The Lord Is -- April 2023

 

ATARAH TSBLY

(pronounced at-aw-raw' tseb-ee')

CROWN OF GLORY

Isaiah 28:5-6

On that day the LORD of Hosts will be a Crown of Glory, a Diadem of Splendor to the remnant of His people, a Spirit of Justice to Him who sits in judgment, and a strength to those who repel the onslaught at the gate.

Psalm 3:3

But You, O LORD, are a Shield around me, my Glory, and the One who lifts my head.

Isaiah 60:1

Arise, shine, for your Light has come, and the Glory of the LORD rises upon you.

ANI QADOSH

(pronounced an-nee' kaw-doshe')

I AM HOLY

Leviticus 11:44

 For I am the LORD your God: you shall therefore sanctify yourselves, and you shall be holy; for I Am Holy: neither shall ye defile yourselves with any manner of creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.

Psalm 99:9

Exalt the LORD our God, and worship at His holy hill; for the LORD our God is Holy.

Revelation 4:8

And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, "Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come."

ANI YHVH QADOSH

(pronounced an-ee' yeh-ho-vaw kaw-doshe')

I THE LORD AM HOLY

Leviticus 20:26

And you shall be holy unto Me: for I The LORD Am Holy, and have severed you from other people, that you should be Mine.

Severed means "divided, seperated, made a distinction between". 

Deuteronomy 14:2 

For you are a people holy to the LORD your God, and the LORD has chosen you to be a people for his treasured possession, out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth.

1 Thessalonians 4:7

For God has not called us to impurity, but into holiness.

Isaiah 35:8

And there will be a highway called the Way of Holiness. The unclean will not travel it--only those who walk in the Way--and fools will not stray onto it.

2 Corinthians 7:1

Therefore, beloved, since we have these promises, let us cleanse ourselves from everything that defiles body and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

YHVH QADASH QADOSH

(pronounced yeh-ho-vaw kaw-dash' kaw-doshe')

THE LORD MY SANCTIFIER IS HOLY

Leviticus 21:8

You shalt sanctify him therefore; for he offers the bread of your God: he shall be holy unto you: for I The LORD, which Sanctify you, Am Holy.

Leviticus 20:8

And you shall keep My statutes and practice them. I am the LORD who sanctifies you.

Ezekiel 36:23

I will show how holy My great Name is—the Name on which you brought shame among the nations. And when I reveal My holiness through you before their very eyes, says the Sovereign LORD, then the nations will know that I am the LORD.

THEOS KRITES PAS

(pronounced theh'-os kree-tace' pas)

GOD JUDGE OF ALL

Hebrews 12:23

To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect.

    Psalm 50:6

And the heavens proclaim His righteousness, for God Himself is Judge. Selah

    Psalm 94:2

Rise up, O Judge of the earth; render a reward to the proud.

    Revelation 20:11-15

Then I saw a great white throne and the One seated on it. Earth and heaven fled from His presence, and no place was found for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne. And there were open books, and one of them was the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their deeds, as recorded in the books. 

The sea gave up its dead, and Death and Hades gave up their dead, and each one was judged according to his deeds. 

Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death—the lake of fire.

And if anyone was found whose name was not written in the Book of Life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.

A Crucified Life - - Is A Productive Life

 

2 Corinthians 7:11

Just see what this godly sorrow produced in you! Such earnestness, such concern to clear yourselves, such indignation, such alarm, such longing to see me, such zeal, and such a readiness to punish wrong. You showed that you have done everything necessary to make things right.

*Strong's Ex. Conc. No. 2716

Produced: effect by labor, work out, bring to decisive finality, accomplish

From the Greek word 'katergazomai' (pronounced kat-er-gad'-zom-ahee).

    1 Corinthians 12:25

That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another. 

    A heart that was not right with God, was not aligned according to the Word of God, is now made clean before God. That's what repentance does. Godly sorrow changes a person's heart, which changes the way we think, the way we behave. Especially the way we behave towards each other. 

    When Isaiah spoke with God in Isaiah 1:18, he heard this phrase, “Come now, and let us reason together,” Says the LORD, “Though your sins are like scarlet, They shall be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They shall be as wool."

  When we answer God call us to Himself, as Isaiah heard that call, only then can He begin to transform a heart of self-involvement into a heart like His. Isaiah 43:25 "I, yes I, am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake and remembers your sins no more." 

    Ezekiel 11:19 "And I will give them singleness of heart and put a new spirit within them. I will take away their stony, stubborn heart and give them a tender, responsive heart."

    Permanent change can only be accomplished in us when we repent of our sins against God to God and God changes us from the inside out. 

    Laundry does not get cleaned once and then never again. So it is with the heart of God's people. Every time it gets a little dirty, it needs to be washed again. Unlike laundry, one of these days our souls will be permanently cleansed; it is then we will be made perfect. Perfect in Christ. 

    So, when the Spirit within us convicts our hearts over sin(s) we go to the altar immediately and repent of that sin. We ask God to remove the root of that sin that it may no longer get in our way of growing in Him. This makes it possible for us to function quite well as a body, as the body of Christ. 

     For when one part of the body is broken, other parts are affected, just like in our own bodies. I have Fibromyalgia (Fm). It is a disease that attacks the central nervous system. For me, all my senses are in overdrive when I am going through a flare-up. 

    For instance, with the sense of touch, I can neither be hugged nor held. Taste and smell are so connected that if something I like to eat smells off, I can't eat it. There are times I feel like a canary in a mine: I can smell things no one else can smell. Sight, hearing and balance seem to affect each other, too.

    I tell you this because one thing wrong in the body causes things to go wrong elsewhere in the body. When the foot stumbles, the body falls. The same holds true for the body of Christ. It is why we need to remain whole and complete in Him as He is in us. 

    Therefore, let us draw near to God, repent of our sins, gain renewed strength in His Word and be refreshed with His Spirit, that our witness may be proved faithful, true and all-encompassing. Let us repent of any division we may have caused in our churches, our homes, our worksites, both deliberately and unintentionally. 

    Lord, 

Help us lead a more productive life in You to the glory of God. Give me a fleshy heart, a heart that is moldable and beats for You. Help me to interact with my brothers and sisters in Christ in love, compassion, with mercy, with hope, with peace, with joy, with comfort. Heal Your church, Lord. Make us more fruitful in Your kingdom. 

In Jesus' Name,

Amen

    A crucified life is a fruitful life. It produces positive actions and negates harmful ones. When the body is whole, it is able to accomplish great things. For the Spirit that flows through it produces eternal fruit which enlarges the kingdom of God in every way. 

    Galatians 5:22-24 (NLT)

But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things! Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to His cross and crucified them there.

 

MORE LIKE JESUS   

More About Jesus - Classic Hymn

Just As I Am

Alive In You - Jesus Culture

Broken Vessels - Hillsong Worship

Love Each Other - Graham Kendrick

Salvation Song - Stuart Townend

River of Love & Everything - Joel Case & Melissa Helser

Unfailing - Andrew Word

A Crucified Life - - Is A Repentant Life

 

2 Corinthians 7:10

For the kind of sorrow God wants us to experience leads us away from sin and results in salvation. There is no regret for that kind of sorrow. But worldly sorrow, which lacks repentance, results in spiritual death.

*Strong's Ex. Conc. No.

Worldly (in this context): ungodly, alienated from God and hostile to the cause of Christ

From the Greek word 'kosmos' (pronounced kos'-mos)

Sorrow: pain, distress, grief, emotional pain that weighs on a person

From the Greek word 'lupé' (pronounced loo'-pay)

    Being sorry and apologizing for that offense which we say we are sorry for is not godly sorrow. 

    We can regret the words we have said but we cannot take them back. The damage has been done and cannot be undone. Remorse is not godly sorrow. 

    Though a person may change on the outside, and believe themselves to be fine, better or good enough, but have not repented of the sin they have committed, there is no forgiveness, no salvation, no real change in the heart. 

    Repentance activates God's forgiveness and makes it possible for God to change the repenter's heart. It is impossible to change ourselves by ourselves. We need God to change our hearts by the blood of His Lamb, His only begotten Son Jesus Christ, Who became sin for us and died on the cross so we wouldn't have to die and pay the penalty for our sins.

    Hebrews 9:22

In fact under the Law almost everything is cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness [neither release from sin and its guilt, nor cancellation of the merited punishment].

     1 John 2:2

And He [that same Jesus] is the propitiation for our sins [the atoning sacrifice that holds back the wrath of God that would otherwise be directed at us because of our sinful nature—our worldliness, our lifestyle]; and not for ours alone, but also for [the sins of all believers throughout] the whole world.

    Romans 3:25

God presented Him as the atoning sacrifice through faith in His blood, in order to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance He had passed over the sins committed beforehand.

 INTO GRACE   

The Secret Place - Phil Wickham

The More I Seek You - Kari Jobe

Jesus Have It All - Jeremy Riddle

I Need You - Jessie Harris

Run To The Father - Cody Carnes

Jesus Messiah - Chris Tomlin

Washed By The Blood - CityAlight

At The Cross - Chris Tomlin

Thank You Jesus For The Blood - Charity Gayle

A Crucified Life - - Incurs Godly Repentance

 

2 Corinthians 7:8,9

Even if I cause you sorrow by my letter, I do not regret it. Although I did regret it, I now see that my letter caused you sorrow, but only for a short time.

And now I rejoice, not because you were made sorrowful, but because your sorrow led to repentance. For you felt the sorrow that God had intended, and so were not harmed in any way by us.

*Strong's Ex. Conc. No. 2596

Sorrow that God intends: according to, by way of, daily, day-by-day.

From the Greek word 'kata' (pronounced kat-ah')): that which pleases; according to the will of.

    That which Paul had written to the Corinth church concerning their lack of love and support to him and his companions as they spread the gospel had a marked effect on them. They recognized they had wronged them, repented of their faithlessness and changed the direction of their loyalties.  

    The Word tells us in Proverbs 4:27 to not turn to the right or to the left. In fact throughout Scripture we are informed to maintain our ways before the Lord and walk where He tells us to walk. He is the One, after all, Who directs our steps on the Way of Holiness He has mapped out for us. 

Jeremiah 7:23

Isaiah 35:8

Galatians 5:16

2 Corinthians 5:7

    Every time it feels like we are slipping away from faithfulness, we need to pay attention to the nudgings of the Holy Spirit. We, too, need to repent of our both our inaction (lack of support) and our action (leaving the path of righteousness) on a day-by-day basis. 

    Having received salvation when we first believed on Jesus' Name, and having received the Holy Spirit when we earnestly sought and waited for Him, we need to remain in close contact with our Savior and Advocate. We need to remember that a relationship of any kind, especially our born again relationship in Christ, requires constancy and consistency. 

    Constancy in that we need to remain in His vicinity. When we become aware of any sin we have committed, we need to immediately repent of it. Whether it is unkind words or seeds of doubt or failure to obey when the Spirit gives us God's Word to share with someone. It is as if we have stepped away, even if only slightly, from the side of our Savior.

    I lost another friend this month. He was younger than me. He got sick and died of respiratory failure and cardiac complications. I never failed to share God's love and my friendship with him. Though he never said anything, I hope that both made a difference in his heart and his life. 

    Consistency is remaining faithful to God's Word regardless of what or who comes against me when I am living it, breathing it, speaking it, sharing it, praying it, singing it. We need to walk the walk and talk the talk. That's consistency. To do otherwise is to fail to be the examples of righteousness we are supposed to be; it is being a two-faced double-minded irresponsible hypocrite. And I can't do that.

    Let us come to God now and repent of all our unrighteous acts and thoughts and words. There we will find forgiveness from God. And we need, if possible, to go to the person we have sinned against and apologize. It is there at the throne of grace that we receive wisdom and strength to go on in our walk with Christ. 

THIS IS AMAZING GRACE by Phil Wickham

    

A Crucified Life - - Receives Comfort From God

 

2 Corinthians 7:6,8

But God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the coming of Titus. His presence was a joy, but so was the news he brought of the encouragement he received from you. When he told us how much you long to see me, and how sorry you are for what happened, and how loyal you are to me, I was filled with joy.

*Strong's Ex. Conc. No. 3870

Comfort: console, encourage and strengthen, advocate

From the Greek word 'parakaleó' (pronounced par-ak-al-eh'-o).

    God is 'up close and personal' with His people. He is not a faraway God, but the near God, the 'I will never leave you nor forsake you' God. 

• Hebrews 13:5
• Deuteronomy 31:6,8
• Joshua 1:9.17
• Isaiah 41:10-14

    God comforts His people when we are downcast (low in spirit, humble, meek). We are comforted by His presence, His nearness. And we are grateful that this is our God.

    Paul was writing to the believers in Corinth who had supported him on his journeys; thanking them for their loyalty and their mission support to him. We need to remain faithful to our missionaries, too. They need us to express our love for them not only in our prayers, but in our giving. 

    Missionaries who are faithful in sharing the gospel receive comfort from God through us who impart love and mercy to them, as Titus did when God sent him to Paul. Titus had good things to say, words which encouraged Paul and compelled him to reach out to the little church. 

    Let us continue to work together, as the believers did in the beginning of the age of the church, to advance the kingdom of God with our witness and our testimony. 

Give Me Faith by Elevation Worship

This Is Our God by Phil Wickham

Shepherd of My Soul by Rivers & Robots

Draw Me Close To You by Michael W. Smith

The Lord Is Near 

God With Us by MercyMe

 

A Crucified Life - - Is Hard Pressed

 

2 Corinthians 7:5

For from the time that we came to Macedonia, we had no relief for our body, but we were tormented in all things: combat from without, and fear from within.

*Strong's Ex. Conc. No. 3600/2852 & 2346

Tormented: to suffer pain; to be mistreated violently

Pressed: afflicted, hard pressed, constricted, compressed 

     

     I used the Aramaic translation for today's verse because it explained best to me this verse. But finding the correct definition of 'tormented' in this instance took some time, as there are many types of torment.

     Paul is writing from their personal experience of being violently coming against for bringing the gospel to Macedonia. At the same time in which he and his companion(s) are being come against personally, their thoughts began to bring fear into the equation. So, from both the outside and the inside they felt tormented, compressed.

     Ever seen an apple squeeze? That's pressing hard from two sides to produce something that doesn't even resemble an apple, yet is sweet to the taste and quenches a body's thirst. That's what was happening here. Being hard pressed on every side, these men were becoming something more, being changed and conformed to a sweeter taste in the Lord. 

    It is the same for every born again believer who is willing to share the gospel of salvation through Jesus Christ. We must be willing to stand up for Jesus in the Love of God. We are not violent. We do not take  up arms against the unbeliever. If we need defending, Christ is our Defense. We must pursue righteousness every step of the way.

    We overcome fear that rises up within us by the Word which is in us. The Holy Spirit upon us, and working through us and in us, girds us up and builds a fire within us to keep going, to keep speaking the Name of Jesus and God's message of salvation and deliverance. 

    He reminds us that we are strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Our strength is in the Lord, not in ourselves. The only power that is wielded is the power of God bursting forth from our obedience to Him. 

    In this day and age in which we currently live, born again believers are not welcome. Our differences set us apart boldly. We have one voice: we speak the Love of God. We have one heart: we pursue godly agendas. We have one name: born again believer. 

    And we have one Savior: the only begotten Son of God Jesus Christ, the Messiah who was promised in the Old Testament and revealed in the New Testament. 

    Lord, use us for Your glory as we bring Your Word to a lost and dying world who desperately need You. Help us to bring You to each and every one who hungers for Truth and Love and Friendship that is faithful and sure. 

In Your Wonderful Name,

Amen.

PRESSED FOR THE BETTER  (A Jesus Culture playlist)

Alive In You

Where You Go, I Go

My Soul Longs For You

Break Every Chain

One Thing Remains

Fill Me Up

Rooftops

Set A Fire

Your Love Never Fails

A Crucified Life - - Speaks With Confidence

 

2 Corinthians 7:4

Great is my confidence in you, great is my pride in you: I am filled with encouragement; in all our troubles my joy overflows. 

*Strong's Ex. Conc. No. 3954

Confidence: freedom of speech, openness, boldness

From the Greek word 'parrésia' (pronounced par-rhay-see'-ah).

    The KJV reads like this:

Great is my boldness of speech toward you, great is my glorying of you: I am filled with comfort, I am exceeding joyful in all our tribulation.

    It is speaking plainly and honestly and factually all at the same time. To make known publicly, as the disciples began to do in Acts 2 after the Holy Spirit came upon them and endued them with power to speak in other tongues, languages, that they might make known the mystery of the gospel of salvation to all nations.

    There are currently 7,168 known spoken languages in the world today ( ethnologue). That does not include the languages no longer in existence. But when the Spirit fell on the waiting disciples, each one received a language that made it possible for them to witness Jesus to everyone to whom they were sent. 

    In that Spirit of speaking plainly, let me now say:

    God is Love and He speaks the language of Love. In His Love created He the whole world, including men and women. Time and again we have let Him down but those who love Him in return get picked back up by Him in His Love. 

    In His Love He sent us a Savior to atone for all of our sins, Someone Who could pay the price for sin once and for all. Someone Who could conquer death, hell and the grave. Someone Who could represent God's Infinite Love to the people He loves. Someone Who could save God's people from death, hell and the grave. Someone God called His Beloved Son.

    Know this: it is not the denomination which saves. It is not the good works, good deeds, acts of kindness which saves. Nor does growing up in a Christian family save us. Only the gospel of salvation through Jesus Christ. Only believing on His Name for our salvation saves us. 

    Only the blood which Christ shed on the cross washes away our sins. Only the stripes He received on His back heal us in every way; not just physically, but spiritually as well. 

    No one is good enough to go to heaven. No one is good enough to enter Christ's kingdom and live under His kingship (Romans 3:23). We must all go through Him to enter the kingly city in which He will reign. He is, after all, the Door and the Gate.

     But it's a narrow Door and a narrow Gate which require a small key. That key is faith. Jesus tells us if our faith were the size of a mustard seed, which is 1-2 millimetres in diameter, we could move mountains. Our faith starts out smaller than that when we first begin to believe in Him. 

    Putting that into perspective: mustard seed size faith is smaller than a postage stamp, tinier than the widow's mite. But that's all it takes to enter the Door and the Gate. 

    If you have the key, you can enter the Door and the Gate. The key:

    Romans 10:9, 10

That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 

For with your heart you believe and are justified, and with your mouth you confess and are saved.

SOAKING WORSHIP (listened to this while I studied)

    

A Crucified Life - - Is A Partner In Grace

 

    2 Corinthians 7:3

I do not say this to condemn you. I have said before that you so occupy our hearts that we live and die together with you.

    Philippians 1:7

It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart. For in my chains and in my defense and confirmation of the gospel, you are all partners in grace with me.

    *Strong's Ex. Conc. No. 4880

Die Together: die with 

From the Greek word 'sunapothnéskó' (pronounced soon-ap-oth-nace'-ko).

    It is the same meaning as given in 2 Timothy 2:11 "This is a trustworthy saying: If we died with Him, we will also live with Him." (meeting death as Christ did for the sake of God). And what happened when Christ met death? He overcame it! Therefore, we who believe on the Name of Jesus Christ for our salvation shall also overcome death! 

    We are partners in grace with Christ and with each other. For we are one in Christ Who is One in God, as He prayed in John 17:20-23. This whole prayer in John 17 is just beautiful.

    As believers, we are united with each other via the Holy Spirit of God. We live in harmony with one another. 

-Romans 12:16

-Romans 15:5

    We work together in the kingdom of God. Ephesians 4:4-14

   We grow together in love. Ephesians 4:15,16

  We pray together in faith. James 5:16

 We pray together in the Spirit. Jude 1:20

    We are the body of Christ. Where His body went when He had a physical body is where His body will go in the power of the Holy Spirit. As He lived and died, so, too, will the body of Christ live and die. And live again. 

PARTNERS IN GRACE 

Jesus Paid It All - Kim Walker-Smith

Overcomer - Eddie James

We Will Stand - Russ Taff

By Our Love - 4 King & Country

Redeemed - Big Daddy Weave

If We Are The Body - Casting Crowns

Love Each Other - Graham Kendrick

Love Your Enemies - Kyle Sigmon

Nothing Without You - United Pursuit

Where You Go I Go - Jesus Culture

    

A Crucified Life - - Corrupts No One

 

2 Corinthians 7:2

Make room for us in your hearts. We have wronged no one, we have corrupted no one, we have exploited no one.

*Strong's Ex. Conc. No. 5351

Corrupt: destroy, spoil, ruin

From the Greek word 'phtheiró' (pronounced fthi'-ro): waste away (deteriorate, degenerate); to cause or experience moral breakdown.

    2 Corinthians 4:2

But we have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor falsifying the word of God, but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience before God. 

*Manifestation (5321): disclosure, bringing to light

    A crucified life does not bring another person or group of people to moral ruin. A crucified life preaches the gospel in both word and action. We walk the walk and talk the talk. 

    Having been delivered by the grace of God from a wicked rebellious lifestyle, we have no desire to return to it. Nor do we want anyone to continue to live the way we used to. So we speak Jesus to everyone, hoping to reach at least one with the gospel. 

    Staying close to the heart of God prevents the crucified life from becoming corrupted itself. The more knowledgeable we are of the Word of God the less likely we are to stray from it. For the Spirit of God has revealed the Truth to us. 

    We have crucified worldly desires and are filled with the desire to glorify God. No longer do we live to please ourselves or each other. Our desire is to please God, to do what makes our God and Savior happy with the words we speak, how we speak them; doing what He wants done, when He says to do it. That's Trusting and Obeying God. 

    We encourage each other in the Word, helping to build each other's faith. We pray for and with each other. We hear the Word of The Lord through the shepherds which God has placed in our churches; through Holy Spirit-filled evangelists and sometimes through other media sources (Youtube, Facebook, Webpages, etc). 

    We encourage you to join us, to become a part of this family of God. We encourage you to be faith-filled and Holy Spirit-filled. We long for you to live the crucified life which we now live. 

    Revelation 22:17 The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” Let the one who hears say, “Come!” And let the one who is thirsty come, and the one who desires the water of life drink freely.

    

    

    

    

A Crucified Life - - Is Undeflied

 

2 Corinthians 7:1

Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God.

*Strong's Ex. Conc. No. 3435 & 3436

Defilement: soil, stain, besmear, pollute

From the Greek words 'molunó' (pronounced mol-oo'-no) and 'molusmos' (pronounced mol-oos-mos').

    1 Peter 1:15,16

But just as He who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do, for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”

We see, therefore, that to be undefiled is to be holy. But what defiles us? Those things that are in our hearts that are not of God. Matthew 15:18 "But the things that come out of the mouth come from the heart, and these things defile a man."

>Matthew 15:19

>Genesis 6:5

>Proverbs 24:9

>Matthew 5:28

>Mark 7:21-23

>Isaiah 59:7,13

>Titus 1:15

    What is the cure for removing such defilement? Repentance. A confessing to God of our sins and turning away from them and what causes these transgressions. A turning to God and His godly ways which are laid out for us in His Word. 

    Repentance comes when we believe on the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ. When we really believe (and God knows who believes and who's lying), God places a measure of faith in our hearts which needs to be exercised so it will grow. 

    Sin's defilement is washed away by the blood of God's Holy Lamb Jesus Christ, His only begotten Son. God cleanses our hearts and our minds. 

    We must constantly be on the alert, watching out for Satan's sneaky ways and praying in the Spirit to remain strong in the Lord and His ways. We are the watchmen in these temples of God which the born again believer is. 

    The best way to guard against the devil's tactics is to stay in the Word of God and have the Word of God stay in us. That is done by reading and studying a bit of His Word each day. It is our Daily Bread, our Living Water, our Wine, our Milk and our Honey/Honeycomb. 

BLUEGRASS GOSPEL HIGHWAY

    

A Crucified Life - - Is The Father's Child

 

2 Corinthians 6:17

And "I will be a Father to you, and you will be My sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty."

*Strong's Ex. Conc. No. 3962

Father: heavenly Father, Ancestor, Elder

From the Greek word 'patér' (pronounced pat-ayr'). 

    God creates all life including people. God also creates new life, a second life, an eternal born again life in a person when that person believes on the Name of His only begotten Son Jesus Christ for their salvation. 

>James 1:18

>John 3:3-18

    Every time our faith is activated -- received and obeyed -- we become a little more like our heavenly Father. It is how people recognize us: they see Jesus in us before we even speak. 

    I was in a parking lot a few years ago, after shopping, and a lady called out to me from the other side, and said, "You're a Christian! I can see you." I was amazed that she could see Jesus in me! Are you recognized as God's sons or daughters? 

    John 1:12,13

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. Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

   Romans 8:16

The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children. 

    As our heavenly Father, God knows our needs before we even ask for anything. He knows what is good for us and what is not edifying for us. Our heavenly Father gives us good gifts (James 1:17; 1 Corinthians 12:1-11). Gifts which benefit us as His sons and daughters. Gifts which help us to grow in Him and in each other. 

    Our heavenly Father is a good Father - 

Luke 18:19

    Our heavenly Father disciplines His children with love - 

2 Samuel 7:14,15

    Our heavenly Father works in us - 

Philippians 2:13

    Our heavenly Father gives us faith - 

Romans 12:13

    Our heavenly Father is glorified in us - 

2 Corinthians 9:13; 1 Peter 4:11

    Our heavenly Father makes Himself known to us - 

Romans 9:23

    And so much, much more is our heavenly Father to us. Our Grace. Our Mercy. Our Peace. Our Salvation. Our Hope. 

SONS & DAUGHTERS 

Shepherd of My Soul - Rivers & Robots

Since Your Love - United Pursuit

You Say - Lauren Daigle

Build My Life - Pat Barrett

Sons & Daughters - Jason Upton

Belong To You - Here Be Lions

A Crucified Life - - Is Received By The Lord

 

2 Corinthians 6:17

"Therefore come out from among them and be separate," says the Lord. "Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you."

*Strong's Ex. Conc. No. 873

Separate: set apart

From the Greek word 'aphorizó' (pronounced af-or-id'-zo): separate from a boundary (a previous condition/situation).

    Being saved and filled with the Spirit isn't enough to remain untouched by the world. We have to make that hard and sometimes difficult decision to set ourselves apart from the unrighteousness that is in our churches. Our testimony should stand out so much that they who practice wicked living are drawn to us so they can have what we have: a strong relationship with Jesus Christ and a faith-filled lifestyle in the Holy Spirit.

    We are commanded by our Lord and Savior to "come out from among" the unclean. Our lives are to be living witnesses of Christ in us. We are to reflect His image and shine His Light and His Love into the sinful world around us. This includes our family members who are not walking with Christ. 

    As it was when Jesus began His ministry, so it is with us. His own town at first rejected Him. The city of Nazareth recognized Him only as a homeboy, not as the Savior they so desperately needed. They tried to kill Him. Luke 4:16-30. 

    We need to step up and make a firm decision to live for God in Christ. Though we are becoming holy people we are not 'holier than thou people' nor are we 'better than you' people. We are sinners who have been changed into saints because of our faith in Christ. The people around us need to see the change in us. Be amazed. Wonder. This change needs to be so self-evident that it makes people hungry for the Word we have in us. 

    Though many will come against us, we can't let that have a negative effect on our relationship with Christ. We are a set apart and being sanctified people. Our actions need to reflect our relationship. We will set ourselves apart. 

    I used to drink. But when I got filled with the Holy Spirit, I couldn't stand the smell of alcohol: it made me sick, physically sick and nauseous. I still can't stand it. I am filled with new wine. 

    When we make that decision and stand by it, the Lord receives into Himself and unto Himself. We are grafted into the Tree (Romans 11:24). He prayed in the garden for this to be so: John 17:22,23 "I have given them the glory You gave Me, so that they may be one as We are one—I in them and You in Me—that they may be perfectly united, so that the world may know that You sent Me and have loved them just as You have loved Me."

    Stop playing with sin in your church and your life and kick it out the door! There is no room for the works of Satan in the House of God. Knowing that our hearts are the dwellingplace of God when we believe, this doesn't leave room for discussion now, does it? 

    No longer should the born again Holy Spirit filled believer want to have anything to do with that which they have been delivered from. But when they do, they will be worse off than they were before. Peter refers to it as a 'dog returns to its own vomit'. 2 Peter 2:21-22. Proverbs 26:11. 

    I urge you. Come out from the wickedness around you. Set yourselves apart and follow Jesus Christ. Be filled with the Holy Spirit of God. Seek His face. Worship in His Presence. Rejoice in your victory! and glorify God with your lives. 

    A crucified life turns its back on worldly living and lives only to please God and serve Him. Let us do so.

RECEIVED BY CHRIST

Just To Be With You - Paul Baloche

Seekers of Your Heart - Sandy Patti, Larnelle Harris, Steve Green

New Wine - Hillsong Worship

Hungry - Kathryn Scott

In The Garden - Jim Reeves

Just A Closer Walk With Thee - Randy Travis

Better Than Life - Phil Wickham

I Know Whom I Have Believed