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 - - A Clean Heart

 

Psalm 17:3

You have tried my heart; You have visited me in the night. You have tested me and found no evil; I have resolved not to sin with my mouth.

*Strong's Ex. Conc. No. 974

Tried: examine, test, prove

From the Hebrew word 'bachan' (pronounced baw-khan'). 

    In the night watches, The LORD tries His people. He tests our hearts to see if we are ready to do His will, to serve Him, to work for Him.

    How does He visit His people? In prayer. We must be awake to pray with our LORD. We must be conscious and meet Him on a heart to heart level. For the LORD looks on the heart, not the mind or the face (1 Samuel 16:7; Luke 16:15). (Psalm 42:8). In meditation on His Word (Psalm 77:6). The LORD searches our hearts (Proverbs 20:27; Jeremiah 17:10; 1 Chronicles 28:9; Acts 1:24). 

A CLEAN HEART IS CREATED BY GOD

    Psalm 51:10

Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.

    Psalm 32:1

Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered!

    Matthew 6:12

And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.

A CLEAN HEART IS A FORGIVEN HEART

    Isaiah 1:18

“Come now, let us reason together,” says the LORD. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they will be as white as snow; though they are as red as crimson, they will become like wool."

    Isaiah 42:35

"I, yes I, am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake and remembers your sins no more."

A CLEAN HEART IS A MALLEABLE HEART

    Ezekiel 36:26

"A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you a heart of flesh."

    John 3:5

"Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit."

A CLEAN HEART IS A PURE HEART

    Matthew 5:8

"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God."

    When God cleans our hearts, it is not merely that our slates are wiped clean, but that we may be useful vessels for God. When we let Him, God decides how best we may serve Him. 

    We have several vases atop our hutch. We do not use most of them and one of these days some of them will become garden decorations. But for now, they are in a waiting period. Like some of us: we offer ourselves to God, then wonder why we aren't doing some great deed for Him. 

    While we think we are just sitting on the shelf, God is testing us, proving our hearts to be His. The Spirit searches all things (1 Corinthians 2:10). If our hearts truly belong to God, then God knows that we are His people. And He wants us to be ready. Even if our readiness includes sitting on a shelf. 

    The LORD hears our cries (Psalm 61:1; Psalm 130:1-4). 

Psalm 27:7

"Know that the LORD has set apart the godly for Himself; the LORD hears when I call to Him."

O LORD, make us clean. We repent of the wickedness of our hearts, of our transgressions against Your Word, of the sins we have committed. You say to me, when I have awakened, 'Wash you, make you clean before you begin your work'. And every morning I wash my face and make me clean. 

But You, O LORD, desire a clean heart and a renewed spirit. These things only You can do, LORD, but I must ask You to do so. For I know You want to be asked, that You are not a controlling God, but a loving God, Who wants only what is right for us. You have given us free will, the conscious ability to choose right from wrong, to make decisions for ourselves.

Forgive me, LORD, for I do so want to be found in Your good graces. So, try my heart: test me, prove me; examine me according to Your Word, Your Will and Your Way. Remove anything not good in me and replace it with the better thing You have for me. 

You are the God of my life and I want no other.

In Jesus' Name, I pray,

Amen.

O COME TO THE ALTAR 

COME AS YOU ARE

CREATE IN ME A CLEAN HEART 

SANCTUARY

FILL ME UP 

    

    

Guard Your Heart - - Walk (t)His Way

 

Deuteronomy 5:33

You shall walk in all the ways which the LORD your God has commanded you, that you may live and that it may be well with you, and that you may prolong your days in the land which you shall possess. 

*Strong's Ex. Conc. No. 3212

Walk:   again, away, bear, bring, carry away, come away, depart, flow,

From the Hebrew word yalak' (pronounced yaw-lak'), which comes from the word 'halak' (haw-lak') which means go, come, proceed.

There are a lot of defining words and phrases for the word "walk", but I'm only giving the definition herein intended in this verse.

Whether we are going (to a place) or coming (into a place), we are moving forward, for our face looks in the direction our steps will take us. We walk through a doorway to either enter a room or exit a room, still we move ahead. While not necessarily a going ahead in positive terms, whatever direction we are facing that is the direction we are going. 

    If we our eyes are turned one way and our feet move another, we are destined to fall. You know what I'm talking about; we've all done it. Someone is talking to us, grabbing our attention; our feet keep moving forward, but now now our head is turned back trying to hear what is being said. This is not a good way to walk. 

    

WALK BLAMELESS 

1 Thessalonians 3:12, 13

12. And may the Lord cause you to increase and overflow with love for one another and for everyone else, just as our love for you overflows, 

13. so that He may establish your hearts in blamelessness and holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all His saints. Amen.

Philippians 2:14-16

14. Do everything without complaining or arguing,

15. so that you may be blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and perverse generation, in which you shine as lights in the world

16. as you hold forth the word of life, in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor in vain.

    We are to be trustworthy, living a life of integrity in the midst of a 'crooked and perverse generation' (Philippians 2:15). We are the bride of Christ and we are to be without blemish or stain "That He might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That He might present it to Himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish." (Ephesians 5:26,27). 

    There are two generations at work here: there is the generation of unrighteousness and the generation of righteousness. (Psalm 24:3-6). The generation of unrighteousness is even more clarified when God calls them perverse, crooked, blemishes and stains; wicked and violent. 

    The generation of righteousness walks in God's Word, God's Path (Proverbs 4:18). The generation of unrighteousness walks their own path, preferring their own company to the companionship which God offers to those who believe and follow His Word. 

 WALK THIS WAY

Job 23:10

But He knoweth the way that I take: when He hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.

    >Job walked in the old paths, the ancient ways of The Lord (Jeremiah 6:16 "ancient paths". I have read in my studies that The Book of Job is the oldest book of the Bible. Genesis is the first book because it gives us the first parts of our history, it is the Book of Beginnings. The Book of Revelations is last in the Bible because it details events not yet happened and warnings to be ready for Christ's second and third returns to this earth. <

Proverbs 16:17

The highway of the upright leads away from evil; he who guards his way protects his life.

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.

NOT THAT WAY

    The unrighteous generation cannot walk the Way of Holiness, for they are unholy, their hands are not clean, their hearts are not pure. They neither believe The Word of God nor do they walk in it. Be warned. There is no room in the presence of God for those whose hearts are perverted, whose lives are lived in opposition to the holy Word of God. God knows His own and the people who are not His will be revealed...eventually. (Proverbs 10:9; Matthew 10:26; 1 Timothy 5:25)

     Revelation 2o:15 "And if anyone was found whose name was not written in the Book of Life, he was thrown into the lake of fire."

    Revelation 21:8 "But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death."

    1 Corinthians 6:9, 10

9. Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who submit to or perform homosexual acts,

10. Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.

    We who believe are praying not only for the believers to remain strong in The Lord but for the ones who have not yet believed to become believers in and followers of The Lamb of God Which Takes Away The Sins of The World. 

    Jude 1:22, 23

22. And indeed, have mercy on those who doubt

23. and save others, snatching them out of the fire; and show mercy to others with fear, hating even the clothing having been stained by the flesh.

    We're praying for you, all of you. We, the church, stand together in the Spirit though we may never meet this side of life. We are strong in the Lord and in the power of His might, not just in our individual battles but even more so when we come together in prayer, in unity of The Spirit of God. 

    Luke 16:19-31 tells us of the rich man who died and went to hell. Read it and think about what you are reading, meditate on this Word and consider your ways. I meditate on the Word and I consider my ways.

    Our prayers are praying you out of the fire to which you are headed. We love you and we desire only God's best for you, His Word, His Way, His Will. 2 Corinthians 5:11 "Therefore, since we know what it means to fear the Lord, we try to persuade men. What we are is clear to God, and I hope it is clear to your conscience as well."

    As He says in  2 Corinthians 6:17 "“Therefore come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you.” 

   Real Christians do not rejoice in the death of any unbelieving soul, for that soul is forever separated from God. There is no longer any opportunity to change one's mind, have one's soul saved. In death there is no chance to repent, to turn away from sin. It's too late. In death, as in life, the gap between righteousness and unrighteousness is immense. There is no cross over. It is impossible to pray for your souls after you die, for death is permanent for the unbeliever. 

 

OPEN THE EYES OF MY HEART by Paul Baloche (Lord, help me to see You)

LORD I GIVE YOU MY HEART by Planetshakers (cheerfully & willingly)

LAY IT ALL DOWN by Will Reagan (repent and receive)

THERE WILL BE A DAY by Jeremy Camp (entering His rest holding onto Hope)

FEAR IS NOT MY FUTURE by Maverick City Music (ready for a breakthrough) 

    

Guard Your Hearts - - Obtaining His Peace

 

Philippians 4:7

And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

*Strong's Ex. Conc. No. 

Peace of God: one, quietness, rest, peace of mind, to join together as a whole, God's gift of wholeness

From the Greek word 'eiréné' (pronounced  i-ray'-nay). 

    This Peace of God is only made possible when the born again believer is IN CHRIST. We know He is in us when we exercise our faith and believe in Him as our Lord and Savior. But we are In Christ when we are in The Word, when we live The Word and The Word lives and thrives in us. Do people see Jesus in you when they look in your direction? Has a total stranger come up to you and said, "You're a Christian. I can tell," without you ever having said a word? This has happened to me a few times. I am so very thankful that Christ is in me and I am in Christ. 

    To get the full gist of this verse we need to read the verse previous and the verse after:

6. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

8. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think on these things.

    The psalmist wrote (Psalm 42:5), "Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why the unease within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise Him for the salvation of His presence." In Christ there is no reason to be downcast, to be sad, to be anxious. In Christ we have peace. The psalmist had hope as he reminded himself (and us). He had hope in God: in God's Word, in God's presence. 

FILL OUR MINDS CAREFULLY

    Be anxious for nothing, Paul writes to the church in Philippi. The church must have been suffering, going through hard times. For unknown reasons Paul was urged by the Spirit to encourage the church in Philippi to be "anxious for nothing". Don't worry, don't stress. Instead, bring your requests to God. He was reminding them to pray. And to pray diligently. 

    Paul also reminds the church to be careful of how they think; to think with intelligence and wisdom:

• Whatever is True (don't harbor lies)
• Whatever is Honorable (have integrity)
• Whatever is Right (uncorrupted)
• Whatever is Pure (no impure thoughts)
• Whatever is Lovely (no unpleasant thoughts)
• Whatever is Admirable (no shameful, despicable thoughts)
• Excellent (not ugly, not crude, not detestable thoughts)
• Praiseworthy (dishonorable, disrespectful thoughts)

    The opposite of all these positive ways to think is a distraction from how God wants us to think. How do we obtain God's peace? By reading God's Word. By praying God's Word. By living God's Word. By speaking God's Word. In other words, God's Word is essential to the church's, to the born again believer's way of life, which includes how we think. 

Isaiah 26:3 "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee."

    When we pray, we are to pray expecting. Expecting God to keep His promise: His Peace will guard our hearts. In Christ. The believer is in Christ through the power of God's Holy Spirit. And Christ is most definitely in the believer through the power of God's Holy Spirit. 

    What thoughts are more wonderful than thinking on God's Holy Word? What thoughts are more powerful than thinking on God's Holy Word? None. Once the Word of God is in us, it is up to us to keep it at the forefront of our thinking. 

    Waking up with thoughts of praise and worship are wonderful ways to greet our day. Keeping those thoughts there is the challenge. It is then that we call on God to guard our tongues, as well. To keep us near Him and speak only what He wants us to speak, that our words be gentle, kind and loving. The frustrated heart should keep the tongue silent. 

GOD IS JUDGE

    The church is living an age when all the forces of evil are again coming against it. The only secure refuge is in God. Psalm 37:7 "Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for Him: fret not yourself because of him who prospers in his way, because of the man who brings wicked devices to pass." And again, in Psalm 37:1, 8 1. "Do not fret over doers of evil; do not envy those who do wrong." 8. Refrain from anger and abandon wrath; do not fret--it can only bring harm."

    In other words, let God handle the wrong that is being done to the church and in the church. Be aware now that God will accomplish His purpose in the church first before He moves onto they who come against her. So we need to be "strong in the LORD and in the power of His might" (Ephesians 6:10). His strength and His power is, after all, part of our uniform, so to speak, part of our soldiers of Christ gear. 

    Acts 17:31 "For He has set a day when He will judge the world with justice by the Man He has appointed. He has given proof of this to everyone by raising Him from the dead.” 

     Christ will judge the thoughts of mankind, too. Which is why The Word warns us against thinking bad thoughts, unkind thoughts, unloving thoughts. When we love like Christ ("love one another as I have loved you" [John 13:34]), it is impossible to have ugly thoughts roaming our mind. 

    When we live In Christ, we live in the Love of Christ. We are His temple, His residence. Our bodies are in His body, His service. It is our job to keep the temple clean. 

    We sweep away the cobwebs of thoughtlessness and think with purpose, a higher purpose. We wash the floors of dirt and grime (impurities) and walk in The Word that is in us. We scrub the walls of our minds and brush off the years of thinking outside The Word, that thinking on The Word of God will be etched and embedded within us. We make room for The Word of God when we, first, ask Him into our hearts, and second, read and study His Word faithfully. 

KNOW GOD, KNOW PEACE

    God's Word must be in us in order for us to think wonderful thoughts that His Peace would be able to guard our hearts and our minds. Let us come into His presence with humble hearts, ask and receive His forgiveness for our arrogance in thinking we can do it all by ourselves. We can't do anything on our own. We need to be faithful in our prayer times, even as His Word says, "Pray without ceasing." 

    If we are in constant communication with our God, then we know that we have this Peace. Why wait until you're at the end of your rope to reach out to God, to cry out to God, when you can talk to God before you ever touch the rope? Ephesians 2:12 "But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ."

LET US PRAY by Steven Curtis Chapman

PERSON IN CHRIST  by Tenielle Neda

PERFECT PEACE by Bec Armour

YET NOT I BUT THROUGH CHRIST IN ME by CityAlight

HERO by Seph Schlueter

    

Signs & Wonders of Christ's Arrival - - Spreading The Gospel Message

 

Luke 2:17, 18

17. After they had seen the Child, they spread the message they had received about Him. 

18. And all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.

*Strong's Ex. Conc. No. 4487

Message: a word, the spoken-word of a living voice; thing spoken

From the Greek word 'rhéma' (pronounced hray'-mah). Most commonly used in the New Testament 'for the Lord speaking His dynamic, living word in a believer to inbirth faith'.

A new King of Israel had been born. Who got the first birth announcements? Shepherds. Blue-collar laborers who worked with their hands taking care of sheep out on the hillsides. Living near the sheep, breathing the same air as the sheep, watching over their flocks in the night. And what did they do after they got over their terror from this unexpected night visit which lit up the skies? These shepherds hurried to the city of Bethlehem, searched for the newborn child and began to praise God when they saw Him. Upon which they immediately left and began to tell everyone what they had just seen and heard. 

Something amazing  and wonderful had befallen these shepherds and they couldn't wait to tell anyone and everyone all about this wonderful new King who had been born. They were excited to spread the gospel message. Even if no one else believed them, they couldn't stop talking about Him. 

And who would believe a bunch of scruffy shepherds? Men who smelled like they'd been living outdoors among animals. Who deigned to hear what a bunch of shepherds had to say? Starting rumors about the Messiah being born in a barn? That couldn't be the Messiah all of Israel had been waiting for. The shepherds were delusional. But let them rave on about their King; who's going to believe them anyway? 

Perhaps, if it had only been shepherds who saw Jesus, who heard angels, the story would have eventually faded away. But we know that didn't happen. Here it is 2022, nearly 2000 years since He first arrived in Bethlehem and people are still talking about Jesus Christ the Messiah of the whole world. People are still spreading the gospel message after receiving it. People are still hearing voices sing praises to the Most High King of Kings. 

I'm one of those people. I'm a servant, a praiser, a worshiper, a seeker, and a finder. 

I'm here to tell you about God's only begotten Son Jesus Christ, whom He sent to this earth to deliver both Jews and non-Jews from the bonds of sin and oppression. 

God's plan of salvation began in the garden of Eden and it will end when God's enemies are destroyed at the end of this world. Not a fairy tale. Not a story. Fact. 

Genesis 3:15

 "And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, And you shall bruise His heel.”

Romans 16:20

The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

John 3:16-18

16. For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that everyone who believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. 

17. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him.

18. Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe has already been condemned, because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.

And what is the prayer of we who preach Jesus Christ and Him crucified for those who have yet to believe? "Lord, save them, deliver them, bring them near to Your heart. Open their eyes to see You that they may open their hearts to receive You. As Your Word says in Revelation 3:20, You stand at the door of our hearts and knock, hoping someone will let You in. This we pray: that someone will let You into their hearts, giving You control, handing You the reins to lead and direct us, over our lives. Whatever it takes, Lord, whatever it takes. We pray Your will be done in their lives."

In Jesus' Beautiful Name,

Amen

I SPEAK JESUS by Here Be Lions

Signs & Wonders of Christ's Arrival - - The Way In A Manger

Isaiah 7:14

 Therefore the Lord Himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call His name Immanuel.

*Strong's Ex. Conc. No. 226

Sign: miracle, attestation of God's divine presence and interposition (mediation)

Matthew 1:23

"Behold, the virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call Him Immanuel" (which means, "God with us").

On the surface of the Scripture a person may wonder what this verse and the many verses we will touch on this month have to do with being born again. Christ is our foundation of living. Without His arrival to this world there would be no born again experience. The world would still be awaiting God's promise of a Messianic kingdom to be set up. 

THE WAY

To be born again is to believe that Jesus Christ is God's Messiah, that God's plan of salvation is enacted in Him and through Him. He is the gospel of salvation. He is the Way (John 14:6a): the Way in which we are to walk out our daily lives (Isaiah 30:21), the Way which God has provided for us to reach The LORD God Himself (John 14:6d). 

John 14:6

Jesus answered, “I am The Way and The Truth and The Life. No one comes to the Father except through Me."

IN A MANGER

Luke 2:11, 12

11. Today in the city of David a Savior has been born to you. He is Christ the Lord! 

12. And this will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.”

15. When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.”

16. So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph and the Baby, who was lying in the manger.

THE LIGHT

He was born on this Earth of humble birth. After all, what could be a more humble birth than to be born in a stable, a barn? Mary had prepared for the birth of her son by bringing the necessities required to wrap him up after His birth, but the place of one's birth can never really be planned for. 

Babies are born in taxicabs, hotel lobbies, hospitals, at home; very seldom are human babies born in a barn stall surrounded by sounds of barn animals. But this was a special baby, this was The Light of God's Love given to a dark world. It is only fitting then, that He should be born in a dimly lit stable. 

John 1:5

And The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it. 

John 8:12

Once again, Jesus spoke to the people and said, "I am The Light of the world. Whoever follows Me will never walk in the darkness, but will have The Light of Life."

John 9:5

"While I am in the world, I am The Light of the world."

Has The Light of God's Love made Himself at home in Your heart? If not, are you ready to believe in God's Messiah, to have The Light take up residence in the darkness of your hearts? 

Dear God,

I believe that Jesus Christ is Your Son. Please forgive me of all my sins and help me to walk in Your Way, in Your Light. Come live in my soul: in my heart, in my thoughts, in my emotions, my attitude. Lead me through Your precious Holy Word into Your marvelous Light. Forgive me, Father, of all my unrighteousness; forgive me for trying to do things my way, instead of Your Way. To You, O Lord, I surrender my all. 

As in days of old, when they who had been forgiven much by kings of the realm, I pledge my allegiance to You. May my feet go where You lead. You have promised never to leave nor forsake Your people. I would that I were one of Your people. Come live in me that I might live in You. Forever. 

In Jesus' Precious Name, I pray,

Amen

THE WAY MEDLEY

Thanks Be To God - - For HIs Kingdom

 

1 CORINTHIANS 4:20

For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power.

1 Corinthians 2:4, 5

And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.

*Strong's Ex. Conc. No. 932

Kingdom: sovereignty, authority, realm; the realm in which  a king sovereignly rules

From the Greek word 'basileia' (pronounced bas-il-i'-ah). 

The word 'kingdom' refers to any location wherein a king rules with sovereign power. Whether that location is a physical location; for instance, on a map, where you can pinpoint a kingdom. Kingdoms are built and kingdoms are destroyed. Be careful who is ruling in the kingdom of your hearts. If God lives in you by the Power of Christ, the God is your King. If, however, God does not live in you, then Satan is your king. 

If we are God's servants, we wear the armor He has provided for us (Ephesians 6:10-20). Such armor makes it possible for we who are of God's kingdom to take down and overpower the kingdom of darkness, where spiritual wickedness rules (Ephesians 6:12).

If we are living righteous lives according to the righteousness of God and His Word, then the kingdom of God is, indeed, in our midst. 

Luke 17:21

Nor will people say, 'Look, here it is,' or 'There it is.' For you see, the kingdom of God is in your midst."

And what do the Scriptures say is the kingdom of God? =

THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS CHRIST

1 Corinthian 1:24

But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.

Romans 1:16

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS LIFE IN THE HOLY GHOST 

Romans 14:17

For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.

THE KINGDOM OF GOD CANNOT BE DESTROYED BUT WILL ITSELF DESTROY 

Daniel 2:44

And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever.

THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS NOT OF THIS WORLD

John 18:36

Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world; if it were, My servants would fight to prevent My arrest by the Jews. But now My kingdom is not of this realm.”

Have you asked God to set up His kingdom in Your hearts? Have you repented of your transgressions against His laws? Are you letting His Holy Spirit/Holy Ghost direct your steps. Are you soaking in God's presence by reading and studying His Word? If we don't make time for God now, why would He make time for us later? We need God now. We need Jesus Christ now. We crave the indwelling of the Trinity within us: to feed us, to lead us, to raise us up. 

Dear God,

Thank You for sending Your only begotten Son to be my Savior; to be the King of my heart and the Lord of my life. Lord, I want Your kingdom built up in me. Take my heart to be Yours and reign in me.

O God, hear our prayer! Hear the cries of our hearts! Come, Lord Jesus, and take up residence in our hearts. We/I want to be Your people, Your children, Your servants, Your friends. I want to hear You say that I am Your friend. I long to hear Your voice say that I have been a good and faithful servant. 

O Father, set up Your kingdom in me: reign forever in me. Be my God and I will be Your holy nation. Move through me, through us. We are a kingdom of workers. Our legs go where you direct our feet to walk. Our mouths open to speak the words of Your heart. Our arms are raise in worship, our hands are stretched out before us in surrender to You.

In Jesus' Holy Name, I pray,

Amen

 

Kingdom Medley playlist

Thanks Be To God - - For The Resurrection

 

JESUS. Though He suffered and died, He still has the victory. He has the victory over death and the grave. 1 Corinthians 15:55 "O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?"

 He did that for us, ALL OF US. Not just for Israel's descendants, but for ALL PEOPLE EVERYWHERE: CHRIST died and CHRIST Lives! He walked out of the grave. Such a resurrection! He was given the keys to hell and death (Revelation 1:18). 

At the instance of His death, saints who had been long dead came out of their graves and were seen by the yet living (Matthew 27:50-53). 

*Strong's Ex. Conc. No. 386

Resurrection: stand up again, a raising up, rising

From the Greek word 'anastasis' (pronounced an-as'-tas-is). referring to the physical resurrection of the body. 

DEATH & THE GRAVE END

David in his day had faith to know that God would not leave his soul in the grave.

Psalm 49:15

But God will redeem my life from Sheol, for He will surely take me to Himself. Selah

Hosea, chapter 13, speaks of the coming judgment on a rebellious people, but God promises a ransom that will be paid and a redemption that will cause those whom He has redeemed to belong to Himself. Hosea 13:14

“I will ransom them from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death. O Death, I will be your plagues! O Grave, I will be your destruction! Pity is hidden from My eyes.”

Isaiah 25:8 speaks millenia ahead of what is promised in Revelation 21:3,4.

He will swallow up death forever. The Lord GOD will wipe away the tears from every face and remove the disgrace of His people from the whole earth. For the LORD has spoken.

Revelation 21:3,4

3. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying: “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man, and He will dwell with them. They will be His people, and God Himself will be with them as their God.

4. ‘He will wipe away every tear from their eyes,’ and there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the former things have passed away.”

CHRIST IS CHANGED

Without the cross there'd be no resurrection. Christ had to suffer: Someone had to atone for sin and God chose Him. 

1 Peter 2:21

For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps.

1 Peter 3:18

For Christ also suffered for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit, 

Jesus was just as unrecognizable after death as He was in death. But in a different way. At His mock trial He was given the death penalty; He was beaten, His beard was plucked out of His face, a thorny crown was forcefully put on His head, He was whipped across His back in public humiliation, and even with such loss of blood He was expected to carry the heavy cross beam across His shoulders. (Isaiah 50 & 53; Matthew 27; Mark 15; Luke 22 & 23; John 19).

But AFTER the Resurrection He was given a glorified body. 

John 20:10-18, specifically verses 14 and 17.

14. When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there; but she did not recognize that it was Jesus.

17. “Do not cling to Me,” Jesus said, “for I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go and tell My brothers, ‘I am ascending to My Father and your Father, to My God and your God.’ 

1 Corinthians 15:19-22

19. If our hope in Christ is for this life alone, we are to be pitied more than all men.

20. But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.

21. For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man.

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

Acts 2:24

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

Acts 26:23

That Christ should suffer, and that He should be the first that should rise from the dead, and should show light unto the people, and to the Gentiles.

WE WILL BE CHANGED

1 Corinthians 15:51-53

51. Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed—

52. in an instant, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.

53. For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality.

What preparations must be undertaken before we even reach that stage?

I.

In Matthew 4:17  Jesus called people to repentance. That hasn't changed. 

Romans 1:16,17

16. For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

17. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.

II.

Romans 10:8-10

8. But what does it say? “The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,” that is, the word of faith we are proclaiming:

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

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

III.

Romans 3:22-23

22. And this righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no distinction, 

23. for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.

Romans 3:10, 18

10. As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one. 

18. “There is no fear of God before their eyes.”

Romans 6:23

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 5:8

But God proves His love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Romans 10:13

For, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

Romans 8:1

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

Dear God, My Heavenly Father,

I recognize that I have sinned against You, against Your Word. As I repent, as I turn from my wicked ways which grieve You, forgive me of all my unrighteous actions and the hurtful words I may have spoken without thinking. 

Take not Your Holy Spirit from me, but pour even more so into me that I may walk this path which You have laid out before me with dignity and integrity. May Your Light and Your Love shine through me, drawing people to You. Whether or not I see the results in my lifetime, I lift up those You have placed in my life to be strengthened in You and filled with Your Holy Spirit, that they, too, would walk in Your power to reach the goals You have set before them. 

Whatever it takes, Lord, save and fill our loved ones. Save and fill the unlovable. I was unlovable once and You loved me out of the darkness of this world into Your glorious Light. You call us to change, Lord, not just after death but here and now. 

Change me, O Lord, mold me and transform me in every way which glorifies Your name: make me holy, that I may be in Your presence forevermore. For You are a Holy God and Your Very Presence and Your Name demands a holy people. Make us Your holy people, Lord.

As we submit to Your will, O Lord, help us to stand against the enemy of our souls; help us to humble ourselves to be Your people; help us to preach/share/proclaim the gospel of salvation through Jesus Christ to whomever You lead us to.

In Jesus' Lovely Name, I pray,

Amen

Thanks Be To God - - For His Revealed Love

 

1 JOHN 4:9

This is how God’s love was revealed among us: God sent His one and only Son into the world, so that we might live through Him.

*Strong's Ex. Conc. No. 5319

Revealed: make visible, make clear, make known, manifest, illumine, make apparent

From the Greek word 'phaneroó' (pronounced fan-er-o'-o)

REVEALED LOVE OF GOD

1 John 4:7-10

7. Beloved, let us love one another, because love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.

8. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.

9. This is how God’s love was revealed among us: God sent His one and only Son into the world, so that we might live through Him.

10. And love consists in this: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as the atoning sacrifice for our sins.

John 1:18

No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is Himself God and is at the Father's side, has made Him known.

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.

1 John 4:16

And we have come to know and believe the love that God has for us. God is love; whoever abides in love abides in God, and God in him.

Romans 5:8

But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 

Isn't it amazing how much God loves each one of us?! It's a beautiful love, too. He wrapped His Word in mere flesh, called Him His Son, and sent Him to die an ugly death on the cross, to liberate people from the bondage of slavery to sin: to set free those who would choose to believe on the only Name that could save us from the consequences of our sinful natures.

THE NAME OF GOD'S REVEALED LOVE

Matthew 1:21

And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for He shall save His people from their sins.

Jeremiah 23:6

In His days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell securely. And this is His name by which He will be called: The LORD Our Righteousness.

John 1:29

The next day John sees Jesus coming to him, and said, Behold the Lamb of God, which takes away the sin of the world.

THE METHOD OF GOD'S REVEALED LOVE

A mock trial ensued after the Lord was blindfolded, beaten and mocked. Having been found guilty by those who hated Him, Jesus was then flogged 39 times across His back. 

Isaiah 53

Matthew 27:24-31

Mark 15:16-20

Luke 22:63-65

John 19:1-3

Though Pilate tried to have Jesus released, he saw that the crowds were riled up demanding that Jesus be crucified because He had said He was God. And for them, that was just too much to take.

God's method of His revealed love was for The WORD to die on the cross. Such a death as this, because He was the sinless LAMB OF GOD (John 1:29), would take away the sins of the world. Not just my sins. Not just your sins. Not just the sins of people we know in our own lives, but of The WHOLE world: from times long past, from this present time, from the times to come: JESUS died on the cross. 

It was God's Perfect Plan which had been set in motion back in the garden of Eden when Adam and Eve disobeyed God and sinned against Him. What JESUS did on the cross was foretold to happen.

Genesis 3:15

And I will put enmity (hostility) between you and the woman, and between your seed (sons of the devil [John 8:44]; generation of vipers [Matthew 3:7]) and her seed (sons of the heavenly Father [ Matthew 5:45]; generation of  the Lord [Psalm 22:30, 24:6]) . He will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.

Dear God,

Thank you So MUCH for sending Your Son to die in my place. I could never have gotten this far in my life without You IN my heart and my life. I am Yours. May I continue to the best of my ability the work You have set before me. All the days of my life and then some I am Yours to command. 
Strengthen these feeble knees, make sure my steps, that I may walk with You without delay, for time is surely our enemy. But an eternity with You is very much better than even one moment without You.

I give You my heart: it's Yours. Make Yourself at home here, LORD. I give You my body to do with as You will. Be glorified through me. I give You my life: You gave Your Son's life so I could live beyond death, beyond the boundaries of time: in eternity with You. Thank You for this wonderful blessing of Eternal Life in You. 

O God, SAVE our Families! Deliver our children from the hands of the enemy into which they have placed themselves. Some in ignorance, some willfully, boastfully. BUT YOU O GOD can break their hearts, that their willfulness would pour out and Your brokenness be writ in. We who pray for the lost and the dying know that there is still time left for them to surrender their hearts and their lives to YOU. 

O God, You are My GOD. You are my Everything. In You I am blessed. In You I am saved. In You I am loved. In You I shine. Shine in me, LORD and through me to a dark and dying world.

In Jesus' Priceless Name, I pray,

Amen

GOD WITH US by Mercy Me

REDEEMED by Big Daddy Weave

GOD REALLY LOVES US by Crowder, Maverick City Music