Wednesday, May 11, 2011

THE VALUE OF THE KNNOWLEDGE OF CHRIST JESUS

AQUIRING KNOWLEDGE OF HIM
LISTENING AS THE HOLY SPIRIT SPEAKES

There is a mystery cleverly concealed throughout the Holy Word of God. This mystery alludes to the very important task that each of us on a individual basis must gain an intimate relationship with Jesus by our comprehending what God is revealing that which He has concealed within His word. Then as we study and meditate on that word have our understanding awakened by the Holy Spirit that we attain the truthful and precious knowledge of Jesus the Christ. I call it precious because it determines what joy you have during your journey through mortal life, and will also be a determining factor where you will spend eternity.
I draw your attention to the second epistle of Peter to note how he addressed it. It is addressed only to: “those who have obtained like precious faith with us, (the apostles,) through the righteousness of God and our Savior Jesus Christ.” Note: he didn’t say that he learned this, or was it taught to him by the master, but that it was received as one receives a gift, and it was not until after Jesus had been crucified, and resurrected, and then only after the Holy Spirit was given to them on the day of Pentecost.
Peter goes on in verses 2,3 and 4, saying, “Grace and peace be multiplied unto you ‘through the knowledge’, of God, and of Jesus our Lord, according as His divine power has given unto us all things that pertain unto life and Godliness, and again emphasizes the word knowledge as he says, ‘through the knowledge’ of him that has called us to glory and virtue: Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these, we might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in this world through lust. At this point, I will make a few comments for you to note.
They are: We are given all things that pertain to life guides and help us to live a graciously blessed life while in this mortal body. You may be asking, what things? For instance we have been given full authority over all the power of our enemy when we use it in the name of our redeemer, Jesus. And, according to the apostle Paul he penned in Ephesians 1:3, we have been blessed with all, not just a few, but all spiritual blessings from God to whom all Glory and Praise should be given. Yet without having attained that personal, intimate knowledge of God and Jesus, we traverse the path of life handicapped, and ever wondering why your life may be so erratic, and influenced by the frequent disasters, and evil forces of this world. Yet, without faith, without fear, without doubt, and wondering if you have been heard, but trusting unequivocally in our Lord, you will during meditation hear in your heart the Lord speaking to you.
To further your knowledge and understanding review Genesis 4 verse 7, of the King James Version, but first in verse 6, God has asked Cain why he is so upset. In verse 7 as God is continuing to talk with Cain, he speaks an important instruction that He intends us today to heed it. Read it once just as it is written. Then read it over but insert your name right after the second word ‘thou’ so it will read, “If thou (name) doest well shall thou not be accepted? Note: accepted by whom? Throughout His word, the Bible, it informs us that in order to partake of his everlasting Kingdom we musts be acceptable unto God. God then continues by giving a warning, If we do not that which is pleasing unto Him, Satan, or sin awaits, or lurches at the door of your soul, your heart, and he wants you, so you must learn to rule him, to master him, to control him, to overcome him in the name, JESUS, and without having the true knowledge of God and Jesus, you are on your own. To further emphasize this look at Hosea chapter 4 and verse 6 where the Lord talking with Hosea said: My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: Addressing the teachers, the Priests God said this is happening because you have rejected knowledge [of Me], so I will reject you that you will be no priests [servants] to Me: seeing you have forgotten the law of your God, I will also forget your children. Now how important do you think understanding knowledge of God, Jesus and His precepts are?
Now let us review 2 Corinthians 8:7 again to visit the need to attaining true knowledge of our Lord. Assuming that you have a personal relationship with our Lord this, and following verse addresses the sincerity of all of God’s word. However, this verse particularly addresses five virtues of which we need knowledge and understanding that will be of great worth as we commune with our Lord. The verse refers to gifts given to us that further explain, “All things that are given unto us that equip us efficient enough to deal with all the issues pertaining to life”. They are the words: abundance, faith, utterance, knowledge, diligence and love. Now review the noted scripture: It states, “As you abound in every thing [note the word thing again], in faith, in utterance, in knowledge, and in all diligence, and in your love toward us, [fellow man] and see that you abound in this grace. [Boldly excel in the gracious acts of giving and witnessing.]
I pray these words help you to relinquish yourselves to Jesus, and when you do, you will hear his voice.

THE VALUE OE ATAINING TRUE KNOWLEDGE JESUS

Sunday, May 1, 2011

APISTLE OF CHRIST

LIVING LETTERS OF CHRIST
As I journey through the maze of this life, I am continually awed, and humbled as I witness the mighty works of my heavenly daddy as He orchestrates the victory over the events I have, andam currently being exposed to, and I want to share them with you. As I am maturing in the knowledge of my Lord and Master teacher Jesus, and I am a handicapped legally blind 90 year plus old disciple of His, I hear His voice speaking to me through the voices of many of His anointed messengers. Following is a good example. It is derived from one of two daily thoughts for meditation I receive via e-mail that inspire me to pass the message it contains on to you, and this one is from Bob Hoekstra of the Blue Letter Bible Ministry. The apostle Paul penned in hisletter to the church at Corinth the following, and I reiterate his message: You are manifestly an epistle of Christ, ministered by us, written not with ink but by the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of flesh, that is, of the heart. (2 Corinthians 3:3) This is a truth that we must acknowledge, and accept the responsibilities by being prepared that it may require of us to confront counterfeit fraudulent or erroneous religious teaching about God and Jesus. It is a significant characteristic resulting from our living by faith is that we become living letters of Christ. "You are manifestly an epistle of His. The Lord wants to turn our lives into a "walking and talking letter of Him." He wants to make us a living explanation of who He is and all the blessings He offers. What a great privilege and challenge this presents as we go about our daily responsibilities; unfortunately many of our brothers and sisters live their lives void of the true knowledge of our Lord, but they are, witnesses of our lives, and while they are observing us, they can actually be learning of the truth and love of our Lord Jesus, as He is working in and through us. Although this may sound like too much to hope for, the Lord declares in His word that this process can become very clear to those who are watching us: "You are manifestly[thatis, "plainly recognized as"] an epistle of Christ." Remember, this is what is availablefor "ministers [servants] of the new covenant" which He has ordained all of us to be. (2 Corinthians 3:6). This is what happens in those who live by faith in Jesus and by the grace of God. This is something that God does in us, not something we manufacture for Him. Certainly, people are involved in the process. We become fully engaged by humbly and dependently seeking that elusive knowledge of Jesus who wants to work in us. Others also get involved by ministering to us. Paul writing to the church of Corinth is applicable today when he penned, "You are manifestly an epistle of Christ”. As God’s word informs us that He had Paul minister His truth to these saints at Corinth, and that these living letters of Christ were not being written by ink, as ordinary letters would be, but God views them the same today as a divine forever living unction unto you as, “We are manifestly an epistle of Christ, ministered by the Holy Spirit, written not with ink but by the Spirit of our living God." God's Holy Spirit continues at work writing on our hearts those letters that as our lives will be transformed to reflect His Glory, we truly become living epistles of Jesus. Notice where the Lord was inscribing these living letters: "not on tablets of stone but on tablets of flesh, that is, of the heart." The old covenant message of law was written on stones. The new covenant message of grace is written on the hearts of all who walk in humble dependence upon God. This heavenly work changes us from the inside out, making us living letters of Christ! Dear God of all grace, I humbly admit that I need to be more and more changed into a living letter of Christ. So often, those who read me see only me. I ask You in faith to inscribe the character of Christ upon my heart, that others may see Him in my daily walk, Amen.