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.
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
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.
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.
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
THE FRAGARANCE OF CHRIST
THE FRAGRANCE OF CHRIST
Get into a small confined space such as an elevator ant ther be someone in there that smells as if they bathed in a tub of perfume you would know it immediately. Likewise, should there be someone who has not bathed for a long time and wearing the same clothing, they probably will have an odor called body odor. These type fragrances are quickly identified by one of our five senses. However, God’s word to us states as we become knowledgeable of our Lord, we will emulate Jesus wherever we go. In 2 Corinthians 2:14 and 15 we learn that we should always be thankful unto God for leading us triumphantly through the maze of this mortal life because we abide in Christ Jesus, and through us we defuse the fragrance of His knowledge to all we meet. The word also states that we are to God, the fragrance of His son, our Lord, Christ Jesus.
How important is this for you and me? I cannot over emphasize the importance of apprehending what God is revealing through these passages. As early as Hosea the profit wrote sometime between 722 and 721 years before the birth of Jesus a message from God: “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: and because you have rejected knowledge I will also reject you, that you shall be no priest to me: seeing you have forgotten the law of God, I will also forget your children.” Therefore, give diligence to his word, and ask yourself, what kind of aroma do I present to God?
As we are getting to know the Lord more and more, our God is not the only one who is impacted. This spiritual aroma of Christ impacts every person we meet. "God, through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place." This includes both the saved and the unsaved. "For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing." This fragrance affects those who know the Lord: "the fragrance of Christ...among those who are being saved." For those who are enjoying life in Christ, that heavenly scent in our lives is "the aroma of life to life." Christ's fragrance in us draws them to seek abundant measures of that life which they have already entered. This spiritual scent also influences those who do not yet know our Lord: "the fragrance of Christ among those who are perishing." To them it is "the aroma of death to death." They are dead in their sins, and this aroma makes them more aware of their deadness, more aware of their need for Christ. A personal warning: be not complacent, believing all that is required is belief in God, and go to church for an hour once a week, and give something as tithe, then go about your business seeking, or enjoying the amenities of this world only. When this fragrance is emanating from our lives, we are not the cause. God is the active agent, working in and through us to bring forth this heavenly scent. "Now all thanks be unto God who...through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge." This work of God's grace is available to us every day we live and everywhere we go: "the fragrance of His knowledge is available in every place." The apostle Paul evaluating himself penned in Philippians chapter 3: verses 7 and 8 that all he had gained in this world before he was miraculously converted by his encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus, (Acts chapter 9) he considered it all as lose for gaining the Excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus our Lord.
I have often asked in prayer and meditation why God, has it taken so long for me to first apprehend and then comprehend this message with understanding? But it has, and I am humbled while giving all thanks and praises to my Lord Jesus.
Get into a small confined space such as an elevator ant ther be someone in there that smells as if they bathed in a tub of perfume you would know it immediately. Likewise, should there be someone who has not bathed for a long time and wearing the same clothing, they probably will have an odor called body odor. These type fragrances are quickly identified by one of our five senses. However, God’s word to us states as we become knowledgeable of our Lord, we will emulate Jesus wherever we go. In 2 Corinthians 2:14 and 15 we learn that we should always be thankful unto God for leading us triumphantly through the maze of this mortal life because we abide in Christ Jesus, and through us we defuse the fragrance of His knowledge to all we meet. The word also states that we are to God, the fragrance of His son, our Lord, Christ Jesus.
How important is this for you and me? I cannot over emphasize the importance of apprehending what God is revealing through these passages. As early as Hosea the profit wrote sometime between 722 and 721 years before the birth of Jesus a message from God: “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: and because you have rejected knowledge I will also reject you, that you shall be no priest to me: seeing you have forgotten the law of God, I will also forget your children.” Therefore, give diligence to his word, and ask yourself, what kind of aroma do I present to God?
As we are getting to know the Lord more and more, our God is not the only one who is impacted. This spiritual aroma of Christ impacts every person we meet. "God, through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place." This includes both the saved and the unsaved. "For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing." This fragrance affects those who know the Lord: "the fragrance of Christ...among those who are being saved." For those who are enjoying life in Christ, that heavenly scent in our lives is "the aroma of life to life." Christ's fragrance in us draws them to seek abundant measures of that life which they have already entered. This spiritual scent also influences those who do not yet know our Lord: "the fragrance of Christ among those who are perishing." To them it is "the aroma of death to death." They are dead in their sins, and this aroma makes them more aware of their deadness, more aware of their need for Christ. A personal warning: be not complacent, believing all that is required is belief in God, and go to church for an hour once a week, and give something as tithe, then go about your business seeking, or enjoying the amenities of this world only. When this fragrance is emanating from our lives, we are not the cause. God is the active agent, working in and through us to bring forth this heavenly scent. "Now all thanks be unto God who...through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge." This work of God's grace is available to us every day we live and everywhere we go: "the fragrance of His knowledge is available in every place." The apostle Paul evaluating himself penned in Philippians chapter 3: verses 7 and 8 that all he had gained in this world before he was miraculously converted by his encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus, (Acts chapter 9) he considered it all as lose for gaining the Excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus our Lord.
I have often asked in prayer and meditation why God, has it taken so long for me to first apprehend and then comprehend this message with understanding? But it has, and I am humbled while giving all thanks and praises to my Lord Jesus.
Friday, April 22, 2011
DON'T GIVE UP OR IN
TO MY DEAR FRIEND SUSAN
You say that everything about you is so forcibly wrong, and that you are tired of living, or trying to live in this world. You tell me of two incidences have impacted your life. They are two women living in the same facility where you are staying took their own lives by committing suicide on two different days within the past week. You give me the impression that you also feel like escaping from the evil of this world in the same manner. It’s exactly what the evil powers in these last days are frantically trying to accomplish, that is to snare as many souls as they can, for they realize their time is now up. You see what I am speaking about when you meditate for a moment; I want you to concentrate about the two special trees in God’s Garden of Eden. The two trees were the tree of life and the tree of knowledge of good and evil. Man was warned not to eat fruit from the tree of knowledge, for if he should, he would certainly die.
My dear friend know you not that in each of our lives’ we all have the same two trees, and we all have to choose the fruit of which tree will we take. We witness every day by the events experienced, those that are eating the fruit of the wrong tree, even ourselves whenever we stumble, and then attempt to take control of the reins of our life, we will partake of life in ignorance not having the true knowledge of life, and not relinquishing our selfness, and trusting our Lord God to guide and provide. However, because of the great goodness of God toward man by His Grace made with us a new covenant signed in the blood of Jesus with forgiveness. Before you or anyone can find the peace and rest in God, it is necessary they first comprehend with understanding the true knowledge of God and Jesus. God has made it so clear to the entire world, that all that desire acceptance unto Him, first we must gain that true knowledge. In Hosea 4:6, He informs us that all those that don’t will be destroyed. Yet for you, my dear friend, I deplore you not to give up, or give in to temptations this world offers, or be distracted from Jesus as was Peter when walking on water, for the reward is we become overcomers in Christ Jesus, and the joy we experience each day is so great I can’t find words to describe it.
Remember, eat the forbidden fruit and die, or seek the fruit from the tree of life which is gaining true knowledge of our Lord God and live.
You say that everything about you is so forcibly wrong, and that you are tired of living, or trying to live in this world. You tell me of two incidences have impacted your life. They are two women living in the same facility where you are staying took their own lives by committing suicide on two different days within the past week. You give me the impression that you also feel like escaping from the evil of this world in the same manner. It’s exactly what the evil powers in these last days are frantically trying to accomplish, that is to snare as many souls as they can, for they realize their time is now up. You see what I am speaking about when you meditate for a moment; I want you to concentrate about the two special trees in God’s Garden of Eden. The two trees were the tree of life and the tree of knowledge of good and evil. Man was warned not to eat fruit from the tree of knowledge, for if he should, he would certainly die.
My dear friend know you not that in each of our lives’ we all have the same two trees, and we all have to choose the fruit of which tree will we take. We witness every day by the events experienced, those that are eating the fruit of the wrong tree, even ourselves whenever we stumble, and then attempt to take control of the reins of our life, we will partake of life in ignorance not having the true knowledge of life, and not relinquishing our selfness, and trusting our Lord God to guide and provide. However, because of the great goodness of God toward man by His Grace made with us a new covenant signed in the blood of Jesus with forgiveness. Before you or anyone can find the peace and rest in God, it is necessary they first comprehend with understanding the true knowledge of God and Jesus. God has made it so clear to the entire world, that all that desire acceptance unto Him, first we must gain that true knowledge. In Hosea 4:6, He informs us that all those that don’t will be destroyed. Yet for you, my dear friend, I deplore you not to give up, or give in to temptations this world offers, or be distracted from Jesus as was Peter when walking on water, for the reward is we become overcomers in Christ Jesus, and the joy we experience each day is so great I can’t find words to describe it.
Remember, eat the forbidden fruit and die, or seek the fruit from the tree of life which is gaining true knowledge of our Lord God and live.
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
MAKE A COMMITTMENT TODAY
BE COMMITTED-CHOOSE LIFE
This day vow to God you will accept His gift of life, and seek to live in consonance with His will.
A young girl and man stand before an altar in the presence of God, family and friends, and Pledge their love one for the other. These are commonly referred to as “wedding vows”, and they constitute a total commitment. The intended result is to bringing them together becoming “one flesh” in the eyes of God. Their “promise” is to love, honor and cherish one another through the experiences of life including all good or bad report. Even though death someday might separate them, God promises through all life’s series of events including trials and tribulations, He from their side would never part, and by His Grace they should multiply by having children and teach them in the ways of the Lord.
God never intended that married couples were to raise dogs, cats and parakeets only, but to have a family, and to take dominion over all things and situations thus subduing all evil in this earth’s entire domain.
It is very unfortunate that so many do not realize, or take heed in just what they have committed. The word “Commitment” seems to have very little relevance or no value what so ever in today's world events and morals.
God's answer some two thousand years ago was manifest when an unknown innocent unsullied Virgin gave birth to a boy child. She had willingly and passionately relinquished any and all mastery of self by submitting her body and emotions to the will of God, even though she was betrothed to be married, and by the overshadowing power of His Holy Spirit, conceived and birthed the boy JESUS. She married Joseph before birthing Jesus. Joseph so honored Mary and her commitment the scriptures tell us that he never knew her until after the birth of Jesus. Here we learn of the commitment of Joseph to honor his wedding vow. Together they raised this child through infancy, and adolescence to manhood. It was at the time of his bar mitzvah, He, JESUS began seriously to do His Fathers "business”.
It seems so difficult to realize that JESUS (God in the flesh) was born of woman and having all the emotions, feelings and the same “free will” (freedom of choice) as you and I. Remember that the scripture describes when John the Baptist did baptize JESUS in water; the Spirit of God in the form of man was visually seen descending upon Him “like a dove”. God was then heard to say, “this is my beloved son in whom I am well pleased”. Our Heavenly Father incarnated by baptizing himself into the flesh body of Jesus to abide with Him until it pleased the Father that Jesus did take upon himself total sin, (all the corruption of sin) and through His death on the cross take it all into the abode, of Satan, which is hell and there He, dumping it in his lap and then wrestling away from him the keys of death and hell in order that we might gain total redemption from having such a deserved sinful fate.
It is in the 17th chapter of the Gospel penned by the apostle John, we read about the true Lord’s Prayer. JESUS clearly states that He is one in the FATHER and the FATHER is one in Him. Realize that Jesus did nothing by himself, but all that He accomplished, or said was done by the Spirit of the Father, the Holly Spirit within Him.
Remember, Jesus is God encased in human flesh. He at the time of His earthly ministry was as we are today, spirit soul and body with blood flowing through His veins, and being like us, man could relate to him and He would be able to meaningfully relate his message to man. In Matthew chapter 26, verses 32 through 44, JESUS showed feelings of mortal man. Praying and asking His Father not only once, but three times, that if there was any other way to pay the ransom or atone for all worldly sin, and to provide for all humanity a way to receive the gift of eternal life, make it possible. He asked to have the “cup” from which He had committed to drink be taken away if there was any other way. However, after many hours during which He confessed "the Spirit is willing but the flesh is weak" He said, “Not my will but yours be done”, thus finally committing to fulfill his committed mission. His mission not only to pay ransom for sin, but to regain from Satan the blessing God had spoken into existence through the power of His spoken word to Adam, and that he, Satan had stolen, thus fulfilling the scripture of Revelation chapter 12, verse 10, “Now is come salvation”.
Comprehend if you can the enormity of love, compassion, courage and dedication to willingly allow yourself to be put through all the scourging torture and crucifixion that our Lord Jesus did, or that a Father would stand by and allow to happen to His Beloved. It is most difficult to comprehend, but GOD could not, and will not co-exist with sin, therefore for the moment in time Jesus was alone, but he had not succumbed to the devil’s temptations to influence the son of man to violate his commitment. Jesus died on that cross in order to atone for all worldly sin, past, present, and future, and to restore the broken bond between God and His created man.
Reviewing the sanctity of any vow including the wedding vow, the seriousness of committing to a set of conditions, the wedding vow is more than just legality. It is a binding covenant between Man and Woman and God to fulfill His desire for His created male and female man as they become one flesh. To manifest His total purpose; first a Child was born as a gift from God, and then He, God's only begot Son was given that the saved children of God will have an everlasting inheritance.
The faithful and anointed apostle Peter wrote in his first epistle in chapter one: We should continually bless, and give all praise to our heavenly father, the father of our lord Jesus Christ, for it is by His abundant grace, and great mercy that we have been Spirit born, born again from above by God’s Holy Spirit, because He had raised our Jesus from the dead. It is because of this we can now live with great expectation, a lively hope that we have a priceless inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and will never; I say again it will never fade away. This exceedingly great and wondrous prize is the hope of all Glory, which should be every ones goal with purpose for our earthly life. Yet in Romans chapter 12 verse 1 we learn: to attain joy throughout this live, we are instructed as a reasonable service holy and acceptable unto God, to present our bodies of carnality as a living sacrefice. For by His loving mercies this glorious reward is kept in heaven, pure and without any corruption to be given all God’s children at the end of this age and the beginning of eternity, and when we make it we can declare, we are home at last.
This day vow to God you will accept His gift of life, and seek to live in consonance with His will.
A young girl and man stand before an altar in the presence of God, family and friends, and Pledge their love one for the other. These are commonly referred to as “wedding vows”, and they constitute a total commitment. The intended result is to bringing them together becoming “one flesh” in the eyes of God. Their “promise” is to love, honor and cherish one another through the experiences of life including all good or bad report. Even though death someday might separate them, God promises through all life’s series of events including trials and tribulations, He from their side would never part, and by His Grace they should multiply by having children and teach them in the ways of the Lord.
God never intended that married couples were to raise dogs, cats and parakeets only, but to have a family, and to take dominion over all things and situations thus subduing all evil in this earth’s entire domain.
It is very unfortunate that so many do not realize, or take heed in just what they have committed. The word “Commitment” seems to have very little relevance or no value what so ever in today's world events and morals.
God's answer some two thousand years ago was manifest when an unknown innocent unsullied Virgin gave birth to a boy child. She had willingly and passionately relinquished any and all mastery of self by submitting her body and emotions to the will of God, even though she was betrothed to be married, and by the overshadowing power of His Holy Spirit, conceived and birthed the boy JESUS. She married Joseph before birthing Jesus. Joseph so honored Mary and her commitment the scriptures tell us that he never knew her until after the birth of Jesus. Here we learn of the commitment of Joseph to honor his wedding vow. Together they raised this child through infancy, and adolescence to manhood. It was at the time of his bar mitzvah, He, JESUS began seriously to do His Fathers "business”.
It seems so difficult to realize that JESUS (God in the flesh) was born of woman and having all the emotions, feelings and the same “free will” (freedom of choice) as you and I. Remember that the scripture describes when John the Baptist did baptize JESUS in water; the Spirit of God in the form of man was visually seen descending upon Him “like a dove”. God was then heard to say, “this is my beloved son in whom I am well pleased”. Our Heavenly Father incarnated by baptizing himself into the flesh body of Jesus to abide with Him until it pleased the Father that Jesus did take upon himself total sin, (all the corruption of sin) and through His death on the cross take it all into the abode, of Satan, which is hell and there He, dumping it in his lap and then wrestling away from him the keys of death and hell in order that we might gain total redemption from having such a deserved sinful fate.
It is in the 17th chapter of the Gospel penned by the apostle John, we read about the true Lord’s Prayer. JESUS clearly states that He is one in the FATHER and the FATHER is one in Him. Realize that Jesus did nothing by himself, but all that He accomplished, or said was done by the Spirit of the Father, the Holly Spirit within Him.
Remember, Jesus is God encased in human flesh. He at the time of His earthly ministry was as we are today, spirit soul and body with blood flowing through His veins, and being like us, man could relate to him and He would be able to meaningfully relate his message to man. In Matthew chapter 26, verses 32 through 44, JESUS showed feelings of mortal man. Praying and asking His Father not only once, but three times, that if there was any other way to pay the ransom or atone for all worldly sin, and to provide for all humanity a way to receive the gift of eternal life, make it possible. He asked to have the “cup” from which He had committed to drink be taken away if there was any other way. However, after many hours during which He confessed "the Spirit is willing but the flesh is weak" He said, “Not my will but yours be done”, thus finally committing to fulfill his committed mission. His mission not only to pay ransom for sin, but to regain from Satan the blessing God had spoken into existence through the power of His spoken word to Adam, and that he, Satan had stolen, thus fulfilling the scripture of Revelation chapter 12, verse 10, “Now is come salvation”.
Comprehend if you can the enormity of love, compassion, courage and dedication to willingly allow yourself to be put through all the scourging torture and crucifixion that our Lord Jesus did, or that a Father would stand by and allow to happen to His Beloved. It is most difficult to comprehend, but GOD could not, and will not co-exist with sin, therefore for the moment in time Jesus was alone, but he had not succumbed to the devil’s temptations to influence the son of man to violate his commitment. Jesus died on that cross in order to atone for all worldly sin, past, present, and future, and to restore the broken bond between God and His created man.
Reviewing the sanctity of any vow including the wedding vow, the seriousness of committing to a set of conditions, the wedding vow is more than just legality. It is a binding covenant between Man and Woman and God to fulfill His desire for His created male and female man as they become one flesh. To manifest His total purpose; first a Child was born as a gift from God, and then He, God's only begot Son was given that the saved children of God will have an everlasting inheritance.
The faithful and anointed apostle Peter wrote in his first epistle in chapter one: We should continually bless, and give all praise to our heavenly father, the father of our lord Jesus Christ, for it is by His abundant grace, and great mercy that we have been Spirit born, born again from above by God’s Holy Spirit, because He had raised our Jesus from the dead. It is because of this we can now live with great expectation, a lively hope that we have a priceless inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and will never; I say again it will never fade away. This exceedingly great and wondrous prize is the hope of all Glory, which should be every ones goal with purpose for our earthly life. Yet in Romans chapter 12 verse 1 we learn: to attain joy throughout this live, we are instructed as a reasonable service holy and acceptable unto God, to present our bodies of carnality as a living sacrefice. For by His loving mercies this glorious reward is kept in heaven, pure and without any corruption to be given all God’s children at the end of this age and the beginning of eternity, and when we make it we can declare, we are home at last.
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