A Crucified Life - - Aspires To Please God

 

2 Corinthians 5:9

So we aspire to please Him, whether we are here in this body or away from it.

*Strong's Ex. Conc. No. 

Aspire:  to love or seek after honor, strive, labor, study, make it one's aim

From the Greek word 'philotimeomai' (pronounced fil-ot-im-eh'-om-ahee): strive eagerly, desire very strongly. Refers to pursuing (devoting oneself to) what has great personal value.

How does a person please God? Well, let's just hit a few of the highlights. The whole Bible tells us how to please God. We could start with the Ten Commandments, but it begins even before that. 

MY OBEDIENCE PLEASES GOD

Genesis 2:16-17 God tells Adam what he can and can't eat.

Genesis 3 tells us of the deceptive tactics the serpent used to cause Adam and Eve to sin against (disobey) God and their unique punishments.

    Knowing that disobedience is displeasing, we see that obedience to God's Word pleases Him.

1 Samuel 15:22 tells us that obedience to God is better than sacrifice and that it is better to pay attention: "But Samuel declared: “Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obedience to His voice? Behold, obedience is better than sacrifice, and attentiveness is better than the fat of rams."

    To obey God has great rewards. But on the opposite side of that coin is disobedience which carry the curse of God. It's our choice, you know. But obedience without love is just an empty ritual and is condemned by God. So we need God's Love living in us that we might Love one another the way God loves us.

    The first half of Deuteronomy 28 lets us know the Rewards of obeying God. The second half of Deuteronomy 28 gives us details of disobeying God. 

    I will strive to obey God and please Him. For when He is pleased with me at the end of my life, I will hear Him say, "Well done, My good and faithful servant." (Matthew 25:21). We have all been called to follow Christ and let Him teach us how to fish for the souls of men and women (Matthew 4:19). 

    I have made this decision and I'm not going back to who I used to be. That was the old life; a life lived in ignorance and disobedience. But thank God: someone was praying for me. As I write this, this morning, I'm praying for someone, too. 

MY THANKFUL HEART PLEASES GOD

    Many verses in Scripture point out this fact. Here are a few:

>1 Thessalonians 5:18

>1 Chronicles 16:8-36

>Psalm 107:1

>Romans 6:17

>2 Corinthians 9:15

MY NEW LIFE IN CHRIST PLEASES GOD

>2 Corinthians 2:14

>Psalm 37:5

>1 Thessalonians 4:1-12

    In this new life in Christ, our Absolute Surrender to His will is paramount to receiving His blessing. Our submission to His Way must be fully sincere. As Christ gave His all, so, too, must the born again believer give his or her all. 

    There are a few other books I have read over these past few years that have helped me to grow in Christ and in the Word in addition to the Bible. Benny Hinn has a trilogy of books that I have enjoyed: Welcome Holy Spirit, Good Morning Holy Spirit. I haven't read it yet, but I hope to get it soon: The Anointing.

    The Lady, Her Lover and Her Lord by Bishop T. D. Jakes is a beautiful book for the woman who desires to know her worth in Christ. This one greatly helped me personally. 

    The Glories of The Cross by A. C. Dixon is a wonderful little book taking us into the view of the cross. I found my copy at a thrift store (which I think is the best place to find unusual books). A. W. Tozer wrote many wonderful books, too, one of which is: The Pursuit of God. 

    Jerry Bridges "The Pursuit of Holiness". This one I shared with my Mom and she read the whole book and loved it. But she got sick and passed away before I could send her any more. I'm glad I got to share in her love of Christ while she was here. Such joy. 

    Now, these books are in addition to all the study books I have read to be the minister I am. I have enjoyed each one so much I gave them away to people who needed them just as much as I had needed them along the way. Which brings us to the next thing that pleases God.

STUDY TO SHOW OURSELVES APPROVED

    2 Timothy 2:15 "Study to show yourself approved unto God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of Truth." 

    Study in this context means to "make every effort", "hasten to present yourself", "be diligent to present yourself". Bringing us back to our original verse of study: Aspire to please God. Let's do just that. Make it our aim, our goal, to see God smile on us. I would rather do this than anything else. 

ASPIRE TO PLEASE GOD

Let Your Living Water Flow

I Will Run To You

What A Faithful God

Grow Your Faith

Gratitude 

Agnus Dei

Thank You Lord (for the trials that come my way)

I Have Decided To Follow Jesus

The River

My Jesus, My Savior

Welcome Holy Spirit

     

 

Heart & Soul - - Anointed By God

 

1 John 2:20

But you have an unction from the Holy One, and you know all things.

*Strong's Ex. Conc. No. 5545

Unction: anointing

From the Greek word 'chrisma' (pronounced khris'-mah) (from 5548 /xríō, "anoint with oil") . Referring to the teaching ministry of the Holy Spirit, guiding the receptive believer into the fullness of God's preferred-will. [This anointing functions through faith (4102 /pístis), i.e. God inwardly persuading the believer of His preferences.]  

    The Holy Spirit is that unction, that unguent, poured out on the Christians. He is represented in Scripture as Wind (1 Chronicles 14:15; Acts 2:2), Breath of God (John 20:22), Dove (John 1:32), Rain (Hosea 6:3; James 5:7), Fire (Acts 2:3) and Oil (1 John 2:20).

    The Spirit is the Oil of Joy: exuberant joy, wild joy, delight (Hebrews 1:9). God anoints us (2 Corinthians 1:21-22) with His Holy Spirit to accomplish the work He has set forth for His people to do (Luke 4:18-21, referring to Christ's anointing) and Acts 2:8, power to witness). The Holy Spirit is only given to God's people, none other are qualified to receive Him. 

   Having been born anew, experienced a new birth through the power of God's Holy Spirit and through the water, we are privileged to live our lives through Him, in Him and with Him. To serve God is one of the greatest honors we will ever know. The first greatest honor He bestowed on us was the gift of salvation through His only begotten Son Jesus Christ. We are covered with His righteousness by placing our faith in Him. 

    The Holy Spirit is not the anointer: He is the anointing, our anointing. We are anointed with the Oil of Healing (Matthew 11:5). We are anointed with the Oil of Power to Preach the Gospel  (Isaiah 61:1. We are anointed with the Spirit of Wisdom (). 

    This anointing is for us, our children and our grandchildren; it is also conditional (Isaiah 59:20-21; Isaiah 44:3). This anointing of the Holy Spirit is the baptism of the Spirit given by Christ to His disciples, His followers (John 1:33; Acts 2:1-4). 

    God anoints His servants with His precious Holy Spirit to work in power and complete the works in Him. What are these works which only the anointing empowers? 1 Corinthians 12 outlines the different diversities of gifts in the Spirit. Whatever we do in the Spirit is not done just for ourselves but for all of us ( 1 Corinthians 12:7). 

    We are the body of Christ and the body has different functions, but all work together for the good of the body. Whether we speak of our physical bodies or our spiritual body. For in the Spirit there is one body and that is the body of Christ. As He served and suffered for us during He ministry here, we, too, now serve and suffer as His body for the benefit of each of us. 

    When one part of the body ceases to function in the way in which it was created to function, other parts of the body must step up and fill the void, if possible. We lose a limb, that limb can be replaced to some degree. But if a major organ fails, then the whole body fails. This is true in the body of Christ, as well. 

    When our hearts are not working in the way in which they should be, then we need a new heart. And God provides one. He removes the heart of stone and replaces it with a fleshy heart, a heart that can be molded and written on (Ezekiel 11:19-20; Jeremiah 32:39; 2 Corinthians 3:3). And in this new heart, God, His Christ and His Holy Spirit take up residence (John 14:23). 

    But because our hearts are unclean, this new heart, this new birth, must wash away our uncleanness, our sins, our unrighteousness. Every little nook and cranny must be dusted, cleaned and repaired that there are no breaches where the enemy of our souls can enter in.  

    Lord, let this anointing be made full in me that I might finish my race, my course with grace and humility. Guide me through the obstacles in my path on this journey You have set me on. Be my Guide, my Light, my Oil as I walk Your Word out in my life. While I long to wear the crowns of victory You have set up for me, even more so, let me see Your smiling face when You call my name to the supper table. May I be Your good and faithful servant until then. Amen. 

COME HOLY SPIRIT

The Oil & The Box

  

 There are two stories in our Bible about two different women who anointed Jesus. One of the women is unknown, but sinner, for He forgives her sins when she anoints Him; the other woman is Mary of Bethany, Martha and Lazarus' sister. Both times the gift is costly. Both times they offer the gift because of the love in their hearts for their Teacher, their Rabbi, their Savior. Both women give us examples of how to approach Jesus.

Scripture references for Mary of Bethany are Matthew 26:6-13; Mark 14:3-9; John 12:1-8 all of which take place at Simon the leper's home in Bethany. The other Scripture reference in Luke 7:36-50 takes place at Simon the Pharisee's home in Galilee.
Two different men, two different homes, two different women, two different scenes, two different intentions, two different receptions.


Though the first man is referred to as Simon the leper, because he has a home within city limits of Bethany, we know that he is no longer a leper and become aware that it is Jesus who has healed him. Simon would always give Jesus a warm welcome in his home. As we who are healed by Christ,also receive Him warmly into not only our hearts, but into our lives and in essence our homes, for this is where we live the life we have offered Christ.

The second man is Simon the Pharisee, who was perhaps one of the Pharisees in the previous verses who had rejected the lessons they were hearing from Jesus. Though he recognized Jesus as a knowledgeable Teacher, in his heart he questioned Jesus' wisdom in allowing this woman to touch him (Luke 7:39). My Bible cross-references verse 37 with Luke 8:2, referring to this second woman as Mary Magdalene, who had been possessed by seven devils, but was now delivered. The pain of this torment would have caused her to cry out, hurt herself and be considered unclean by all who came into contact with here. Nevertheless, no one offered her help until Jesus came to her rescue and healed her illnessess and called out the evil spirits within her. Now, she faithfully, along with other women in the city, ministered to Jesus' needs. And at this time, one year before His crucifixion, this anointing in Galilee was an act of worship.

Her heart healed, her mind clear, her sins forgiven her, Mary of Galilee purchases an alabaster jar filled with nard, spikenard or cassia as it was referred to. Weeping, not crying out, but weeping silently she enters Simon the Pharisee's home carrying this alabaster offering. Tears running down her face, she kneels at Jesus' feet, while He rests at the dinner table. As she bows her head over His feet, her hair tumbles down around Him and she just reaches out and uses the strands of her hair to dry His feet: feet which were dirty from all His journeying but are now clean from her tears. Opening the alabaster perfume jar, she begins to anoint His feet with it.

After this, He continued His journey into villages and cities, preaching the gospel. Usually on foot. His feet were rested and comforted. Our Bibles tell us that the feet of they who preach the gospel are beautiful. Here is Jesus, preaching the gospel, and we know that His feet are indeed beautiful. He walked in most of these places. Though the wheel had been invented, it was used for carts and chariots and He had neither. Sometimes He was able to use boats to get from one piece of land to another, but mostly He walked. On His feet were sandals, strips of leather fastened together both on the foot and up the ankle. Useful for protection from the heat on the surface of the ground, but not to keep the elements or the dust off.

I tell you all this as a preamble to this: you and I are both the oil and the box. In the New Testament, in 1 Corinthians 3:16 we are asked "Know you not that you are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God lives in you?" When we accept the grace of God and receive His forgiveness on our sins, and acknowledge that Jesus Christ is the only begotten Son of God who reigns forever, Jesus lives in us through The Holy Spirit. We become God's temple, God's house.

We become strong and holy through sanctification and submission to God's will for our lives. And God has many wills for our lives. The primary will of God is for all to be saved. Salvation is #1 on the list of God's will for our life. Sanctification is #2; for the Bible tells us God says, "Be holy, for IAM holy." And in Matthew, resting comfortably in the middle of The Beatitudes sits this verse, Bless are the pure in heart for they shall see God." We all want to see God. And we all will. But only some of us will live. For to see God when a person is not holy is to see death. As we begin our new life in Christ, we enter the sanctification process and work our way to becoming a vessel of honor to God. We learn to be more Christ-like, not only for ourselves, but also towards others.

 Verse 13 says "Every man's work shall be made manifest, meaning revealed,: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is." What we have done for Jesus is our oil. The more we offer of ourselves to Christ, the more we surrender ourselves to God's will, the greater our sacrifice of self is evident. For we will have surrendered our all to Jesus, He who surrendered His all to us and gave of Himself everything He had. That is the oil we pour out on Jesus' feet, when we kneel before Him. Everything that is of great cost to us, is of great worth to Jesus. What sacrifices must we make to be closer to God? What must we surrender to God willingly that there would be more of Jesus in us and less of us in us? For each one of us it will be something of personal value, even if it is not of a monetary value itself, the cost to us will be evident and criticized by others.

After all, that is what happened when both women offered their costly purchases to Jesus. Mary of Bethany purchased an alabaster flask of sweet perfume, one pound of spikenard equivalent to a year's wages, to anoint Jesus with. This anointing took place six days prior (John 12:1) to His crucifixion. This was in preparation for His burial (John 12:7). But Judas Iscariot protested this anointing, because he wanted the money to go into the group's treasury, of which he was in charge. Though he decried that the money could have been used for the poor, in actuality he took from the funds as he needed it, not as the poor needed it. Mary Magdalene's actions were condemned by the homeowner, Simon the Pharisee, because she was a wicked sinner who had the audacity to touch the Prophet's feet.

Mary, Lazarus and Martha's sister, was preparing The Lamb for sacrifice. Are you prepared to sacrifice to The Lamb? Have you brought your offering to the altar with clean heart, clean hands and a clear conscience? Do your actions towards the people in your life, even the passersby, whom we seldom meet but once or twice, render your offering invalid? Or can you, after searching your heart and your mind, willingly and knowingly, submit your offering to God and be prepared to receive what God has for you when you do so?

Will what you have done for Jesus make it through the fire and stand with you? Or will you stand alone having had your actions burn up completely in the fire of God? I can only answer for myself. I do not need to know your answers but you do.

The oil, the sweet perfume, which was stored in the alabaster box was kept pure and untainted because of the alabaster's ability to maintain that which was stored within it. It was a heavy decorative stone, precious, costly, rare and strong. Are you able to maintain that which is, or will be, stored in you? The seal on the alabaster box was made of wax; this prevented the perfume's aroma from leaving the box. A reminder to us that the seal is temporary. That by which we have been sealed will be removed at that time when God opens our boxes and pours out our offering before Him, in His presence, in His holy fire. SO, I ask you again, are you ready? Will you be ready?

We had an amazing altar service this past Sunday morning. And while, I was in the Spirit, I was given another song, which is simply titled: The Oil.

 

we are the oil

we are one

we were picked

we were chosen

to be crushed

to be broken

we are the oil

we will be poured out

on the Son

onto His head

like a crown

we lay here

on the Son

pouring onto

His garments

running down His face

down His shoulders

onto His feet

His beautiful feet

we are mingled

with her tears

she cried on the Son

for she is broken

she is broken

like the alabaster box

where we lay

with her tears

and with her hair

she washes His

beautiful

beautiful feet

 

we are the oil

we are one

we were picked

we were chosen

to be crushed

to be broken

for this purpose

our work is done

our work is done

and we are one

in the Son

 

 

Declaration of War

     When a challenge has been extended, the challenger is prepared to not only attack, but defend. Remember, our tongues hold the power of life and death. Before you make this statement out loud, you need to know that you are prepared for battle.

     HELMET of SALVATION in JESUS CHRIST needs to be on your head. BREASTPLATE of RIGHTEOUSNESS needs to be on your back and chest. GIRDLE of TRUTH about your waist. SHOES of the GOSPEL of PEACE. In one hand you carry your SHIELD of FAITH; in the other hand you carry the SWORD of the SPIRIT, which is the WORD of GOD. PRAYING in the SPIRIT ALWAYS. Be on the ALERT, WATCHING ALWAYS. Be ready to speak in authority, BOLDNESS of MOUTH declaring the Mystery of the GOSPEL to all who hear.

     If you are not fully clothed in Jesus Christ, you are not ready to declare war on the enemies of God. I am so glad I know my LORD and SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST and that HE is mine forever and I am HIS!

FaithBaby website or FaithBaby on facebook

     I love Christian clothing sites, they inspire us and bring out the best in some of us (like me) and the worst in some of us. Boldness of faith is essential in bringing the message of salvation through Jesus Christ to the forefront of spiritual warfare instead of leaving it on the home front. And I thank God for the anointing power of the Holy Spirit, who works through those of us who are willing to take a stand for our belief and will not back down when the fighting gets ugly. 

Crown Him with Many Crowns

CROWN HIM with MANY CROWNS

CROWN of LIFE

Revelation 2:10  Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer : behold , the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried ; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.

James 1:12  Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried , he shall receive the crown of life, which The Lord hath promised to them that love Him. 

2 Timothy 2;12  If we suffer , we shall also reign with Him: if we deny Him, He also will deny us:

CROWN of LOVING-KINDNESS

Psalm 103:4 Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with loving-kindness and tender mercies;

Psalm 63:3 Because thy loving kindness is better than life, my lips shall praise thee.

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.

Hosea 2:19 And I will betroth thee unto me for ever; yea, I will betroth thee unto me in righteousness, and in judgment, and in loving-kindness, and in mercies.

Jeremiah 32:17-19 Ah Lord GOD! behold, thou hast made the heaven and the earth by thy great power and stretched out arm, and there is nothing too hard for thee:Thou shewest loving-kindness unto thousands, and recompensest the iniquity of the fathers into the bosom of their children after them: the Great, the Mighty God, the LORD of hosts, is his name, Great in counsel, and mighty in work: for thine eyes are open upon all the ways of the sons of men: to give every one according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings:

CROWN of GLORY & HONOR

Psalm 8:4,5  What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?  For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honor.

CROWN of ANOINTING OIL

Leviticus 21:12  Neither shall he go out of the sanctuary, nor profane the sanctuary of his God; for the crown of the anointing oil of his God is upon him: I am the LORD. (regarding the high priest)

CROWN of KNOWLEDGE

Proverbs 14:18 The simple inherit folly: but the prudent are crowned with knowledge. (all of Proverbs is a discourse on wisdom, defining what is wise and what is foolish. Prudent means "mentally putting together". [love that], which is the definition of learning. Therefore, the prudent person is the one who learns wisdom and puts it into action)

CROWN of RIGHTEOUSNESS

2 Timothy 4:8  Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which The Lord, The Righteous Judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love His appearing.

CROWN of ROYALTY (Grace & Favor)

Esther 2:17  And the king loved Esther above all the women, and she obtained grace and favor in his sight more than all the virgins; so that he set the royal crown upon her head, and made her queen instead of Vashti. 

CROWN of GLORY (the LORD IS)

Isaiah 28:5  In that day shall The LORD of hosts be for a Crown of Glory, and for a Diadem of Beauty, unto the residue of his people. (The Lord is our Crown of Glory. How cool is that?)

CROWN of SOUL WINNER

Philippians 4:1 Therefore, my brethren dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved.

Proverbs 11:30  The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise.

("dearly" implies at great cost) Jude 3 says we are to 'earnestly contend' Ephesians 6:12 we 'wrestle against' 

We are not passive Christians. We are fighters. We fight for the salvation of  our families and friends. They are our crown, also. Our knees bow only to The Most High God and none other. We fight our battles on our knees with our hands clenched in prayer; our hearts are set on the deliverance of our moms and dads, sisters and brothers; strangers, friends and enemies. We are immovable in our desire to see the Salvation of the Lord reach those who are lost and wandering in the darkness of sin. And we encourage each other in this goal. 

At great cost. What is it worth to you to see someone saved? It cost Jesus His will and His life. He surrendered His will and His life, that we might have salvation. How much are you willing to give up? With Jesus it was 

                                                           ALL OR NOTHING