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Fear thou not, O Jacob my servant, saith the LORD: for I [am] with thee; for I will make a full end of all the nations whither I have driven thee: but I will not make a full end of thee, but correct thee in measure; yet will I not leave thee wholly unpunished.
Hear the word of the LORD, O ye nations, and declare [it] in the isles afar off, and say, He that scattered Israel will gather him, and keep him, as a shepherd [doth] his flock. For the LORD hath redeemed Jacob, and ransomed him from the hand of [him that was] stronger than he.
Behold, the LORD hath proclaimed unto the end of the world, Say ye to the daughter of Zion, Behold, thy salvation cometh; behold, his reward [is] with him, and his work before him. And they shall call them, The holy people, The redeemed of the LORD: and thou shalt be called, Sought out, A city not forsaken.
The LORD hath redeemed his servant Jacob. And they thirsted not [when] he led them through the deserts: he caused the waters to flow out of the rock for them: he clave the rock also, and the waters gushed out. [There is] no peace, saith the LORD, unto the wicked.
Moreover thou shalt provide out of all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place [such] over them, [to be] rulers of thousands, [and] rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens...
Covetousness is like greed, envy, and lust. It means wanting a thing that somebody else has.
"Men of truth, hating covetousness..." Do you hate covetousness? You should. "He that hateth covetousness..."
Proverbs 28:16The prince that wanteth understanding [is] also a great oppressor: [but] he that hateth covetousness shall prolong [his] days.
Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and [how] I bare you on eagles' wings, and brought you unto myself. Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth [is] mine: And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation.
This page just used to say "Page By Isaac4given," but now it says, "Page By isAAc4given And Friends." There are now posts and comments from other people.
A week b4 ("before",) yesterday, Muteki commented on "My Heart is Fixed," and Muteki posted "So you want... Proof??" just about 3 days ago. That was nice because he usually just posts in Japanese. Well, except for, like, that one time.
If you ever have any thoughts about anything you see on this site, please don't be too shy to leave your comments :-)
How silly. If you think about it, nothing has been proven. Even what I see with my eyes I could have imagined. You could even be imagining up the room you're in, the computer in front of you, my existence. In order to believe anything at all (and some don't), you have to be willing to accept a certain relative level of proof.
Many people, for example, believe only what they have seen with their eyes. This is a trade-off; if you choose not to accept commonly accepted information, others could think of you as uneducated. So most choose to also believe what others, whom they trust, have seen. Most people believe what scientists say, because scientists are just reporting on what they have seen with their own eyes in experiments in the laboratory.
Often, religious people cite the story of 'doubting Thomas.' Thomas was told that Jesus Christ had just risen from the dead, but he said that he wouldn't believe it unless he could touch the wounds in Jesus hands and side. Jesus later appeared and invited Thomas to do just that. Thomas, upon seeing Jesus, didn't even need the physical contact, and called Jesus "my Lord and my God." That's when Jesus uttered the famous words, "Because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed," which is to say: "You believe because you have seen me; blessed be those who have not seen and believe anyway."
Most religious people site this story verbatim as an answer for people who demand proof. So you've probably heard it before. But it ignores the fact that there is proof.
We are the generation of believers. Most of us (including me, of course) have not seen Jesus Christ with our own eyes, but we believe the reports of those who say they have. Jesus Christ was seen by more than 5,000 people after his death. What further proof do you need?? You believe the reports of scientists who have seen the results of their experiments in the laboratory. Believe the reports of those who saw Jesus before, during, and after His death. You believe the reports of newspaper journalists about what they have seen in the field. Believe reports of Christians about the things that Jesus Christ has done for them.
Well, aren't there high-brow philosophers, even famous scientists, who don't believe that anything is certain? Is anything really certain at all? But isn't that quite a long way to go to avoid admitting that Jesus Christ was who He claimed to be? We're scared to death to admit it because if we do, then we're also admitting that we deserve to go to Hell. And we stop there! Why? Don't you know that isn't the whole story? Don't you know that you can't solve a problem by denying its existence? Jesus didn't come to condemn us all to Hell, He came to save us from it! Believing in the sacrifice He made isn't going to condemn you, it's going to save you! When Jesus died on the cross, He took your sin to hell with Him! And when He rose up from the grave, He secured for you eternal life! Your belief will not condemn you, your unbelief will condemn you. Give up your pride and throw yourself on the mercy of a God who sacrificed His life to pay your ransom from death.
For He is good. For His mercy endures forever.
Keep His commandment, To Love one another.
You'll bring forth fruit, And your fruit will remain.
He'll give you all things you ask in Jesus' name.
For He is good. For His mercy endures forever.
Keep His commandment, To Love one another.
You are my head. Let me give You the glory.
Raised from the dead. Let me give You the glory.
For He is good. For His mercy endures forever.
For He is good. For His mercy endures forever.
For He is good. For His mercy endures forever.
For He is good.
And he lifted up his eyes, and saw the women and the children; and said, Who [are] those with thee? And he said, The children which God hath graciously given thy servant.Those people with you- who are they? Jacob answered Esau that God had graciously given those children to him.
All these [were] the sons of Heman the king's seer in the words of God, to lift up the horn. And God gave to Heman fourteen sons and three daughters.God says He gave 14 sons and 3 daughters to Heman!
And of all my sons, (for the LORD hath given me many sons,) he hath chosen Solomon my son to sit upon the throne of the kingdom of the LORD over Israel.The LORD had given David many sons.
Big branches were falling out of the tree in our backyard and breaking things, so we had the tree cut up into pieces and got rid of it. I've enjoyed breaking, chopping, and sawing branches to get rid of. Neighbors have seen the tree being cut down, because it was huge, and even asked about it. I had my pocket Bible with me, and a page kept blowing out of the Bible. I had to chase it down, and prayed I would find it. I found it, and it was at John 15. I said the page wouldn't abide in the Bible, like the branches wouldn't abide in the tree :-) I told our neighbors that we're all headed toward being chopped up into little pieces and thrown into the fire for burning because of our sin. That instead, we need to continue reading the Bible and believing the Word.
v12This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.
How can we forget to Love one another? Realize right now, if you never did before, that this is our whole battle. Remember that next time your mad at a brother or sister, and saying they're stupid or telling them to shut up. It's our job to overcome that, and it's the reason we're here now- to Love one another.
1 "...The law is not made for a righteous man..." (v9)
2 Prayer is first of all.
3 Supervisors and errand boys must be blameless.
4 Don't pay attention to old wives tales.
5 Treat each other like a family.
6 Godliness with contentment is great gain.
We hear about how we ought to behave in the Church. We hear about good and bad teaching, and about the purpose of the law. We hear how prayer should be "first of all". We hear how women should be in subjection, and how men should supervise and run errands. We hear how to treat each other like a family, and how to take care of widows. We're warned to flee the love of money.
So how does this stuff practically apply to your lives today? Maybe more than you think. What does "in the house of God" mean? I don't think it's just about the "Pastors" and "staff" for a couple of hours on Sunday morning in a special building. We're all called to participate everywhere, 24/7, because we are the house of God!
Chapter 2 sticks out, especially verse 8.
I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.In the Lord's house, of course prayer is supposed to be first of all, because the Lord's house is supposed to be a house of prayer for all people.
But you might ask where we ought to worship. Your parents might have worshipped the Lord in certain places, and Bible teachers might say a different special place is where men ought to worship. What does the Lord say? Where is the Church!? Well, to find where the Church is, let's remember what the Church is. Is it a hand-made building in this world?
Isn't it ourselves, God's Spiritual house? So where should we pray? "I will therefore that men pray every where..." (en pas topos.) Now that's awesome.
I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, [and] giving of thanks, be made for all men;I usually pray before I go out and preach the gospel. One time I didn't. I wondered why it seemed to be going so badly. When I read this verse, I finally decided to go back and pray, and then come out and preach the gospel again. I'm going to make prayer first.
O God, my heart is fixed; I will sing and give praise, even with my glory.
Awake, psaltery and harp: I [myself] will awake early.
I will praise thee, O LORD, among the people: and I will sing praises unto thee among the nations.
For thy mercy [is] great above the heavens: and thy truth [reacheth] unto the clouds.
Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens: and thy glory above all the earth;
That thy beloved may be delivered: save [with] thy right hand, and answer me.
God hath spoken in his holiness; I will rejoice...
A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.The Greek word, friend, "philos," is from "philein," "to love," like the word Love, "phileo." The Spanish word friend, "amigo," sounds like the word Love, "amor." Those are from the Latin "friend," and "Love," "amicus," and "amo." If that's not good enough for you, the English word friend, from the Old English "freond," is from "freon," which means "to love."
"Friend," and "Love," really mean the same kind of thing, so talking about friendship is really talking about Love. Answers.com says, "A friend is a lover, literally." I usually think of somebody who's your friend, as somebody who Loves you. If you're somebody's friend, you Love them. 2 people are friends with each other if they Love each other.
Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom's voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled.I could also say, "A Friend Hears." A real friend doesn't just hear, but listening, even from far away, makes him glad. It doesn't just tantalize him. It makes him rejoice greatly, and it makes his joy full. This is where fullness of joy is found.
It's not even in romance. Remember what's perhaps the most famous friendship in the Bible? David said, "I am distressed for thee, my brother Jonathan: very pleasant hast thou been unto me: thy love to me was wonderful, passing the love of women." Now, be sure that David was not a Sodomite. God rained fire and brimstone on Sodom and Gomorra for those "exceedingly," "wicked" sins. Just friendship is better than romance.
People can be romantic, and if they're not friends, it's not good. It's more important to be friends than it is to be romantic. It's terrible when there's a husband and wife who don't really Love each other. They need to be friends, first.
And as Peter knocked at the door of the gate, a damsel came to hearken, named Rhoda. And when she knew Peter's voice, she opened not the gate for gladness, but ran in, and told how Peter stood before the gate.Notice the importance of the voice. It's mentioned in the Song of Songs too. This young lady, Rhoda, was so glad to hear that voice she knew, because Peter was her friend. The joy of the Lord comes from hearing Jesus.
These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and [that] your joy might be full.
Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.
Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.A true friend knows his friends, because he has a desire to understand everything about them. He recognizes them, and they're familiar to him. He also makes everything that he hears and does, known to them. No wonder hearing one another, and speaking to one another, is so important.
Are you sure you know your friends? Are you sure they know you?
"friend." The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition. Houghton Mifflin Company, 2004. Answers.com 16 Nov. 2005. http://www.answers.com/topic/friend
"friend*." Blue Letter Bible. 16 Nov. 2005. http://www.blueletterbible.org/cgi-bin/words.pl?word=friend*
"friend." Online Etymology Dictionary. Douglas Harper, 2001. 16 Nov. 2005. http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?search=friend
"friend." Roget's II: The New Thesaurus, Third Edition. Houghton Mifflin Company, 1995. Answers.com 16 Nov. 2005. http://www.answers.com/topic/friend
"Definition of friend." Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary. Merriam-Webster, Incorporated, 2005. 16 Nov. 2005. http://m-w.com/dictionary/friend
v1 A friend Loves at all times. Jesus was a true friend, because He had the greatest Love there ever was. He laid down His life for His friends. He didn't just wait until the cross to show His Love. He patiently did a normal little job that people do all the time. We don't get to be crucified very often, but we can do little things to take care of our friends.
v10 I like the promise, "You are clean." Once I've turned to the Lord, and am not hiding my sin, but have admitted it to other people, He has forgiven me. But sometimes my conscience plays tricks on me and I still feel like the Lord will hold something against me. It's like water mixed with chlorine bleach, or like well water that's gone through a water softener. After you're done washing your hands with them, your hands still feel soapy or greasy, but they're actually clean.
That must be how Peter felt. Sometimes I worry that I've done sins that I don't know about or remember. Sometimes I feel like, "I've done it again. I knew better than doing it, how could He forgive me again, just like that, when I ask Him to?" In those cases, I'm being like Peter. I'm saying to the Lord, also wash my hands and my head. He promises that we don't need that. It's like He told Peter in that vision later: What God has cleansed, that call not thou common.
v34,35 Since Jesus came from God, and since it was in the same hour in which Judas would betray Him to be crucified, it might not have seemed like the right time for Jesus to wash Judas' feet. A friend Loves at all times. We should lay down our lives for our friends every day, even when it seems like the wrong time, even when it's a hard time, and all the way to the end.
Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, he [it is] that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.
And the LORD, he [it is] that doth go before thee; he will be with thee, he will not fail thee, neither forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed.
Do this now, my son, and deliver thyself, when thou art come into the hand of thy friend; go, humble thyself, and make sure thy friend.What do we need to do with our friends? We need to be humble, and we need to "make sure" of our friends.
18:24 It says that a friend is close.
In order to have friends, you must be a friend to other people, first. Not only must you be a friend, you must show it. Open rebuke is better than secret Love. Display it. Be open.
22:24 You shouldn't be friends with just anybody! Here's a serious warning not to be friends with an angry person.
27:5,6 Sometimes when your friend says something to you because he cares about you, it hurts. It's better for your friend to say and do the hard things because he cares. An enemy could act friendly and comfortable, but be deceiving you. Remember Judas.
If you really care about someone, as their friend, sometimes you need to be willing to rebuke them even if it will hurt.
Thine own friend, and thy father's friend, forsake not; neither go into thy brother's house in the day of thy calamity: [for] better [is] a neighbour [that is] near than a brother far off.Do not forsake your friend.
Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.We've heard the popular saying, "Iron sharpens iron." But did you know that when it's really true, is in the case of 2 friends?
To have respect of persons [is] not good...There are these things in this world, called "best friends," and "clubs." Look at the first part of this verse. We need to be sure we aren't treating some people better than others. We shouldn't be "respecters of persons."
Especially listen, children! if you have a special club or group with certain people in, and leave others out, that's not kind. And if you always talk to and play with the same 1 person, or few people, and ignore or even tease other people, that's being "a respecter of persons," and that's not good.
Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you. Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.
The word, "worship," is extremely popular in religious circles today, but only occurs 198 times in the Bible (kjv.) I was surprised to see what the Bible actually says about it.
Please don't call so many things worship, when they really aren't. I'm sorry, but you don't worship by listening to nice sounding music. You don't worship by stockpiling beautiful riches for yourself to enjoy.
Worship almost always includes "falling down!" Sometimes the Bible doesn't say anything like that, but it actually does say that, a surprising number of times. So we should worship and pray all the time in whatever position we're in, sometimes not even kneeling. There's 1 example I know of, where king David went in and sat before the Lord and prayed. On the other hand, people have to kneel to their king, and Jesus is the King of Kings. Sometimes people bowed their heads when they worshipped. Sometimes they fell on their faces. Sometimes they were on their knees. Sometimes they fell at the feet of the person they worshipped, and sometimes they held his feet. Sometimes the Bible says they bowed down. Most of the time it just says they fell down. The number of times the Bible says something like this about worship is particularly surprising because almost everybody "worships," sitting down, or standing up, today.
Worship is almost always out loud. "Make a loud noise." I know of 1, and only 1 example of silent prayer in the entire Bible, please correct me, if you know of another. Even in that example, at least Hannah's lips were moving, just as if she was actually speaking. And that probably doesn't look very good, because that time, it made the priest think she was drunk. The Lord does know your thoughts, and sometimes we should pray silently in our hearts. But the Lord wants to hear your voice!
v3 What a different kind of life Mary was living, than we usually see today! When we who have fellowship with the Lord's children have the rare privilege to see something like this, how amazing it is!
I know I would have been really ashamed and afraid in that situation, but Mary was bold and brave. We shouldn't be ashamed of Jesus, and we shouldn't be afraid to show our Love for Him. We should care more about what He thinks, than what other people think. Perfect Love casts out fear.
v27 It's comforting when I'm troubled "in my soul," that Jesus Himself said "Now is my soul troubled."
Because that by reason of him many of the Jews went away, and believed on Jesus.You notice that Lazarus didn't do anything! He just got sick and died, and Jesus raised him from the dead. It's the same way in our lives. We only bring our sickness of sin to the table, dreading the fiery anger of God and eternal death. Just like Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, it's a free gift, that God has just given to us, that we can receive everlasting life and the joyful hope of our inheritance in Him.
I want to be like Lazarus, so people say about me, "Because of him, many believed on Jesus."
v1+ "Now Jesus loved"
v16+ "Lord: I believe"
v28+ weeping
v41+ The glory of God
v46+ tattle tales (v46, 57)
v5 "Now Jesus loved."
The Bible says that the Lord has a good reason why His children have to get sick, and die.
He has a good reason why we have to wait for Him, and why we have to go through things that make us cry.
The hardest question ever, in the world, is, "Why?"
The answer to that question is Jesus' Love.
We have sicknesses because He Loves us. We suffer death because He Loves us. We wait and wait longer than we thought, and so much longer than we can understand, because He Loves us. Because Jesus Loves us, we have to weep, and go through feelings like we wish we could die.
How can this be? There's something better for us than very life. It's better than health. It's worth waiting for- it doesn't shrink with time, there's no fear it will get away if we don't get it fast. It's so much more important than how we feel and all our feelings.
It's so good that we rejoice to suffer for it. It is *so* good, that the Lord said, "I am glad for your sakes that I was not there," even though, the Lord not being there for days, meant sickness, death, and weeping. So what *is* it? It's something that we can decide to do right now, so it's my application.
v15 "And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, to the intent ye may believe; nevertheless let us go unto him." It's believing in the Lord. Believe that He's Who He says He is, and that He will reward us who diligently seek Him.
v27 I want confess The Confession of Belief, to Jesus.
...Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world.
Here are some notes about the contrast between believers and the lost.
Gen31:3 "I will be with thee"
v6 "With all my power."
v41,42 Laboring with his hands for 20 years in affliction, God was with him. He had an inheritance, and wasn't empty.
33:5 "God has graciously given."
John3:36 Rescued from wrath, continue in faith.
8:34 From a different kingdom, of slavery.
12:42,43 Confession: deadly, worth dying for. personal, not magic words.
Acts26:13-17,18 See the turning, difference, power, inheritance, and faith.
Rom1:18 There's that word, "wrath" again.
10:9 confess, believe. This is the gospel. Notice the resurrection.
v13 call. Like prayer to receive salvation.
Phil3:14 There's a prize.
Col3:24 There's a reward of inheritance.
Heb10:23 Faith should continue.
v24-27 There's indignation.
v32 Endure. There's affliction.
v34 A better and enduring substance- the inheritance.
v35 faith, patience, and hope. There's a reward.
v36 Have patience, there's a promise.
v38 live by faith- continual, not just at salvation.
v39 believe.
1Peter1:3 The hope is, by the resurrection!
v4-8 inheritance
v1+ They know His voice
v7+ Enter in by the door
v19+ In the porch at winter
v25+ Never plucked out of His hand
v30+ Jesus is God
v37+ Many believed on Him
v3 The sheep hear the shepherd's voice, and he leads them.
Jesus loves us and gave His life for us and saved us. He truly cares for each of us in a very special way, and nobody will ever pluck us out of His hand. We don't have to worry that we won't know what to do, to follow Him or find the things we need, the pasture. We won't miss out on Him or any of the good things He's promised to give us.
He has promised that He will send us His calling with His voice, and He will lead us. When we need to know what to do, and which way to go, and when we have needs, He Himself cares for us, and He will lead and provide.
My application is to rejoice and be glad in singing hymns.
v1+ The man wasn't born blind because he or his parents had sinned.
v4+ We need to work for the Lord while we can.
v12+ The Sabbath has always been a popular thing to argue about and throw people out for.
v35+ Spiritual sight is believing in Jesus.
v39+ Spiritual blindness is believing in yourself.
v22 I've been such a chicken, so much like these chickens. Many times I've wimped out at confessing Jesus Christ because I'm afraid. I don't want to make a mistake. Many times just staying comfortable and keeping your mouth shut, is a mistake.
And he said, Lord, I believe. And he worshipped him.Now I do have a habit of preaching the gospel to everybody. But it's hard for me to pray in front of other people and to worship the Lord in front of other people. My application is to worship, praise, or thank the Lord in public, and not just in meetings.
To keep myself awake, I drink coffee or something, scroll down the page one line at a time, read it out loud (but that slows me down,) or listen to music. Otherwise I keep falling asleep and then trying to start reading again, and can't get anywhere.
I had just read Proverbs through Ezekiel (all this year, I think,) so I decided to read the rest of the Old Testament - Ezekiel through Malachi first, then Genesis through Psalms. I was in 2nd Corinthians when I had the idea for a Bible Reading Marathon.
I think 2 of my friends also happened to be reading in 2nd Corinthians. Both of them agreed to race me to Proverbs. I read for about 1 hour every day, more some days, and less on others. It took me about 2 days to read Genesis, and 2 days to read Esther and Job. After Proverbs, I decided to keep going all the way back to Ezekiel.
I just finished Lamentations this morning.
I've also been trying to study about 1 chapter per day, and I started Genesis in that, about 3 weeks ago. (But I'm only to Genesis 10 today!)
The genealogies and architecture are really difficult, but it sure is a good way to encourage people to listen for the Word of God, and it's a much better use of time than many other things, like novels, other books, movies, sports, web surfing, and TV. Think about having a Bible Reading Marathon yourself, or with your family and friends!
I grew up knowing about the Bible, doing good things, and even believed in Jesus. But sin is real, and it's a problem. At least for me, I had a lot of the fear and shame that comes with sin.
I wanted to be good, so I ended up saying things that weren't completely honest to other people, to hide my sin. Then I kept reading my Bible. If you haven't been reading the Bible, please open it up and read it. It was when I was reading God's Word that He warned me.
The Bible says that there's a book in heaven, and it's called the book of life. The Bible says that there are names written in the book of life, and at the end of the world, the book will be opened. Whoever's name isn't found written in the book of life will be cast into the lake of fire.
I'm sure that my name is written in the book because I received everlasting life by believing on the Lord Jesus Christ. Romans 10:9 says that if you confess with your mouth, the Lord Jesus, and believe in your heart, that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. I know I'm saved because I believed Jesus enough to talk to God and ask Him to save me in Jesus' name.
But it also says that the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, will have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone. Hebrews 10:26,27 say: "For if we sin willfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remains no more sacrifice for sins, But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries."
I tried to hide my sins, by hiding the things I was doing, not admitting that it was sin, and not confessing that it was my fault. But when I kept reading the Bible, Jesus had great mercy on me and got ahold of my heart. I asked Him to forgive me, help me confess my sins, and not sin any more.
He forgave me and helped me, like He has promised, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us [our] sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
Have you ever asked God to save you, in Jesus' name?
"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life."
Please believe in Him right now.
v1-13 An insufficient supply filled the hungry.
v14-21 Do not be afraid.
v22-27 The people were selfish when Jesus had compassion to give them a gift.
v28-40 Jesus Himself, not a miracle, is the reason to believe.
v41-58 God's Word itself is the life, and He gave eternal life to whoever would believe the Word.
[incomplete]
v27 Don't work to get something to satisfy your body. Instead, work hard to believe in Jesus and His death for our eternal life.
v35,53 Eating the flesh and drinking the blood of Jesus was just an image that meant coming to Him and believing on Him, Who would die for us.
v37,40 "Every one"- Even if you've done the worst sins and have excuses and are afraid it's too late for you. There's no way Jesus will throw you out if you come to Him.
v38Jesus didn't come to do His own will. He came to do God the Father's will. We should be like this too.
For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.My application was to go outside at lunch hour, and walk around the neighborhood a little bit, and try to preach the gospel to people so that they could be saved. There were more than 7 people out, but I was too chicken to talk to all of them. The Lord brought me 1 person to talk to, gave me boldness, and put His Word in my mouth to tell the person a tiny bit about Jesus.
If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and [be] not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, [and] which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;
There are some good things that we hope in. I'll mention 3.
They're all good things, and we should hope in them. But hope, deferred, makes the heart sick. Has your hope ever been deferred over these things? Have you ever gotten heartsick over these 3?
First, there's the hope of the friendship. Friendship is a very good thing.
The Bible says that a near friend is better than a far-off brother. It says that a friend loves at all times. It says, your own friend, and your father's friend, forsake not. It says a "servant" doesn't know what his master's doing, so Jesus has called us "friends," instead of "servants." There's a friend that sticks closer than a brother.
We do hope for friendship with one another, and we do have the hope of friendship. But the hope of friendship isn't The Hope Of The Gospel. If we're not careful, other hopes, like the hope of friendship, could move us away from the hope of the gospel.
The friendship we should hope for is the friendship of the gospel. Jesus is the One that had the greatest Love, to lay down His life for his friends. When our hope of other friendship falls apart, we still have hope. We have a hope of the gospel, in Jesus. Jesus won't fall apart.
The 2nd hope we have, is the hope of fellowship. This is a wonderful thing. The Church is the house of God, the pillar and ground of the truth. We should hope to have a glorious fellowship. Don't we want to pray and worship the Lord together from our hearts? Don't we want to dwell in the same place, and see one another, and speak with one another, and in so doing, enter into the presence, and same fellowship of Christ Himself? Don't we want to gather in a way that pleases the Lord? Don't we want to be built up instead of divided?
But we can't always have a glorious fellowship. Sometimes fellowship falls apart. Then we can get really heartsick, but we don't have to, if we hold onto the hope of the gospel. The fellowship of the Gospel, is the unbreakable fellowship we each have with Jesus Christ.
Isn't a family a great thing? Don't we hope for the family?
For a husband that Loves his wife, and honors her as a weaker vessel. Who works with his hands to provide for his own, and for those who have need. A father, who doesn't provoke his children to wrath, but brings them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. Who doesn't let his soul spare for their crying or spare the rod, but loves his children and punishes them often, driving foolishness far from their hearts.
For a prudent, virtuous wife, who will Love her husband, and do him good, and not evil, all the days of her life. Who will be subject to him, and clothed with humility, with a meek and quiet spirit. Not contentious, clamorous, or strange. Grave or dignified. Sober and industrious, fearing the Lord. Wearing modest clothes. Being a keeper at home.
For a quiver full of children, who honor and obey their parents, not despising their directions, but listening to their instructions.
But it isn't always like this, is it? Don't some of the worst cases of "heartsickness" come from friendships, fellowships, and even families, falling apart?
And we should hope for glorious families, but families do fall apart. And when they do, we still need something to hope for, don't we? How about the hope of the gospel? Remember the gospel?
Our sins, which were great and many, have been blotted out. We are forgiven. We're free. He has saved us- He has mercy. One day we will see Him, and be with Him- forever.
Look at the family of the gospel. Do you want a husband who will love you the way a husband should? Look at the bridegroom of the Church. Jesus has Loved as nobody else has ever Loved; And in the good news, we hear and believe how He's demonstrated that Love.
For a loving father, look to The Heavenly Father.
Do you want children, and children who are the kind of children that they should be? If you would preach the gospel, you could bring people to Jesus to be born again as spiritual children. You could disciple new believers. You can see the fruit of new life entering the world through Jesus.
To have a friend who sticks closer than a brother. To have the brethren dwelling together in unity, making a joyful noise to the Lord. To have a family that loves one another. There's no reason to fret, even when this all falls apart. We still have a hope. It's in Christ.
Listen to this, tell it to your children.
Drunkards awake... weep and howl!
Lament- be ashamed. Fast and wear sackcloth.
Assemble and cry- unto the Lord.
Sound the alarm; Sound it and tremble.
Call out the bridegroom; Let the bride leave her room.
Mourn, rend your heart- and turn to the Lord.
O Lord, spare your people!
Don't give your inheritance to reproach!
Why should the heathen, rule over us?
Why should they say, "Where is the Lord?"
Do not be afraid, for He is with you.
Be glad and rejoice- praise His name!
Sound the alarm; Blow the trumpet in Zion,
Call on the name... of the Lord.
Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for [it is] time to seek the LORD, till he come and rain righteousness upon you.
I shouldn't trust in my own strength and say things that are dishonest. Instead I need to be in prayer, and do merciful things, and speak righteously.
For Israel hath forgotten his Maker, and buildeth temples; and Judah hath multiplied fenced cities: but I will send a fire upon his cities, and it shall devour the palaces thereof.The Lord has made us, and yet we often disregard Him. Try to think of 3 things that the Lord has done for you, thank Him for them, and admit that He knows what He's doing.
Though I have bound [and] strengthened their arms, yet do they imagine mischief against me.
Like we've heard, a good imagination is a wonderful thing. But what is in your imagination? Make sure it's not mischief against the Lord. He knows.
Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.
The word "heart" appears an incredible number of times in Psalm 119. It becomes apparent that we cannot keep the old law, except we can keep the law of the heart. The difference is that old law was letters written for the flesh, that Thou shalt not taste this or touch that. The new law is spiritual, to Love the Lord and your neighbor.
Psalm 119 is great for learning Hebrew. You can look at the Hebrew and English side by side. You can also listen to an MP3 of the Psalm being read aloud in Hebrew. There is an error in the recording- the reader starts over and repeats himself on verse 158. But it's a great way, at least to learn the alphabet, and maybe you'll pick up a few words, like "ืื leb."
O give thanks unto the LORD; for [he is] good: for his mercy [endureth] for ever.We say Thank You so often, we ought to say Thank You, out loud, to the Lord. His mercy is so everlasting that He forgives terrible sinners like me!
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.
What is the gospel? That question came up once in Acts 15, because certain believers rose up and said "That it was needful to circumcise them [the brethren], and to command [them] to keep the law of Moses." Peter said God choose that the Gentiles, by his mouth, "should hear the word of the gospel, and believe."
That "Word of the gospel," Peter was talking about, is in Acts 10. There, the Gentiles told Peter they were gathered "to hear all things that are commanded thee of God." So the things Peter said there are the gospel.
Peter told Who Jesus Is (He is the Lord,) What He Did (He died on the cross and rose again from the dead,) and How to Be Saved (by believing in Him.) That is the gospel, the good news of the Lord Jesus.
Notice the phrase there in verse 43: "whosoever believeth in him." That same phrase is in John 3:16. I Love that phrase. I Love it because "whosoever" includes me, even such a wretched sinner.
If you want to be sure that you are saved, all you need to do is to believe in the Lord Jesus. Even if you were sorry for your sins, or confessed them, or stopped doing them, or even if you think you keep the law, you aren't saved unless you believe in the Lord Jesus. If you've ever believed in the Lord Jesus, even if you don't keep the law, you are saved, and you have everlasting life that will never stop or even pause. Friend, you should trust in Jesus as the One who has saved you, and not trust in anything else, like being sorry for your sins, or confessing them.
You cannot please the Lord by keeping the old law. You can't keep the old law. The Lord isn't pleased by the keeping of the old law, anyway. The old law is traditions, written with letters on stone and paper, like what we are not to taste, handle, or touch. Our new law is Love, spiritually written on our hearts. The way to please the Lord, as a believer, is to Love Him and the brethren. This is the new law. Do as much good as you can for everybody, especially believers, whether it's against the old law or not.
Friend, you should preach the gospel. Commanding people to keep the old law, or to stop sinning, or to be sorry, or to confess their sins, is not preaching the true gospel. Tell people the good news of Who Jesus Is, What He Did, and How to be Saved (just by believing in Him.)
I will declare thy name unto my brethren: in the midst of the congregation will I praise thee.The Lord's name is "Jesus". Praise the Lord, for His mercy endures for ever!
So built we the wall; and all the wall was joined together unto the half thereof: for the people had a mind to work.We should have "a mind to work"!
After him Baruch the son of Zabbai earnestly repaired the other piece, from the turning [of the wall] unto the door of the house of Eliashib the high priest.It says a lot of people repaired the city in a lot of places, but I noticed it says that Baruch earnestly repaired.
Then went king David in, and sat before the LORD, and he said, Who [am] I, O Lord GOD? and what [is] my house, that thou hast brought me hitherto?Should you ever kneel when you pray? Should you ever pray without kneeling down? Here's an example that the man after God's own heart "sat before the LORD" to pray a prayer.
I like to kneel when I pray. That's the common example in the Bible. When #666 comes, whoever doesn't worship him or his image, probably kneeling, will be killed, probably beheaded. Now we have a chance to kneel to the True God, Jesus Christ. People kneel to kings, and Jesus is the King of Kings.
But He's answered the prayers I've prayed while I'm sitting down, just like He's answered the prayers I've prayed kneeling. He's just interested in the heart.
For the life of the flesh [is] in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it [is] the blood [that] maketh an atonement for the soul.
The altar reminds me of Jesus laying down His life for us on the cross. "Atonement" means covering.
The Lord will deliver us from the bodies of this death when He returns again. Today He has already saved and cleansed us on the cross, and made us His people.
Verses like in the book of James talk about how we should work with works. If you search through the verses, you'll see that they don't say that we should work the works of the old law. Instead, they are talking about how our Love, with which we Love, must be in deed and in truth. We must maintain good works of Love. We must not just hear the Word and say things that sound good without living by faith. If we really have living faith, we will walk in Love. You see, James is talking about a different kind of work. We are taught not to have works of the law, but to have works of Love.
Jesus abolished from us, the Old Covenant, which is the old testament and testimony. The old law is the commandments and ordinances of bodily exercises, the law of sin unto death, contained with letters in stone. It's good for what it was made for, but it was only made to kill those who break it, making the wages of sin, death. But God gave the gift of eternal life in Jesus Christ, to us who believe.
Now we follow the new law, in the new spiritual covenant of Jesus' blood. The new law is written on our hearts, contained in the new spiritual commandments. The commandments are to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, Love the Lord our God with our whole heart, soul, mind, and strength, and Love our neighbors as ourselves. Now we can have living Faith in our hearts, which works to righteousness, by Love.
Now we have liberty to serve one another in Love even without keeping the old law of the letter. Because we're free from the law, we're free from sin and death. We're clothed with His Righteousness as long as we keep the Faith, walk in the Spirit, and Love one another. Love works no ill to his neighbor, so it fulfills the law.
If you see that your brother has a need, don't tell your heart of compassion to shut up. If you know to do good and don't do it, that is sin to you. Until He comes, we are sinners who will sin again, but we have an advocate. We have a High Priest, a sacrifice, and an "atonement" (a covering) for our sins. So forget the things that are behind and press on toward the mark to win the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Come boldly and humbly before the throne of grace to find grace and strength to help in the time of need.
I grew up in a born-again family, and asked God to save me when I was a little kid. I was baptized when I was a teenager. I've always listened to the Bible, prayed, praised the Lord, and told people the good news.
When I was a kid, I sinned, like- I told lies, stole little things, and bullied other kids. When I was a pre-teen and teenager I got involved in horrible sins I won't talk about now. As I kept reading the Bible, especially books like Isaiah and Jeremiah, God convicted my heart that He punishes even His own people for sin. The wages of sin is death, and the soul that sins, it will die.
I tried to hide my sins, and wanted to stop them, but just kept ending up doing the same things again. Some things happened that scared me really bad, including one of my friends dying from cancer. 1 John 1:9 warned me that I needed to admit what I had done, that it was sin, and that it was my fault.
In my late teen years, the Lord's Word like in Psalm 32, completely broke my heart, and I repented.
I still struggle against temptation some today, but the Lord has shown Himself real and living to me by many infallible proofs. He has answered prayers miraculously, kept us safe, and done great things for us.
I am thankful and glad for His mercy and forgiveness.
Watch The Room by Josh Harris.
If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.Is your heart satisfied with pleasure, content with gladness, and full of joy?
If not, why? Is your preaching in vain? Is your faith vain? Do you sometimes feel like you're a false witness, and doubt? Are you yet in your sins? Have those which have fallen asleep in Christ perished?
The reason is "in this life only we have hope in Christ". You're hoping for this life, and you're completely miserable. You look for something you don't have, or a change in the situation you have now. You don't have to be this way any more.
What is there besides this life? Jesus. Keep the gospel in your memory. Earnestly contend for the faith. In all things, He must have the preeminence.
We always wanted a dog. Unfortunatly we used to rent a house where the landlord said no dogs.
Our relatives had a little puppy named "Blackie," and we made good friends with him, and were sorry to see him sold. One of my brothers particularly missed Blackie and prayed for a little black dog.
More recently another one of my brothers decided he wanted a dog, and when he prayed he prayed for a dog. "What a stupid thing to pray." I thought. "Ye ask amiss that ye may consume it upon your lusts." I wouldn't say Amen.
Papa said "The only way we're going to get a dog is if somebody brings one up to the door and says, Here's a free dog!"
I thought about how I hadn't been saying amen to my brother's prayers, and thought, "hmm... why not? So I prayed, If it's Your will, let us have a dog."
People were playing in the backyard, and the neighbor was over with his little black dog. He said, "We don't want this dog and want to get rid of it. Do you want it?" Somebody told him, you'll have to go up and ask. So he came up to the door with the little black dog, and said "Here's a dog we don't want, you can have him for free, do you want him?"
So that's how we got our dog.
I was standing of the doorway of the garage, with the garage door open. I had seen a bunch of weeds earlier and wanted to cut them down with the weed cutter.
I had just read Jeremiah 33:3, which I really, really love. I was trying to make a song out of it, and singing the words over and over again in my head.
Call, upon me
And I will answer thee
And I will show you things
Great and mighty things
That thou knowest not-
That thou knowest not.
I looked in the corner where the weed whacker belonged. It wasn't there. I called to my brother, and asked him if he had moved it or knew where it was. He didn't. I thought, "I can't find it by just standing here and looking- I have to move things around." So I started moving things around, and still couldn't find it.
I suddenly realized what I was singing as I couldn't find the weed whacker. "I know! I'll pray and the Lord can help me find the weed whacker!" I thought. I believed it. I was going to pray something like "Lord, please help me find the weed whacker."
"Lord, Pl-"
As I was starting to pray before I could actually ask, I looked at what was in front of my eyes, and saw what faintly resembled, right there on the floor of the garage in between a bunch of stuff, a part of the weed whacker. "No, that can't be it- it's too long and bent." I reached down and pulled out- the weed whacker. Praise the Lord! Like papa says, "If you can find something in our garage, that is a miracle!"
It doesn't always work that way- like I prayed with a neighbor who lost her keys and we still couldn't find them. But if the Lord isn't showing you great and mighty things, it's because you aren't calling on Him.
Another time I knocked down something my brother had tacked up on the wall. Which meant there was a tack on the floor, which wasn't too good either. I looked a lot and prayed a lot, and finally ended looking, but never doubted the Lord. Just as I was leaving, I found the tack like I had prayed.
I was pacing back and forth in the parking lot in front of the office I used to work, waiting for papa to come pick me up.
It says if any man is afflicted, let him pray, and I was definitely afflicted :-) I thought of how we had been planning to go to the Retirement Home with our friends and sing and share the gospel that night. We had been practicing our songs for a while.
"Lord," I prayed, "Give me one person tonight!" It was an incredible moment as I poured out such a determined plea. So many times before we had gone to preach the gospel praying that "at least one could be saved"- and saw none. "Father, please give me one person tonight!"
I never ever saw anybody come to the Lord Jesus before from me preaching the gospel.
As we were singing and some people said some things, I was looking around the room praying for each person as I saw them- "Lord, please save that person, right now, if he isn't saved!"
Before we just ran out I wanted to talk to people- I talked to a few different people. I went over to one man in a chair and started talking to him. I guess he doesn't have any relatives. I told him the gospel, and the way to be saved. I said "Would you like to do that now?" He said "Yes." I said something like "You can pray something simple, like, God, In Jesus' name, save me."
He repeated the words. I talked with him a little more. I couldn't believe what I had just seen. It was just the most incredible thing ever. I was so glad!
It wasn't until later that I remembered pacing back and forth, praying, "Give me one person tonight!"
Behold, the Assyrian [was] a cedar in Lebanon with fair branches, and with a shadowing shroud, and of an high stature; and his top was among the thick boughs.yawn I sure am tired, so I don't know why I writing this now, but I haven't written for a while...
My hands hurt while I'm typing this- my hands and arms (and the back of my neck) are all scratched up (I don't think my sunburn is hurting very much right now.) After today's work I think I'm permanently thirsty :-)
I trimmed the five mulberry trees along our front hedge today. I thought it was so cool when I came in and read about the tree "with fair branches, and with a shadowing shroud, and of an high stature; and his top was among the thick boughs." Talk about thick branches, in my head I can still hear the saw going back and forth. Those things were really high, and I even found a nest in them. v6 "All the fowls of heaven made their nests in his boughs..."
I sure liked the shadows I could hide from the sun in before I cut them down.
And strangers, the terrible of the nations, have cut him off, and have left him: upon the mountains and in all the valleys his branches are fallen, and his boughs are broken by all the rivers of the land; and all the people of the earth are gone down from his shadow, and have left him.
After I ran to throw a particularly large bunch of branches in the ditch, I slipped and fell. The corner of our old back retaining wall is still standing, and stumbling over the branches into the ditch, I saw the wall and the big solid capstones. Oh, great, this is going to hurt, I thought. Somehow I missed the wall and jumped right out fine.
After that I was moving my head back and forth as I sawed, and ran my eye into a twig sticking out. "I wonder if I'll be blind now?" I thought before I realized that it was just one eye. But my eye seems fine now. Praise the Lord!
A couple of guys across the street and a little way down came to mow the neighbor's lawn. As I worked I was singing stuff like "Call upon the name of the Lord, and you shall be saved." I saw one of the guys doing something at the truck, and suddenly felt like I should go over and preach the gospel to him. OK, I decided that's what I was going to do.
Walking across the street and down the sidewalk, I felt like an idiot. I shouldn't have, because I remember "whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed". Feeling this way upstairs earlier, I looked down and saw the book "A complete IDIOT's guide to MOSAIC" (A computer thing.) The book was complete with a picture of a complete idiot right on the front. I'm a complete idiot, I told myself.
What do I have, to tell him? Just what I know- about forgiveness of sins. The other guy was sitting at the truck when I came up and said good afternoon. The first guy was starting to mow the lawn. I said something like "My name is Isaac. Nice to meet you! Could I tell you about how the Lord Jesus forgives sins?"
The man's appearance was a bit distracting and I was thinking "This guy's not going to listen at all. He's really a sinner, the Lord must know he needs me to talk to him." You know piercings and rings hanging everywhere and everything. I shouldn't have thought that, judging him by the outward appearance and being a respecter of persons- after all, I had just read "Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares."
He actually seemed very nice and wanted to hear, and I said something like "It's just by calling on him! The Bible says that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved."
As I got to the gospel verse. The other guy got near that part of the yard with the lawn mower and it became a little hard to hear (a coincidence?) He nodded, and I think he heard and understood, So I said good afternoon, and came back. When they drove away, I waved, and he called out "take it easy Isaac!" and I replied "You too, see you later!"
I wonder if I'll ever see him again...
Oh, by the way, preaching the gospel is not for the fainthearted- I've been assailed on with an incredible bombardment of many types of attacks from the enemy lately; pray for me. Oh, and open your mouths fellowsoldiers- "Woe be unto me if I preach not the gospel."
It was several weeks ago, and it was late. Most of my family were in bed sleeping.
I was in the Dining Room, and I was praying for somebody (I do that sometimes.)
I was very worried and upset. I was very, very upset. I was very upset. You get the picture.
For a second, I thought, maybe I should ask the Lord to show me a vision or a sign. Then I thought, no, the devil has the power to show visions and signs, that wouldn't be sure enough.
What would be sure enough? The Word of God is the only thing I completely trust. It's a sure thing. I thought I would ask for a Word from the Lord. A special Word, just for me. I assumed, if He answered, I might find a passage in my Bible answering my prayers.
I prayed something like, "Father, I don't ask for a sign or a vision, Lord, give me a Word, Lord, please give me a Word!"
Not really realizing that my prayers would have any effect, I saw immediately saw a piece of plastic wrap lying on the table. I remembered, somebody had 2 left-over pancakes wrapped in that plastic, but now they were gone. I was a bit angry that she (and everybody else) had left the plastic lying there this whole time, and I was still upset about my prayer request. I snatched it up to throw it away before I went to bed.
When I picked up the piece of plastic, I could see the name of the person, written on the piece of plastic, backwards, because I was holding it facing away from myself. I remembered that her first name had been written on it. I turned the plastic around to look at the name forwards. At that moment I was praying that the Lord would give me a Word.
Her name happens to be Hope.
Here I was, holding the Word Hope in my hands- just the Word I needed. Praise the Lord! I crushed that plastic inside of my hand.
I took that piece of plastic wrap with me, folded it up neatly, and kept it. I still have it now.
Jeremiah 33:3Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.
Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?Something is going on today that reminds me of what happened in Acts 15, and it's explained very well in Galatians and Hebrews. Search the scriptures diligently to see whether the things you are being taught are true, and cease to hear the instruction that causes you to err from the way you should go. Weren't the Apostles honest, trustworthy, good, biblical, godly people? Yet the Bereans were commended for searching the scriptures before believing even the Apostle's teaching. Could it somehow hurt to take a peek for yourself just in case? I'll tell you some of my experiences:
Wherefore, [as] I live, saith the Lord GOD; Surely, because thou hast defiled my sanctuary with all thy detestable things, and with all thine abominations, therefore will I also diminish [thee]; neither shall mine eye spare, neither will I have any pity.This is a promise from God. He will pour out an extremely miserable punishment on His Own Children who sin. Have you believed that Jesus suffered the death on the cross to pay for your sins? Then you know that your sin is the thing that tortured and killed the One Who Loves You.
So many people today say, "Yes, I'm already a Christian." You would be better off if you never knew the Lord, than you are claiming to be a Believer, and yet not following Him. Brethren, your sin is worse than that of Osama Bin Laden, because he never knew Jesus, but you know what you're doing. You'll all have a part in the lake of fiery indignation, just like him, unless you repent.
woe unto us, that we have sinned! We're the sanctuary of the Lord, and He detests our lust, covetousness, fornication, idolatry, and lies. The Lord will by no means clear the guilty. We defile His sanctuary, and set up an abomination in the Holy Place, where it ought not to be.
You know that your conscience is convicting you. I don't care what your excuse is. Thus saith the Lord, Oh, do not this abominable thing that I hate!
There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.Hbr 12:21-29; Hbr 10:31 "[It is] a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God." BUT: Rom 8:15; 2Ti 1:7 "...God hath not given us the spirit of fear;" Mar 6:50 "...be not afraid." How many times has the Lord told us Fear Not?
Thou drewest near in the day [that] I called upon thee: thou saidst, Fear not.
For I will set mine eyes upon them for good, and I will bring them again to this land: and I will build them, and not pull [them] down; and I will plant them, and not pluck [them] up.
In these last days, the Lord has brought His children together into little flocks. We don't worship in special places, like at Jerusalem, or in the mountains of Samaria. The Lord is with us wherever we gather together.
The way of the world is to build a city, and great, high tower, and to make a name for ourselves so that we can do whatever we think together, and won't be scattered abroad upon the face of the earth. That's why the Lord Jesus has allowed contentions about everything from rock music to head coverings to enter into our assemblies. He has confounded our speech, so that the brethren don't all have a single tongue, like we used to.
The Lord has scattered us abroad upon the face of the entire earth so that we've had to leave off building Our Apostate Church, the Modern Babylon.
If you've ever seen the Lord's House in it's first Glory, like I have, it certainly makes you cry that the sheep are scattered, and nobody gathers them. So many smiling voices, singing praises, you'll never see again.
One brother used to say, "This, here, my Bible, is the last Bible I will ever have. The Lord is coming back." As far as I know, that, there, was the last Bible he ever had :-(
This is The Falling Away, the Great Forsaking. Many betray one another, and hate one another. Doesn't iniquity abound? Doesn't the Love of many wax cold?
Two days ago, some believers went early to worship, and stood in line for hours to get in. It was the middle of the night, and it was already packed and crowded. Friends who knew and cared about each other all came together in the same places at the same time. People came so early. They had such a great time there, it was SO great, I've heard. god had something to show his people that he wanted them to see, and they loved to see it and remember him. People had fellowship, and were talking, laughing. Crying. People had so many good things to say about what they saw there. They couldn't stop talking about it. It was a great worship time.
You're probably thinking, what Church is there like that today? Where is it? How can I join? What was it that god had to show his people there that they were so excited about? A made up illustration of a bunch of people using demonic powers, lusting, lying, and brutally murdering each other. Star Wars. It was worship, but not for my Lord.
When's the last time you came so many hours early to worship My Lord? When's the last time you were bold to talk so much all the time about Him, and what He has to Show us? When's the last time all the friends who care about each other came together in the same place at the same time for Jesus?
"I already go to Church. I belong to the Church. I believe."
Congratulations, don't the demons also believe that Jesus is the Lord, so much that they tremble? You believe that much, just like them?
Congratulations.
You don't belong to, or go to no Church. God doesn't give out His Kingdom, and Eternal Fellowship, and Fullness of Joy, to people, just become some other person put their names down on paper with ink. The only Church Ledger with my name written in it is the book of Life. That's the one in which Jesus Christ Himself engraved my name eternally in His own blood.
You can't enter into the presence of God by entering into a "Church" (building) with an organ, stained glass windows, crosses, pews, and a steeple. (BTW, the steeple represents the tower of Babel.) God doesn't dwell in a house made with hands. What building could we make Him? Even the heavens and earth can't contain Him.
What about me? Do we have a Pastor? Reverend? Bishops, deacons, or elders? Leading Brothers? We have a single Human Man who is our Reverend Pastor, our Bishop, Deacon, and Elder, all rolled into One. He's written some documents for Our Church, click here to read them:
It's very good and Biblical to be good examples to each other, serve each other (minister,) and take care of each other. That's what authority, leadership, and ruling are all about. We don't need to give each other any flattering titles. Jesus said "But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, [even] Christ; and all ye are brethren." (Mat 23:8.)
My Church is the asamblea anonimo- the nameless gathering. We don't need a denomination or name (Like some say, I am of Paul, or others, I am of Christ.) We're not out there preaching about ourselves or how great we are anyway- "For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake."
If you think you might have finally found Your Home, Click here to find out how to join my Church.
That's right. You can be in Church in any place at any time. There are earthly, human institutions, like 501(c)3 organizations, called Churches, or even called "The Church," but God's True Church is Us- His People.
Take every opportunity to Love and do good to the Household of Faith. Be consumed with the zeal of the Lord's House. Come boldly before the throne of Grace. Exhort one another daily. Continue with one accord, daily. Don't forsake the assembling of yourselves together!
Never forsake your Friends.This song is from Romans 10.
Call- upon the name of the Lord,
and you- will be saved.
Believe- on the name of the Lord,
and you'll have everlasting life.
Life Everlasting!
Oh, LORD- save Your people,
The remnant of Is-ra-el.
Oh, LORD- save Your people.
The remnant of Is-ra-el!
Hallelujah, shout Hosanna. Hosanna, Hal-le-lu-jah!
Hallelujah, shout Hosanna. Hosanna, Hal-le-lu-jah!
This was actually one of the first pieces of music I ever made up. I dug it up out of a file on my computer dated 2004 01 30 , but I'm sure I made it up before that.
If you are thirsty... (If you thirst, come unto me-e.)
Come unto me-e. (And I'll give you water for fre-e.)
I'll give you water (and from it life will spri-ing.)
Clear water, springing...
Up into everlasting life!
Life Everlasting!
This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the Church.From the beginning of the Bible to the end, there's a mystery.
Not only does His Bride know the Love of God, which exceeds knowledge. Not only is She is the expression of His Love, being the likeness of Themselves. She is the One that He loves.
We, His Bride, are able to fully comprehend His Love, because we know Him!
Why will ye die, thou and thy people, by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence, as the LORD hath spoken against the nation that will not serve the king of Babylon?
Today I read Jeremiah 27 and 28.
Praise the Lord God Jesus Christ for His awesome, unspeakable Love for us!!!Matthew 6:21
For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.Treasure Vessels
My world is darkened.
My heart is broken.
My understanding flies away!
I'm only longing,
to show through the shadows,
this very vice,
in complete sacrifice!
We have this treasure,
in earthen vessels;
Some to be shattered,
some to be changed!
That we may cleave to,
a far more exceeding,
weight...
in eternal glory!
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