefore to be purely worshipped; and that he is still present with you, and all things are naked and open to him with whom we have to do. The knowledge of God, and the remembrance of his all-seeing presence, are the most powerful means against hypocrisy.
==========
Make careful choice of the books which you read: let the holy Scriptures ever have the preeminence. Let Scripture be first and most in your hearts and hands and other books be used as subservient to it.
==========
God never saved any man for being a preacher, nor because he was an able preacher; but because he was a justified, sanctified man, and consequently faithful in his Master’s work. Take heed, therefore, to yourselves first, that you be that which you persuade your hearers to be, and believe that which you persuade them to believe, and heartily entertain that Savior whom you offer to them.”
==========
Lord, it belongs not to my care, Whether I die or live; To love and serve Thee is my share, And this Thy grace must give
==========
Though selfishness hath defiled the whole man, yet sensual pleasure is the chief part of its interest, and, therefore, by the senses it commonly works; and these are the doors and windows by which iniquity entereth into the soul.
==========
Lord, whatever you want, wherever you want it, and whenever you want it, that's what I want.
==========
I have pain; but I have peace, I have peace.
==========
Prayer is the breath of the new creature.
==========
It is one thing to take God and heaven for your portion, as believers do, and another thing to be desirous of it as a reserve, when you can keep the world no longer. it is one thing to submit to heaven, as a lesser evil than hell; and another thing to desire it as a greater good than earth. it is one thing to lay up treasures and hopes in heaven, and seek it first; and another thing to be contented with it in our necessity, and to seek the world before it and give God what the flesh can spare. Thus differeth the religion of serious Christians and of carnal, worldly hypocrites.
==========
Naturally, men are prone to spin themselves a web of opinions out of their own brain, and to have a religion that may be called their own. They are far readier to make themselves a faith, than to receive that which God hath formed to their hands; are far readier to receive a doctrine that tends to their carnal commodity, or honor, or delight, than one that tends to self-denial.
==========
We reach perfection not by copying, much less by aiming at originality, but by constantly and steadily working out the life which is common to all, according to the character that God has given us.
==========
Despair of ever being saved, "except thou be born again," or of seeing God "without holiness," or of having part in Christ except thou "love him above father, mother, or thy own life." This kind of despair is one of the first steps to heaven.
==========
When the Son of God comes to rescue us and bring us back to God, He does not find in us the ability to believe.
==========
Christ leads me through no darker rooms Than He went through before.
==========
I must confess, as the experience of my own soul, that the expectation of loving my friends in heaven principally kindles my love to them while on earth.
Monday, April 14, 2014
We must pray for more prayer, for it is the world's mightiest healing force.
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The trouble with nearly everybody who prays is that he says “Amen” and runs away before God has a chance to reply. Listening to God is far more important than giving Him your ideas.
==========
Practicing the presence of God is not on trial. Countless saints have already proved it. Indeed, the spiritual giants of all ages have known it. The results of this effort begin to show clearly in a month. They grow rich after six months, and glorious after ten years. This is the secret of the great saints of all ages. 'Pray without ceasing,' said Paul, 'in everything make your wants known unto God.' 'As many as are led by the spirit of God, these are the sons of God.
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Prayer at its highest is a twoway conversation and for me the most important part is listening to Gods replies.
==========
There is no defeat unless one loses God, and then all is defeat, though it be housed in castles and buried in fortunes.
==========
I have tasted a thrill in fellowship with God which has made anything discordant with God disgusting. This afternoon the possession of God has caught me up with such sheer joy that I thought I never had known anything like it. God was so close and so amazingly lovely that I felt like melting all over with a strange blissful contentment. Having had this experience, which comes to me now several times a week, the thrill of filth repels me, for I know its power to drag me from God. And after an hour of close friendship with God my soul feels as clean as new-fallen snow.
==========
How I wish, wish, wish that a dozen or more persons who are trying to hold god endlessly in mind would all write their experiences so that each would know what the other was finding as a result! The results, I think, would astound the world. At least the results of my own effort are astounding to me… The very universe has come to seem so homey! I know only a little more about it than before, but that little is all! It is vibrant with the electric ecstasy of God! I know what it means to be ‘God intoxicated.
==========
Christ Jesus, we thank You that at last the nations begin to see that every unfortunate one is a neighbor. We see it, Lord; help us to do it. Save us from self-firstness–and begin in me. We pray in Your name.
==========
We ought to give ourselves up to God in things that are temporal as well as things that are spiritual. We should seek our satisfaction only in fulfilling His will. If He leads us into suffering or if He leads us into comfort, our satisfaction should still only be for the fulfilling of His will, for both suffering and comfort are the same to a soul truly resigned to Him.
==========
Come to the Lord, ask Him not to deliver you from this situation but ask Him for strength to bear this thing. Ask Him to give you a deep and strong love for Him. Ask Him to give you everything that would please Him. Ask Him to give you what He will and to do with you what He wishes as long as He pleases.
==========
The Lord knows best what is needful for us. What He does, He does for our good. If we really knew just how much He loves us, we would always be willing to receive anything from His hand. We would receive the bitter and the sweet without distinction. Anything, yes everything would please us just because it came from Him.
==========
This sense of being led by unseen hand which takes mine while another hand reaches ahead and prepares the way, grows upon me daily...sometimes it requires a long time early in the morning. I determine not to get out of bed until that mind set upon the Lord is settled.
==========
Oh, this thing of keeping in constant touch with God, of making Him the object of my thought and the companion of my conversations, is the most amazing thing I ever ran across. It is working. I cannot do it even half of a day- not yet, but I believe I shall be doing it some day for the entire day. It is a matter of acquiring a new habit of thought.
==========
This concentration upon God is strenuous, but everything else has ceased to be so. I think more clearly, I forget less frequently. Things which I did with a strain before, I now do easily and with no effort whatever. I worry about nothing, and lose no sleep. I walk on air a good part of the time. Even the mirror reveals a new light in my eyes and face. I no longer feel in a hurry about anything. Everything goes right. Each minute I meet calmly as though it were not important. Nothing can go wrong excepting one thing. That is that God may slip from my mind.
==========
The sense of being led by an unseen hand which takes mine, while another hand reaches ahead and prepares the way, grows upon me daily.
==========
In defense of my opening my soul and laying it bare to the public gaze in this fashion, I may say that it seems to me that we really seldom do anybody much good excepting as we share the deepest experiences of our souls in this way. It is not the fashion to tell your inmost thoughts, but there are many wrong fashions, and concealment of the best in us is wrong. I disapprove of the usual practice of talking ‘small talk’ whenever we meet, and holding a veil over our souls. If we are so impoverished that we have nothing to reveal but small talk, then we need to struggle for more richness of soul. As for me, I am convinced that this spiritual pilgrimage which I am making is infinitely worthwhile, the most important thing I know of to talk about. And talk I shall while there is anybody to listen.
==========
Our Unseen Friend becomes dearer, closer and more wonderful every day until at last we know Him as 'Jesus, lover of my soul,' not only in songs, but in blissful experiences. Doubts vanish, we are more sure of Him being with us than of anybody else. This warm, ardent friendship ripens rapidly until people see its glory shining in our eyes--and it keeps on growing richer and more radiant every month.
==========
We whisper 'God' or 'Jesus' or 'Christ' constantly as we glance at every person near us. We try to see double, as Christ does -- we see the person as he is and the person Christ longs to make of him. Remarkable things happen, until those in tune look around as though you spoke. Perhaps there is no finer ministry than just to be in meetings or crowds, whispering 'Jesus' and then helping people whenever you see an opportunity. The atmosphere of a room changes...
==========
The trouble with nearly everybody who prays is that he says “Amen” and runs away before God has a chance to reply. Listening to God is far more important than giving Him your ideas.
==========
Practicing the presence of God is not on trial. Countless saints have already proved it. Indeed, the spiritual giants of all ages have known it. The results of this effort begin to show clearly in a month. They grow rich after six months, and glorious after ten years. This is the secret of the great saints of all ages. 'Pray without ceasing,' said Paul, 'in everything make your wants known unto God.' 'As many as are led by the spirit of God, these are the sons of God.
==========
Prayer at its highest is a twoway conversation and for me the most important part is listening to Gods replies.
==========
There is no defeat unless one loses God, and then all is defeat, though it be housed in castles and buried in fortunes.
==========
I have tasted a thrill in fellowship with God which has made anything discordant with God disgusting. This afternoon the possession of God has caught me up with such sheer joy that I thought I never had known anything like it. God was so close and so amazingly lovely that I felt like melting all over with a strange blissful contentment. Having had this experience, which comes to me now several times a week, the thrill of filth repels me, for I know its power to drag me from God. And after an hour of close friendship with God my soul feels as clean as new-fallen snow.
==========
How I wish, wish, wish that a dozen or more persons who are trying to hold god endlessly in mind would all write their experiences so that each would know what the other was finding as a result! The results, I think, would astound the world. At least the results of my own effort are astounding to me… The very universe has come to seem so homey! I know only a little more about it than before, but that little is all! It is vibrant with the electric ecstasy of God! I know what it means to be ‘God intoxicated.
==========
Christ Jesus, we thank You that at last the nations begin to see that every unfortunate one is a neighbor. We see it, Lord; help us to do it. Save us from self-firstness–and begin in me. We pray in Your name.
==========
We ought to give ourselves up to God in things that are temporal as well as things that are spiritual. We should seek our satisfaction only in fulfilling His will. If He leads us into suffering or if He leads us into comfort, our satisfaction should still only be for the fulfilling of His will, for both suffering and comfort are the same to a soul truly resigned to Him.
==========
Come to the Lord, ask Him not to deliver you from this situation but ask Him for strength to bear this thing. Ask Him to give you a deep and strong love for Him. Ask Him to give you everything that would please Him. Ask Him to give you what He will and to do with you what He wishes as long as He pleases.
==========
The Lord knows best what is needful for us. What He does, He does for our good. If we really knew just how much He loves us, we would always be willing to receive anything from His hand. We would receive the bitter and the sweet without distinction. Anything, yes everything would please us just because it came from Him.
==========
This sense of being led by unseen hand which takes mine while another hand reaches ahead and prepares the way, grows upon me daily...sometimes it requires a long time early in the morning. I determine not to get out of bed until that mind set upon the Lord is settled.
==========
Oh, this thing of keeping in constant touch with God, of making Him the object of my thought and the companion of my conversations, is the most amazing thing I ever ran across. It is working. I cannot do it even half of a day- not yet, but I believe I shall be doing it some day for the entire day. It is a matter of acquiring a new habit of thought.
==========
This concentration upon God is strenuous, but everything else has ceased to be so. I think more clearly, I forget less frequently. Things which I did with a strain before, I now do easily and with no effort whatever. I worry about nothing, and lose no sleep. I walk on air a good part of the time. Even the mirror reveals a new light in my eyes and face. I no longer feel in a hurry about anything. Everything goes right. Each minute I meet calmly as though it were not important. Nothing can go wrong excepting one thing. That is that God may slip from my mind.
==========
The sense of being led by an unseen hand which takes mine, while another hand reaches ahead and prepares the way, grows upon me daily.
==========
In defense of my opening my soul and laying it bare to the public gaze in this fashion, I may say that it seems to me that we really seldom do anybody much good excepting as we share the deepest experiences of our souls in this way. It is not the fashion to tell your inmost thoughts, but there are many wrong fashions, and concealment of the best in us is wrong. I disapprove of the usual practice of talking ‘small talk’ whenever we meet, and holding a veil over our souls. If we are so impoverished that we have nothing to reveal but small talk, then we need to struggle for more richness of soul. As for me, I am convinced that this spiritual pilgrimage which I am making is infinitely worthwhile, the most important thing I know of to talk about. And talk I shall while there is anybody to listen.
==========
Our Unseen Friend becomes dearer, closer and more wonderful every day until at last we know Him as 'Jesus, lover of my soul,' not only in songs, but in blissful experiences. Doubts vanish, we are more sure of Him being with us than of anybody else. This warm, ardent friendship ripens rapidly until people see its glory shining in our eyes--and it keeps on growing richer and more radiant every month.
==========
We whisper 'God' or 'Jesus' or 'Christ' constantly as we glance at every person near us. We try to see double, as Christ does -- we see the person as he is and the person Christ longs to make of him. Remarkable things happen, until those in tune look around as though you spoke. Perhaps there is no finer ministry than just to be in meetings or crowds, whispering 'Jesus' and then helping people whenever you see an opportunity. The atmosphere of a room changes...
Friday, March 28, 2014
Even though World Vision hastily retreated from its outrageous decision to hire 'legally married' homosexuals, it is far from convincing the organization has truly repented from its action, other than for the sake of expediency.
Some writing about the reversal even use the term "legally married gay Christians" when talking about the issue; as if you can be in a homosexual relationship and be considered a Christian. That's like saying they're going to hire adulterer Christians or murderer Christians. It's nonsensical.
By the way, there is no such thing as a legally married homosexual in the eyes of Jesus Christ. The government or judges have no authority to make laws asserting that. Only God has made that determination, and marriage is only between one man and one women.
I"m not talking here about those who have sinned and repented and turned from their sins. I'm talking about those who continually live in sin and aren't challenged to turn away from their sin.
The idea that gays are the only people in history that self-identify as a sin, doesn't excuse their rebellion against Jesus Christ. The fact that World Vision drank the gay kool aid reveals it has been infiltrated by this evil, and it needs to be expunged from the organization, or Christians need to completely stop supporting it in any way.
So when World Hunger U.S. President Richard Stearns announced in Christianity Today that the reasoning for the decision was for cross-denominational unity, it shows that Stearns and the organization are clueless as to what constitutes unity in the body of Christ. Clue: it's not the acceptance of unrepentant sinners as workers.
Also, those so-called denominations that accept those living in homosexual sin, are no longer churches, not matter what the definition given by them. Jesus talked about removing lamp stands in the book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ, and those accepting practicing homosexuals into their leadership ranks, can no longer be considered a church as recognized by Jesus Christ.
Whoever the people were that made this decision by World Vision need to be booted out. World Vision advertises itself as a Christian organization, and so it must adhere to the Bible as its authority in all matters of life. Christians who give to these types of organizations demand and require it. This is especially true with homosexual sinners.
I will never give money to World Vision unless it publicly cleanses itself of these infiltrators, who obviously have been compromised in their faith. There is no longer any trust in its leadership, and those espousing these views must be removed, as they have forfeited their right to lead an organization alleging it represents Christ in order to extract money from believers wanting to help the poor.
Some may ask about the fact the organization reversed direction and repented of its actions. That's fine. But the point is what caused it to make the decision in the first place. This is something embedded in the agency that must be removed. That's the major issue at hand.
There are a lot of other Christian organizations that can be supported without the concern over whether or not it's going to capitulate to the gay agenda.
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