Showing posts with label Book of Hebrews. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Book of Hebrews. Show all posts

Thursday, March 28, 2024

Statements of Faith - Washed In The Blood

 


1 Corinthians 6:11
And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified, in The Name of The Lord Jesus Christ and by The Spirit of our God. 
Hebrews 9:13-14
For if the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that their bodies are clean,  how much more will the blood of Christ, who through The eternal Spirit offered Himself unblemished to God, purify our consciences from works of death, so that we may serve the living God!


THE REPENTANT HEART
Psalm 51:1-3
For the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. When Nathan the prophet came to him after his adultery with Bathsheba. Have mercy on me, O God, according to Your loving devotion; according to Your great compassion, blot out my transgressions.
Wash me clean of my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.
For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me.

    The commandments of God revealed the impossibleness of being saved through the law and that a Savior from God was needed to bring us into a right relationship with God. This Savior from God came to this earth and showed us the Way back into God's grace and mercy. His Name is Jesus Christ and He is God's only begotten Son (John 3:16). 
    God took His Word and wrapped it in the fragility of flesh (John 1:14) and through the power of His Holy Spirit, God placed His Word in Mary's womb (Luke 1:35). His Name, Jesus, means "He shall save His people" (Matthew 1:21, Luke 1:31). 
    Not, however, through the conquering Kingship God's people were expecting. God's plan of salvation was to send His perfect Lamb to be the atoning sacrifice which would be the "once and for all" salvation of God's people. No longer would animal sacrifices be necessary. For when God's Lamb died, the veils to the holy of holies was ripped open wide and now all had access to God through Christ; but only through Christ Jesus. For "There is no other Name under heaven by which men must be saved." (Acts 4:12). 
    My sins have been washed in the blood of The Lamb of God and I am forgiven! Come to the cross and see The Lamb of God which takes away the sins of the world! 







Wednesday, January 10, 2024

I Am Christian's Soul - Part Two

 


    I am Christian's soul. My soul is comprised of my heart, my mind, my strength. These three things are so intertwined it is impossible to separate them. What and how I think takes place in my mind. Then my thoughts travel to my heart, where I may ponder them and consider my next action regarding my thoughts. How I put my thoughts into action comes from my attitude towards what I am thinking about. 
    My soul has a price, it has value. Because I have been purchased by the blood of The Lamb of God, Jesus Christ, my soul belongs to Him. This redemptive process began when I believed on The Name of The Lord for my salvation. Now I am in the holiness stage where The Holy Spirit of God is making me holy, for without this holiness from God, I could not be with God. For He demands holiness from His people. 
    My 💙 is filled with the love of God, the agape kind of love, which is unconditional. No requirements are there to this love. When God loves us, He loves all of us. That's why He sent His Son, His Word, to us: that Jesus would Redeem us through His death and give us new life through His resurrection. John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes on Him should not perish, but have everlasting life
    My 💙 contains my faith. My faith has come from hearing The Word of God in all its fulness and truth and applying it to my everyday way of life. When I waken, I thank Him for a new day and I praise Him for Who He Is. As I move through my day, He is with me by His Spirit, encouraging me in His Word and the music He provides to me.
    My 💙 is the seat of my emotions. I have known joy and I have known sorrow. I love, but I cannot hate. Compassion and mercy flow through me. I have both sympathy and empathy within me. A sympathetic heart commiserates with the unknown trials a person goes through. An empathetic heart, having gone through various trials, knows the value of the words spoken or unspoken in those given situations. 
    I am Christian and this is my heart. 
My 🤔 is sound and sober. Though a million thoughts may race through me at any given moment, the only thoughts that matter are the ones that stay. Memories live here briefly. Most remain in the heart. Some fade away with time. 
    Because I have the mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:16), I am clear-minded and can see with clarity. No longer do I live in a rose-colored world, nor do I bury my head in the sand. I read and I watch. I am alert and aware of the events going on around me. But I am not afraid for God The Lord is with me. I live in anticipation of the soon and coming King, for I see prophecies being fulfilled before my eyes and I hear of great and mighty things happening not just in faraway places but right here up close and personal. 
    My 🤔 is focused on the job at hand, this field work which I have been given to do. Though some days I struggle, with The Lord so close to me, I am able to perform the task given. I never work alone. The Lord has given me many tasks in His Word. There are times when I can get more than one done at a time. Some of my tasks are woven into each other and are unbreakable. 
    His Word says to "seek first the kingdom of God", which means I need to know God first before I can go looking for His kingdom or even begin to increase His kingdom, advancing His cause across the regions. Knowing God:  Acts 17:24 "The God who made the world and everything in it is The Lord of heaven and earth, and does not live in temples made by hands." Know The Lord: Hebrews 8:11 "No longer will each one teach his neighbor or his brother, saying, 'Know The Lord,' because they will all know Me, from the least of them to the greatest."
    I am Christian and this is my mind.
    My strength, my attitude, is how I perceive that which is spoken to me and by me; it is how I process the things which I have heard and seen with my heart and my mind. I can live in despair and doubt or I can live in hope and faith. I choose to live in hope and faith. I choose to persevere and move forward regardless of the pain of movement or the knowledge that what lies ahead could be dangerous and life-threatening.
     My life does not belong to me, therefore nothing should stop me from pursuing the righteousness of Christ that I may obtain the crowns which He has for me; only to lay these crowns at His feet. For everything I have has been received from Him and it is only fit and due that I give it all back to Him. Attitude: Acts 20:24  "But I do not consider my life as something of value or dear to me, so that I may [with joy] finish my course and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify faithfully of the good news of God’s [precious, undeserved] grace [which makes us free of the guilt of sin and grants us eternal life]."
    My strength, my attitude is my will: it is the "I want", the "I have to have it" and "I need" of a person's desire. I am Christian and I have surrendered my will to God's will. For I have learned, and am still learning, that Father knows best. Therefore, what I want is what God wants: that all people everywhere should be saved. Having surrendered my will to His has changed my prayer life. His strength is my joy and my salvation. 
    I am Christian's soul and I am constantly being attacked by Satan and the little darts he throws in my direction. My shield of faith must always be raised to block them. So I will stand firm on The Word of God and I will be His steadfast servant. For I have armed myself with The Word of God, The Love of God and The Hope of My Salvation. I am strong in The Lord and in the power of His might (Ephesians 6:10); I am fearless. Yet the enemies of my soul should live in fear of what Christ is doing through me and in me. 
    I am Christian's soul and I live in Christ Who lives in me. 

JESUS HAVE IT ALL - Jeremy Riddle
MAKE ROOM - Community Music

Saturday, April 29, 2023

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.





Monday, April 17, 2023

A Crucified Life - - Is The Temple of God

 

2 Corinthians 6:16
And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? for you are the temple of the Living God, as God has said, I will dwell with them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.

*Strong's Ex. Conc. No. 3485
Temple:  that part of the temple where God Himself resides.
From the Greek word 'naos' (pronounced nah-os'): sanctuary (divine dwelling-place); temple (sacred abode)

    The temple of God where God dwelt consisted of two rooms: the Holy Place and the Holy of Holies (Hebrew 9:1-10). Hebrews 9:11-28 details how Christ became our Tabernacle and opened up both rooms for the Christian believer's access. 
    Where God is sin cannot be. No agreement, no tolerance, no working together. You cannot plait together nettles and hemp. The strength of the latter would be lacerated and shredded by the first, rendering the twining useless and revealing it for a complete waste of time and effort.
    God will not stay where He is mocked. Tear down the idols you have built up in your heart and your churches. Hasten to receive God into your hearts and be prepared to leave when He sends His Son to bring you with Him. 
    When the Ark of the Covenant was placed in a pagan temple, all the idols were knocked over (1 Samuel 5:1-4). For our God is greater and higher than any manmade object of worship. This includes self-righteousness, self-promotion. To put sin in the church and declare it to be of God is to call God a liar and bring His wrath on that church and its congregants.
    As God's temple, we are to be holy, a holy people for a holy God. And that only comes about when we have the Holy Spirit of God also living in us, working through and with us, to make us holy. That won't happen when a person is not only living a sinful lifestyle, but refuses to give up their sin, their uncleanness, their unholy living. 
    A crucified life recognizes sin for sin. The thorns and the nails have pierced the heart, nailing the sin to its place of humiliation. Repenting of the sin at the moment it is revealed brings forgiveness and restoration from God. The heart is made cleaner. The mind is restored to soundness and sober thinking (vigilant, rational thinking). 
    We need to knock down and destroy everything that is not of God and God's Word. We do that by receiving Christ into our hearts and obeying the voice of the Holy Spirit of God. We go where we are sent. We speak what we hear. In the power of God we choose to live the life He has designed for us. 
    Do you want the presence of God in your heart, your mind, your whole life? Turn your hearts to God now. Turn your back on the sins you have been living in (repent) and seek God's desire for your life (seek first His kingdom). Turn your face to His face and be made complete in Him in Christ. There's no other way to have the presence of the Living God in us but to comply with His requirements to do so. 
    1 Peter 1:13-15
Therefore prepare your minds for action. Be sober-minded. Set your hope fully on the grace to be given you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
As obedient children, do not conform to the passions of your former ignorance.
But just as He who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do. 
    Hebrews 4:15,16
For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have One Who was tempted in every way that we are, yet was without sin. 
Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

A TABLE FULL OF STRANGERS Vol 1 (what I listened to while I studied)

Friday, March 3, 2023

A Crucified Life - - We Speak Jesus

 

2 Corinthians 4:13-14
And in keeping with what is written: " “I believed, therefore I have spoken,” we who have the same spirit of faith also believe and therefore speak, knowing that the One who raised the Lord Jesus will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you in His presence.

*Strong's Ex. Conc. No. 2980
Speak: talk, talkative
From the Greek word 'laleó' (pronounced (lal-eh'-o): I make myself heard.
THE SAME FAITH
    Paul was quoting David who wrote in Psalm 116:10 "I believed, therefore I said, "I am greatly afflicted." Thereby acknowledging that the faith of they who believed without having seen God's Christ is the same faith we now hold within us. 
    Hebrews 11 is the chapter commonly referred to as The Hall of Faith, wherein is detailed to some extent who believed and that it was 'counted unto them for righteousness'. It begins with the definition of faith: "Now faith is the substance (assurance) of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders (the ancients) obtained a good report."
    Our first example in this chapter is Abel. Hebrews 11:4 "By faith Abel offered God a better sacrifice than Cain did. By faith he was commended as righteous when God gave approval to his gifts. And by faith he still speaks, even though he is dead."
LEAD BY EXAMPLE
    As we have been given, and still continue to give each other, the Word of encouragement, we also should lead by example and encourage one another even now with our faith in God. 
    Hebrews 11:6 tells us faith in God is necessary. "And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who approaches Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him."
    Faith in God produces action; we believe Him, therefore we obey Him. We believe His Words are Faithful and True, therefore we give voice to what and Whom we believe. And we cannot stop ourselves from proclaiming the nature of God and the Love of God in Christ. We want you to have this same faith, too.  
    Faith is knowing. See 2 Corinthians 4:14 "knowing that the One who raised the Lord Jesus will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you in His presence." We have this Hope of Resurrection.
     Christ IN us cleanses us from all unrighteousness. Christ ON us is our righteousness. Christ on the cross FORGIVES and SAVES us. Christ resurrected from the grave CHANGES us. Though we have not yet obtained the glorious bodies we will be given, we determine to live as though we have. 
     We live by faith: Galatians 2:20. We walk by faith: 2 Corinthians 5:7. We overcome the world with faith: 1 John 5:4. The word of faith is what we proclaim/declare, make known to all will hear us speak: Romans 10:8. 
    We speak Christ and Him crucified (1 Corinthians 1:18-25). 

I Speak Jesus
Same God
I Know Whom I Have Believed
King of Glory







Monday, February 20, 2023

Heart & Soul - - True Heart

 

Hebrews 10:22
Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.

*Strong's Ex. Conc. No. 228
True Heart: real, genuine, made of truth
From the Hebrew word 'aléthinos' (pronounced al-ay-thee-nos'),  emphasizing the organic connection (authentic unity) between what is true and its source or origin. 

Antonyms, opposites of, true would include: inaccurate, counterfeit, false, flawed, deceptive, corrupt, evil and disloyal.

    It is important to have a True Heart, because without it we will not see God and live. Though all will see God on judgment day not all will remain with God for all eternity. Too many will have chosen not to be with God. By their own actions/inactions they will have sent themselves to hell, for that is the destination of the unbeliever. Even if a person says they are a Christian in their lifetime, their own words and actions deny that such a spiritual transformation has taken place. 
    THE COVENANT OF BLOOD
    When Adam and Eve sinned in the garden of Eden, God had to kill an animal and cover their sinfulness with its hide, a shadow of the Lamb of God Who would die on the cross to cover/wash away/remove sins. The coverings Adam and Eve made for themselves were not enough to cover their nakedness completely, and so were inadequate. As filthy rags, our attempts to cover or remove sin are just as inadequate. We need a better covering and that Covering is Jesus Christ. (Genesis 3:21; Isaiah 64:6; Hebrews 8:6).
    When the tenth and last plague was about to cover the land of Egypt before the Israelites were kicked out of Egypt, God instructed Moses on the proper way to sacrifice a lamb whose blood would be used to cover the door frames of each Israelite's home where the lamb would be eaten. (Exodus 12:1-13).
    When Moses met God and heard what He had to say before Moses spent those first forty days and nights on the mountaintop with God, the LORD God spoke the Ten Commandments and the law to him, as a boss would dictate to his secretary. Moses wrote every word down making this writing the Book of the Covenant (Exodus 24:7), which he then sprinkled with the blood of the peace offering, of the young bulls which had been sacrificed for that purpose. Then Moses sprinkled the blood on the people, signifying the covenant between God and themselves. (Exodus 24:1-8). 
    When the Lamb of God which takes away the sins of the world came to us, the instruction is also made clear that this blood must be applied (1) Individually, and (2) By Faith. 
(1) John 1:12, 3:18, 20:31; Mark 16:16. 
(2) Hebrews 11 (the Hall of Faith); Ephesians 2:8, 9; Colossians 1:1-29. 
    The True Heart is the heart that has acknowledged its unrighteousness and evilness in living a life that was not pleasing to God. In so doing it also recognizes its need for a Savior to bring salvation which can cleanse the True Heart of its sins and bring it to a right relationship with God. 
    The True Heart is more than sincere in its desire to know God personally, it recognizes the urgency to meet God face to face and the strong desire to hear Him speak with it in private: a one-on-one encounter that will forever change a person. 
THE WASHING OF THE WORD
    Having received Christ into its heart by faith in the Name of the Son of God (Romans 10:8-10), the True Heart now sees the need for outer purification as well and is baptized, submerged beneath the water, representing being buried with Christ in the tomb, then raised to new life in Him. 
    The heart gets sprinkled with the blood of Christ by faith; the body gets washed in the water of purification in a public display of this transforming power of God to change a person from the inside outward. 
    While it is not always possible to receive a water baptism after proclaiming one's belief in the Name of the Son of God, those who can, do so. There were two thieves hung on their own crosses next to Christ, one on each side. One died in his sins, the other declared his faith in Christ. There was no time for him to be baptized, but with Christ he is now and forevermore. 
    Christ, as our example always, was baptized by His cousin John, where those who were nearby heard John cry out to them, "Behold! The Lamb of God which takes away the sins of the world!" (John 1:29-31) Upon Christ also came the Spirit of heaven, like a dove, which rested upon Him (John 1:32-34).
    And just before Jesus was arrested He washed His disciples' feet. This was the example of servitude He set for them. They/we should not consider themselves/ourselves above the needs of other just because they were/we are His disciples. We are the body of Christ and we should interact with each other as Christ interacted with His first disciples. (John 13:1-17). 
    Let us come now with True Hearts and receive today what God has in store for His faithful people. 
    

Saturday, November 26, 2022

Thanks Be To God - - For His Continued Presence

 

HEBREWS 13:5

Let your manner of life be without covetousness, being satisfied with the present; for He Himself has said: "Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you."

LIFE LIVED IN PEACE
Conversation means lifestyle, manner of life. We are to live peaceable lives which glorify God. Lives lived in such a way do not covet, desire, what is not theirs to have. It's okay if we don't keep up with the Joneses of this world. We have God for our God and He is Enough.
Exodus 20:17
Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour's.

LIFE LIVED SATISFIED
We are to live a satisfied life, a life that says, I am content with the God who provides for me. As long as I follow His Word, His lead, He will be my God and I will be of His people. 
Philippians 4:11-13
11. I am not saying this out of need, for I have learned to be content regardless of my circumstances.
12. I know how to live humbly, and I know how to abound. I am accustomed to any and every situation—to being filled and being hungry, to having plenty and having need.
13. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

LIFE LIVED FEARLESSLY
We are to live our lives in Him, with Him and for Him: for He is with us always, as long as we are with Him. 
Hebrews 13:6
So we say with confidence: “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?”

LIFE LIVED IN HIS PRESENCE
We are to give this life we have been given back to the One who gave us life. Romans 12:1 tells us to 'surrender our bodies a living sacrifice'. God wants us to live in Him and He wants to live in us. 
If we want to live fearlessly in this world, we need to live life according to God's Word and maintain a loving, working relationship with God through Jesus Christ. This is the foundation on which we build satisfied, fearless lives. 
Matthew 28:20
Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
Isaiah 41:10
Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of My Righteousness.

LIFE LIVED IN CHRIST
If we want God to remain with us, we need to remain with Him. Once saved, always saved is not a viable option. His Word warns us against leaving Him, for without His continued presence amongst His people, His wrath will fall on us. We will be judged and found lacking. But when we obey His Word and follow His Spirit, we will lack nothing, for He is with us. 
John 15:4
Remain in Me, and I will remain in you. Just as no branch can bear fruit by itself unless it remains in the vine, neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in Me. 
Romans 12:4, 5
4. Just as each of us has one body with many members, and not all members have the same function,
5. so in Christ we who are many are one body, and each member belongs to one another.
1 Peter 2:5
Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.

Strong's Ex. Conc. No. 3306
Remain: stay, abide, wait for; I stay, I wait for, I abide; not depart, not leave, continue to be present


Dear God, 
As Sarah said, You Are The God Who Sees. See me, see my heart and prepare me to face those who will come against me as I follow You in Your Word. Strengthen my heart to be better equipped to serve You. 
Lord, I long to see Your face and hear Your voice: help me to do so. With joy I search Your Word and ask You to reveal Yourself more everyday. Be strength for those who have walked this journey before me, whom I have loved and admired. Be their memories and their wisdom; remove not their testimony, nor their witness. 
As our elders leave us, meet us where we are and bring us to where You are. Though our hands are weak and our knees are feeble, You are our Strength: You impart Yourself to us and we are made the stronger for it. You give us vision for the days ahead, wisdom to know when to speak and when to remain silent. 
Help us to glorify Your name wherever we are or may go. As we strive to remain in You, may we be more aware than ever that You are with us. Even now.
In Jesus' Beautiful Name, I pray,
Amen

Nothing Without You by Will Reagan

Whom Shall I Fear? by Chris Tomlin





Monday, November 21, 2022

Thanks Be To God - - For His Unshakable Kingdom


 Hebrews 12:28
Therefore, since we are receiving an unshakable kingdom, let us be filled with gratitude, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe.

*Strong's Ex. Conc. No. 761
Unshakable: immovable
From the Greek word 'asaleutos' (pronounced as-al'-yoo-tos)
Used only twice in the New Testament: once in today's verse and again in Acts 27:41, when Paul and his fellow travelers were caught in a violent squall: "But having fallen into a place between two seas, they ran the vessel aground. And indeed the bow, having stuck fast, remained immovable, and the stern was being broken up by the violence of the waves."

Daniel 2:44
In the days of those kings, the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed, nor will it be left to another people. It will shatter all these kingdoms and bring them to an end, but will itself stand forever.

Not everyone will receive the Unshakable Kingdom: only the born again believers who live by their faith in the Word of God. For this Unshakable Kingdom has but one King and His Name is King of Kings. This King of Kings is an Unshakable King, for God has set Him on high to be worshiped and adored. 

Philippians 2:8-11
8. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross.
9. Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the name above all names,
10. that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11. and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.


Daniel 7:14
And He was given dominion, glory, and kingship, that the people of every nation and language should serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and His kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.

This Unshakable Kingdom cannot be overthrown, nor will its King ever be defeated. Though the enemy came against Him and tried to take Him out, King Jesus fulfilled God's plan by becoming the sin offering which would take away the sins of the world once and for all. No more would animal sacrifice be needed: for the Lamb of God Which Takes Away the Sins of the World had indeed done just that. 
King Jesus allowed the angry mob who had come against Him to torture Him and nail Him to the cross. God laid our sins upon Him and "God made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God." (2 Corinthians 6:21)
Isaiah 53:11, 12
11. After the anguish of His soul, He will see the light of life and be satisfied. By His knowledge My righteous Servant will justify many, and He will bear their iniquities.
12. Therefore I will allot Him a portion with the great, and He will divide the spoils with the strong, because He has poured out His life unto death, and He was numbered with the transgressors. Yet He bore the sin of many and made intercession for the transgressors.

Knowing we will inhabit this Unshakable Kingdom, we come to the realization that we must be Unshakable Inhabitants
1 Corinthians 15:58
Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast and immovable. Always excel in the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.
2 Corinthians 7:1
Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
Colossians 1:22, 23
22. But now He has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy, unblemished, and blameless in His presence— 
23. if indeed you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope of the gospel you heard, which has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant.

We must continue to follow Christ now matter how rough the seas, how adverse the people; regardless of who comes against us and Christ in us, this battle for our souls is not ours to fight: it is God's. Like many a warrior before us, our job is to put on the full armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-20). Our part is to trust God and obey His Word when He speaks to us.
 His Word is always a Now Word, for The Word of God is Alive through the Power of God. God's Word flows from God's mouth via God's Holy Spirit. It flows into the hearts of the people to whom God speaks, many upon many will receive this Word with joy and become God's people. Sadly, many will hear God call them to salvation and service and they will reject His Word and His Spirit. 

We are the Unshakable Inhabitants of an Unshakable Kingdom. As Peter writes to the church in 1 Peter 2:9 "But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of Him who hath called you out of darkness into His marvellous light." And we should be living accordingly. Otherwise, our service, our worship will not be acceptable to God. 

Unshakable Inhabitants are filled with grace, with gratitude, to the Holy God who has saved us from all our unrighteousness because He loves us. We live godly fear and reverence before Him, always aware of our shortcomings and His glory. 
We approach the throne of judgment with shame for how we have behaved and are awestruck by how He forgives us when we repent of our wicked ways. 
We kneel in His presence and confess that He is Lord. Lord of All. Lord of Us. Lord of me. 
Psalm 23:1a
The Lord is My Shepherd. 
John 1:12, 13
12. But to all who did receive Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God—13. children born not of blood, nor of the desire or will of man, but born of God.

It's a personal thing. It's an intimate relationship thing. Though Christ died for all, salvation is received on an individual basis. Each one of us is called by God out of the darkness of this world. Each one of us must choose whether to obey the call of God and follow the Light of Christ or turn our faces from God. 
Should a person choose not to answer God's call, not to follow Christ, then God will have no other alternative but to turn His face from each one of them when they appear before Him. The end result of not receiving salvation through Jesus Christ is death: twice. 
The first death is to go to hell. The second death is when hell is thrown into the lake of fire which burns for all eternity. This is not a symbolic death: it is real, it is painfully painful and it is not where I plan on spending eternity. I don't want you there either. 

Revelation 20:12-15
12. 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.
13. The sea gave up its dead, and Death and Hades gave up their dead, and each one was judged according to his deeds.
14. Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death—the lake of fire.
15. And if anyone was found whose name was not written in the Book of Life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.

Be one of the few, the humble, the meek, the pure, the righteous, the saved. Join the throng that serves God in heaven. Make music for God and King, filling the air with your worship. Choose Jesus, choose Life. 
Come, now is the time to give your hearts to the Lord. Now is the day to answer God's call and surrender your lives to His service. 

Dear God,
Thank You for saving me, for calling me out of the darkness of this world and into Your marvellous Light. Thank You for imbedding Your Holy Word into my heart and filling me with Your Holy Spirit. For You are a Holy God and Your very holiness demands that Your people be holy, too. I need You to make me holy. I am clay and You are my potter. Mold me into the vessel You require me to be. 
Even now I lift up each one reading this message, that they, too, would give their hearts to You and surrender their lives to Your service, to be filled with godly fear and reverence, obtaining Your mercy and Your lovingkindness that they may be filled to overflowing with the joy of their salvation in You. 
You are the God of my salvation and the joy of my life. Forgive me, Father, of any and all unrighteousness that is still within me. Prepare me, get me ready, to be with You and help me to help others. I want my papers in order, all the tees crossed and all the iiis dotted. Only You can do that. Help me, us, to lead extraordinary lives in Your grace that we may remain steadfast and unshakable for Your glory.
May I seek Your face, Father, all the days of my life that You may see mine. 
In Jesus' Holy Name, I pray,
Amen

O, Come To The Altar by Elevation Worship

The Well by Casting Crowns

I Shall Not Be Moved by The Easters (Gaither Music)


Sunday, September 25, 2022

The Lord Is -- September

 

AGKURA
(pronounced ang'-koo-rah)
ANCHOR

Hebrews 6:19
 We have this Hope as an Anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain. (CSB)

Psalm 119:61
Evil people try to drag me into sin, but I am firmly anchored to Your instructions. (NLT)






EDUTH
(pronounced ay-dooth')
THE TESTIMONY

Exodus 30:6
Place the altar in front of the veil that is before the ark of the Testimony--before the mercy seat that is over the Testimony--where I will meet with you.

Exodus 24:12
Then the LORD said to Moses, “Come up to Me on the mountain and stay here, so that I may give you the tablets of stone, with the law and commandments I have written for their instruction.”

After Moses broke the first set of commandments he had to return to God to get a second set. It is then that the Ten Commandments are again referred to as The Testimony. Such a beautiful word, a beautiful name.

Exodus 31:18
When the LORD had finished speaking with Moses on Mount Sinai, He gave him the two tablets of the Testimony, tablets of stone inscribed by the finger of God.

     It is only through the Testimony of God, the Word of God, that we may enter God's presence and commune with Him. In the Old Testament, under the Old Covenant, only the High Priest could enter God's presence and even then only once a year. 
     But now, we who live in the age of the church, can enter God's presence through The Word of His Testimony, His only begotten Son Jesus Christ. God's Living Testimony lives in the heart of every believer through faith in the name that saves a person  from the condemnation of their own sins. 
     Now is the time to believe on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ for your salvation. Today is the day to repent of the wickedness of our hearts, the evil of our words, our actions (or lack thereof) and receive forgiveness from God. Here and Now. Here at the foot of the cross, where the Lamb of God was slain once and for all (all people everywhere). Now in the valley of the shadow of death (this life we live) while we still have breath to confess and a heart to believe. 


SAKAR RABAH MEOD
(pronounced saw-kawr' raw-bah' meh-ode')
EXCEEDING GREAT REWARD

Genesis 15:1
 After these things the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision, saying, “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your Shield, your Exceedingly Great Reward.” 

Psalm 16:5
The LORD is the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup: Thou maintainest my lot. 

1 Corinthians 2:9
But as it is written, Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God has prepared for them that love Him.

Matthew 25:34
Then shall the King say unto them on His right hand, Come, ye blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.

John 3:16
For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 



YAAQOB CHELEK
(pronounced yah-ak-obe' khay-lek' )
THE PORTION OF JACOB

Jeremiah 10:16
The Portion of Jacob is not like these, for He is the Maker of all things, and Israel is the tribe of His inheritance—the LORD of Hosts is His name.

Deuteronomy 32:9
But the LORD's portion is His people, Jacob His allotted inheritance.

Psalm 73:26
My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.