The Fruitbearer

 

JOHN 15:5

“I am The Vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing." 

    What is a fruitbearer? A person who testifies about God's redeeming grace through His only begotten Son Jesus Christ. If only one person receives Christ into their hearts through my actions, then I am a fruitbearer. It might not look like my little branches are heavy with fruit, but if that one person shares Jesus with another person, then that new person is added to my fruitfulness. And I want to be fruitful. Which means I'm not going to stop sharing the love of God in Christ with everyone. 

    Proverbs 11:31 tells us, "The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he who wins souls is wise." I want to be a soulwinner for Jesus. I want to tell you that once I lived a selfish, self-centered life; living only for the moment and the thrill. Once I thought I was living the good life, but it was only a shadow life. For the good life is only available through Jesus reckoning on the cross, through the blood He shed for us: He atoned for our sins, that we who believe would be forgiven when we repented. And repentance is an absolute must. 

    When Jesus began to preach the gospel, His first words were, "Repent, and be baptized." (Matthew 4:17) That same message came to and through each of His disciples. For example Peter states in Acts 2:38 "Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in The Name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of The Holy Spirit." 

    What is this gospel message which we are compelled to share with everyone we interact with? Jesus Christ is God's only begotten Son, given to the world to save each person in it, if they would believe that He is Lord and follow in His ways. (John 3:16-18). Repentance is to make a conscious decision to deliberately stop living a sinful life and learn to live a holy life according to God's Word. 

    To be baptized in water is to make a public confession of the faith we are now professing; speaking aloud the Word of faith which is in us. (Romans 10:8-11). To be baptized in The Holy Spirit is to understand that without The Spirit living in us as well, it is impossible for us to live a righteous and holy life that we must endeavor to live after receiving Christ into our hearts.  We need both baptisms. 

    Even now, I urge you, if you do not know Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior, please come to Jesus today. Your soul is in immortal danger, for the soul exists forever: some will exist in hell and after hell is destroyed the lost souls will exist in an eternal lake of fire from which there is no escape. Some souls will exist in heaven, in the eternal presence of God forever and ever, praising God and singing with the angels. But the decision must be made this side of eternity. There are no do-overs after we die. 

    COME TO THE ALTAR

CREATE IN ME A CLEAN HEART

    GIVE ME JESUS

WELCOME HOLY SPIRIT 

The Two Fears: Part Two: Fear God

 

MATTHEW 10:28

"Fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear Him Who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell."

    Luke 12:4, 5

"I tell you, My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more. But I will show you Whom you should fear: Fear The One Who, after you have been killed, has authority to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear Him!"

Hebrews 10:31

"It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of The Living God."

    Ecclesiastes 8:12, 13

Although a sinner does evil a hundred times and still lives long, yet I also know that it will go well with those who fear God, who are reverent in His presence. Yet because the wicked do not fear God, it will not go well with them, and their days will not lengthen like a shadow. 

    Though God originally created hell for the fallen angel Lucifer and the angels who joined him in rebellion against God, people who have rebelled against God and died in their sins, will also be sent there. Matthew 25:41 "Then He will say to those on His left, ‘Depart from Me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels." 

    From the beginning of the written Word we learn that it is better to fear (reverence) God and be obedient to His Word, and learn to walk in His Way in our lifetime on this side of eternity. For after we die, there will be no more opportunities to do so. Hebrews 10:26,  27 "If we deliberately go on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no further sacrifice for sins remains, but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume all adversaries." 

    Hebrews 9:27 tells us that we all have an appointment with death. Yet, not all who die will see Jesus and live with Him evermore. 

    You may think this study to be hateful, but you are mistaken. This is a study in the love of God. For God made a Way to avoid eternal punishment and damnation and that Way is JESUS CHRIST. 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."  

    It takes a small amount of faith to believe that Jesus Christ is God's only begotten Son. It takes another measure of faith to believe that God's Holy Way is True and Faithful. As our faith in Christ grows, and we walk our our faith daily, with Christ living in us, we become stronger in our faith: and Christ, through the power of God's Holy Spirit, becomes stronger in us. He is God's Love extended to the world through the power of the cross and the empty tomb. 

    God is Love and in His great Love for us, He sent His Word, wrapping It in lowly flesh and placing It, through the power of His Spirit, in a young virgin's womb. As Christians, it is our privilege to carry the gospel of salvation, the power of God's Redeeming Love, to every corner of the world until the whole world hears just how much God loves each and every person. 

    It is up to the hearer to listen, repent and receive God's grace and forgiveness, thereby turning away God's wrath from their souls and being brought into God's kingdom: through the blood of Christ, God's perfect Lamb, Which takes away the sins of the world (John 1:29). 

    Now is the time to give your hearts to The Lord Jesus Christ. Now is the time to repent of your sins and receive God's forgiveness and Christ into your hearts. Now, today, is the day to begin to walk in God's Way and follow God's Spirit. A good place to start your walk is in The Book of John, then meander over to The Book of Romans. After which, perhaps, your fingers may find their way into the Epistles which Paul wrote to the various churches scattered throughout Asia, Rome and the middle East. 

    And never stop bringing God into your daily lives, for He wants to be with you always. If you let Him, He will show you Himself and what His Word means. 

Statements of Faith - I Am The Light of The World

 

 

MATTHEW 5:14

You are the light of the world. A city lying on a hill is unable to be hidden.

    A Christian's life is more visible in the darkness of this world than any other. When we declare our differentness, we open ourselves up to be more carefully observed to see if we truly are living a different life than everyone else around us. 

    Are we living John 8:12 by faithfully following Jesus? In John 9:5 and John 12:36 Jesus told those who followed Him that He is the Light of the world BUT only while He was in the world. Before leaving He designated to His followers that if they really were following Him, they (the born again (John 3:3, 6) would become sons of light. We are filled with His Light because we have our Christ living in us! Wherever Jesus is, His Light is! 

    If we have Christ living in us and The Holy Spirit of God guiding us, then it will be impossible not to live a changed life, for our hearts have been changed and our mindset is being transformed day by day. When we remain in Him, breathing in and taking in His Word when we read it, change is inevitable. And change for the better, at that. 

    They who still live in darkness are changing, too. Except by refusing to see the Light of Christ, they sink ever deeper into the darkness of their comfort zones. It's scary becoming a Christian. Suddenly everyone you ever knew looks at you different. They know how you used to be, how you used to behave, how you used to dress, how you used to talk. The places you used to hang out you don't go to any more. You have a new hang out: the congregation of the saints. Wherever God's people are, you, the new Christian, are going to be found. 

    Your light is impacting their darkness. Some will be drawn to the light, like butterflies to nectar. Others will withdraw from the light that is in you, like shadows seeking the dark alleyways. Your light and The Holy Spirit within you reveals sin to them and convicts their sinful ways. All of a sudden, you are "persona non grata": unwanted and not welcome. 

    With such a Light burning in you and I it is impossible to not shine. A lighthouse on a clifftop is there to warn ships trying to sail into safe harbor that dangers lurks just ahead: hidden shoals, bulky rocks jutting out of the water or hidden just beneath it; reefs and cliffsides. In the thickness of fog or the darkness of night the lighthouse sends its brilliant beams of light constantly to prevent ships from crashing. So, too, does the faithful Christian. 

    We are the lighthouses of this world. Our Light is Christ Jesus. As long as we stand on The Word, our Lights will continue to shine. Even when we falter, and our light gets wobbly, we get back up again and raise our Light even higher that it may shine farther and wider. Our Lights travel all over this globe. And we will continue to shine until God either calls us home via death or raises us in the air via being caught up with Christ. 

NO OTHER NAME Planetshakers

WHEN I THINK ABOUT THE LORD Christ For The Nations

FIRE Eddie James 

FIRST THINGS FIRST  Consumed By Fire

 DRAW ME CLOSE TO YOU Michael W. Smith

GOD FOLLOWER  Steven Curtis Chapman

Statements of Faith - I Am Salt

 

Matthew 5:13

You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its savor, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men.

Colossians 4:6

Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.

    Salty foods make a person thirsty. In order for the child of God to be considered salt, our witness and our testimony must be evident every single day of our lives for the rest of our lives. If nobody can see the changes God is wreaking in our lives; if our words do not match our actions, then our salt has lost its savor: it is useless. We must be on the alert at all times to remain in Christ as He remains in us. God's Word is alive in us and we are in a constant state of motion on The Potter's wheel. 

    Salt preserves. It prevents rot and disease. When we are filled with The Word of God, we are filled with the salt of it. We don't want to go to heaven alone. We urge and plead with you who are even yet unknowing of the wonderful grace which God has prepared for you when you enter into a committed relationship with His only begotten Son Jesus Christ. Jesus is coming back soon for His church, His bride, to bring her to the heavenly home He has prepared for her (1 Thessalonians 4:17; Mark 13:32, 33; John 14:2).

    After Jesus had witnessed to the woman at the well, and His disciples returned with lunch, He was not hungry. When they questioned Him, His response was "My meat is to do the will of Him that sent Me and to finish His work." Being obedient to God's will is satisfying. And how did He finish the work which God had prepared for Him to do? John 19:30 "When Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished.” And bowing His head, He yielded up His spirit." "It is finished" were the last words He spoke before He died on the cross. His work was done.     

    Our work, however, is not; for we are still here. We still preach the gospel of salvation through Jesus Christ to all nations. We preach this gospel in our homes with the love of God being manifested in us and through us. We speak love into the hearts of ur spouses and our children and our grandchildren. We speak Jesus into tired bodies, lonely hearts, distressed and despairing lives and broken minds. We speak the love of God into our neighborhoods and our communities and our cities. 

    We preach Christ crucified and resurrected, the first of God's children to do so. A great number which cannot be calculated have followed that first resurrection (Hebrews 12:1) and many more will follow. Our work for God is done in the love of God (1 Corinthians 13). Anything done in The Name of The Lord but not the grace and love of God is just empty words and wasted actions. 

    Our walk in Christ must align with Christ's steps. When you see Jesus in me, hear His loving words fall from my lips and see the grace which is upon me, then you will know that God has and still is changing me. And, hopefully, you will want this love and grace in your life, too. 

Matthew 5:6

Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.

SUFFICIENT FOR TODAY - TRIBL 

WHAT A FRIEND WE HAVE IN JESUS

LORD I NEED YOU 

OPEN THE EYES OF MY HEART LORD 

 

The Value of A False Friendship

 

MATTHEW 26:14, 15

Then one of the Twelve, the one called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and asked, “What are you willing to give me if I hand Him over to you?” And they set out for him thirty pieces of silver.

Note here, that the chief priests did not seek out Judas but that he came to them offering his services --- for a price. 

    Thirty pieces of silver or thirty shekels appears to be about equal to three months' wages, as there were three denarii in a shekel. For the mere love of the money he would have in hand, Judas betrayed the Teacher he had been following along with. 

Once the heart is fully committed to following Christ Jesus faithfully, there is no turning our backs on Him. But Judas' heart wa not right and therefore he sought out a buyer for his 'friend' and pondered the ways and means of how he would accomplish this betrayal. 

    The Word tells us that "the love of money is the root of all evil" ( 1 Timothy 6:10) and it was this that was already present in Judas' heart. He was not faithful from the get-go when called to follow after Jesus (John 12:6), but still Jesus loved Judas; He even called him a friend at the time of His arrest (Matthew 26:50). Though he had a purpose to fulfill, there was always room for hope of repentance after the fact; but Judas showed only remorse, not repentance ( Matthew 27:3-5). In his despair he hung himself. 

    He saw no value in what he had done. Though his feet followed after Jesus his heart did not. He could not comprehend the forgiveness that was available to him if only he had turned to God for it. For God waits for us to turn to Him for the forgiveness of our sins against Him. He waits for us to be committed and faithful in following after His heart and His Word. God is waiting for you. 

    Let us not be false friends but faithful friends. Let us adhere, stick like glue, to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. As the psalmist wrote, in Psalm 63:8 "My soul follows close behind You; Your right hand upholds me." Let us know the value of True Friendship with Jesus. Let us persevere in following hard after Him, not allowing ourselves to be distracted from the course He has set before us to run and walk in.

WALK WITH ME - Jesus Culture  

Be Anxious For Nothing

 

This is a little ditty I wrote more than twenty years ago. I still sing it. It is God speaking to me and now I'm sharing it with you. 

Be anxious for nothing:

I will provide for you.

You are My bride, my church, my wife.

Needs have I met for you,

My table is set for you;

Tested and tried

You've come forth as gold. 

It is taken from studying The Scriptures, some of which are these two passages, and asking God (praying) to reveal Himself to me and what He wants me to know:

Matthew 6:25-35

Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air: They do not sow or reap or gather into barns—and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?

And why do you worry about clothes? Consider how the lilies of the field grow: They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his glory was adorned like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?

Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles strive after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you.

Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Today has enough trouble of its own.

Psalm 23:5

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.

    God tells us repeatedly in His Word to "worry not, fret not, fear not". But to fully trust in Him for everything. In every situation and circumstance in which we find ourselves we are "stand and withstand" Ephesians 6:13, "be steadfast and immoveable" Colossians 1:23. 

    He also tell us to seek Him out first. "Seek first the kingdom of God." Matthew 6:33 "In all your ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct your path." Proverbs 3:6 "O God, You are my God, Early will I seek You." Psalm 63:1. Great is the blessing which comes from putting God first in our lives. 

Ephesians 5:21-30 speaks of Christ's great love for His church. 

Being tested and tried is to be expected, for God sits as a Refiner of His people: Malachi 3:3. The Lord is Tester of Hearts: Proverbs 17:3. We are called to suffer and to suffer for righteousness' sake: 1 Peter 3:14. Only by going through the fire of His love can we expect to come forth as a vessel fit for use, whether we are gold or silver or wood or clay. However God wants to use us to advance His kingdom, we need to be willing partners with Him. Our hearts must align with His heart. And that will only happen if His only begotten Son Jesus Christ is living in our hearts. 

Are you ready to be tested and tried? Are you prayed up? Are you filling your hearts and your minds with The Living Word of God? No player goes onto the field without first meeting the requirements of basic game preparedness. No practice, no play. No studying of the game and how it's played, no play. No abiding by team rules and no listening to the coach, no play. If we refuse to obey The Holy Spirt, we will not be able to survive the tests and trials in which God places us for His purposes. 

Be anxious for nothing

I will provide for you

You are My bride, my church, my wife

Needs have I met for you

My table is set for you

Tested and tried

You've come forth as gold. 

REFINER'S FIRE 

This is Christmas, Too

 

Matthew 2:1-2

Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, Saying, Where is He that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen His star in the east, and are come to worship Him.

Matthew 2:16

Then Herod, when He saw that He was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently enquired of the wise men.

    As Christians, we celebrate the birth of Christ with joy and festivities. We give each other presents. We read aloud to our families the Christmas story from the Bible. But do we continue to read aloud when it comes to the other factors in the birth of The King? 

    The wise men were two years into their search. They did not show up to the stable to see the baby King in the manger. They found Him in a house (Matthew 2:11). They knew The Word so well that they were looking for the star before the star appeared. We know this because they were wise men from the east. 

    When we go back to the Book of Daniel (Daniel 2:17, 20), we read of the rudiments of education of which the wise men of that time were required. It is God who gives wisdom and knowledge. Should any of us desire such, it is to God we must go to obtain it. As King Solomon did when God approached him (1 Kings 3:5, 9). 

    Thus we know the wise men not only knew The Scriptures, they had more than a basic education. They were learned men: learning was their way of life. Having read The Scriptures, they believed The Scriptures and were searching the night skies looking for the star that would rise which would show them where the new King would be born. Once it appeared, they began their trek across continents to reach Him. But it took them Two Years to get there. 

    No one who comes to Jesus is ever late getting there. Every heart that truly seeks to see His face will find Him. "Ask and you will receive; Seek and you will find; Knock and the doors will be opened to you." Matthew 7:7. 

    But in their search for Christ, they met people along the way who sought to kill the new King (Matthew 2:3-8). By this Mary and Joseph were residing in Bethlehem (Matthew 2:11). This is where the wise men found Jesus. To a house in Bethlehem, to The One who was Born King of the Jews, they brought their gifts. Gifts which would pay tribute to Him as King (gold), honor Him as King (gold) and anoint Him as King (myrrh). These gifts would be used immediately.

    For when the wise men did not return to Herod, the nasty king ordered all the young children two years old and under to be killed. Hundreds of babies and toddlers met their deaths at the hands of an unwise man. Parents had their infants yanked from their arms and slaughtered in front of them. The blood of innocents filled the city streets in Bethlehem and in every nearby coastal town (Matthew 2:16-18). 

    This, too, is Christmas. Sadness. Mourning. Weeping: an unending, heartbreaking tearyness which flowed from the broken hearts of the people whose children were dead. Another prophecy fulfilled, albeit a sad one. (Jeremiah 31:15). Not everyone was able to rejoice at the birth of The One who had been born King of the Jews. 

    As stated, the gifts the wise men gave to Jesus were used immediately. Because the order was about to go  out while they were still residing in Bethlehem, the young family needed to leave in a hurry. They left in the night, under cover of darkness and fled the country (Matthew 2:12-14), taking the gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh which we understand helped them on their journey. For they left immediately after the wise men's visit to their home. 

    So, now I ask you, Where is He that is born King of the Jews? Where is that is born King of Kings? For even now some still search for Him. To know The Scriptures is to know The Word; to know The Word is to know Jesus. The wise men from the east knew the prophecies of The Scriptures at that time. They came searching for He who had been BORN King of the Jews. This is a King who at His birth was already a King. All other kings were made kings or they may have been born into the position by reason of lineage. But Jesus was the born King. Lineage had nothing to do with it. He was King from the beginning, from before time/all through time/after time. 

    As He stated in John 8:58, Jesus told the people that He is I AM (Exodus 3:14). And they wanted to kill Him then, but He faded into the crowd. John 1:1-3 tells us Who this King is. He is King before He is born. He is Ruler. He is Sceptre. He is Governor. He is Jesus and waits for you to seek Him out and meet with Him. 

    Revelation 3:20 " Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear My voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with Me." We don't need to wait for Him to come and find us where we are: He knows where we are. He waits for us to answer His knock on our hearts. He waits for us to open the door of our hearts and invite Him in, that The Word may dwell in our hearts. 

    Those who seek Him to destroy His Kingship will fail in their endeavors. Those who seek Him to honor Him as King will find Him. They, we, merely have to open the doors of our hearts and invite Him into our lives. Are you ready to meet Jesus? He's knocking on your heart right now. 

THE GOSPEL - Ryan Stevenson

Sellout (Blood Money)

 

Thirty pieces of silver. The value of a man's life. One Man in particular. Blood money given to a different man. 

        Zechariah 11:12,13 

Then I told them, “If it seems right to you, give me my wages; but if not, keep them.” So they weighed out my wages, thirty pieces of silver. And the LORD said to me, “Throw it to the potter”—this magnificent price at which they valued me. So I took the thirty pieces of silver and threw them to the potter in the house of the LORD.

                            Matthew 26:14,15

Then one of the Twelve, the one called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and asked, “What are you willing to give me if I hand Him over to you?” And they set out for him thirty pieces of silver.

                            Matthew 27:9,10

Then what was spoken through Jeremiah the prophet (Jeremiah 32:6-9) was fulfilled: “They took the thirty pieces of silver, the price set on Him by the people of Israel,and they gave them for the potter’s field, as the Lord had commanded me."

                            

    Judas, who had been chosen by Jesus to be one of "the chosen", the twelve men whom Christ had called by name to follow Him, was not a faithful follower. He had his faults, namely, money. He sold out this Prophet he followed from town to town for thirty pieces of silver, the equivalent of four days labor. 

    *In Roman terms it would have been the equivalent of four denarii; in Grecian terms it would have equaled four drachmas. It is the shekel referred to from Genesis to Zechariah. It is the penny, the denarius, mentioned in Matthew 20:1-16. It is a day's wages. This is how the Jewish leaders determined the correct price to pay to have Jesus betrayed. 

       Yet Jesus called him, "Friend" (Matthew 26:50). That must've cut into Judas' heart, but it was too late. He had already betrayed Jesus by a kiss on the cheek. While we know Judas was sorrowful for what he done to his Friend, we can only surmise about whether or not he was repentant. For neither sorrow, nor remorse, nor penitence is repentance. 

        But we should not be hasty in judging Judas. We, too, have blood on our hands. We, also, have traded the riches of knowing Christ better for the wealth of a bag of holes. Instead of reading our Bibles on a daily basis that we might gain strength and wisdom from them, we squander our days. Instead of kneeling prayer over The Word of God, we might read a passage or two and hope for the best. 

        Whatever we have set our sights on and our hands to do instead of seeing and doing what we are supposed to be doing is the thirty pieces of silver we have been paid to look the other way, instead of at The Way. We have looked to the left and looked to the right on this narrow path in which we attempt to walk: our eyes have seen and our hearts have wandered. We have become faithless sellouts to our Faithful Leader.  

        We need to get back to the altar and lay down our pride, humbling ourselves at the foot of His cross. We will repent of all our wickedness and set our face to seek Him out. We will fall prostrate before Him and He will lift us up. 

        Even if you can't get to church, you can get to the altar. It is a sacred place where a person meets God. In Old Testament times, an altar was built after a person had met (communed) with God. Many altars were constructed to burn a sacrifice on. Though it is not necessary for the Christian to burn a sacrifice, it is necessary to lay the sacrifice God wants from us on the altar. 

        Where is your altar set up that you meet with God and lay your sacrifice on? Some have set up a small table or chair on which to lay their open Bible and pray there. Some go out into an open area, open Bible in hand, and speak with God there. You'll know your altar when you see it, if you are listening to The Spirit direct you. 

    

Resources:

*1. TruthSaves 

Talking To Jesus 

Sweet Hour of Prayer 

Lay It All Down

    

 

Change Coming

 

    Isaiah 40:4

Ever valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill made low; the uneven ground will become smooth, and the rugged land a plain.

    At first glance this appears to be merely discussing landscape rearrangements. But a deeper study shows this to be more than a topographical rearranging and more like a personal change. 

    With this in mind we read in Isaiah 42:16, "I will lead the blind by a way they did not know; I will guide them on unfamiliar paths. I will turn darkness into light before them and rough places into level ground. These things I will do for them, and I will not forsake them." Jesus is the Light in the darkness. When we follow Him faithfully (keep Him near to us), we are able to walk where He walks. 

    Who is more blind than the person who walks in darkness?And, yet, we who walk by faith in Christ Jesus, walk where we cannot see. But Jesus sees what is before us and leads us where He desires we go. 

    Where we see an impassable river, Jesus sees a stream. We climb mountains only to discover these were mere hills. We run through wide open valleys only to realize these were but paths. We trip on boulders that are actually pebbles; but we get back up and move on. 

    The status quo is about to change. 1 Samuel 2:8 "He raises up the poor out of the dust, and lifts up the beggar from the dunghill, to set them among princes, and to make them inherit the throne of glory: for the pillars of the earth are the LORD'S, and He has set the world upon them." 

    In Matthew 22:1-14 we read of a banquet that is being given. The invitations have gone out but the recipients chose, for one excuse or another, to not go. So the king invites everyone else. It is written that he sent his servants out into the streets to invite people in to the banquet. 

    These people were raised to the level of respected invitees. The people who had been invited and refused to attend were killed off. But, really, who are all of these people? 

    The second group is the believers, the born again through the blood of The Lamb and the baptism of The Spirit. The ones who refused to attend are the unbelievers. Which group do you want to be in? 

LION/LAMB - Josh Leventhal

Blessed Are The Merciful

 

    Matthew 5:7

Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.

    HOW DO WE SHOW MERCY?

Share The Living Water of Life with Them

(that they may drink and be satisfied)

    Proverbs 11:25

A generous soul will prosper, and he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed.

Forgive The People Who Have Done Us Wrong

(regardless of how many times they do so)

    Matthew 6:14

For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.

Honor Each Other With Genuine Affection

(not because you have to but because you want to)

Romans 12:10

Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other.

    These are just a few verses on showing Mercy to others. Which ones can you think of?

Blessed Are They That Hunger & Thirst After Righteousness

 

    Matthew 5:6

Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.

THE SEEKERS HEART

    Psalm 63:1

A Psalm of David, when he was in the wilderness of Judah. O God, Thou are my God; early will I seek Thee: my soul thirsts for Thee, my flesh longs for Thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is.

    Psalm 107:9

For He satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things.

    Psalm 84:2

My soul longs, even faints, for the courts of the LORD; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God.

EAT WHAT I'M GIVEN

    Bread of Heaven for the hungry. Living Water for the thirsty. Wine for the aching and sorrowful. Word tastes like Honey. 

    Jeremiah 15:16

Your words were found, and I ate them. Your words became my joy and my heart’s delight. For I bear Your name, O LORD God of Hosts.

    Psalm 119:103

How sweet are Your words to my taste--sweeter than honey in my mouth!

    Ezekiel 2:8

"And you, son of man, listen to what I tell you. Do not be rebellious like that rebellious house. Open your mouth and eat what I give you."

    Job 23:12

Neither have I gone back from the commandment of His lips; I have esteemed the words of His mouth more than my necessary food.

    Proverbs 30:8

Keep falsehood and deceitful words far from me. Give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with the bread that is my portion.

    Psalm 16:5

The LORD is My Chosen Portion and My Cup; You have made my lot secure.

Blessed Are The Meek

 

    Matthew 5:5

Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.

    Matthew 11:29

Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and you shall find rest for your souls.

    The third blessing is to be meek like Christ. The word meek means "to exercise God's strength under His control". Jesus is not a wimp, nor is He the underdog character. As He went about His ministry, He did so meekly. He exercised great strength, great power without wielding God's judgment. For judgment is not why He came at that time. 

    John 3:17

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

    Condemnation requires judgment. Jesus is Savior, not Judge. God is Judge and God has set the time and the place for judgment. While Grace is still evident in this world, now is the time to believe in Jesus Christ as Savior. 

     Meekness is evidence of The Holy Spirit within a believer. It is a part of the fruit of The Spirit. Galatians 5:23 "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law."

    Even when He threw the moneychangers in the temple courts, He exercised great control - Mark 11:15.He could easily have destroyed them; instead He taught them - Mark 11:17- that's Grace. 

    To be meek is to exhibit divine gentle strength which operates, or moves, on faith. Everything about us works in the realm of our faith, including the fruit of The Spirit. We should not be losing our tempers over petty things. I'd give examples, but The Spirit will reveal to you exactly what He is referring to in your own life. 
    We do not hate. We love. We bless. Meekness is divine love in action both as it works within us and is exhibited by us. We are gentle, we are kind, we are meek. We hold our tongues and gossip not. We are not easily frustrated but simply silently pray for strength and we receive it. We are to be like Christ, wearing the yoke of divine strength and humility. 

    Let us even now ask for it that we may receive the blessing of meekness upon us and exercise it within us. If we want to have peace in our hearts and minds, we need the Peace of Christ living in us in all His fulness, including His meekness. 

    

Blessed Are The Poor in Spirit

 

    Matthew 5:3

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

    What does it mean to be poor in spirit? It means to be humble before God. To be poor in spirit is to live our lives in humbled obedience to God. If you think it is beneath you to humble yourself or that it is impossible to deliberately think less of yourself, then, my friend, you need help. And that Help is The Holy Spirit. 

    We are hearing God speak to us when we read in His Word how to humble ourselves to His will. We have our example in Christ.

    Philippians 2:8 tells us that "And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross." 

    To humble ourselves is to not rebel against God's Word which we have heard. Isaiah 50:5 "The Lord GOD has opened My ears, and I have not been rebellious, nor have I turned back."

    To humble ourselves is to focus on Christ and not on ourselves. We can cry "Woe is me!" and draw attention to ourselves or we can shout "Glory Hallelujah! Jesus leadeth me!" Hebrews 12:2 "Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God."

    To humble ourselves is to surrender what we want for what God wants. Jeremiah 4:4 "“Circumcise (dedicate, sanctify) yourselves to the LORD And remove the foreskin [sins] of your heart, Men of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem, Or else My wrath will go forth like fire [consuming all that gets in its way] And burn and there will be no one to quench it, Because of the evil of your acts.”

    To humble ourselves is to purposely decrease our say-so and let God say thus and thus. John 3:30 " He must increase, but I must decrease."

    To humble ourselves is to give God the glory and not take credit for anything He says and does. Ever. Who found the perfect outfit for you to wear? God. Who showed you which tool to use for which project? God. Who reveals Himself in nature? God. Every question can be answered for God is the solution. 

    When Christ humbled Himself, He surrendered to God's Will and submitted Himself to God's Purpose and Plan. It was a battle (Luke 22:) but The Spirit was with Him and He was able to overcome the flesh part of Him that He might fulfill God's Plan of Salvation for His people. Luke 22:42  “Father, if You are willing, take this cup from Me. Yet not My will, but Yours be done.”

    To be poor in spirit is to intentionally honor God in our daily lives, bringing our self-desires into alignment with His desires for us. Only then will be blessed (to be envied because of God's benefits on us). 

     Are you ready to be "poor in spirit"?

    

Guard Your Heart - - Guard Your First Love

 

Matthew 24:12

And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.

*Strong's Ex. Conc. No. 458

Iniquity: lawlessness, disobedience, sin

From the Greek word ' anomia' (pronounced an-om-ee'-ah). 'The utter disregard for God's law (His written and living Word).  Includes the end-impact of law breaking – i.e. its negative influence on a person's soul (status before God).'

    Iniquity is both contempt for and violation of God's law. And according God's Christ "it will abound". Abound: multiply, increase upon increase. And many who think they are Christians - Christ's followers - will leave the faith they think are and be revealed as the faithless that they really are: the unfaithful.

Revelation 2:4

But I have this against you: You have abandoned the love you had at first.

FIRST LOVE

    Remember how you felt when you fell in love with your sweetheart? Our eyes would tend to glaze over, getting that starry-eyed effect, when we thought of them or spoke of them. 

    We wanted to be with them all the time, do what they wanted to do, go where they wanted to go. We listened to the same songs, watched the same movies, read the same books, attended the same church. Their world was our world. 

    But after awhile, if the stars in our eyes became tears, then was it ever true love after all? The things we used to do together were no longer appealing to us as a couple. Our hearts fell out of love. It was not an enduring love. Our first love had faded. 

ENDURING LOVE

    A love that endures will make it through the bad times as well as the good times. In this life we will know pain as well as pleasure, sorrow as well as joy, death as well as life. 

    Enduring love will make it all the way to the end. From the first "I love you" to the last breath taken. From "I do" to "Good-bye". Enduring love perseveres, overcoming obstacles and gaining ground in its endeavor to remain faithful to each other and to cross the finish line of life. 

    If the first love we have for one another remains strong then it becomes an enduring love, a faithful love. As it is in our personal relationships, so it is in our spiritual relationship. And how do we maintain a Faithful, Enduring first love relationship in Christ? When we love Him like He loves us: through and through. 

AGAPE LOVE

    Jesus tells us to "A new commandment I give to you, that you should love one another. As I have loved you, so you also should love one another." (John 13:34). How has Christ loved us? With a beneficial love. 

    An all-encompassing love which overlooks faults in each other, forgiving each other every time there is an offense against us. A to-the-death love, an I-would-die-for-you love which Jesus proved He had when He died on the cross. But this love will wax cold, will wane in a person's heart until the flicker of love that was there goes out.

    This love wrongs no one (Romans 13:10). This love holds no grudges against anyone, nor does it seek revenge on wrongs (Leviticus 19:18). This love seeks the betterment of its enemies and prays for its persecutors (Matthew 5:44). This love honors others before itself (Romans 12:10). 

    To sum it up, this love carries no hate towards others, even if by rights one person could hate another for a legitimate reason, such reasons do not exist in Christ's love. Even on the cross, when He could have condemned the people who nailed Him there, He forgave them. (Luke 23:34).

LOVE-LETTER

    The whole Bible, the written Word of God, is a Love-letter from God to His people, for only His people will be able to understand what is written on its pages. We know this because when an unsaved person reads the Bible, they  see only the words on the pages, the surface or letter of the law written therein. And there is no understanding in their hearts, no knowledge, no love of God. 

    Wisdom writes the Word on the hearts of those who believe the Word to be God's Word. It is, after all, Faithful and True (Revelation 21:5, 19:11). The Spirit of God by the power of God is written with love on the hearts of they (we) who love God (2 Corinthians 3:3). 

    Faithfulness to God's Word requires diligence on our part. Reading this Book together strengthens our bond, for we read to learn of God's love and how to put it into practical application in us. Faithfulness to God's Word demands holiness on our part: righteous living from the inside-out, not just lip service which is only seen and heard, but heart-service which is known by God in secret and revealed by God when His timing is apparent. 

BORN AGAIN LOVE

    We are the beloved, the born of God, the born again: "We are from God. Whoever knows God listens to us; whoever is not from God does not listen to us. That is how we know the Spirit of Truth and the spirit of deception. Beloved, let us love one another, because love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love." 1 John 4:6-8. 

GUARD YOUR FIRST LOVE MEDLEY

    

 

Guard Your Heart - - Guard Your Prayer Life

 

Matthew 26:41

Watch and pray, that you enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.

*Strong's Ex. Conc. No. 3986

Temptation: test (positive), temptation {enticement to sin}(negative), affliction {adversity, trouble sent by God} (both pos. and neg.), trial {rebellion against God} (negative).

From the Greek word 'peirasmos' (pronounced pi-ras-mos') is a word with double meanings. Depending on context (passage where it's found), can sometimes be both negative and positive at the same time.

WATCH & PRAY

Watch: be careful, pay attention to. 

     In this verse, Matthew 26:41, temptation means 'enticement to sin'. Strong's "of a condition of things, or a mental state, by which we are enticed to sin, or to a lapse from faith and holiness". 

    We need to be determined not to allow ourselves to be brought to a place in our thoughts where we could find our words reminiscing of the 'good old days' instead of proclaiming the deliverance from said days, for then our words could cause not only ourselves, but those listening to us to fall back into the sinfulness of that from which we have been saved and delivered out of. 

    And just how do we do that? Self-discipline is doing and saying the right thing all day long day after day. When we bring our desires under control according to the Word of God that's mastery. When mastery is done in the love of God, that's faithfulness. 

    Though Daniel was a young man when he was taken captive, he refused to be trained according to the king's way of doing things, but "purposed in his heart" to be faithful to the Lord. He and his friends that were with him remained faithful to God throughout their captivity, even if it meant certain death.

    Reading Daniel 3-6, we see that Daniel served under several kings. Nebuchadnezzar, Nebuchadnezzar's son (Daniel 5:2), and Darius the Mede who's thoughtless decree made it illegal to pray (ask a petition of) to any God or man other than himself. The punishment was to be thrown into the lions' den. 

    Daniel 6:10

"Now when Daniel learned that the document had been signed, he went into his house, where the windows of his upper room opened toward Jerusalem, and three times a day he got down on his knees, prayed, and gave thanks to his God, just as he had done before."

    'When Daniel learned': he watched. 'Three times a day he got down on his knees, prayed, and gave thanks to his God, just as he had done before.': he prayed. 

    Are we, the born again believers, watching and praying with the same faithfulness in which God's faithful servants have done before us? If not, we need to fall down on our knees before God and repent of our faithlessness. And then we need to purpose in our hearts to remain faithful to God. 

    Are we aware of the changing times around us? or are we behaving like ostriches? Are we fearful or watchful? The fearful will run and hide, seeking safety, but not finding it. The watchful will stand on the Word and kneel to fight; thereby finding that which was promised: salvation and deliverance. 

    Pay attention, believers. We are in those days now where we see praying in public is being come against and disallowed. Discerning the times, having the wisdom of God's Word to know not only what is right and what is wrong, but speaking against the wrong is illegal. 

    We need to read His Word every single day, spending time with him in intimate communication. We need to pray to God on a regular basis every single day. Yes, we can pray throughout our days, but we must also set aside certain times of our day to meet with Him in special prayer. 

    If we can set aside times of our day to do other things, then we can set aside times of our day to pray. And if you think this message is directed at only you, remember: the message from God comes to the messenger first. 

MY PORTION

LAY IT ALL DOWN

IN THE NIGHT WATCHES (Scripture Memorization Songs)

I SURRENDER TO KNOW YOU

FIND ME AT THE FEET OF JESUS

Guard Your Heart - - Godly Diet & Exercise

 

Matthew 15:10, 11

Jesus called the crowd to Him and said, "Listen and understand. A man is not defiled by what enters his mouth, but by what comes out of it."

*Strong's Ex. Conc. No. 2840

Defiled: to make common
From the Greek word 'koinoó' (pronounced koy-no'-o): I pollute, make unclean, desecrate; I regard as unclean. Treating what is sacred as common or ordinary.

WORLDLY DIET & EXERCISE

Touch Not, Taste Not

1 Timothy 4:3 

3. They will prohibit marriage and require abstinence from certain foods that God has created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. 

Self Discipline For Personal Gain

1 Corinthians 9:25

Everyone who competes in the games trains with strict discipline. They do it for a crown that is perishable, but we do it for a crown that is imperishable.

GODLY DIET & EXERCISE

Taste The Word

Psalm 34:8 

O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusts in Him.

Psalm 119:103

How sweet are Your words to my taste—sweeter than honey in my mouth!

1 Corinthians 11:23-25

23. For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night He was betrayed, took bread, 

24. and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “This is My body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of Me.”

25. In the same way, after supper He took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood; do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.”

Exercise Godliness

1 Timothy 4:8

8. For physical exercise is of limited value, but godliness is valuable in every way, holding promise for the present life and for the one to come.

WORLDLY WISDOM

Colossians 2:20-23

20. If you have died with Christ to the spiritual forces of the world, why, as though you still belonged to the world, do you submit to its regulations: 

21. “Do not handle, do not taste, do not touch!”?

22. These will all perish with use, because they are based on human commands and teachings.

23. Such restrictions indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-prescribed worship, their false humility, and their harsh treatment of the body; but they are of no value against the indulgence of the flesh.

GODLY WISDOM

Job 28:28

And He said to man, 'Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, and to turn away from evil is understanding.'"

Psalm 111:10

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow His precepts gain rich understanding. His praise endures forever!

Proverbs 1:5

A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels.

EXERCISE GODLINESS

2 Peter 1:3

His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through the knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence.

    So, how can we live a godly life in this day and age? For many are offended at the least little thing. A man's article of clothing is resented by those around him who demand he remove it 'because it's offensive' to them. Everything a born again Christian does or says is going to offend someone somewhere. That's just the way it is when we faithfully follow Christ and we need to accept that as fact. 

    The Bible tells us that the very name of Christ is offensive, that the gospel of salvation through Christ offends other religious factors. If you want to live a life that offends no one, then you will offend God, but I'm determined not to walk that path, for that way only ends in God's wrath and eternal damnation. 

    Being obedient to the moving of the Holy Spirit on our lives is of more value than being obedient to the offended spirits who control the people who obey those spirits. The spirit of antichrist is any person who rebels against Christ. 

Matthew 24:5 "For many will come in My name, claiming, 'I am the Christ,' and will deceive many."

Matthew 24:24 "For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders that would deceive even the elect, if that were possible."

Mark 13:22 "For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform signs and wonders that would deceive even the elect, if that were possible."

1 Timothy 4:1 "Now the Spirit expressly states that in later times some will abandon the faith to follow deceitful spirits and the teachings of demons."

1 John 2:18 "Children, it is the last hour; and just as you have heard that the antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have appeared. This is how we know it is the last hour."

    But, remember that you are valuable to God (Matthew 10:31) and blessed. 

Matthew 5:11 "Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me."

Matthew 10:22 "You will be hated by everyone because of My name, but the one who perseveres to the end will be saved."

1 Peter 4:14 "If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you."

    Come, let us taste of this Word which The Lord our God has given us today. Let us pray together for understanding The Word. It is bittersweet: bitter to the hearing yet sweet to the tasting.  The result is the betterment of our souls. We are enriched. 

    Lord, increase our faith. Help us to live godly lives which glorify You and humble us. Spirit, lead us in godly wisdom that our souls may prosper, even as The Word prospers in us. 

In Jesus' Name, we pray,

Amen.

Better Than Life

Peace 

Taste & See

Honey In The Rock  

Bread of Heaven