Ephesians 5
1 Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children
2 and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
3 But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God's holy people.
4 Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving.
5 For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a man is an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.[a]
6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God's wrath comes on those who are disobedient. 7 Therefore do not be partners with them.
8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light
9(for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth)
10 ...find out what pleases the Lord.
11 Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. 12 For it is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret.
13 But everything exposed by the light becomes visible, 14 for it is light that makes everything visible. This is why it is said:
"Wake up, O sleeper,
rise from the dead,
and Christ will shine on you."
15 Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise,
16 making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.
17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is.
18 Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.
19 Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord,
20 always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
21 Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.
Wives and Husbands
22 Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord.
23 For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, His body, of which He is the Savior.
24 Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything.
25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her
26 to make her holy, cleansing[b] her by the washing with water through the word,
27 and to present her to Himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.
28 In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself.
29 After all, no one ever hated his own body, but he feeds and cares for it, just as Christ does the church—
30 for we are members of His body.
31 "For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh."[c]
32 This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church. (Christ left His father and became united with us the church.)
33 However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Monday, December 14, 2009
Ephesians 4
Unity in the Body of Christ
1 As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. (We should live lives that are worthy of the calling God has called us to. Do not live a mediocre life but one that would make God proud & allow His calling to shine even more).
2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.
3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. (Where there is no peace-there is no unity)
4 There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to one hope when you were called—
5 One Lord (Jesus Christ), one faith, one baptism;
6 one God (our Father) and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
7 But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it. (Christ has given each one of us grace that He measured out to each one of us individually).
8This is why it[a] says:
"When He ascended on high,
He led captives in His train
and gave gifts to men."
[b] 9(What does "He ascended" mean except that He also descended to the lower, earthly regions[c]?
10 He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.)
11 It was He who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers,
12 to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming.
15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into Him who is the Head, that is, Christ.
16 From Him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.
Living as Children of Light
17 So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking.
18 They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts.
19 Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, with a continual lust for more.
20 You, however, did not come to know Christ that way.
21 Surely you heard of Him and were taught in Him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus.
22 You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires;
23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds;
24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.
25 Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body.
26 "In your anger do not sin"[d]: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27 and do not give the devil a foothold.
28 He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with his own hands, that he may have something to share with those in need.
29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.
30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.
32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
1 As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. (We should live lives that are worthy of the calling God has called us to. Do not live a mediocre life but one that would make God proud & allow His calling to shine even more).
2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.
3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. (Where there is no peace-there is no unity)
4 There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to one hope when you were called—
5 One Lord (Jesus Christ), one faith, one baptism;
6 one God (our Father) and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
7 But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it. (Christ has given each one of us grace that He measured out to each one of us individually).
8This is why it[a] says:
"When He ascended on high,
He led captives in His train
and gave gifts to men."
[b] 9(What does "He ascended" mean except that He also descended to the lower, earthly regions[c]?
10 He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.)
11 It was He who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers,
12 to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming.
15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into Him who is the Head, that is, Christ.
16 From Him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.
Living as Children of Light
17 So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking.
18 They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts.
19 Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, with a continual lust for more.
20 You, however, did not come to know Christ that way.
21 Surely you heard of Him and were taught in Him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus.
22 You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires;
23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds;
24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.
25 Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body.
26 "In your anger do not sin"[d]: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27 and do not give the devil a foothold.
28 He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with his own hands, that he may have something to share with those in need.
29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.
30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.
32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Ephesians 3-More Insight on Paul
Ephesians 3-Paul the Preacher to the Gentiles
Ephesians 3 lets us know more about who Paul was in Christ Jesus
vs 1 Paul was a prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of us Gentiles
2 Paul was allowed to adminster God's grace to us
3 So, the mystery was made known to Paul by revelation, as he has already written briefly (in chapters 1 and 2 and the book of Acts I think)
4 In reading this (letter), then, we will be able to understand Paul's insight into the mystery of Christ,
5 This mystery was not made known to men in other generations as it has now been revealed by the Spirit (because Jesus Christ had to come) to God's holy apostles and prophets.
6 This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus.****Amen :)
7 Paul became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God's grace given to him through the working of God's power.
8 Although Paul is less than the least of all God's people (that's how Paul saw himself), this grace was given to him: to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches (only God can reveal His Will to you) of Christ,
9 and to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things.
10 God's intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms,
11 according to God's eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord.
12 In Him and through faith in Him we may approach God with freedom and confidence. 13 Paul asks us then, not to be discouraged because of the suffering he went through for us, for it is our glory (his suffering).
A Prayer for the Ephesians/ How Paul Prayed
A) Reverence and Honor is given to God
14 I kneel before the Father,
15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth gets its true name.
B) Intercession
16 I pray that out of His glorious riches He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being,
17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith.
And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ,
19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
Closing Remarks, Praise and Honor
20 Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us,
21 to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.
Ephesians 3 lets us know more about who Paul was in Christ Jesus
vs 1 Paul was a prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of us Gentiles
2 Paul was allowed to adminster God's grace to us
3 So, the mystery was made known to Paul by revelation, as he has already written briefly (in chapters 1 and 2 and the book of Acts I think)
4 In reading this (letter), then, we will be able to understand Paul's insight into the mystery of Christ,
5 This mystery was not made known to men in other generations as it has now been revealed by the Spirit (because Jesus Christ had to come) to God's holy apostles and prophets.
6 This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus.****Amen :)
7 Paul became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God's grace given to him through the working of God's power.
8 Although Paul is less than the least of all God's people (that's how Paul saw himself), this grace was given to him: to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches (only God can reveal His Will to you) of Christ,
9 and to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things.
10 God's intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms,
11 according to God's eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord.
12 In Him and through faith in Him we may approach God with freedom and confidence. 13 Paul asks us then, not to be discouraged because of the suffering he went through for us, for it is our glory (his suffering).
A Prayer for the Ephesians/ How Paul Prayed
A) Reverence and Honor is given to God
14 I kneel before the Father,
15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth gets its true name.
B) Intercession
16 I pray that out of His glorious riches He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being,
17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith.
And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ,
19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
Closing Remarks, Praise and Honor
20 Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us,
21 to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Understanding Ephesians 2
1) We should not forget that we all were sinners and lost in our transgressions. Thus we should not forget this fact and look down on new Christians or people who still live according to the world.
vs 1 As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 3 All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature[a] and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath.
-So now that we know Christ we should no longer be held captive by gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and the desires and thoughs of the flesh. We need to constantly (each day or more) ask the Lord Jesus to renew our minds lest we go back to our sinful natures.
2) We should not be held captive by our guilty consciences because we stumble- no that is the trick of the enemy. Jesus makes us strong through our weaknesses because this shows us that we need him- however, this is not an excuse to continue sinning. That is why God did not just use anything or anyone to save us...no longer did He use the blood of animals but He used the blood of the one who was without sin- His only begotten son. The price of Jesus Christ is immeasurable that is how much God wants us reconciled back to Him- so there is nothing that we can do that is bigger than the blood of Jesus Christ. All our sins can be forgiven if we ask God. He sent His son to save us while we were sinners; He let His son that had no sins die for us who had/ have uncountable sins. Do not let Jesus' death be in vain come to the cross- you are never too far gone. Paul killed many Christians- he had the blood of many innocent people (that believed in Christ) on his hands- but God was able to forgive him and use him to spread the word and write a large chunk of the new testament.
vs 4 But because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. 6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with Him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7 in order that in the coming ages He might show the incomparable riches of His grace, expressed in His kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
-God loved us and continues to love us (even when we were/are dead in sins). It is only by His grace-His favor that we are saved. It was definately not up to us on our own or upto our works. We are created to do good works-that God predestinated for us to do.
11 Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called "uncircumcised" by those who call themselves "the circumcision" (that done in the body by the hands of men)— 12 remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ.
14 For He himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, 15 by abolishing in His flesh the law with its commandments and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace, 16 and in this one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. 17 He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. 18 For through Him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.
19 Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God's people and members of God's household, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. 21 In Him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. 22 And in Him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by His Spirit.
Amen
vs 1 As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 3 All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature[a] and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath.
-So now that we know Christ we should no longer be held captive by gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and the desires and thoughs of the flesh. We need to constantly (each day or more) ask the Lord Jesus to renew our minds lest we go back to our sinful natures.
2) We should not be held captive by our guilty consciences because we stumble- no that is the trick of the enemy. Jesus makes us strong through our weaknesses because this shows us that we need him- however, this is not an excuse to continue sinning. That is why God did not just use anything or anyone to save us...no longer did He use the blood of animals but He used the blood of the one who was without sin- His only begotten son. The price of Jesus Christ is immeasurable that is how much God wants us reconciled back to Him- so there is nothing that we can do that is bigger than the blood of Jesus Christ. All our sins can be forgiven if we ask God. He sent His son to save us while we were sinners; He let His son that had no sins die for us who had/ have uncountable sins. Do not let Jesus' death be in vain come to the cross- you are never too far gone. Paul killed many Christians- he had the blood of many innocent people (that believed in Christ) on his hands- but God was able to forgive him and use him to spread the word and write a large chunk of the new testament.
vs 4 But because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. 6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with Him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7 in order that in the coming ages He might show the incomparable riches of His grace, expressed in His kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
-God loved us and continues to love us (even when we were/are dead in sins). It is only by His grace-His favor that we are saved. It was definately not up to us on our own or upto our works. We are created to do good works-that God predestinated for us to do.
11 Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called "uncircumcised" by those who call themselves "the circumcision" (that done in the body by the hands of men)— 12 remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ.
14 For He himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, 15 by abolishing in His flesh the law with its commandments and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace, 16 and in this one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. 17 He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. 18 For through Him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.
19 Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God's people and members of God's household, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. 21 In Him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. 22 And in Him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by His Spirit.
Amen
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Background to Ephesians
Good evening,
God is definetly leading me to study Ephesians and Paul's writings. This morning both Joyce Meyers and "Creflo Dollar" spoke about Ephesians. Joyce Meyers in particular said we should pay attention to the way Paul prayed-apparently he never asked for any tangible physical things for either himself or others...so I'll explore all of this and learn about Ephesians & Paul's writings.
To get the background of Ephesians I'll begin in Acts.
Acts 18:18, Paul stayed on in Corinth for some time. Then he left the brothers and sailed for Syria, accompanied by Priscilla and Aquila. Before he sailed, he had his hair cut at Cenchrea because of a vow he had taken. 19 They arrived at Ephesus, where Paul left Priscilla and Aquilla. He himself went into the synagogue and reasoned with the Jews. 20 When they asked him to spend more time with them, he declined. 21 But as he left, he promised, "I'll come back if it is God's will." Then he set sail from Ephesus.
[Paul then went to Caesarea, Antioch and then throughout the region of Galatia and Phrygia strengthening all the disciples there...He then went back to Ephesus.
Acts 19:1...there he found some disciples 2 and asked them, "did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?"
They answered, "No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit."
3 So Paul asked, "Then what baptism did you receive?"
"John's baptism," they replied.
4 Paul said, "John's baptism was a baptism of repentance. He told the people to believe in the one coming after him, that is, in Jesus." 5 On hearing this, they were baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus. 6 When Paul placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied. 7 There were about twelve men in all.
8 Paul entered the synagogue and spoke boldly there for three months, arguing persuasively about the kingdom of God. 9 But some of them became obstinate; they refused to believe and publicly maligned the Way. So Paul left them. He took the disciples with him and had discussions daily in the lecture hall of Tyrannus. 10 This went on for two years, so that all the Jews and Greeks who lived in the province of Asia heard the word of the Lord.
11 God did extraordinary miracles through Paul, 12 so that even handkerchiefs and aprons that had touched him were taken to the sick and their illnesses were cured and the evil spirits left them. 13 Some Jews who went around driving out evil spiritis tried to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who were demon-possessed. They would say, "in the name of Jesus, whom Paul preaches, I command you to come out." 14 Seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were doing this. 15 One day the evil spirit answered them, "Jesus I know, and I know about Paul, but who are you? [what authority do u have to tell me to come out?] 16 Then the man who had the evil spirit jumped on them and overpowered them all. He gave them such a beating that they ran out of the house naked and bleeding. [they did not stand on the authority given to us by Christ Jesus].
17 When this became known to the Jews and Greeks living in Ephesus, the were all seized with fear, and the name of the Lord Jesus was held in high honor. 18 Many of those who believed now came and openly confessed their evil deeds. 19 A number who had practiced sorcery brought their scrolls together and burned them publicly. When they calculated the value of the scrolls, the total came to fifty thousand drachmas (a silver coin worth about a day's wages). 20 In this way the word of the Lord spread widely and grew in power.
21 After all this had happened, Paul decided to go to Jerusalem, passing through Macedonia and Achaia. "After I have been there," he said, "I must visit Rome also." 22 He sent two of his helpers Timothy and Erastus, to Macedonia, while he stayed in the province of Asia a little longer.
THE RIOT IN EPHESUS
23 About that time there arose a great disturbance about the Way. 24 A silversmith named Demetrius, who made silver shrines of Artemis, brought in no little business for the craftsmen. 25 He called them together, along with the workmen in related trades and said: "Men, you know we receive a good income from this business. 26 And you see and hear how this fellow Paul has convinced and led astray large numbers of people here in Ephesus and in practically the whole province of Asia. He says that man-made gods are no gods at all. 27 There is danger not only that out trade will lose its good name, but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis will be discredited, and the goddess herself, who is worshipped throughout the province of Asia and the world, will be robbed of her divine majesty.
28 When they heard this, they were furious and began shouting: "Great is Artemis of the Ephesians! 29 Soon the whole city was in an uproar. The people seized Gaius and Aristachus, Paul's traveling companions from Macedonia and rushed as one man into the theater. Paul wanted to appear before the crowd, but the disciples would not let him. 31 Even some of the officials of the province, friends of Paul, sent him a message begging him not to venture into the theater.
32 The assembly was in confusion: some were shouting one thing, some another. Most of the people did not even know why they were there. 33 The Jews pushed Alexander to the front and some of the crowd shouted instructions to him. He motioned for silence in order to make a defense before the people. 34 But when they realized he was a Jew, they all shouted in unison for about two hours: Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!
35 The city clerk quieted the crowd and said: "Men of Ephesus, doesn't all the world know that the city of Ephesus is the guardian of the temple of the great Artemis and of her image, which fell from heaven? 36 Therefore, since these facts are undeniable, you ought to be quiet and not do anything rash. 37 You have brought these men here, though they have neither robbed temples nor blasphemed our goddess. 38 If, then, Demetrius and his fellow craftsmen have a grievance against anybody, the courts are open and there are proconsuls. They can press charges. 39 If there is anything further you want to bring up, it must be settled in a legal assembly. 40 As it is, we are in danger of being charged with rioting because of today's events. In that case we would not be able to account for this commotion, since there is no reason for it. 41 After he had said this, he dismissed the assembly.
God is definetly leading me to study Ephesians and Paul's writings. This morning both Joyce Meyers and "Creflo Dollar" spoke about Ephesians. Joyce Meyers in particular said we should pay attention to the way Paul prayed-apparently he never asked for any tangible physical things for either himself or others...so I'll explore all of this and learn about Ephesians & Paul's writings.
To get the background of Ephesians I'll begin in Acts.
Acts 18:18, Paul stayed on in Corinth for some time. Then he left the brothers and sailed for Syria, accompanied by Priscilla and Aquila. Before he sailed, he had his hair cut at Cenchrea because of a vow he had taken. 19 They arrived at Ephesus, where Paul left Priscilla and Aquilla. He himself went into the synagogue and reasoned with the Jews. 20 When they asked him to spend more time with them, he declined. 21 But as he left, he promised, "I'll come back if it is God's will." Then he set sail from Ephesus.
[Paul then went to Caesarea, Antioch and then throughout the region of Galatia and Phrygia strengthening all the disciples there...He then went back to Ephesus.
Acts 19:1...there he found some disciples 2 and asked them, "did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?"
They answered, "No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit."
3 So Paul asked, "Then what baptism did you receive?"
"John's baptism," they replied.
4 Paul said, "John's baptism was a baptism of repentance. He told the people to believe in the one coming after him, that is, in Jesus." 5 On hearing this, they were baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus. 6 When Paul placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied. 7 There were about twelve men in all.
8 Paul entered the synagogue and spoke boldly there for three months, arguing persuasively about the kingdom of God. 9 But some of them became obstinate; they refused to believe and publicly maligned the Way. So Paul left them. He took the disciples with him and had discussions daily in the lecture hall of Tyrannus. 10 This went on for two years, so that all the Jews and Greeks who lived in the province of Asia heard the word of the Lord.
11 God did extraordinary miracles through Paul, 12 so that even handkerchiefs and aprons that had touched him were taken to the sick and their illnesses were cured and the evil spirits left them. 13 Some Jews who went around driving out evil spiritis tried to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who were demon-possessed. They would say, "in the name of Jesus, whom Paul preaches, I command you to come out." 14 Seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were doing this. 15 One day the evil spirit answered them, "Jesus I know, and I know about Paul, but who are you? [what authority do u have to tell me to come out?] 16 Then the man who had the evil spirit jumped on them and overpowered them all. He gave them such a beating that they ran out of the house naked and bleeding. [they did not stand on the authority given to us by Christ Jesus].
17 When this became known to the Jews and Greeks living in Ephesus, the were all seized with fear, and the name of the Lord Jesus was held in high honor. 18 Many of those who believed now came and openly confessed their evil deeds. 19 A number who had practiced sorcery brought their scrolls together and burned them publicly. When they calculated the value of the scrolls, the total came to fifty thousand drachmas (a silver coin worth about a day's wages). 20 In this way the word of the Lord spread widely and grew in power.
21 After all this had happened, Paul decided to go to Jerusalem, passing through Macedonia and Achaia. "After I have been there," he said, "I must visit Rome also." 22 He sent two of his helpers Timothy and Erastus, to Macedonia, while he stayed in the province of Asia a little longer.
THE RIOT IN EPHESUS
23 About that time there arose a great disturbance about the Way. 24 A silversmith named Demetrius, who made silver shrines of Artemis, brought in no little business for the craftsmen. 25 He called them together, along with the workmen in related trades and said: "Men, you know we receive a good income from this business. 26 And you see and hear how this fellow Paul has convinced and led astray large numbers of people here in Ephesus and in practically the whole province of Asia. He says that man-made gods are no gods at all. 27 There is danger not only that out trade will lose its good name, but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis will be discredited, and the goddess herself, who is worshipped throughout the province of Asia and the world, will be robbed of her divine majesty.
28 When they heard this, they were furious and began shouting: "Great is Artemis of the Ephesians! 29 Soon the whole city was in an uproar. The people seized Gaius and Aristachus, Paul's traveling companions from Macedonia and rushed as one man into the theater. Paul wanted to appear before the crowd, but the disciples would not let him. 31 Even some of the officials of the province, friends of Paul, sent him a message begging him not to venture into the theater.
32 The assembly was in confusion: some were shouting one thing, some another. Most of the people did not even know why they were there. 33 The Jews pushed Alexander to the front and some of the crowd shouted instructions to him. He motioned for silence in order to make a defense before the people. 34 But when they realized he was a Jew, they all shouted in unison for about two hours: Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!
35 The city clerk quieted the crowd and said: "Men of Ephesus, doesn't all the world know that the city of Ephesus is the guardian of the temple of the great Artemis and of her image, which fell from heaven? 36 Therefore, since these facts are undeniable, you ought to be quiet and not do anything rash. 37 You have brought these men here, though they have neither robbed temples nor blasphemed our goddess. 38 If, then, Demetrius and his fellow craftsmen have a grievance against anybody, the courts are open and there are proconsuls. They can press charges. 39 If there is anything further you want to bring up, it must be settled in a legal assembly. 40 As it is, we are in danger of being charged with rioting because of today's events. In that case we would not be able to account for this commotion, since there is no reason for it. 41 After he had said this, he dismissed the assembly.
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Conclusion of Ephesians 1
As we have already learned, Paul was sent to the Gentiles as Peter was sent to the Jews to proclaim the teachings of Christ Jesus.
From Paul we can learn quite a few things
A) We learn more about God
-vs 3 God the father of JC has blessed us in the heavenly realms/ places with every spiritual blessing in Christ. If we position ourselves in the heavenly places we will be able to obtain God's spiritual blessings.
-vs 4 God chose each and everyone of us before the creation of the world...but it doesn't stop there yes we are precious to God but He also called us to be holy and blameless in His sight.
-vs 5 God predestined us to be adopted as His sons through JC and no other way!!!!
-vs 11 God works out everything in conformity with the purpose of His Will.
-vs 22 God placed all things under JC' feet and appointed Him to be the head over everything.
B) We learn how to pray
-vs 17 Father may YOu give us the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that we may know You better.
-va 18 Father may You enlighten or flood our eyes with light so that we may know the hope to which You have called us, so that we may know the riches of Your glorious inheritance and so that we may know Your incomparably great power for us who believe. That means God's will not be great if you do not believe.
From Paul we can learn quite a few things
A) We learn more about God
-vs 3 God the father of JC has blessed us in the heavenly realms/ places with every spiritual blessing in Christ. If we position ourselves in the heavenly places we will be able to obtain God's spiritual blessings.
-vs 4 God chose each and everyone of us before the creation of the world...but it doesn't stop there yes we are precious to God but He also called us to be holy and blameless in His sight.
-vs 5 God predestined us to be adopted as His sons through JC and no other way!!!!
-vs 11 God works out everything in conformity with the purpose of His Will.
-vs 22 God placed all things under JC' feet and appointed Him to be the head over everything.
B) We learn how to pray
-vs 17 Father may YOu give us the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that we may know You better.
-va 18 Father may You enlighten or flood our eyes with light so that we may know the hope to which You have called us, so that we may know the riches of Your glorious inheritance and so that we may know Your incomparably great power for us who believe. That means God's will not be great if you do not believe.
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Ephesians 1:2
Paul an apostle of JC was appointed by (the will of) GOd.
Paul was writing to the saints in Ephesus- who were faithful in JC.
in just the opening Paul gave a powerful statement by sayn:
vs 2 " Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord JC."
-Grace means favour, kindness, God's forgiving mercy, gifts freely bestowed by God; as miracles, prophecy, tongues etc.
-To explain God's peace I'll turn to John 14:27 Amp version where JC is speakn: Peace I leave with you, My (own) peace I now give, not as the world gives do I give you {the world gives expecting sumtng in return/ with a motive}. Do not let your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. (Stop allowing yourselves to be agitated and disturbed; and do not permit yourselves to be fearful and intimidated and cowardly and unsettled).
Paul was writing to the saints in Ephesus- who were faithful in JC.
in just the opening Paul gave a powerful statement by sayn:
vs 2 " Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord JC."
-Grace means favour, kindness, God's forgiving mercy, gifts freely bestowed by God; as miracles, prophecy, tongues etc.
-To explain God's peace I'll turn to John 14:27 Amp version where JC is speakn: Peace I leave with you, My (own) peace I now give, not as the world gives do I give you {the world gives expecting sumtng in return/ with a motive}. Do not let your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. (Stop allowing yourselves to be agitated and disturbed; and do not permit yourselves to be fearful and intimidated and cowardly and unsettled).
Monday, November 2, 2009
The Reason for Paul
From Ephesians one to Galatians chp 1 & 2
Summary
1 Paul, an apostle- sent not from men nor by man but by Jesus Christ & God the Father, who raised JC from the dead.
11 Paul speakn to the Galatians....I want you to know, brothers, that the gospel I preached is not something that men made up. 12 I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it; rather, I received it by revelation from JC.
13 For you have heard of my previous way of life in Judaism, how intensely I persecuted the church of God and tried to destroy it. 14 I was advancing in Judaism beyond many Jews of my own age and was extremely zealous for the traditions of my fathers. 15 But when God, who set me apart from birth and called me by His grace, was pleased to reveal His Son in me so that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not consult any man, 17 nor did I go up to Jerusalem to see those who were apostles before I was, but I went immediately into Arabia and later returned to Damascus (where he first got transformed/born again).
18 Then after 3 years, I went up to Jerusalem to get acquainted with Peter and stayed with him fifteen days. 19 I saw none of the other apostles- only James, the Lord's brother. 20 I assure you before God that what I am writing you is no lie. 21 Later I went to Syria and Cilicia. 22 I was personally unknown to the churches of Judea that are in Christ. 23 They only heard the report: "The man who formerly persecuted us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy." 24 And they praised God because of me (Amen, God can use anyone of us regardless of our past to bring Him glory-the worse u were the better the testimony of transformation).
Paul Accepted by the Apostles-Chapter 2
Paul continues to write....14 years later I went up again to Jerusalem, this time with Barnabas. I took Titus along also. 2 I went in response to a revelation and set before them the gospel that I preach among the Gentiles. But I did this privately to those who seemed to be leaders, for fear that I was running or had run my race in vain. Amp: I went because it was specially and divinely revealed to me that I should go, and I put before them the Gospel which I preach among the Gentiles. However, I presented the matter privately before those of repute (for I wanted to make certain, by thus at first confining my communication to this private conference) that I was not running or had not run in vain (guarding against being discredited either in what I was planning to do or had already done)...we all feel insecure to declare God's message when we are not sure how it will be received-even Paul felt this way.
3 Amp contd...But all went well! even Titus, who was with me, was not compelled (as some had anticipated) to be circumcised, although he was a Greek. NIV 4 This matter arose because some falsse brothers had infiltrated our ranks to spy on the freedom we have in Christ Jesus and to make us slaves (bring us into bondage under the law of Moses). 5 We did not give in to them for a moment, so that the truth of the gospel might remain with you. (We need to have the confidence that if God called us to do something He will be with us every step of the way...Amen).
6 As for those who seemed to be important- whatever they were makes no difference to me; God does not judge by external appearance-those men added nothing to my message. 7 On the contrary, they saw that I had been entrusted with the task of preaching the gospel to the Gentiles, just as Peter had been to the Jews. 8 For God, who was at work in the ministry of Peter as an apostle to the Jews, was also at work in my ministry as an apostle to the Gentiles. 9 James, Peter and John, those reputed to be pillars, gave me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship when they recognized the grace given to me. They agreed that we should go to the Gentiles, and they to the Jews. 10 All they asked was that we should continue to remember the poor, the very thing I was eager to do.
Summary
1 Paul, an apostle- sent not from men nor by man but by Jesus Christ & God the Father, who raised JC from the dead.
11 Paul speakn to the Galatians....I want you to know, brothers, that the gospel I preached is not something that men made up. 12 I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it; rather, I received it by revelation from JC.
13 For you have heard of my previous way of life in Judaism, how intensely I persecuted the church of God and tried to destroy it. 14 I was advancing in Judaism beyond many Jews of my own age and was extremely zealous for the traditions of my fathers. 15 But when God, who set me apart from birth and called me by His grace, was pleased to reveal His Son in me so that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not consult any man, 17 nor did I go up to Jerusalem to see those who were apostles before I was, but I went immediately into Arabia and later returned to Damascus (where he first got transformed/born again).
18 Then after 3 years, I went up to Jerusalem to get acquainted with Peter and stayed with him fifteen days. 19 I saw none of the other apostles- only James, the Lord's brother. 20 I assure you before God that what I am writing you is no lie. 21 Later I went to Syria and Cilicia. 22 I was personally unknown to the churches of Judea that are in Christ. 23 They only heard the report: "The man who formerly persecuted us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy." 24 And they praised God because of me (Amen, God can use anyone of us regardless of our past to bring Him glory-the worse u were the better the testimony of transformation).
Paul Accepted by the Apostles-Chapter 2
Paul continues to write....14 years later I went up again to Jerusalem, this time with Barnabas. I took Titus along also. 2 I went in response to a revelation and set before them the gospel that I preach among the Gentiles. But I did this privately to those who seemed to be leaders, for fear that I was running or had run my race in vain. Amp: I went because it was specially and divinely revealed to me that I should go, and I put before them the Gospel which I preach among the Gentiles. However, I presented the matter privately before those of repute (for I wanted to make certain, by thus at first confining my communication to this private conference) that I was not running or had not run in vain (guarding against being discredited either in what I was planning to do or had already done)...we all feel insecure to declare God's message when we are not sure how it will be received-even Paul felt this way.
3 Amp contd...But all went well! even Titus, who was with me, was not compelled (as some had anticipated) to be circumcised, although he was a Greek. NIV 4 This matter arose because some falsse brothers had infiltrated our ranks to spy on the freedom we have in Christ Jesus and to make us slaves (bring us into bondage under the law of Moses). 5 We did not give in to them for a moment, so that the truth of the gospel might remain with you. (We need to have the confidence that if God called us to do something He will be with us every step of the way...Amen).
6 As for those who seemed to be important- whatever they were makes no difference to me; God does not judge by external appearance-those men added nothing to my message. 7 On the contrary, they saw that I had been entrusted with the task of preaching the gospel to the Gentiles, just as Peter had been to the Jews. 8 For God, who was at work in the ministry of Peter as an apostle to the Jews, was also at work in my ministry as an apostle to the Gentiles. 9 James, Peter and John, those reputed to be pillars, gave me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship when they recognized the grace given to me. They agreed that we should go to the Gentiles, and they to the Jews. 10 All they asked was that we should continue to remember the poor, the very thing I was eager to do.
Ephesians 1:1
Today we are taking a break from John and looking at Ephesians
Ephesians Chapter 1
verse 1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, to the saints in Ephesus, the faithful in Christ Jesus:
An apostle is a person sent by another; a messenger; It is, generally used to describe Jesus' disciples.
A little bio on Saul/ Paul
Saul (q.v.) was born about the same time as our Lord. His circumcision-name was Saul, and probably the name Paul was also given to him as a child to use in the Gentile world. "Saul" would be his Hebrew “home-name”. His home was Tarsus, the capital of Cilicia, a Roman province in the south-east of Asia Minor.
Tarsus was also home to a famous university. Here Saul spent his youth, enjoying the best education his native city. His father was a Pharisee, of the tribe of Benjamin, of pure and unmixed Jewish blood (Acts 23:6; Phil. 3:5).
We read of his sister and his sister's son (Acts 23:16), and of other relatives (Rom. 16:7, 11, 12). Though a Jew, his father was a Roman citizen. How he obtained this privilege we are not informed. "It might have been bought, or obtained by distinguished service to the state…we don’t know what matters is that Saul was born free-this was a great privilege in those days, and it was great use to Paul
It was decided that Saul should go to college and become a rabbi, that is, a minister, a teacher, and a lawyer all in one."
Saul finished the first part of his education and was sent at the age of 13 to the great Jewish school of sacred learning to learn the law. There he became a pupil of Rabbi Gamaliel, and he spent many years studying the scriptures.
Many years went by after school…. however, after the crucifixion of Jesus Saul found himself in Jerusalem, where there was a new group emerging the “Nazarenes (believers in Jesus Christ).
For some two years after Pentecost, Christianity was quietly spreading its influence-that Jesus was the Messiah- in Jerusalem. Opposition towards the Nazarenes was serious and Saul was one of the ring leaders (a member of the Sanhedrin-the Jewish Ruling Council).
Next, we all know the story of Saul’s revelation on the way to Damascus to persecute more Nazarenes. If not here is the story… As Paul and his companions rode on, suddenly at mid-day a brilliant light shone round them, and Saul fell to the ground in terror, a voice sounding in his ears, "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?" The risen Saviour was there, clothed in his glorified humanity. Saul asked, "Who are you, Lord?". "I am Jesus who you persecute" (Acts 9:5; 22:8; 26:15).
After this Saul changed his life and became a missionary of Jesus Christ…on his third missionary tour, he journeyed by land in the eastern parts of Asia Minor,to Ephesus, where he worked for at least three years. Ephesus was at the time a major city of the Mediterranean. It was a city of great wealth, and it had every kind of pleasure. This was a great opportunity for Saul to do effective work.
Ephesians Chapter 1
verse 1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, to the saints in Ephesus, the faithful in Christ Jesus:
An apostle is a person sent by another; a messenger; It is, generally used to describe Jesus' disciples.
A little bio on Saul/ Paul
Saul (q.v.) was born about the same time as our Lord. His circumcision-name was Saul, and probably the name Paul was also given to him as a child to use in the Gentile world. "Saul" would be his Hebrew “home-name”. His home was Tarsus, the capital of Cilicia, a Roman province in the south-east of Asia Minor.
Tarsus was also home to a famous university. Here Saul spent his youth, enjoying the best education his native city. His father was a Pharisee, of the tribe of Benjamin, of pure and unmixed Jewish blood (Acts 23:6; Phil. 3:5).
We read of his sister and his sister's son (Acts 23:16), and of other relatives (Rom. 16:7, 11, 12). Though a Jew, his father was a Roman citizen. How he obtained this privilege we are not informed. "It might have been bought, or obtained by distinguished service to the state…we don’t know what matters is that Saul was born free-this was a great privilege in those days, and it was great use to Paul
It was decided that Saul should go to college and become a rabbi, that is, a minister, a teacher, and a lawyer all in one."
Saul finished the first part of his education and was sent at the age of 13 to the great Jewish school of sacred learning to learn the law. There he became a pupil of Rabbi Gamaliel, and he spent many years studying the scriptures.
Many years went by after school…. however, after the crucifixion of Jesus Saul found himself in Jerusalem, where there was a new group emerging the “Nazarenes (believers in Jesus Christ).
For some two years after Pentecost, Christianity was quietly spreading its influence-that Jesus was the Messiah- in Jerusalem. Opposition towards the Nazarenes was serious and Saul was one of the ring leaders (a member of the Sanhedrin-the Jewish Ruling Council).
Next, we all know the story of Saul’s revelation on the way to Damascus to persecute more Nazarenes. If not here is the story… As Paul and his companions rode on, suddenly at mid-day a brilliant light shone round them, and Saul fell to the ground in terror, a voice sounding in his ears, "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?" The risen Saviour was there, clothed in his glorified humanity. Saul asked, "Who are you, Lord?". "I am Jesus who you persecute" (Acts 9:5; 22:8; 26:15).
After this Saul changed his life and became a missionary of Jesus Christ…on his third missionary tour, he journeyed by land in the eastern parts of Asia Minor,to Ephesus, where he worked for at least three years. Ephesus was at the time a major city of the Mediterranean. It was a city of great wealth, and it had every kind of pleasure. This was a great opportunity for Saul to do effective work.
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Jesus' First Disciples/Peter the Stone John 1:35-39
35 The next day (after the Spirit came down on Jesus) the *third day; John was there again (by the Jordan) with two of his disciples. 36 When John saw Jesus passing by, he said "look, the Lamb of God!"
37 When John's two disciples heard him say this, they followed Jesus. 38 Turning around Jesus saw them following and asked, "what do you want?" They said, "Rabbi (Teacher), where are you staying?"
39 "Come," He replied, "and you will see." {Even today Jesus is saying to us- come and you will see where I live}. So they went and saw where he was staying, and spent that day with Him. It was about the tenth hour. 40 Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, was one of the two who heard what John had said and who had followed Jesus. {who was the other one and what happened to him?}. 41 The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, "we have found the Messiah. 42 And he brought him to Jesus. {Andrew did this when he just met Jesus-how many of us run to tell our brothers and sisters, friends etc about Jesus even after knowing His goodness?} Jesus looked at him and said, you are Simon son of John or (Jona). You will be called Cephas (which when translated is Peter which means rock/stone). {Why did Jesus change Simon's name to Cephas/ Peter?}
Lets look at 1 Peter 2:4 and 5
4 As you come to Him, the living stone- rejected by men but chosen by God and precious to Him- 5 you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 6 For in scripture it says:
cornerstone
1 : a stone forming a part of a corner or angle in a wall; specifically : such a stone laid at a formal ceremony2 : a basic element: foundation
Amen- till next time
37 When John's two disciples heard him say this, they followed Jesus. 38 Turning around Jesus saw them following and asked, "what do you want?" They said, "Rabbi (Teacher), where are you staying?"
39 "Come," He replied, "and you will see." {Even today Jesus is saying to us- come and you will see where I live}. So they went and saw where he was staying, and spent that day with Him. It was about the tenth hour. 40 Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, was one of the two who heard what John had said and who had followed Jesus. {who was the other one and what happened to him?}. 41 The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, "we have found the Messiah. 42 And he brought him to Jesus. {Andrew did this when he just met Jesus-how many of us run to tell our brothers and sisters, friends etc about Jesus even after knowing His goodness?} Jesus looked at him and said, you are Simon son of John or (Jona). You will be called Cephas (which when translated is Peter which means rock/stone). {Why did Jesus change Simon's name to Cephas/ Peter?}
Lets look at 1 Peter 2:4 and 5
4 As you come to Him, the living stone- rejected by men but chosen by God and precious to Him- 5 you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 6 For in scripture it says:
"See, I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and precious cornerstone and the one who trusts in Him will never be put to shame."
7 Now to you who believe, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe,
"the stone the builders rejected has become the capstone (main cornerstone)
and
"a stone that causes men to stumble and a rock that makes them fall.
They stumble because they disobey the message- which is also what they were destined for.
9But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light. 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. 11 Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul. 12 Live such good lives among the pagans that though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day He visits us.
Other supporting scriptures about the symbol of a stone
Psalm 118:22 The stone the builders (the Pharisees) rejected has become the capstone.
Isaiah 28:16 So this is what the Sovereign Lord says: "See I lay a stone in Zion, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone for a sure foundation; the one who trusts will never be dismayed."
cornerstone
1 : a stone forming a part of a corner or angle in a wall; specifically : such a stone laid at a formal ceremony2 : a basic element: foundation
Amen- till next time
Jesus the Lamb of God- John 1:29-34
The next day (after John talked to the Pharisees by the Jordan) John saw Jesus coming toward him and John said, "Look, the lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!" He takes away the sin of everyone not just certain people.
30 This is the one I meant when I said, "A man comes after me who has surpassed me because He was before me." I myself did not know Him, but the reason I came baptizing with water was that He might be revealed to Israel.
32 Then John (the Baptist) gave this testimony: "I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on Him. 33 I would not have known Him, except that the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, "The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is He who will baptize with the Holy Spirit. 34 I have seen and I testify that this is the Son of God." {Since we previously learned that we are the Sons of God we know that we are co-heirs with Christ}.
30 This is the one I meant when I said, "A man comes after me who has surpassed me because He was before me." I myself did not know Him, but the reason I came baptizing with water was that He might be revealed to Israel.
32 Then John (the Baptist) gave this testimony: "I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on Him. 33 I would not have known Him, except that the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, "The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is He who will baptize with the Holy Spirit. 34 I have seen and I testify that this is the Son of God." {Since we previously learned that we are the Sons of God we know that we are co-heirs with Christ}.
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Children of God John 1:12
12 Yet to all who received Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God. 13 Children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God.
Prior to this was anyone called a child of God?
Genesis 1:26, then God said, Let us make man in our image, in our likeness (not like our child)
Genesis 2:16, To the woman He said; "I'll greatly increase your pains in childbearing; with pain you will give birth to children. Your desire will be for your husband and he will rule over you."
Genes 2:22 And the Lord God said, "the man has now become like one of us, knowing good and evil. He must not be allowed to reach out his hand and take from the tree of life.
From my brief research in the beginning man was not called a child of God....but I'll continue to research this.
Back to John 1:12 the KJV- But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the Sons of God, even to them that believe on His name,
Romans 8:14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. 15 For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the spirit of sonship/ adoption. And by Him we cry, "Abba Father". 16 The Spirit Himself testifies with our own spirit (assuring us) that we are God's children. 17 Now if we are children, than we are heirs- heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in His sufferings in order that we may also share in His glory.
Romans 9 (Amplified)
1 I am speaking the truth in Christ. I am not lying; my conscience (enlightened and prompted) by the Holy Spirit bearing witness with me. 2 That I have bitter grief and incessant anguish in my heart. 3 For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cutoff and banished from Christ for the sake of my brethren and instead of them, my natural kinsmen and my fellow countrymen.
4 For they are Israelites and to them belong God's adoption (as a nation) and the glorious presence (Shekinah). With them were the special covenants made, to them was the law given. 5 To them belong the patriachs and as far as His natural descent was concerned, from them is the Christ, who is exalted and supreme over all, God blessed forever! Amen. 6 However, it is not as though God's word has failed. For it is not everybody who is a descendant of Jacob (Israel) who belongs to (the true) Israel.
7 And they are not all the children of Abraham because they are by blood his descendants. No, (the promise was) your descendants will be called and counted through the line of Isaac (though Abraham had an older son). Just because you are related to a believer does not mean you are a child of God. You have to know Jesus for yourself. 8 That is to say, it is not the children of the body (of Abraham) who are made God's children, but it is the offspring to whom the promise applies that shall be counted (as Abraham's true) descendants.
9 For this is what the promise said, about this time (next year) will I return and Sarah shall have a son (Genesis 18:10). 10 And not only that, but this too: Rebecca conceived (two sons under exactly the same circumstances) by our forefather Isaac [whom the promise was made to]. 11 And the children were yet unborn and had so far done nothing either good or evil. Even so, in order to further carry out God's purpose of selection (election, choice) which depends not on works or what men can do, but on Him who calls (them), 12 it was said to her that the elder (son) should serve the younger (son) (Genesis 25:21-23).
13 As it is written Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated (Malachi 1:2,3) 14 what shall we conclude then? Is there injustice upon God's part? Certainly not!
15 For He says to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I'll have mercy and I'll have compassion on whom I'll have compassion. 16 So then (God's gift) is not a question of human will and human effort, but of God's mercy. (It depends not on one's own willingness nor on his strenous exertion as in running a race, but on God having mercy on him). 17 For the scripture says to Pharoah, I have raised you up for this very purpose of displaying my power in (dealing with) you, so that my name may be proclaimed the whole world over.
18 So then He has mercy on whomever He wills (chooses) and He hardens whomever He wills. 19 You will say to me, why then does He still find fault and blame us (for sinning)? For who can resist and withstand His will?
20 But who are you, a mere man to criticize and contradict and answer back to God? Will what is formed say to Him that formed it, why have you made me thus? 21 Has the potter no right over the clay, to make out of the same mass (lump) one vessel for beauty and distinction and honourable use, and another for menial or ignoble and dishonorable use? 22 What if God, although fully intending to show (the awfulness of) His wrath and to make known His power and authority, has tolerated with much patience the vessels of His mercy which He has prepared beforehand for glory, 24 Even including ourselves whom He has called, not only from among the Jews but also from among the Gentiles (heathen)?
25 Just as He says in Hosea, "Those who were not my people I'll call my people, they shall be called sons of the Living God." So whether or not we were intended to be God's people or not we can all be called sons of the Living God-do not let your circumstances deter you and fool you into thinking you are not a son of God.
27 And Isaiah calls out over Israel: Though the number of the sons of Israel "Jacob" be like the sand of the sea, only a small part of them will be saved!
1 John 2:29 If you know that He is righteous, you know that everyone who does what is right has been born of Him.
1 John 3:1-2 How Great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we sould be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world doesn't know us is that it didn't know him. 2 Dear friends, now we are children of God and what we will be has not yet been made known.
9 No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God's seed remains in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God. 10 This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: anyone who does not do what is right is not a child of God, nor is anyone who does not love his brother.
Prior to this was anyone called a child of God?
Genesis 1:26, then God said, Let us make man in our image, in our likeness (not like our child)
Genesis 2:16, To the woman He said; "I'll greatly increase your pains in childbearing; with pain you will give birth to children. Your desire will be for your husband and he will rule over you."
Genes 2:22 And the Lord God said, "the man has now become like one of us, knowing good and evil. He must not be allowed to reach out his hand and take from the tree of life.
From my brief research in the beginning man was not called a child of God....but I'll continue to research this.
Back to John 1:12 the KJV- But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the Sons of God, even to them that believe on His name,
Romans 8:14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. 15 For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the spirit of sonship/ adoption. And by Him we cry, "Abba Father". 16 The Spirit Himself testifies with our own spirit (assuring us) that we are God's children. 17 Now if we are children, than we are heirs- heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in His sufferings in order that we may also share in His glory.
Romans 9 (Amplified)
1 I am speaking the truth in Christ. I am not lying; my conscience (enlightened and prompted) by the Holy Spirit bearing witness with me. 2 That I have bitter grief and incessant anguish in my heart. 3 For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cutoff and banished from Christ for the sake of my brethren and instead of them, my natural kinsmen and my fellow countrymen.
4 For they are Israelites and to them belong God's adoption (as a nation) and the glorious presence (Shekinah). With them were the special covenants made, to them was the law given. 5 To them belong the patriachs and as far as His natural descent was concerned, from them is the Christ, who is exalted and supreme over all, God blessed forever! Amen. 6 However, it is not as though God's word has failed. For it is not everybody who is a descendant of Jacob (Israel) who belongs to (the true) Israel.
7 And they are not all the children of Abraham because they are by blood his descendants. No, (the promise was) your descendants will be called and counted through the line of Isaac (though Abraham had an older son). Just because you are related to a believer does not mean you are a child of God. You have to know Jesus for yourself. 8 That is to say, it is not the children of the body (of Abraham) who are made God's children, but it is the offspring to whom the promise applies that shall be counted (as Abraham's true) descendants.
9 For this is what the promise said, about this time (next year) will I return and Sarah shall have a son (Genesis 18:10). 10 And not only that, but this too: Rebecca conceived (two sons under exactly the same circumstances) by our forefather Isaac [whom the promise was made to]. 11 And the children were yet unborn and had so far done nothing either good or evil. Even so, in order to further carry out God's purpose of selection (election, choice) which depends not on works or what men can do, but on Him who calls (them), 12 it was said to her that the elder (son) should serve the younger (son) (Genesis 25:21-23).
13 As it is written Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated (Malachi 1:2,3) 14 what shall we conclude then? Is there injustice upon God's part? Certainly not!
15 For He says to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I'll have mercy and I'll have compassion on whom I'll have compassion. 16 So then (God's gift) is not a question of human will and human effort, but of God's mercy. (It depends not on one's own willingness nor on his strenous exertion as in running a race, but on God having mercy on him). 17 For the scripture says to Pharoah, I have raised you up for this very purpose of displaying my power in (dealing with) you, so that my name may be proclaimed the whole world over.
18 So then He has mercy on whomever He wills (chooses) and He hardens whomever He wills. 19 You will say to me, why then does He still find fault and blame us (for sinning)? For who can resist and withstand His will?
20 But who are you, a mere man to criticize and contradict and answer back to God? Will what is formed say to Him that formed it, why have you made me thus? 21 Has the potter no right over the clay, to make out of the same mass (lump) one vessel for beauty and distinction and honourable use, and another for menial or ignoble and dishonorable use? 22 What if God, although fully intending to show (the awfulness of) His wrath and to make known His power and authority, has tolerated with much patience the vessels of His mercy which He has prepared beforehand for glory, 24 Even including ourselves whom He has called, not only from among the Jews but also from among the Gentiles (heathen)?
25 Just as He says in Hosea, "Those who were not my people I'll call my people, they shall be called sons of the Living God." So whether or not we were intended to be God's people or not we can all be called sons of the Living God-do not let your circumstances deter you and fool you into thinking you are not a son of God.
27 And Isaiah calls out over Israel: Though the number of the sons of Israel "Jacob" be like the sand of the sea, only a small part of them will be saved!
1 John 2:29 If you know that He is righteous, you know that everyone who does what is right has been born of Him.
1 John 3:1-2 How Great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we sould be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world doesn't know us is that it didn't know him. 2 Dear friends, now we are children of God and what we will be has not yet been made known.
9 No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God's seed remains in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God. 10 This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: anyone who does not do what is right is not a child of God, nor is anyone who does not love his brother.
Monday, October 19, 2009
Is John Elijah? Why are the Jews still Waiting for Elijah to Come?
Vs 6 There came a man who was sent from God; his name was John. 7 He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all men might believe. 8 He himself was not the light. 9 The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world. 19 Now this was John's testimony when the Jews of Jerusalem sent priests and levites to ask him who he was. 20 He did not fail to confess, but confessed freely, "I am not the Christ." 21 They asked him, "then who are you? Are you Elijah?"
Why did the Jews ask if he was Elijah?
The answer can be found in Malachi 4:5. It's important or interesting to point out that this is the last verse in the old testament- this is where the Jews stop in their faith. It says, see I'll send you the prophet Elijah before that great and dreadful day of the Lord comes. He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and the hearts of the children to their fathers; or else I will come and strike the land with a curse. (So the Jews are still waiting for Elijah).
*Side mark- notice the importance of Fathers!!
Back to John 1:21
"Are you Elijah?"
He said, "I am not."
"Are you the prophet?"
He answered, "no"
22 who are you? Give us an answer to take back to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?
23 John replied in the words of Isaiah the Prophet, "I am the voice of one calling in the desert, 'make straight the way for the Lord.' Isaiah 40:3.
More support on John being Elijah
Luke 1: 11-17
"Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. 12 When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear. 13 But the angel said to him: "Do not be afraid, Zechariah: your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son and you are to give him the name John (God is favorable). He will be a joy and delight to you and many will rejoice because of his birth, 15 for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is never to take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even from birth.
16 Many of the people of Israel will he bring back to the Lord their God. 17 And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous- to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.
18 Zechariah asked the angel, "How can I be sure of this?" He doubted so he was made mute. Zechariah probably doubted because all the Jews were waiting for this Elijah to come and he could not fathom that God would choose him and his wife to have a child that goes before the Lord- goes to show God can use any of us for Great things!!
Additional support for John being Elijah.
Matthew 11:7-19
7 As John's disciples were leaving, Jesus began to speak to the crowd about John: What did you go out into the desert to see? A reed swayed by the wind? 8 If not, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? There are palaces for that. A prophet? Yes, I tell you and more than a prophet. 10 This is the one about whom it is written:
"I'll send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you."
Malachi 3:1 "I tell you the truth: Among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist. 13 For all the Prophets and the law prophesied until John. 14 And if you are willing to accept it, he is the Elijah who was to come. 15 He who has ears, let him hear.
*Interesting fact vs 18. For John came neither eating nor drinking and they say, "He has a demon." 19 The Son of Man came eating and drinking and they say, "Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners. But wisdom is proved right by her actions. People will always talk but if you are wise you will prove it by your actions.
Why did the Jews ask if he was Elijah?
The answer can be found in Malachi 4:5. It's important or interesting to point out that this is the last verse in the old testament- this is where the Jews stop in their faith. It says, see I'll send you the prophet Elijah before that great and dreadful day of the Lord comes. He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and the hearts of the children to their fathers; or else I will come and strike the land with a curse. (So the Jews are still waiting for Elijah).
*Side mark- notice the importance of Fathers!!
Back to John 1:21
"Are you Elijah?"
He said, "I am not."
"Are you the prophet?"
He answered, "no"
22 who are you? Give us an answer to take back to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?
23 John replied in the words of Isaiah the Prophet, "I am the voice of one calling in the desert, 'make straight the way for the Lord.' Isaiah 40:3.
More support on John being Elijah
Luke 1: 11-17
"Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. 12 When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear. 13 But the angel said to him: "Do not be afraid, Zechariah: your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son and you are to give him the name John (God is favorable). He will be a joy and delight to you and many will rejoice because of his birth, 15 for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is never to take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even from birth.
16 Many of the people of Israel will he bring back to the Lord their God. 17 And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous- to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.
18 Zechariah asked the angel, "How can I be sure of this?" He doubted so he was made mute. Zechariah probably doubted because all the Jews were waiting for this Elijah to come and he could not fathom that God would choose him and his wife to have a child that goes before the Lord- goes to show God can use any of us for Great things!!
Additional support for John being Elijah.
Matthew 11:7-19
7 As John's disciples were leaving, Jesus began to speak to the crowd about John: What did you go out into the desert to see? A reed swayed by the wind? 8 If not, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? There are palaces for that. A prophet? Yes, I tell you and more than a prophet. 10 This is the one about whom it is written:
"I'll send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you."
Malachi 3:1 "I tell you the truth: Among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist. 13 For all the Prophets and the law prophesied until John. 14 And if you are willing to accept it, he is the Elijah who was to come. 15 He who has ears, let him hear.
*Interesting fact vs 18. For John came neither eating nor drinking and they say, "He has a demon." 19 The Son of Man came eating and drinking and they say, "Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners. But wisdom is proved right by her actions. People will always talk but if you are wise you will prove it by your actions.
Striving for Excellence!!!!! More insight on John 1:3
John 1:3 Through Him all things were made; without Him nothing was made that has been made. Amplified: All things were made and came into existence through Him; and without Him was not even one thing made that has come into being. My version: There is nothing on this earth that exists without Jesus creating it!! This is very powerful because it shows that everything on this earth and everyone on this earth regardless of their title was created by Jesus including ourselves. If I believe that Jesus Christ created everything then I must believe that He has authority over everything since He created it.
I will pose a question to you; do we actually live each day as though we are sons and daughters of the one who created everything? Do we live our lives like we serve the one who has authority over all things and all people.
In fact there is scripture that supports this thought process- Matthew 11:27a “All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal Him.
Matthew 28:18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
Now that we possess this knowledge what are we to do with it? Lets go back to Matthew 28:18-20 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always to the very end of the age.” God is calling us to do this in all aspects of our lives.
Romans 12:2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is- His good, pleasing and perfect will.
John 15:19 If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world.
John 14:12 I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. 13 And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father.
Sons and daughters of the most high take your positions!!!!
So as we start planning for another year- lets strive for excellence. Let us cause Jesus’ light to shine fully in each one of us.
I will pose a question to you; do we actually live each day as though we are sons and daughters of the one who created everything? Do we live our lives like we serve the one who has authority over all things and all people.
In fact there is scripture that supports this thought process- Matthew 11:27a “All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal Him.
Matthew 28:18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
Now that we possess this knowledge what are we to do with it? Lets go back to Matthew 28:18-20 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always to the very end of the age.” God is calling us to do this in all aspects of our lives.
Romans 12:2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is- His good, pleasing and perfect will.
John 15:19 If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world.
John 14:12 I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. 13 And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father.
Sons and daughters of the most high take your positions!!!!
So as we start planning for another year- lets strive for excellence. Let us cause Jesus’ light to shine fully in each one of us.
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Jesus is Life- without Him nothing would exist!!!
The book of John lets us know the attributes of Jesus Christ.
We continue from John 1:4
John 1:4 In Him was life and that life was the light of men. John 5:26 for as the Father has life in Himself, so He has granted the Son to have life in Himself. John 5:39 You diligently study the scriptures because you think that by them you possess eternal life. These are the scriptures that testify about me, yet you refuse to come to me to have life. John 11:25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies.” John 12:50 “I know that His command leads to eternal life. So whatever I say is just what the Father has told me to say.”
Jesus Christ, who is the Word of God and who is also God; is life and light to men. Jesus Christ is light that shines in darkness; however, our deeds, our distractions etc dull His light. When light comes in darkness is supposed to be removed; but we still have darkness because we do not understand the light.
Vs 6-7. God sent John as a witness to testify of the light; Christ Jesus so that we all might believe in the light, for the light was coming. Vs 10 Jesus was now in the world and though the world was made through Him, the world {we} didn’t and still don’t recognize Him. He came to that which was His own, but His own didn’t receive Him. Our earthly parents gave birth to us but sometimes we act like we don’t recognize them or even receive them. {Christians do we really behave like this world was created by Jesus- if we did we would have more confidence in facing issues and would have no heartaches because Jesus overcame the world and left us His peace}.
Vs 3. Through Jesus all things were made. If I bake a cake and people eat it I want to hear thanks, great job etc. But what about the person that created everything- how much more thanks does He deserve/ require? That’s why there is no limit to thanking God because He has done soooo much for us already and He still does a lot for us. How come I can use the air, wake up every morning and not say thank you; not acknowledge Him in anyway. At church I find myself getting stuck why they say thank God. I should be able to thank Him very easily because everything that exists was created through Jesus Christ- there is nothing on this earth that exists without Jesus creating it!
My parents, my parent’s education, my waking up, the air I breath, the flour to make the cakes i bake and take credit for; the talent to make the cakes and the ability to do everything I do are all a gift from God. I did not get them because of my personality, beauty or behaviors. Instead I got them because God chose me- he chose to give me all these attributes to use them to serve Him. Nothing that was created including me was made without Christ Jesus. I need to stop taking things like my beauty, studiousness, etc for granted and thinking they are of my own doing instead I will thank God for each one of them
We continue from John 1:4
John 1:4 In Him was life and that life was the light of men. John 5:26 for as the Father has life in Himself, so He has granted the Son to have life in Himself. John 5:39 You diligently study the scriptures because you think that by them you possess eternal life. These are the scriptures that testify about me, yet you refuse to come to me to have life. John 11:25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies.” John 12:50 “I know that His command leads to eternal life. So whatever I say is just what the Father has told me to say.”
Jesus Christ, who is the Word of God and who is also God; is life and light to men. Jesus Christ is light that shines in darkness; however, our deeds, our distractions etc dull His light. When light comes in darkness is supposed to be removed; but we still have darkness because we do not understand the light.
Vs 6-7. God sent John as a witness to testify of the light; Christ Jesus so that we all might believe in the light, for the light was coming. Vs 10 Jesus was now in the world and though the world was made through Him, the world {we} didn’t and still don’t recognize Him. He came to that which was His own, but His own didn’t receive Him. Our earthly parents gave birth to us but sometimes we act like we don’t recognize them or even receive them. {Christians do we really behave like this world was created by Jesus- if we did we would have more confidence in facing issues and would have no heartaches because Jesus overcame the world and left us His peace}.
Vs 3. Through Jesus all things were made. If I bake a cake and people eat it I want to hear thanks, great job etc. But what about the person that created everything- how much more thanks does He deserve/ require? That’s why there is no limit to thanking God because He has done soooo much for us already and He still does a lot for us. How come I can use the air, wake up every morning and not say thank you; not acknowledge Him in anyway. At church I find myself getting stuck why they say thank God. I should be able to thank Him very easily because everything that exists was created through Jesus Christ- there is nothing on this earth that exists without Jesus creating it!
My parents, my parent’s education, my waking up, the air I breath, the flour to make the cakes i bake and take credit for; the talent to make the cakes and the ability to do everything I do are all a gift from God. I did not get them because of my personality, beauty or behaviors. Instead I got them because God chose me- he chose to give me all these attributes to use them to serve Him. Nothing that was created including me was made without Christ Jesus. I need to stop taking things like my beauty, studiousness, etc for granted and thinking they are of my own doing instead I will thank God for each one of them
Monday, October 12, 2009
John 1 The Word Became Flesh
1 In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. What is the Word of God- scripture or a person- Jesus Christ?
According to BibleGateway.com dictionaries: "the Word" is one of the titles of our Lord, found only in the writings of John (John 1:1-14; 1 John 1:1, Revelation 19:13). As such, Christ is the revealer of God. His office is to make God known. So thus far we know that Jesus Christ is the Word. Jesus Christ was there in the beginnig; He was with God and He is God.
Lets look at the individual scriptures listed above to see if we can get more understanding on the Word:
John 1:3,4,14. Vs 3 Through Him all things were made; without Him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In Him was life. 14 The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. Confirmation that Jesu is the Word. The Word was Him in Spirit).
1 John 1:1 Amplified.
We are writing about the Word of life (in) Him who existed from the beginning, whom we have heard, whom we have seen with our (own) eyes, whom we have gazed upon (for ourselves) and have touched with our (own) hands. Jesus Christ.
Revelation 19:13
He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood and His name is the Word of God. Jesus Christ.
According to BibleGateway.com dictionaries: "the Word" is one of the titles of our Lord, found only in the writings of John (John 1:1-14; 1 John 1:1, Revelation 19:13). As such, Christ is the revealer of God. His office is to make God known. So thus far we know that Jesus Christ is the Word. Jesus Christ was there in the beginnig; He was with God and He is God.
Lets look at the individual scriptures listed above to see if we can get more understanding on the Word:
John 1:3,4,14. Vs 3 Through Him all things were made; without Him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In Him was life. 14 The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. Confirmation that Jesu is the Word. The Word was Him in Spirit).
1 John 1:1 Amplified.
We are writing about the Word of life (in) Him who existed from the beginning, whom we have heard, whom we have seen with our (own) eyes, whom we have gazed upon (for ourselves) and have touched with our (own) hands. Jesus Christ.
Revelation 19:13
He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood and His name is the Word of God. Jesus Christ.
Saturday, June 20, 2009
Preliminaries about the book of John
The book of John was written by the Apostle John (not John the Baptist). He was one of the sons of Zebedee and Salome and was born at Bethsaida. His father was apparently a man of some wealth. He was doubtlessly trained in all that constituted the ordinary education of Jewish youth. When he grew up he followed the occupation of a fisherman on the lake of Galilee. When John the Baptist began his ministry in the wilderness of Judea, John with many others, gathered round him and were deeply influenced by his teaching.
There John heard the announcement, "Behold the Lamb of God," and forthwith on the invitation of Jesus, became a disciple and ranked among his followers for a time. He and his brother then returned to their former avocation, for how long is uncertain.
Jesus again called them and now they left all and permanently attached themselves to the company of His disciples. He became one of the innermost circle. He was the disciple whom Jesus loved. In zeal and intensity of character he was a "Boanerges" (Mark 3:17) Jesus called them "sons of thunder." At the betrayal he and Peter follow Christ afar off. At the trial he follows Christ into the council chamber and thence to the praetorium (judgement hall of the governor's palace) and to the place of crucifixion. To him and Peter, Mary first conveys tidings of the resurrection and they are the first to go to see what her strange words mean.
After the resurrection he and Peter again return to the sea of Galilee, where the Lord reveals himself to them. Peter and John were frequently found together. John remained apparently in Jerusalem as the leader of the church there. His subsequent history is unrecorded. He was not there, however, at the time of Paul's last visit. He appears to have retired to Ephesus, but at what time is unknown. The seven churches of Asia were the objects of his special care. He suffered under persecution and was banished to Patmos Island; whence he again returned to Ephesus, where he died, probably about A.D 98.
There John heard the announcement, "Behold the Lamb of God," and forthwith on the invitation of Jesus, became a disciple and ranked among his followers for a time. He and his brother then returned to their former avocation, for how long is uncertain.
Jesus again called them and now they left all and permanently attached themselves to the company of His disciples. He became one of the innermost circle. He was the disciple whom Jesus loved. In zeal and intensity of character he was a "Boanerges" (Mark 3:17) Jesus called them "sons of thunder." At the betrayal he and Peter follow Christ afar off. At the trial he follows Christ into the council chamber and thence to the praetorium (judgement hall of the governor's palace) and to the place of crucifixion. To him and Peter, Mary first conveys tidings of the resurrection and they are the first to go to see what her strange words mean.
After the resurrection he and Peter again return to the sea of Galilee, where the Lord reveals himself to them. Peter and John were frequently found together. John remained apparently in Jerusalem as the leader of the church there. His subsequent history is unrecorded. He was not there, however, at the time of Paul's last visit. He appears to have retired to Ephesus, but at what time is unknown. The seven churches of Asia were the objects of his special care. He suffered under persecution and was banished to Patmos Island; whence he again returned to Ephesus, where he died, probably about A.D 98.
Friday, June 12, 2009
Wine
Matthew 11:18; For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, He has a demon. 19 The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners. But wisdom is proved right by her actions.
John 2:1; On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus' mother was there, 2 and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. 3 When the wine was gone, Jesus' mother said to him, "They have no more wine." 4 Dear woman, why do you involve me? Jesus replied. My time has not yet come. What was Jesus talking about? What this his response to Mary in regards to providing more wine or was it a bigger issue?
John 2:5 His mother said to the servants, "Do whatever he tells you." {side bar, we need to be like Mary-tell Jesus our problems and then afterwards talk and walk like we are expecting an answer from Him}.
John 2:6 Nearby stood six stone water jars, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing, each holding from twenty to thirty gallons. 7 Jesus said to the servants, "Fill the jars with water", so they filled them to the brim. Then he told them, "Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet."
John 2:9 They did so, and the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine. He did not realize where it had come from, though the servants who had drawn the water knew. Then he called the bridegroom aside 10 and said, "Everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink; but you have saved the best till now."
John 2: 11 This, the first of his miraculous signs, Jesus performed at Cana in Galilee. He thus revealed his glory, and his disciples put their faith in him. Amplified version states This, the first of His signs (miracles, wonderworks), Jesus performed in Cana of Galilee, and manifested His glory (by it He displayed His greatness and His power openly) and His disciples believed in Him.
All scripture is breathed by God and is useful for teaching thus I know it is not a coincident that Jesus's first miracle was turning water into wine. When He performed this miracle in Galilee His glory was manifested. Let's continue from here but keep this in mind.
THE CRUCIFIXION OF JESUS
John 13:1 It was just before the Passover Feast. Jesus knew that the time had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, He now showed them the full extent of His love.
John 17:1 After Jesus said this, He looked toward heaven and prayed: "Father, the time has come. Glorify Your son, that Your son may glorify You. 4 I have brought You glory on earth by completing the work You gave me to do. 5 And now, Father, glorify me in Your presence with the glory I had with You before the world.
John 19:28; Later, knowing that all was now completed and so that the scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, " I am thirsty." 29 A jar of wine vinegar was there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant and lifted it to Jesus' lips. 30 When he had received the drink Jesus said, "it is finished." With that, he bowed His head and gave up His Spirit.
Remember at Jesus' first miracle He stated that His time had not yet come- it had not yet come because He had not yet glorified the Father. So He was not talking to Mary because we saw that in John 2:7-8 He took care of the problem. Also, remember the statement the Master of the banquet said "everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink; {In John chapter 2 Jesus revealed His glory with the choicest wine and in John 19 his earthly life ended with a bitter wine vinegar}
but you have saved the best till now {At first God sent fellow men to us but He saved His best-His one and only begotten son- till now.
Monday, April 20, 2009
The Power of God
Prayer on Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."
What is the Power of God? Romans 1:16 "I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.
Therefore the power of God is the gospel, the good news (Amplified) and the word of God.
So how is it that the words of the Bible are the power of God? Sometimes I read the Bible and I do not feel like I am connecting with God's Power? I feel contrary to Psalm 119:130 "The entrance and unfolding of Your words give light". If I truly read God's words, they should penetrate through my heart. I have to understand His words for them to impact my life. If I read the Bible regularly but gain nothing from it I am doing something wrong. I have to assess my study methods and make some changes. This is because from 1 Timothy 3:16 "All scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness..." This means that every book in the Bible, every chapter, every verse, every sentence and even every word is useful. Additionally 2 Peter 1:20-21 "Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet's own interpretation. 21 For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit."
So now that we know what the power of God is, the next question is how do we obtain it? Acts 1:8 "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. The Holy Spirit is the one who gives us God's power! Additionally, Luke 4:14 illustrates this point "Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit and news about him spread through the whole countryside.
At this point you may be saying that ok I have the Power of God within me or you may be saying I now understand what the power of God is and how I get it but what next? Well here is what the Bible says you must do if you have the power of God residing in you: Luke 4:18-19 "The Spirit of the Lord is on me,
because he has anointed me
to preach good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the
prisoners
and recovery of sight for the blind,
to release the oppressed,
19 to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor."
-I think the problem with most of us is that we take God's word too literal, instead we need to pray everytime we read His word and ask for wisdom and understanding. For illustrative purposes I will discuss the first part of the verse above. The Spirit of the Lord is on me ...to preach good news to the poor. Poor means lacking resources, most of the time when we hear the word poor we immediately think of people lacking financial resources. However, in this instance poor means spiritually poor. So instead of us going out there to try and preach to the Homeless solely, it means that we should preach to our spouses, best friends, siblings, co-workers etc. We should preach to them just like someone preached to us to make us believers.
Now in terms of preaching, we also have to ask God for discernment, because preaching does not always mean that we should tote our bibles and throw scripture after scripture in peoples faces. Sometimes it just means that we should be the shoulder for our friends to cry on and our presence will make all the difference and let them know that there is something different about us. Our life styles and the way we conduct ourselves should reflect God's light. The way we approah various situations in our lives should be attractive to others and make them want to find out about the God we serve.
In conclusion, my prayer is that each and every day of our lives we will walk in the power of God by reading and understanding His word and that we will go out and preach His word to the Spiritually poor. Amen.
What is the Power of God? Romans 1:16 "I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.
Therefore the power of God is the gospel, the good news (Amplified) and the word of God.
So how is it that the words of the Bible are the power of God? Sometimes I read the Bible and I do not feel like I am connecting with God's Power? I feel contrary to Psalm 119:130 "The entrance and unfolding of Your words give light". If I truly read God's words, they should penetrate through my heart. I have to understand His words for them to impact my life. If I read the Bible regularly but gain nothing from it I am doing something wrong. I have to assess my study methods and make some changes. This is because from 1 Timothy 3:16 "All scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness..." This means that every book in the Bible, every chapter, every verse, every sentence and even every word is useful. Additionally 2 Peter 1:20-21 "Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet's own interpretation. 21 For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit."
So now that we know what the power of God is, the next question is how do we obtain it? Acts 1:8 "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. The Holy Spirit is the one who gives us God's power! Additionally, Luke 4:14 illustrates this point "Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit and news about him spread through the whole countryside.
At this point you may be saying that ok I have the Power of God within me or you may be saying I now understand what the power of God is and how I get it but what next? Well here is what the Bible says you must do if you have the power of God residing in you: Luke 4:18-19 "The Spirit of the Lord is on me,
because he has anointed me
to preach good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the
prisoners
and recovery of sight for the blind,
to release the oppressed,
19 to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor."
-I think the problem with most of us is that we take God's word too literal, instead we need to pray everytime we read His word and ask for wisdom and understanding. For illustrative purposes I will discuss the first part of the verse above. The Spirit of the Lord is on me ...to preach good news to the poor. Poor means lacking resources, most of the time when we hear the word poor we immediately think of people lacking financial resources. However, in this instance poor means spiritually poor. So instead of us going out there to try and preach to the Homeless solely, it means that we should preach to our spouses, best friends, siblings, co-workers etc. We should preach to them just like someone preached to us to make us believers.
Now in terms of preaching, we also have to ask God for discernment, because preaching does not always mean that we should tote our bibles and throw scripture after scripture in peoples faces. Sometimes it just means that we should be the shoulder for our friends to cry on and our presence will make all the difference and let them know that there is something different about us. Our life styles and the way we conduct ourselves should reflect God's light. The way we approah various situations in our lives should be attractive to others and make them want to find out about the God we serve.
In conclusion, my prayer is that each and every day of our lives we will walk in the power of God by reading and understanding His word and that we will go out and preach His word to the Spiritually poor. Amen.
Monday, March 16, 2009
The 7 Churches in Revelation
I am finding out a lot about the book of Revelation, maybe if I fully understand it, it will not intimidate me so much. It is also called the Revelation of St. John the Divine or the The Revelation to John.
Chapter 1
This is the revelation of Jesus Christ to His servants, telling them of what must soon take place. He made it known by sending His angel to His servant John. Vs 3 Blessed is the one who reads the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near. Vs 8 "I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, "Who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty."
9 I, John, your brother and companion in the suffering and kingdom and patient endurance that are ours in Jesus, was on the island of Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. On the Lord's Day I was in the Spirit, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet, which said: "Write on a scroll what you see and send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea.
17 (describing Jesus' appearance) When I saw Him, I fell at His feet as though dead. Then he placed his right hand on me and said: "Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. I am the Living One; I was dead and behold I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades. 19 Write, therefore, what you have seen, what is now and what will take place later. 20 The mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand and of the seven golden lampstands is this: The seven stars are the angels/ messengers of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.
Chapter 2 To the Church in Ephesus- To the angel of the Church in Ephesus write:
These are the words of Jesus:
2 I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked men, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false. You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary.
4 (amplified) But I have this (one charge to make) against you: that you have left (abandoned) the love that you had at first (you have deserted Me, your first love). Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place.
6 But you have this in your favor: you hate the practices of the Nicolatians (what they are doing as corrupters of the people), which I Myself also hate.
7 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the Churches. To him who overcomes, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.
My own personal research determined that: The seven churches (Revelation chapters 2 and 3), located in Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea, were listed in their geographical order along an ancient triangular highway route in what is today eastern Turkey, touching on The Aegean Sea. The island of Patmos was just off the coast.
To the Church in Smyrna
To the angel of the Church in Smyrna
These are the words of Him who is the First and the Last, who died and came to life again. I know your afflictions and your poverty-yet you are rich! I know the slander of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you and you will suffer perscution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes will not be hurt at all by the second death.
To the Church in Pergamum
To the angel of the church in Pergamum write:
These are the words of him who has the sharp double-edged sword. I know where you live- where Satan has his throne. Yet you remain true to my name. You did not renounce your faith to me, even in the days of Antipas, my faithful witness, who was put to death in your city-where Satan lives.
14 Nevertheless, I have a few things against you: You have people there who hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to entice the Israelites to sin by eating food sacrificed to idols and by committing sexual immorality. 15 Likewise you also have those who hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans. Repent therefore! Otherwise, I will soon come to you and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.
Chapter 1
This is the revelation of Jesus Christ to His servants, telling them of what must soon take place. He made it known by sending His angel to His servant John. Vs 3 Blessed is the one who reads the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near. Vs 8 "I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, "Who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty."
9 I, John, your brother and companion in the suffering and kingdom and patient endurance that are ours in Jesus, was on the island of Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. On the Lord's Day I was in the Spirit, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet, which said: "Write on a scroll what you see and send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea.
17 (describing Jesus' appearance) When I saw Him, I fell at His feet as though dead. Then he placed his right hand on me and said: "Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. I am the Living One; I was dead and behold I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades. 19 Write, therefore, what you have seen, what is now and what will take place later. 20 The mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand and of the seven golden lampstands is this: The seven stars are the angels/ messengers of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.
Chapter 2 To the Church in Ephesus- To the angel of the Church in Ephesus write:
These are the words of Jesus:
2 I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked men, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false. You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary.
4 (amplified) But I have this (one charge to make) against you: that you have left (abandoned) the love that you had at first (you have deserted Me, your first love). Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place.
6 But you have this in your favor: you hate the practices of the Nicolatians (what they are doing as corrupters of the people), which I Myself also hate.
7 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the Churches. To him who overcomes, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.
My own personal research determined that: The seven churches (Revelation chapters 2 and 3), located in Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea, were listed in their geographical order along an ancient triangular highway route in what is today eastern Turkey, touching on The Aegean Sea. The island of Patmos was just off the coast.
To the Church in Smyrna
To the angel of the Church in Smyrna
These are the words of Him who is the First and the Last, who died and came to life again. I know your afflictions and your poverty-yet you are rich! I know the slander of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you and you will suffer perscution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes will not be hurt at all by the second death.
To the Church in Pergamum
To the angel of the church in Pergamum write:
These are the words of him who has the sharp double-edged sword. I know where you live- where Satan has his throne. Yet you remain true to my name. You did not renounce your faith to me, even in the days of Antipas, my faithful witness, who was put to death in your city-where Satan lives.
14 Nevertheless, I have a few things against you: You have people there who hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to entice the Israelites to sin by eating food sacrificed to idols and by committing sexual immorality. 15 Likewise you also have those who hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans. Repent therefore! Otherwise, I will soon come to you and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.
17 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give him a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to him who receives it.
To the Church in Thyatira
18 To the angel of the church in Thyatira write:
These are the words of the Son of God, whose eyes are like blazing fire and whose feet are like burnished bronze. 19 I know your deeds, your love and faith, your service and perseverance, and that you are now doing more than you did at first.
20 Nevertheless, I have this against you: You tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess. By her teaching she misleads my servants into sexual immorality and the eating of food sacrificed to idols. 21 I have given her time to repent of her immorality, but she is unwilling. 22 So I will cast her on a bed of suffering, and I will make those who commit adultery with her suffer intensely, unless they repent of her ways. 23 I will strike her children dead. Then all the churches willl know that I am he who searches hearts and minds, and I will repay each of you according to your deeds. 24 Now I say to the rest of you in Thyatira, to you who do not hold to her teaching and have not learned Satan's so-called deep secrets (I will not impose any other burden on you): 25 Only hold on to what you have until I come. 26 To him who overcomes and does my will to the end, I will give authority over the nations. 27 he will rule them with an iron scepter; he will dash them to pieces like pottery- just as I have received authority from my Father. 28 I will also give him the morning star. 29 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.
To the Church in Sardis
To the angel of the church in Sardis write:
These are the words of him who holds the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead, Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your deeds complete in the sight of my God. Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; obey it and repent. But if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what time I will come to you.
yet you have a few people in Sardiswho have not soiled their clothes. They will walk with me, dressed in white, for they are worthy. he who overcomes will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out his name from the book of life, but will acknowledge his name before my Father and his angels. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.
To the Church in Philadelphia
To the angel of the church in Philadelphia write:
These are the words of him who is holy and true, who holds the key of David. What he opens no one can shut and what he shuts no one can open. I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name. I will make those who are of the synagogue of Satan, who claim to be Jews though the are not, but are liars- I will make them come and fall down at your feet and acknowledge that I have loved you. since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come upon the whole world to test those who live on the earth.
I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown. Him who overcomes I will make a pillar in the temple of my God. Never again will he leave it. I will write on him the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which is coming down out of heaven from my God; and I will also write on him my new name. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.
To the Church in Laodicea
To the angel of the church in Laodicea write:
These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God's creation. I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So because you are lukewarm-neither hot nor cold- I am about to spit you out of my mouth. You say, I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing. But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on you eyes, so you can see.
Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent. Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me. To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I overcame and sat down with my Father on his throne. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.
Amen.
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
FORGIVENESS
Matthew 5:22-26 But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, Raca(vain fellow/ contempt) will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, Raca is answerable to the Sanhedrin (council). But anyone who says, "You fool!" will be in danger of the fire of hell. Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift. Settle matters quickly with your adversary who is taking you to court. Do it while you are still with him on the way, or he may hand you over to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and you may be thrown into prison. I tell you the truth, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny.
You will have a hard time accepting the grace and forgiveness of the Lord if you haven't gotten down to forgiveness issues in your heart. You have to get out that first offense you stored up years ago, and sometimes, you will have to dig for a long time. But when you get down to that issue, the river of living water can spring back up out of you and refresh others. That is God's priority.
I personally know that there are certain issues in my life that I must deal with. Over the years I have thought that I have dealt with the issues however, they have taken a piece of me away. I need to fully give them over to Jesus and ask Him to run His living waters through all the areas in my life. In 2009 I need to work on the following so that I will not find it so hard to truly forgive people:
1) dealing with my childhood molestation
2) dealing with my teenage sexual assault during a robbery
3) the death of my father when he was only 43 years old
4) supporting and respecting my mother
5) trusting men
Lord this is my prayer tonight, these are some of the issues that have shaped my life. Please help me overcome them with You who strengthens me. For what man/ the devil meant for evil You will make good. What you have made clean O'Lord may no man call unclean. I believe O'God that You have made me clean Amen.
You will have a hard time accepting the grace and forgiveness of the Lord if you haven't gotten down to forgiveness issues in your heart. You have to get out that first offense you stored up years ago, and sometimes, you will have to dig for a long time. But when you get down to that issue, the river of living water can spring back up out of you and refresh others. That is God's priority.
I personally know that there are certain issues in my life that I must deal with. Over the years I have thought that I have dealt with the issues however, they have taken a piece of me away. I need to fully give them over to Jesus and ask Him to run His living waters through all the areas in my life. In 2009 I need to work on the following so that I will not find it so hard to truly forgive people:
1) dealing with my childhood molestation
2) dealing with my teenage sexual assault during a robbery
3) the death of my father when he was only 43 years old
4) supporting and respecting my mother
5) trusting men
Lord this is my prayer tonight, these are some of the issues that have shaped my life. Please help me overcome them with You who strengthens me. For what man/ the devil meant for evil You will make good. What you have made clean O'Lord may no man call unclean. I believe O'God that You have made me clean Amen.
Monday, March 9, 2009
Being Diligent
DILIGENCE.
Fasting, praying, and feeding on the Word of God puts that sword in your hand and positions you to discern the difference between your thoughts and God's thoughts. There is no higher authority than to know the heart of God for a situation you are facing. HIS WORD IS FINAL NO MATTER WHAT!!!! excerpt from "Fasting" by Jentezen Franklin.
A good example of a diligent person is Cornelius and his story is found in Acts chp 10 to chp 11:1-18. At this point in the Bible only the Jews had received the Holy Spirit. Cornelius and his family were devout and God fearing; he gave generously to those in need and prayed to God regularly. One day Cornelius had a vision. He say an angel of God, who came to him and said, "Your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a memorial offering before God. Now send men to Joppa to bring back a man named Simon who is called Peter.
About noon the following day, Peter went up on the roof to pray. He became hungry and wanted something to eat, and while the meal was being prepared, he fell into a trance. He saw heaven opened and something like a large sheet being let down to earth by its four corners. It contained all kinds of four-footed animals as well as reptiles of the earth and birds of the air. Then a voice told him, "Get up, Peter. Kill and eat." "Surely not, Lord!" Peter replied. "I have never eaten anything impure or unclean." The voice spoke to him a second time, "Do not call anything impure that God has made clean. This happened three times and immediately the sheet was taken back to heaven. If God tells you something, do not go against it or try to put your own reasoning. If you do not understand ask Him for the interpretation. We have no right to call anyone unclean when God has made them clean. When we ask God to forgive us of our sins He does so. So when we are forgiven no one has the right to call us by our past sins.
When Peter got to Cornelius' house he found a large group of people waiting for him. He said to them, "you are well aware that it is against our law for a Jew to associate with a Gentile or visit him. But God has shown me that I should not call any man impure or unclean. I need to emphasize this point for myself- I have no right to call any man impure or unclean (or evil or not worthy of God's blessings). Write down your dreams and wait for God to reveal the meaning to you. So when I was sent for, I came without raising any objection.
vs 34...Then Peter began to speak: "I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts men from every nation who fear him and do what is right. vs 44 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles. For they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God. God will use any vessel so never look at someone and think the Holy Spirit cannot be poured on them.
Chp 11 The apostles and the brothers throughout Judea heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of God. So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcised believers criticized him and said, "You went into the house of uncircumcised men and ate with them." Peter began and explained everything to them precisely as it had happened:... vs 15 As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit came on them as He had come on us at the beginning. Then I remembered what the Lord had said: "John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit. So if God gave them the same gift as he gave us, who believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I to think that I could oppose God?" When they heard this, they had no further objections and praised God, saying, "So then, God has granted even the Gentiles repentance unto life.
So continue seeking God's kingdom first and do not tarry for your good works are not being done in vain, God our Father sees our diligence Amen.
Fasting, praying, and feeding on the Word of God puts that sword in your hand and positions you to discern the difference between your thoughts and God's thoughts. There is no higher authority than to know the heart of God for a situation you are facing. HIS WORD IS FINAL NO MATTER WHAT!!!! excerpt from "Fasting" by Jentezen Franklin.
A good example of a diligent person is Cornelius and his story is found in Acts chp 10 to chp 11:1-18. At this point in the Bible only the Jews had received the Holy Spirit. Cornelius and his family were devout and God fearing; he gave generously to those in need and prayed to God regularly. One day Cornelius had a vision. He say an angel of God, who came to him and said, "Your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a memorial offering before God. Now send men to Joppa to bring back a man named Simon who is called Peter.
About noon the following day, Peter went up on the roof to pray. He became hungry and wanted something to eat, and while the meal was being prepared, he fell into a trance. He saw heaven opened and something like a large sheet being let down to earth by its four corners. It contained all kinds of four-footed animals as well as reptiles of the earth and birds of the air. Then a voice told him, "Get up, Peter. Kill and eat." "Surely not, Lord!" Peter replied. "I have never eaten anything impure or unclean." The voice spoke to him a second time, "Do not call anything impure that God has made clean. This happened three times and immediately the sheet was taken back to heaven. If God tells you something, do not go against it or try to put your own reasoning. If you do not understand ask Him for the interpretation. We have no right to call anyone unclean when God has made them clean. When we ask God to forgive us of our sins He does so. So when we are forgiven no one has the right to call us by our past sins.
When Peter got to Cornelius' house he found a large group of people waiting for him. He said to them, "you are well aware that it is against our law for a Jew to associate with a Gentile or visit him. But God has shown me that I should not call any man impure or unclean. I need to emphasize this point for myself- I have no right to call any man impure or unclean (or evil or not worthy of God's blessings). Write down your dreams and wait for God to reveal the meaning to you. So when I was sent for, I came without raising any objection.
vs 34...Then Peter began to speak: "I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts men from every nation who fear him and do what is right. vs 44 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles. For they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God. God will use any vessel so never look at someone and think the Holy Spirit cannot be poured on them.
Chp 11 The apostles and the brothers throughout Judea heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of God. So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcised believers criticized him and said, "You went into the house of uncircumcised men and ate with them." Peter began and explained everything to them precisely as it had happened:... vs 15 As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit came on them as He had come on us at the beginning. Then I remembered what the Lord had said: "John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit. So if God gave them the same gift as he gave us, who believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I to think that I could oppose God?" When they heard this, they had no further objections and praised God, saying, "So then, God has granted even the Gentiles repentance unto life.
So continue seeking God's kingdom first and do not tarry for your good works are not being done in vain, God our Father sees our diligence Amen.
Monday, March 2, 2009
ThankYou God for Your Continued Mercies Each Morning!!!!!!!!!!!!
So often we forget God's goodness and Mercy. Lord today I come before You because I know you order my steps. I realize that even before I was conceived You knew me and had plans for me. Today I choose to walk in Your will so that I may see the plans You have for me come to pass today and forevermore Amen.
Psalm 78:34-43
Whenever God slewed (killed) them, they would seek him;
they eagerly turned to him again.
They remembered that God was their Rock,
that God Most High was their Redeemer.
But then they would flatter him with their mouths,
lying to him with their tongues;
their hearts were not loyal to him,
they were not faithful to his covenant.
Yet he was merciful;
he forgave their iniquities
and did not destroy them.
Time after time he restrained his anger
and did not stir up his full wrath.
He remembered that they were but flesh,
a passing breeze that does not return.
How often they rebelled against him in the desert
and grieved him in the wasteland!
Again and again they put God to the test;
they vexed the Holy One of Israel.
They did not remember his power-
the day he redeemed them from the opressor,
the day he displayed his miraculous signs in Egypt,
his wonders in the region of Zoan.
Psalm 78:34-43
Whenever God slewed (killed) them, they would seek him;
they eagerly turned to him again.
They remembered that God was their Rock,
that God Most High was their Redeemer.
But then they would flatter him with their mouths,
lying to him with their tongues;
their hearts were not loyal to him,
they were not faithful to his covenant.
Yet he was merciful;
he forgave their iniquities
and did not destroy them.
Time after time he restrained his anger
and did not stir up his full wrath.
He remembered that they were but flesh,
a passing breeze that does not return.
How often they rebelled against him in the desert
and grieved him in the wasteland!
Again and again they put God to the test;
they vexed the Holy One of Israel.
They did not remember his power-
the day he redeemed them from the opressor,
the day he displayed his miraculous signs in Egypt,
his wonders in the region of Zoan.
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Salvation
What is Salvation?
-Salvation is being saved from the wrath to come.
John 3:1-6; 1 Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a member of the Jewish ruling council. 2 He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the miraculous signs you are doing if God were not with him.” 3 In reply Jesus declared, “I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.” 4 “How can a man be born when he is old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely he cannot enter a second time into his mother’s womb to be born!” 5 Jesus answered, “I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. 6 Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to Spirit.
What did Jesus mean when He said you have to be born again to see the kingdom of God?
He meant you have to renew your spirit man by accepting Jesus and accepting that he was resurrected from the dead. By repentance-confessing, changing your way of life and your thinking= spiritual rebirth. When you were physically born you did not accept Jesus but now you know and can accept Jesus Christ.
What does the actual word "birth" or to be "born" mean?
-It means the emergence and separation of offspring from the body of the mother. So to be born again means this time to emerge and be separated from the “world.”
That is why the Jews (Nicodemus) could not understand how they could be born again. They thought they had to physically be born again. They did not realize that this time they had to be spiritually born, even though they had grown up in the church.
Ezekiel 11:19 I will give them an undivided heart and put a new spirit in them; I will remove from them their heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh.
Ezekiel 36:26, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. 27 And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.
Ezekiel 11:20 Then they follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. They will be my people, and I will be their God. Ruth 2:16 But ruth replied, "Don't urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God.
2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!
-Salvation is being saved from the wrath to come.
John 3:1-6; 1 Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a member of the Jewish ruling council. 2 He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the miraculous signs you are doing if God were not with him.” 3 In reply Jesus declared, “I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.” 4 “How can a man be born when he is old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely he cannot enter a second time into his mother’s womb to be born!” 5 Jesus answered, “I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. 6 Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to Spirit.
What did Jesus mean when He said you have to be born again to see the kingdom of God?
He meant you have to renew your spirit man by accepting Jesus and accepting that he was resurrected from the dead. By repentance-confessing, changing your way of life and your thinking= spiritual rebirth. When you were physically born you did not accept Jesus but now you know and can accept Jesus Christ.
What does the actual word "birth" or to be "born" mean?
-It means the emergence and separation of offspring from the body of the mother. So to be born again means this time to emerge and be separated from the “world.”
That is why the Jews (Nicodemus) could not understand how they could be born again. They thought they had to physically be born again. They did not realize that this time they had to be spiritually born, even though they had grown up in the church.
Ezekiel 11:19 I will give them an undivided heart and put a new spirit in them; I will remove from them their heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh.
Ezekiel 36:26, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. 27 And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.
Ezekiel 11:20 Then they follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. They will be my people, and I will be their God. Ruth 2:16 But ruth replied, "Don't urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God.
2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Fighting Opposition to God's Will for My Life
Good morning,
Today I just want to encourage anyone that is growing weary that God's promise for their life will not come to pass. I personally have one major issue that God has promised will come to pass. I am sure that it is on the way because the enemy is going out of his way to discourage me; believe me I am getting it from all sources. But today I refuse to go down the depressed road today I will stand on God's word and wait for the manifestation of God's promise to me. I have at least the faith the size of a mustard seed so I will speak to the mountains in my life and Jesus Christ will remove them. Here are some scriptures I stand on:
James 5:13, 17 & 18 (New International Version)
The Prayer of Faith
13Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray. Is anyone happy? Let him sing songs of praise. 17Elijah was a man just like us. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. 18Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops.
2 Corinthians 10:5 (New International Version)-Negative thoughts
5We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.
Feeling insecure
Romans 8:31 (New International Version)
31What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? 33Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. 34Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. 35Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36As it is written: "For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered."[l] 37No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,[m] neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
1 John 4:4 (New International Version)
4You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.
Isaiah 54:17 (New International Version)
17 no weapon forged against you will prevail, and you will refute every tongue that accuses you. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and this is their vindication from me," declares the LORD.
Psalm 84:11 (Amplified Bible)-God’s Promise to us
11For the Lord God is a Sun and Shield; the Lord bestows [present] grace and favor and [future] glory (honor, splendor, and heavenly bliss)! No good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly.
Galatians 6:9 (Amplified Bible)-Growing Weary
9And let us not lose heart and grow weary and faint in acting nobly and doing right, for in due time and at the appointed season we shall reap, if we do not loosen and relax our courage and faint.
Proverbs 18:21 (New International Version)-Watch what you say
21 The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.
Joel 3:10 (New International Version)-Speak what you want to come to pass
10 Beat your plowshares into swords and your pruning hooks into spears. Let the weakling say, "I am strong!"
Amen, be strengthened in Christ Jesus!
Today I just want to encourage anyone that is growing weary that God's promise for their life will not come to pass. I personally have one major issue that God has promised will come to pass. I am sure that it is on the way because the enemy is going out of his way to discourage me; believe me I am getting it from all sources. But today I refuse to go down the depressed road today I will stand on God's word and wait for the manifestation of God's promise to me. I have at least the faith the size of a mustard seed so I will speak to the mountains in my life and Jesus Christ will remove them. Here are some scriptures I stand on:
James 5:13, 17 & 18 (New International Version)
The Prayer of Faith
13Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray. Is anyone happy? Let him sing songs of praise. 17Elijah was a man just like us. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. 18Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops.
2 Corinthians 10:5 (New International Version)-Negative thoughts
5We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.
Feeling insecure
Romans 8:31 (New International Version)
31What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? 33Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. 34Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. 35Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36As it is written: "For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered."[l] 37No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,[m] neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
1 John 4:4 (New International Version)
4You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.
Isaiah 54:17 (New International Version)
17 no weapon forged against you will prevail, and you will refute every tongue that accuses you. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and this is their vindication from me," declares the LORD.
Psalm 84:11 (Amplified Bible)-God’s Promise to us
11For the Lord God is a Sun and Shield; the Lord bestows [present] grace and favor and [future] glory (honor, splendor, and heavenly bliss)! No good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly.
Galatians 6:9 (Amplified Bible)-Growing Weary
9And let us not lose heart and grow weary and faint in acting nobly and doing right, for in due time and at the appointed season we shall reap, if we do not loosen and relax our courage and faint.
Proverbs 18:21 (New International Version)-Watch what you say
21 The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.
Joel 3:10 (New International Version)-Speak what you want to come to pass
10 Beat your plowshares into swords and your pruning hooks into spears. Let the weakling say, "I am strong!"
Amen, be strengthened in Christ Jesus!
Saturday, February 14, 2009
Relationships
Genesis Chp 1:27 states…in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. Out of him came both male and female; they were one. That’s why when a male gets married to a female they become one. A him in God’s image is complete when both male and female are present.
Genesis 5:1-2, when God created man, he made him in the likeness of God. He created them male and female and blessed them. And when they were created, he called them “man” which means Adam in Hebrew. Matt 19:4-6 and Mark 10:6-9 Jesus replied to the Pharisees “Haven’t you read, that at the beginning the Creator made them male and female” and said “for this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh? So they are no longer two, but one. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate.
Genesis Chp 2:18 The Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.” The Lord God is the one that said this, He is the one that was concerned, man didn’t think of the idea of having a helper. 19 Now the Lord God had formed out of the ground all the beasts of the field and all the birds of the air. 20b but for Adam no suitable helper was found. 21 So the Lord God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, he took one of the man’s ribs and closed up the place with flesh. 22 Then the Lord God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and He brought her to the man. The Lord brought the woman to the man. In this case, the man did not go out to look for her, he didn’t even know he was missing a part of him. Also, the woman did not take herself to him-God took her there. Sometimes we women always try to strategize/manipulate various things. However, we need to stay still and God will lead us to him that He has destined for us.
Broadened approach- in life God will bring what you need to you. For the Lord God knows our needs before we utter them.
God also took Ruth to Boaz’s field. When God takes you to certain places don’t fight it. Ruth 2:1 Now Naomi had a relative on her husband's side, from the clan of Elimelech, a man of standing, whose name was Boaz. 2 And Ruth the Moabitess said to Naomi, "Let me go to the fields and pick up the leftover grain behind anyone in whose eyes I find favor." Naomi said to her, "Go ahead, my daughter." 3 So she went out and began to glean in the fields behind the harvesters. As it turned out, she found herself working in a field belonging to Boaz, who was from the clan of Elimelech. God took Ruth to Boaz.
4 Just then Boaz arrived from Bethlehem and greeted the harvesters, "The Lord be with you!" "The Lord bless you!" they called back. 5 Boaz asked the foreman of his harvesters, "Whose young woman is that?" 6 The foreman replied, "She is the Moabitess who came back from Moab with Naomi. 7 She said, "Please let me glean and gather among the sheaves behind the harvesters." She went into the field and has worked steadily from morning till now, except for a short rest in the shelter." 8 So Boaz said to Ruth. "My daughter, listen to me. Don't go and glean in another field and don't go away from here. Stay here with my servant girls. 9 Watch the field where the men are harvesting, and follow along after the girls. I have told the men not to touch you. And whenever you are thirsty, go and get a drink from the water jars the men have filled.
God's plan is the best plan because He provides us with all the provisions we need along the way.
stay blessed
Ruth
Genesis 5:1-2, when God created man, he made him in the likeness of God. He created them male and female and blessed them. And when they were created, he called them “man” which means Adam in Hebrew. Matt 19:4-6 and Mark 10:6-9 Jesus replied to the Pharisees “Haven’t you read, that at the beginning the Creator made them male and female” and said “for this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh? So they are no longer two, but one. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate.
Genesis Chp 2:18 The Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.” The Lord God is the one that said this, He is the one that was concerned, man didn’t think of the idea of having a helper. 19 Now the Lord God had formed out of the ground all the beasts of the field and all the birds of the air. 20b but for Adam no suitable helper was found. 21 So the Lord God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, he took one of the man’s ribs and closed up the place with flesh. 22 Then the Lord God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and He brought her to the man. The Lord brought the woman to the man. In this case, the man did not go out to look for her, he didn’t even know he was missing a part of him. Also, the woman did not take herself to him-God took her there. Sometimes we women always try to strategize/manipulate various things. However, we need to stay still and God will lead us to him that He has destined for us.
Broadened approach- in life God will bring what you need to you. For the Lord God knows our needs before we utter them.
God also took Ruth to Boaz’s field. When God takes you to certain places don’t fight it. Ruth 2:1 Now Naomi had a relative on her husband's side, from the clan of Elimelech, a man of standing, whose name was Boaz. 2 And Ruth the Moabitess said to Naomi, "Let me go to the fields and pick up the leftover grain behind anyone in whose eyes I find favor." Naomi said to her, "Go ahead, my daughter." 3 So she went out and began to glean in the fields behind the harvesters. As it turned out, she found herself working in a field belonging to Boaz, who was from the clan of Elimelech. God took Ruth to Boaz.
4 Just then Boaz arrived from Bethlehem and greeted the harvesters, "The Lord be with you!" "The Lord bless you!" they called back. 5 Boaz asked the foreman of his harvesters, "Whose young woman is that?" 6 The foreman replied, "She is the Moabitess who came back from Moab with Naomi. 7 She said, "Please let me glean and gather among the sheaves behind the harvesters." She went into the field and has worked steadily from morning till now, except for a short rest in the shelter." 8 So Boaz said to Ruth. "My daughter, listen to me. Don't go and glean in another field and don't go away from here. Stay here with my servant girls. 9 Watch the field where the men are harvesting, and follow along after the girls. I have told the men not to touch you. And whenever you are thirsty, go and get a drink from the water jars the men have filled.
God's plan is the best plan because He provides us with all the provisions we need along the way.
stay blessed
Ruth
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