Justified By Faith

 

Galatians 3:8, 9

And The Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles (any non-Jew) by faith, preached the gospel to Abraham beforehand, saying, "In you all the nations shall be blessed."

So those who have faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.

WALKING IN THE FOOTSTEPS of FAITH

Romans 4:11, 12

And he received the sign of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. So then, he is the father of all who believe but are not circumcised, in order that righteousness might be credited to them. 

And he is also the father of the circumcised who not only are circumcised, but who also walk in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham had before he was circumcised. 

    It is the heart that needs circumcision. The unbelieving heart is uncircumcised: its intents are hidden in darkness. But when the circumcision from God comes on the heart of the person who believes by faith in The Son of God, then Light opens up the heart and Love comes to live there, the Love of God which is written on our hearts by The Power of The Holy Spirit of God.  

    Circumcision is painful and bloody. Being a woman this is a physical pain I do not know personally, but have heard the cry of the newborn when it happens to them. So, too, the newly born in Christ have circumcised hearts. The blood from The Lamb of God, which was shed for us, is sprinkled across our hearts, washing away our sins and breaking the chains of sin which had bound us. 

    No longer do we walk in the darkness of our hearts: we are born anew, born again, into the family of God: we are His sons and His daughters--we walk in newness of life. The New and Living Way of Life in Christ is ours now. 

JUSTIFIED BY FAITH

Romans 3:29, 30

Is God The God of Jews only? Is He not The God of Gentiles, too? Yes, of Gentiles too, since there is only one God, Who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through that same faith. 

Galatians 2:16

Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified. 

Romans 9:8

That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed. 

    It is faith in the promise of God which is saving faith. For Christ is the fulfillment of the promise made to Abraham. The promise: Genesis 17:19 "But God replied, “Your wife Sarah will indeed bear you a son, and you are to name him Isaac. I will establish My covenant with him as an everlasting covenant for his seed after him.” 

    The promise is to the seed of Abraham, not the children. For the seed of Abraham are the people who believe God and obey/follow His Word. Many are they which say they believe in God, but few are they who say they believe God. For we who know God exists also know that God's Word is Faithful (unchanging) and True (genuine, sincere). Abraham was given the promise from God and believed it. Those who follow Abraham but not God are not the seed of Abraham, though they may be his descendants. 

    It is the same when we come to Jesus. We have acknowledged that Jesus Christ is Lord. We believe that He died on the cross and rose from the dead. We confess our belief in public and are baptized into God's Name, Christ's Name, and The Holy Spirit's Name. We are children of the promise, for we came by way of faith. 

    Children of the curse are outside the promise. It is a hard fact for many to swallow, but only because they refuse to believe God and His Word. It is only when a person born under the curse of sin accepts by faith Jesus Christ as God's Only Begotten Son that the curse is lifted and the promise is given. And we have all been born under the curse of sin because we are all Adam's descendants. 

    Sin came when Adam didn't listen to God. That's rebellion. That's outside the promise because the promise is given by God and Adam didn't listen to God. Not listening to God is not believing God. Not believing God is not believing God's Word.        Not believing God and His Word puts a person outside the promise of redemption through Jesus Christ. For Christ is God's Word wrapped in flesh. (Luke 1:35; John 1:14). And He is God's Servant through His obedience in saying what God wanted Him to say and doing what God wanted Him to do. (John 7:16; 8:28; 12:49; 14:10). Jesus is God's Only Begotten Son. (John 3:16; Romans 8:32; Galatians 4:4, 5; 1 John 4:14). 

    But when a sinner (one born under the curse) believes and receives Christ Jesus as Lord [of their lives] and Savior [of their souls], then we are no longer cursed but now we are saved! We have been born again. How awesome is that? How wonderful that God would send His Only Begotten Son to save such wretches as we are. Children born outside the promise but able to receive it because we believe it. 

    While only a small percentage of my dna reveals that I am a descendant of Abraham, it is not that which brings me into God's family. It is my faith in Christ Jesus and believing that He is Who God says He is that saves me. 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: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God." 

Have Faith

 

Galatians 3:6, 7

So, also, "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness."

Understand, then, that those who have faith are sons of Abraham."

Genesis 15:6

Abram believed The LORD, and it was credited to him as righteousness.

Romans 4:3

For what does The Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.”

Romans 4:16

Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all.

KEEP THE FAITH

Abraham believed God. He took Him at His Word and in doing so obtained the righteousness of God by placing his trust in God. Unwavering faith.

The people who have that kind of faith are sons of Abraham. Believe God -- and His Word -- and we, too, will have obtained the righteousness of Christ, for He is The Living Word of God.

THE KEYS of DEATH & HELL

There's no other way, no other religion, wherein their gods have died and risen from the dead. For in His death Christ conquered sin, obtaining the key of death.

Having died with sin on His shoulders, He entered hell, fought Satan and won, obtaining the key of hell.

Rising from the dead and walking out of the grave in a new, resurrected body, He became The Firstfruits of the resurrection.

Now Jesus Christ holds all three keys in His hand- Revelation 1:18 "I Am He that lives, and was dead; and, behold, I Am Alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death."

NEW LIFE IN CHRIST

1 Corinthians 15:20-23

But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, The Firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man.

For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.

Acts 2:24

But God raised Him from the dead, releasing Him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep Him in its grip.

Colossians 1:18

And He is The Head of The Body, the church; He is The Beginning and Firstborn from among the dead, so that in all things He may have preeminence.

John 11:25

Jesus said to her, “I Am The Resurrection and The Life. Whoever believes in Me will live, even though he dies."

Do you believe God? It is not enough to believe in God, for everyone believes in one god or another, one must also BELIEVE GOD and HIS LIVING WORD. Oh, seeker! Come to Jesus and LIVE! 

THE GOSPEL Of JOHN in INDIE FOLK

I Am Christian - The Weight of A Good Name - Part Two

    

  My name is Christian. My name is my reputation. My name is bound in Christ's Name for it is Christ I am named for. I am a person of honor and integrity. My word is my bond. When I say I will do this or that, I mean it. When I make a promise, I keep it. I am not perfect. I will fail. I will fall. But I will persevere through it all. 

    Though I contend with they who come against me to destroy me, I will not hate them. For I am filled with the Love of God: Jesus Christ. God loves. God loves all people everywhere. It is this great Love of God for a dying world that caused Him to send His only begotten Son Jesus Christ into the dying world. And this great Love of God LIVES IN ME, CHRISTIAN! So, I love with the Love of God. 

    I am a troubleshooter, a peacekeeper. I walk in the Wisdom of The LORD, for I am filled with His precious Holy Spirit, Who leads me through The Word of God and reveals God's intentions for me. In this Wisdom, I am compelled to share Christ with everyone I meet, wherever I am. My name is Christian and I will accomplish the tasks which God has prepared for me. 

    Though at times it may seem to myself or those watching me that I get very little to nothing done, it is God Who determines what has been accomplished in me and through me. Only God knows where His Word will go through my actions. Only God knows who will receive it and who will dismiss it. It is my privilege and my honor to serve Him in this capacity. It is also my job. I am a laborer in His field. My name is Christian, my name is Worker. 

    In my walk with Christ, I am a fellow laborer. I do not work alone. I do not study alone. I do not pray alone. I do not speak alone. I do not cry alone. I do not walk alone. I do live my life on my own terms but on Christ's terms. I do not rest alone. I do not read alone. And when I leave this world, I will not leave alone. My name is Christian. One way or another when I leave here, I'm going with Him. Whether I leave in death or leave at His return, I'm going with my Fellow Laborer. 

    My name is Christian. It is not a name I bear lightly. Heavy is this weight upon my shoulder. There is responsibility in being Christian. I must find out what it means to be Christian and live that life. I read my Bible out loud for my "faith comes by hearing and hearing by The Word of God". I delve into my Bible and study out what God wants me to know on a regular basis. For I must have The Word built up in me for such a time as when I cannot get my hands on a Bible, that The Holy Spirit may draw from within me the Strength of The Word, the Power of The Word, and pour it out upon the ears of they who will hear it, whether they receive It or not, I must have The Word in me. My name is Christian and I am Student, I am Studier. 

    I am the well, the cistern, in which The Water of Life dwells and flows through. I am Christian and I have set my face like flint. I feel it every time I study and remain focused on what The Spirit tells me to say. I hear what my King wants me to hear and I choose to obey. I am Christian and my name is Obedient. I neither grumble nor complain. Though the work in His field is hard, it is not impossible. The whip of self-righteousness and ignorance falls across my back and I forgive.  For I am Christ's servant: it is for Him I will suffer, for His glory is only increased. 

    My life is not my own. Galatians 2:20 "I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in The Son of God, Who loved me and gave Himself for me." 

ABBA - John Mark Pantana

INTO THE DEEP - Citipointe Worship

WAYMAKER - Leeland

THE MEASURE OF A MAN - 4Him 

BELONG TO YOU - Here Be Lions

Guard Your Heart - - Watch Your Walk

 

Galatians 5:25

If we live in The Spirit, let us also walk in The Spirit.

*Strong's Ex. Conc. No. 4748

Walk: to walk by rule

From the Greek word 'stoicheó' (pronounced stoy-kheh'-o); walk according to The Spirit, walk orderly, to walk in step with The Spirit.

We sing Where He Leads Me I Will Follow, and He Leadeth Me, sometimes without thinking about the HOW we are being led. If we walk in step with The Spirit, it is more than a following after His lead, it is keeping up with Him. Think of boot camp where the private is taught to keep in step with not only the drill sergeant but also the men and women walking with that soldier. One misstep and the whole order falls apart. 

    

    To walk in The Spirit is to 'walk according to His rule' (Galatians 6:16) wherein we walk out this new life in Christ in Truth and Liberty. For The Word tells us in 2 Corinthians 3:17,  "Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where The Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty." 

     Liberty to walk unbound by the bondage of sin, which once held us captive, ready to deliver us to death and hell. But now, having been set free from our sinful nature, we walk "in the newness of life" ( given us when we believe that Jesus Christ Is Lord and Savior. 

    If you are not a born again Christian you CANNOT walk in the Spirit of The Lord, for you have no New Life in Christ. You are still walking in darkness, bumping into things you cannot see and are but dimly aware of, if there is any awareness at all. You need to see the Light: the Light of God's Love extended to us through His only begotten Son Jesus Christ. We can only walk in The Spirit if we are living in The Light, for The Light shines on the path of the righteous, wherein The Spirit leads the faithful believer.  I pray you come to know the Love of God and His precious Holy Light. I pray for your salvation, the indwelling of The Holy Spirit within you and an eager joy birthed in you to serve the Lord your God with all faithfulness and urgency.​

   

Romans 6:3-5

3. Or aren’t you aware that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? 

4. We were therefore buried with Him through baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may walk in newness of life.

5. For if we have been united with Him like this in His death, we will certainly also be united with Him in His resurrection.

    When we live by, live in The Spirit, we are walking by His lead, walking in His authority, under His rule, in Love. When we truly follow His leading, our lives will show the fruit of walking in The Spirit: Galatians 5:22, 23 "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance. Against such things there is no law."

•     LOVE: Agape Love, Divine Love
•     JOY: The awareness of God's Grace
•     PEACE: God's Gift of Wholeness
•     LONGSUFFERING: Divinely-regulated Patience produced by The LORD 
•     GENTLENESS: Divine Kindness which meets the need(s); Meeting real needs in God's way, God's timing.
• GOODNESS: The Goodness which comes from God and reveals itself as spiritual excellence, moral excellence; a virtuous life.
• FAITH: God's Divine Persuasion, which He inbirths within us through the power of His Holy Spirit and which He refills us with each time we trust in Him and in His Word.
• MEEKNESS: Strength in Gentleness; Uncompromising, but firm; Temperate (Levelheaded, Sober {minded}, Restrained.
• TEMPERANCE: Self-Control from within; Mastering our desires with the power of The Lord through His Holy Spirit. Constraint, self-discipline.

    Let us walk in The Spirit. Let us walk in The Love of God, exhibiting the kindness of God to everyone we interact with. Walk in the Joy of knowing we are saved by the Grace of God. Walk in Peace, God's gift of Wholeness, knowing that we are complete in Him. 

    Let us walk in Longsuffering, in divinely-regulated patience, a long-tempered way of speaking and thinking, instead of  a short-tempered, short-fused way. Let not words of unkindness bleed through our lips when we get frustrated or upset.

    Let us walk in Gentleness, waiting on God to nudge us in the direction we need to go and serve Him in. Sometimes a simple prayer prayed with someone concerning their needs is what we are to do. Other times God reveals the need to someone and they bring what is needed to the person who needs it. (There was a time when I had no money for food. The boys and I prayed. That same night friends showed up at our door with armfuls of groceries for us. I had no phone so I could not call anyone. But I had faith that God would meet our needs and He did).

    Let us walk in the Goodness of God, living morally upright lives which reflect His Word and His Light and His Love to everyone that they may see Christ in us. This is not a 'holier than thou' stance, nor is it  judgmental living. It is letting The Spirit teach the believer how to live according to The Word of God which lives within us.

    Let us walk in Faith, believing, trusting God for His wisdom in making our every day decisions. Let us seek out, pursue and know His will that we may live righteous, holy lives before God.

    Let us walk in Meekness, leading uncompromising lives which shine the Light of God's Love into the darkness of the world around us. We walk knowing we have the mind of Christ: levelheaded, intelligent, wise, sober-minded. But not backing down in the fight against us. Not surrendering any part of our relationship with Christ, but making a steadfast showing of His Love and His Mercy to the unloved and unlovely, to the merciless and the unforgiving, to the hateful and the embittered. 

    Let us walk in Temperance, in the self-control, the self-disciplines, of The Spirit. Let us embrace Wisdom and allow it to be applied to our hearts and our minds. Let us surrender what we want and how we want it to God through His Holy Spirit, who seeks only to perfect us in the righteousness of Christ. 

    Can we be saved and live unholy lives? No. To be saved is to be saved from the punishment for sin. If sin is still ruling in us, then we are not living a holy lifestyle. The two cannot be on the same throne, especially the throne of our hearts. Sin must go when Christ enters in. 

     So let us walk in the newness of Life in Christ. Let us allow The Holy Spirit to lead us through God's Word and walk in The Way of Holiness, the path which God has set for His people to walk in. Come, walk with me.     

    Romans 8:5

Those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh; but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit.

HE LEADETH ME by Candi Pearson

FRUITS OF THE SPIRIT by Hillsong Young & Free

 SPIRIT LEAD ME (Oceans) by Hillsong United

WISDOM IN THE SECRET HEART by Shane & Shane

MOVE THROUGH ME by Charity Gayle 

 

Today's Word -- What The Law Reveals

 

The Law Cannot Give Life (eternal)

Galatians 3:20, 21

Now a mediator is not for just one person, but God is one. Is the law therefore contrary to God’s promises? Absolutely not! For if a law had been given that was able to give life, then righteousness would certainly be by the law. 

1 Timothy 2:5, 6

For there is one God, and there is one Mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself as a ransom for all—The Testimony that was given at just the right time. 

 

MEDIATOR: intervenes to restore peace between two parties, especially as it fulfills a compact or ratifies a covenant.  

Hebrews 8:6

Now, however, Jesus has received a much more excellent ministry, just as the covenant He mediates is better and is founded on better promises. 

Law Cannot Make Perfect 

Hebrews 7:19

(for the law made nothing perfect), and a better hope is introduced, by which we draw near to God. 

Law Does Not Justify

Acts 13:39

And by Him all that believe are justified from all things, from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses.

Law Cannot Give Life

1 Corinthians 15:56

The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.

Romans 3:20

Therefore no one will be justified in His sight by works of the law. For the law merely brings awareness of sin.

Law Reveals Sin And Sin Brings Death

Romans 7:9-11

Once I was alive apart from the law; but when the commandment came, sin sprang to life and I died.  So I discovered that the very commandment that was meant to bring life actually brought death. For sin, seizing its opportunity through the commandment, deceived me and through the commandment put me to death. 

Law Reveals The Need For A Savior

Galatians 2:16

Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.

Galatians 2:20

I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me. 

Romans 5:18

So then, just as one trespass brought condemnation for all men, so also one act of righteousness brought justification and life for all men. 

Isaiah 53:3-8

He is despised and rejected of men; a Man of Sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; He was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely He hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem Him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed. We all like sheep have gone astray, each one has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid upon Him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed and afflicted, yet He did not open His mouth. He was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so He did not open His mouth. He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken.

Do you see your need for a Savior? for this Savior which God has given us? Do you see your need for a Mediator between you and God? I do. I need Jesus to intercede on my behalf to God. Every day. 

Comes By

The born again believers' inheritance is Jesus Christ. Galatians 3:16 "Now to Abraham and his Seed were the promises made. He does not say, “And to seeds,” as of many, but as of one, “And to your Seed,” who is Christ." 

Our Inheritance Comes By The Promise

Galatians 3:18

For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise: but God gave it to Abraham by promise.

Our righteousness is by faith. Romans 4:13 "For the promise to Abraham and his offspring that he would be heir of the world was not given through the law, but through the righteousness that comes by faith."

Promise Comes By Faith

Romans 4:14-16

For if those of the Law are heirs, faith has been made void and the promise made of no effect.

For Law brings wrath; and where there is no Law, neither is transgression.

Therefore, the promise comes by faith, so that it may rest on grace and may be guaranteed to all Abraham’s offspring—not only to those who are of the law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham. He is the father of us all.

Our faith comes by hearing the word of God spoken. Whether it is God speaking to us in His Word when we read and study it for ourselves, or whether we hear it spoken by His undershepherds: His ministers and preachers. Make no doubt about it: God has a Voice and He is still speaking to anyone who will listen to Him.

Faith Comes By Hearing

Romans 10:17

So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

Now, let's open our Bibles, talk to God and ask Him to reveal today what He wants us to know.

Intelligent Worship -- Seek God -- Part 2

 Now that we recognize the Authority of the One True God, we earnestly desire to know Him better, so we Seek Him out, craving with all our hearts to hear His voice more clearly, that we may understand His Word more readily.

Isaiah 55:6

Seek the LORD while He may be found, Call upon Him while He is near.

Matthew 6:33

But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.

Luke 11:9-10

So I tell you: Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. 

In Isaiah 55 it is the Lord God Who is speaking. From verse one all the way through, we read and hear the Lord God speaking to us: from the promise to the warning to the reward. 

The Lord God will not always be found for one day He will not only pull His church from the face of the earth, but His Holy Spirit will leave, too. He will be sought by many who waited to long to surrender their hearts and their decision to believe in Him will be at the cost of their lives. 

Revelation 14:14-20

They who do not take the mark of the beast will be made to suffer and be killed for their decision. Many will refuse to take it and not still not believe the gospel of salvation through Jesus Christ. But those people who do believe will be added to the growing list of martyrs whose names are written in the Book of Life (Revelation 17:6). 

You know, once you start reading Revelation it's really hard to stop. Seeking the Lord is fulfilling to the heart and the spirit of me, as it surely and hopefully is to you, too. 

David wrote in Psalm 34:8 "Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!" To 'taste' here means 'to perceive, to know, to examine by tasting' in small quantities at a time to the goodness of the Lord. 

Synonyms for 'taste': Perceive, Discern, Savor (upon the {spiritual} tongue); Understanding, Desire, Heart; Appreciate, Have Knowledge Of. 

When I seek God, I want to know more than I already know. I started studying deeply before I became a minister of the Word. Just reading my Bible every day wasn't enough: I had to know, I craved the meat of the Word because I was growing up in Him exponentially. I still am. Some days I run, some days I walk, but every day I am in the Word. It is as much a part of me as breathing is. 

Philippians 1:20-21

I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have complete boldness so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. or to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

Galatians 2:20

I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.

Today's Word -- Shelter

 

PSALM 61:4

Let me dwell in Your tent forever and take refuge in the shelter of Your wings. Selah.

PSALM 91:1

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.

PSALM 27:5

For in the day of trouble He will hide me in His shelter; He will conceal me under the cover of His tent; He will set me high upon a rock.

Both Psalm 61:4 and Psalm 91:1 describe 'shelter' as a 'covering', while Psalm 27:5 references it to mean 'tabernacle or pavilion'. Only Psalm 27:5 is derived from the root word "cakak" which means 'covering', so we see that God is our Shelter, our covering, our tabernacle, our pavilion. 

The KJV of Psalm 91:1 says God is our 'secret place' and in Psalm 32:7 God is our 'Hiding Place'. All of these verses and many more refer to God as our Shelter. But what is shelter? Is it just four walls and a roof or is it more than that? 

If we only had four walls and a roof, would be sheltered? Where is our fire to keep us warm? Where are our meals to nourish us? From where does the water flow which quenches our thirst? How are we clothed? Are our feet properly shod? All of these things are in our Shelter when we are Sheltered by God. 

Isaiah 33:14-17 tells us that only the righteous can live where the fire of God burns.

Isaiah 55:1-2 tells us to purchase with faith what God has promised His people: He bids the thirsty to come and drink, the hungry to feast on the richest of foods, if (vs 3) they will only listen to Him.

Isaiah 61:3 says He gives us in garments of praise in exchange for garments of despair. Revelation 3:5 tells us we are dressed in white, while Revelation 19:8 is even more specific in definition: fine linen, bright and pure, which are the righteous acts of the saints. We can't apply this type of clothing to ourselves. It must be applied by faith in and obedience under our Shelter. 

Romans 13:14 tells us "put on the Lord Jesus Christ". Do you think this is impossible? Only through faith. Galatians 3:27 For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. Ephesians 4:21-32 shows us who we were without the covering of Christ's righteousness, how we should want to behave now that we are covered by Christ's righteousness and how to live a righteous lifestyle by turning our backs on the way we used to live versus the way we ought to live as God's people. 

Ephesians 6:15 is part of the spiritual armor of God that a born-again believer wears: sandaled with the gospel of peace. In other words, always ready to preach the Faithful and True Word of God in Love. Isaiah 52:7 How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, "Your God reigns!"

Are you this Sheltered? What's preventing you from opening the door of your heart and letting Jesus Christ in to it? 

Revelation 3:20 

Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone should hear My voice and open the door, then I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me.

The Blessed Event

      There are no Christian holidays. There are two days we as Christians should celebrate: the day we are born-again into the kingdom of God and the day we die. Both are celebrations of Life Eternal, a truly blessed event. 

     That being said, tradition has ingrained in me the desire to celebrate stolen holidays, like Christmas and Easter, though I no longer call it Easter (to me and many like me Easter is now Resurrection Sunday). And while our children are grown and our nest is empty, Christmas is the one holiday I do really get into. I love finding just the right gift for a person. I love the way faces light up, if I get to see them open their presents. I love the, "Wow! Thanks" I get when an unexpected guest or two show up and are handed a gift. I love giving, for that is how I express my love for my family and my friends at Christmastime.

     Christmas is a shortened word meaning "Christ's Mass" the term a Catholic priest gave it when the church was empty during the winter solstice. (see Britannica: Christmas origins for more).

     I made the mistake with my first born son of leading him to believe Santa was a real person, because that's how I grew up. Big Mistake. Because when he was old enough to go school he was informed Santa was not real. And I had to explain the symbolism behind it. I did not make that mistake with the next two. I raised them on practicality and Jesus' birth. 

     But if you look at the setting of the story of the nativity, the Word was not born in the wintertime. It rains in Israel during the winter months, most of the time. Mary being nine months pregnant would not have ridden any animal on the journey. I imagine Joseph being a carpenter would have handy a small cart of some type and size. There Mary would be able to travel better. 

     On the night of Christ's birth, it wasn't raining. We know this because a star like no other shone in the night sky, big and bright and unusual enough to draw people to the stable, a dark cave-like place where the animals were penned in. 

     Angels suddenly appeared in a clear night sky where shepherds were out in the fields guarding their sheep. In the wintertime these same shepherds would have been closer to home and the sheep would have wintered safely in stables or larger buildings. But on this night they were out in the fields. 

     We don't need to know the date of Christ's birth. It is enough that we know He died on the cross, that His blood washes away our sins when we repent, that God forgives us when we seek His forgiveness, that Jesus rose from the dead and walked out of the grave into eternity. It is enough to know that Jesus Christ stands at the right hand of His Father interceding on our behalf. It is enough that the precious gift of God, the Holy Spirit, fills us with power to preach the gospel of salvation through Jesus Christ. It is enough that this same Holy Spirit leads us and guides us through a life lived according to God's Word. 

     That's my Christmas. That's my Jesus. That's what I celebrate. Every day of my life. 

     Do I wish you a Merry Christmas? Do I say Happy Holidays? How am I to greet people now? What should I say? 

Happy Joy of The Lord to you. And what response might expect? The same back to me with joyful exultation. Happy Joy of the Lord to you!!

Luke 15:10

Ecclesiastes 7:1

Luke 2:1-20

Matthew 1:18-25, 2:1-11

John 3:16-17

Acts 2:1-41

Galatians 5

I Declare

 I declare that Jesus Is LORD and believe in my ❤️ that God raised Him from the dead, therefore I am saved. For it is be believing in my ❤️ that I am made right with God, and it is by openly declaring my faith that I am saved. 

Romans 10:9-10

For by grace am I saved through faith, not of anything I have done, but it is the gift of God, not by works that I have done.

Ephesians 2:8-9

Why do we need to be saved? And what are we being saved from?

John 3:16 

"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved." 

Unbelief determines destination after death. 

John 3:18-21

"Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. 

And this is the verdict: The Light has come into the world, but men loved the darkness rather than the Light because their deeds were evil.

Everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come into the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed.

But whoever practices the truth comes into the Light, so that it may be seen clearly that what he has done has been accomplished in God."

Revelation 21:8

But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.

Galatians 5:19-21

The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity, and debauchery; idolatry and sorcery; hatred, discord, jealousy, and rage; rivalries, divisions, factions, and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

1 John 1:7-9

If we say we have fellowship with Him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.  But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Galatians 5:22-23

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

The Cross Has Two Sides

 

There are two sides to the cross: the front and the back. The front of the cross is the part we see when first we come to the cross. The eyes of our heart want to look away, for the sight before us is one of death and shame. 

Blood covers the cross where the body of Christ bled and died on it. It is a means of humiliation, torment and torture (Deuteronomy 21:23; Acts 5:30; Galatians 3:13) He was beaten so badly He was unrecognizable (Isaiah 52:14; Isaiah 53:2; Isaiah 50:6; Psalm 22). Yet the cross is known even to His enemies, for none can really take their eyes off of it. 

The Roman soldier who stood looking on at the Man who had been nailed to the cross, who stood where the blood was flowing, knew that here was a righteous man (Mark 15:39). 

If we listen to the Voice of Reason, which tells us this is where the Savior of the world died, then we can make our way to the back of the cross. But to get there we will have to go through the blood.

With our eyes wide open, and our hearts having received the knowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, we are able to walk through the blood which was shed for us and make our way to the other side of the cross. 

Death is not here. Shame is not here. We left those on the other side, under the blood. Life is here. Joy is here. Victory is here.  Jesus is here. He's not on the cross any longer. 

In the blood 

we are forgiven. 

For it is the blood of Christ which washes away all our sins, WHEN we repent. It is not enough to be sorry for what we have done wrong. It is not enough to be remorseful for our wrongdoings.

Even Judas was sorry for his actions. He saw the immediate results of his betrayal of his Friend. But he did not repent. He tried to give the money back. But he did not repent. 

Unless we repent of the sins we have committed against the Word of God, we will not be forgiven. We must go through the blood of Christ on the cross in order to walk out of the grave with Him. 

We cannot live a new life in Him unless we go through Him. 

I am forgiven. Every day I ask the Holy Spirit to search my heart and show me where I need to be washed clean. Then I repent and ask for help and strength to not commit the same crimes against God that I have already been forgiven for. And He helps me. 

If you don't already have it, you, too, can have this relationship with Jesus Christ. All you have to do is ask God for it. You will know the change when it happens. No fancy prayer, just talk to Him from your hearts. Like I did. 

 

The Clothes Make The Man - Part Two

  

We have heard it said, "It's what's inside that counts". This is certainly true of the Christian man or woman. Now that we are saved, how does what's inside us become Christ-like? 

Galatians 5:16 "This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh." 

In order to walk in the Spirit of God, we need the Spirit of God within us and upon us, that we may hear God more clearly, that is, with understanding, gaining knowledge and applying Wisdom to our lives on a daily basis. 

It is true that we can change ourselves, but only to a certain degree of change. It is God who changes the heart by His divine power. It is God who leads us by His Holy Spirit with His divine power. It is God who saves the souls of mankind by the blood of His only begotten Son Jesus Christ by His divine power. It is God who resurrects us to everlasting life through the death of our flesh, changing us from a fleshly being to an eternal being by His divine power. 

Now is the time to allow God's Holy Spirit into your life, changing you and I from clay to spirit. For the Word of God tells us that those who worship God must worship Him in spirit and in truth, for God Is Spirit. John 4:23-24 "But a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth, for the Father is seeking such as these to worship Him. God is Spirit, and His worshipers must worship Him in spirit and in truth.”

It is very simple to receive the Holy Spirit of God into our lives. All we have to do is believe God that when we ask His Holy Spirit to come upon us, we will receive His Holy Spirit. Of course, the Spirit only rests upon the believer; therefore, we must be saved by believing on the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ for our salvation. We must repent of our sins, the unrighteous things we have done and said and thought. 

We read in Acts 2 how the faithful believers, men and women, gathered for fellowship and prayer in an upper room of a house. They were there for 50 days waiting on God to send His blessed Holy Spirit who would give them the power to share the gospel. And arrive He did. Sound of a mighty wind. Flames of Fire. The Spirit could be heard (wind) and seen (flames) by the believers who were waiting for His arrival. How awesome is that! 

When contemplating the trinity, what do you think of? There is God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit. Are you smiling? Are tears making their way down your cheeks as your eyes blur? The unsaved and unfilled have only an inkling but no understanding of the things of God. Believe. Be saved. Be filled. Be holy. 

It is the Spirit of God who makes us holy. It is the Spirit of God who creates within us a clean heart. Psalm 51:9-11 "Hide Your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from Your presence; take not Your Holy Spirit from me." (this was David's prayer)

Repentance + Renewal + Restoration = Forgiven & Filled

 O Lord God, I confess my sins before You. Wash me clean and make me holy. As King David said, 'Renew a right spirit within me', too. Draw me close to You. May Your Holy Spirit remain within me. Your Strength is what I need to obey Your Word. Fill me with Your Love and Your Truth that I may walk in Your Spirit and gain strength every day of my life. As I pray Your Word over my life and the lives of they whom I pray for, may Your Name be glorified and Your kingdom advanced. In Jesus' Name, His beautiful Holy Name, Amen. 

 

The Clothes Make the Man - Part One

 I am one of those people who hears God in the middle of the night. There was a time before this time when I could write down what He was saying without leaving the comforts of my bed, for I kept a notebook and a pen near to hand. But over the last few years my beautiful penmanship has dwindled to an incomprehensible scrawl. Now I must either type it all up in here or forego the treasure of hearing God's voice. So I'm in here on the computer typing my treasures up.

As I began to fall asleep the Spirit began to stir my spirit. Mark Twain said "Clothes make the man", meaning how a person dresses determines his level of influence. Another quote I have heard is that "Man makes the clothes", meaning it is who you are on the inside that determines your actions on the outside. Both are right. 

In the sphere of Christianity it is Whom we are clothed with that determines our destiny. Romans 13:14 "But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill the lusts thereof." Romans 12 and 13 deal with Christian conduct, how we are to behave ourselves now that we are Christians; ending with Romans 13:14, reminding us to display outwardly the change which Christ has wrought inwardly. 

Galatians 3:27-29 tells us that having been baptized into Christ we are to put on Christ, because what once divided us in the world has no place in the body of Christ. 

Ephesians 4:24 "Put on the new man which God created in righteousness and true holiness."

Galatians 5:16 "This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh."

We see, then, that we are clothed in the righteousness of God, Jesus Christ, through faith in the Word of God. We are also clothed in holiness through the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit. Therefore, clothes not only make the man, or woman, but the changed man or woman is evidenced outwardly by what is happening inwardly. It is nothing we can do of ourselves either. Eventually, the facade  would deteriorate and who we really are would be self-evident to all. 

Only the divine power of God can change a person permanently. Only the divine power of God can eradicate who a person once was to become the person God knows them to be. 

 

 

Support Beam

 

Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. -- Galatians 6:2

BEAR - Take Up, Endure, Tolerate, Support

SUPPORT - To bear or hold up; To sustain or withstand without giving way; To undergo or endure with patience and submission; to tolerate

This is what happens when we pray for each other. We 'Lift them Up' to God and God does the rest. But when we LIFT up each other in prayer, we are Bearing Up beneath them to hold them up. We are the Support Beam that raises them when they begin to fail. 

We hold them up with the body of Christ in our hearts:

--with our eyes we see a need and lift it up

--with our hands we bring them in

--with our arms we embrace, encourage and strengthen

--with our shoulders we catch their tears

--with our legs we take a stance and hold them fast where we stand

--with our feet we remain in an immoveable position, without sliding or slipping

--with our head (mind, mind of Christ, we remember each other's needs

--with our tongue we speak the Word of Life

--with our lips we praise God

--with our heart we Love One Another as Christ has Loved Us