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It’s who you are and the way you live that count before God. Your worship must engage your spirit in the pursuit of truth. That’s the kind of people the Father is out looking for: those who are simply and honestly themselves before him in their workship. God is sheer being itself – Spirit. Those who worship him must do it out of their very being, their spirits, their true selves, in adoration. (The Message John 4:23-24)
My dearly loved brethren, don’t let the world and its ways shape you; instead simply be yourself and who God desires for you to be in Christ. This is where you will find and follow God’s will, being your true self before Him in Spirit and in truth. Stop living in accordance with the customs of this world, but by the new ideals that mold your minds, continue to transform yourselves, so as to find and follow God’s will; that is, what is good, well-pleasing to Him, and perfect. (Williams New Testament Romans 12:2) I beg you, therefore, brothers, through these mercies God has shown you, to make a decisive dedication of your bodies as a living sacrifice, devoted and well-pleasing to God, which is your reasonable service. Stop living in accordance with the customs of this world, but by the new ideals that mold your minds continue to transform yourselves, so as to find and follow God’s will; that is, what is good, well-pleasing to Him, and perfect. (Williams New Testament translation Romans 12:1-2)
So I mean this and now testify to it in the name of the Lord: You must now stop living as the heathen usually do, in the frivolity of their minds, with darkened understanding, estranged from the life of God because of the ignorance that exists among them and because of the stubbornness of their hearts; for in their recklessness they have abandoned themselves to sensuality which leads to excessive practices of all sorts of immorality. But this is not the way you have learned what Christ means, if, as I take it, you have heard Him and in union with Him have been taught the truth as it is seen in Jesus, to lay aside, with your former way of living, your old self which is on the way to destruction in accordance with its deceptive impulses; and to have a new attitude of mind and put on the new self which has been created in the likeness of God, which fruits in right and holy living inspired by the truth. (Williams New Testament translation Ephesians 4:17-24) Dearly loved, as encouraged in the scriptures …live like children of light, for the product of light consists in practicing everything that is good and right and true; keep on following God’s example, as dearly loved children of His, and practice living in love, just as Christ loved you too and gave Himself for you as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. (Williams New Testament translation Ephesians 5:8-9; 5:1-2) Share His love today; God bless and have a very prosperous day in Christ Jesus our Lord. Matthew 5:14-16 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. (15) Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. (16) Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. (KJV)
The beauty of Christ is that of a sunset shared with all. And all those who are attentive will be blessed with an unspeakable gift given just for them. The beauty of Christ is that of a droplet of rain or dew on a flower pedal that is shared with all. And all those who are attentive will be blessed with an unspeakable gift given just for them. I say unspeakable because, have you ever tried to explain the beauty of a sunset or the beauty of a droplet of rain or dew on a flower, to someone who has not seen it? There are not words to describe it, a person has to experience for themselves to understand that beauty. The joy, peace, love, and beauty that we were blessed with when we accepted Christ is unspeakable; and trying to explain it to someone who has not experienced it will fall on deaf ears and blind eyes. No man, who has not the Spirit of Christ, can see the things of God neither can He know them for they are Spiritually discerned. Instead of trying to describe the love of God, why not let others experience it through you, by your manner of life in Christ, so that they might seek and desire to see and experience His love on a continual basis for themselves. Our Father in heaven makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. God desires that none would perish but that all would come to repentance. That all would desire His love in which He loves us, Christ His Son, an unspeakable gift given just for them. John 3:16-17 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. (17) For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. So today and always my beloved brethren… be a ray of sunshine, a droplet of rain on a dry and barren earth that life may spring up and glorify our Father in heaven. Till where He asks you to till, plant where He asks you to plant, water where He asks you to water, but let Him give the increase. God bless. John 7:18 He that speaketh of himself seeketh his own glory; (KJV)
There are many today that boast of what they are doing for God, speaking of their own works, being puffed up in their own minds of all that they are doing to glorify God; and yet, all they are seeking is their own glory to be seen and praised of men. They speak little of what God through His Son Jesus Christ has done on our behalf having made a way of escape for us from this present evil world, and how to overcome the evil one through the faith, hope, and power that we have received in Christ so that we are able to stay on the path of righteousness which leads us home to our Father in Heaven. Jesus Christ spoke… John 7:28…and I am not come of myself, but he that sent me is true John 8:50…and I seek not my own glory: John 8:54…Jesus answered, If I honor myself, my honor is nothing; it is my Father that honoreth me, And even when they tried to call Him good master, Jesus Christ said that none is good but God. Who was He pointing the people to? Himself, or God the Father? Was He trying to glorify Himself and all that He was doing for God? NO...and neither should we! My dearly loved brethren, we are encouraged not to do our alms before men, but to enter into our closet and when we have shut the door, pray to our Father which is in secret: and our Father which seeth in secret, shall reward us openly. So please, don’t be as the many who openly do their alms before men; but be as the few who seek to worship our Father in Spirit and truth, so that in the end you will stand justified in His grace, in His presence, in His house, glorified forever more before Him in Christ. God bless and have a prosperous day in Christ Jesus our Lord. 1 Corinthians 2:5 That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God. (KJV)
Thayer’s definition for ‘stand’: eimi – to be, to exist, to happen, to be present Where does your faith stand? In the wisdom of men, or is it in Christ, the power and wisdom of God? Christ is that sure foundation, the Rock in which we are to be building our faith upon, not on the sand of man’s wisdom which will leave you washed away spiritually, unable to receive the things of God let alone know them. Faith, to be present in Christ is more needful for your Spiritual health and well being, than to let it be present in the worldly wisdom and things that will perish. So my beloved brethren, I encourage you to hold fast the profession of faith (stand) in Christ and be not moved by the wisdom of men; for the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power, and in this you are to stand. God bless. Psalm 34:8 O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him. (KJV)
Thayer’s definition for ‘taste’: to taste
Psalm 119:103 How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth! (KJV) Song of Solomon 2:3 As the apple tree among the trees of the wood, so is my beloved among the sons. I sat down under his shadow with great delight, and his fruit was sweet to my taste. (KJV) Proverbs 16:24 Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones. (KJV) Proverbs 30:5 Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him. (KJV) The wisdom from above is first pure, gentle, easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits; and oh how sweet it is to the taste when you partake of it. The pure river of the water of life is as clear as crystal and proceeds out of the throne of God and of the Lamb; and oh how sweet it is to the taste when you partake of it. Can you taste it? Can you see that it is good? Proverbs 4:20-22 My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings. (21) Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart. (22) For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh. (KJV) My beloved brethren, taste and see for yourself that the Lord is good; trust in Him with all your heart and lean not to your own understanding; and may you prosper and be in health even as your soul prospers this day by partaking of, experiencing, and perceiving all that is good in you, which is Christ the sweetsmelling savour of God. Ephesians 5:2 And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour. (KJV) 2 Corinthians 2:15 For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ… God bless and have a prosperous day in Christ Jesus our Lord. Exodus 14:14 The LORD shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace. (KJV)
The way that we are able to hold our peace is when we let go and allow the Lord to do the fighting for us. Our fleshly human nature has a tendency to add fuel to a fire that the enemy has lit because it gets hopping mad and begins to imagine all that it is going to say and do to justify itself and make things right in its eyes; which we already know that the wrath of man works not the righteousness of God. Now if we have placed our flesh in subjection to the Spirit, allowing it (the Spirit of Christ) to rule and reign, we are able to extinguish with the living waters the fiery dart left by the enemy. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds. 2Corinthians 10:3-5 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (4) (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) (5) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; (6) And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled. (KJV) Obedience is better than sacrifice (having to ask for forgiveness). So my beloved brethren, hold your peace; fight the good fight of faith and lay hold of eternal life, and let the Lord fight for you to the end so that in all things you can boldly say the Lord is my helper, my redeemer, my strength, my fortress, and my Rock. God bless and have a prosperous day in Christ Jesus our Lord. My dearly loved brethren…
Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. That good thing which was committed unto thee keep by the Holy Spirit, who dwelleth in you. (2Tim 1:13-14) Let no man dispise thy youth, but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity. (1Tim 4:12) Let your conversation (manner of life) be without covetousness, and be content with such things as you have; for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. (Hebrews 13:5) Do all things without murmurings and disputing: That ye may be blameless and harmless, the Sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world; Holding forth the word of life, that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain, neither labored in vain. (Philippians 2:14-16) (KJV) Think on these; and keep your mind renewed continually, that you may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God in your life. God bless and have a prosperous day in Christ Jesus our Lord. My dearly loved brethren…
Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another; Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord; Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer; Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality. Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not. Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep. Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits. Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good. (KJV) Romans 12:9-21 In all things continue to be an example of the believers in Christ, ready and willing to share the love of God this day and every day. God bless and have a prosperous day in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:19…you can readily recall, can’t you, how at one time the more you did just what you felt like doing – not caring about others, not caring about God – the worse your life became and the less freedom you had? And how much different is it now as you live in God’s freedom, your lives healed and expansive in holiness? (from The Message translation)
James 2:15-16 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, (16) And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? (KJV) My dearly loved brethren, with freedom comes responsibility; it is no longer ‘I’ but Christ who lives in you; let all things be done in love unto righteousness and true holiness. 1 John 3:16-18 Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. (17) But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? (18) My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth. (KJV) God bless and have a prosperous day in Christ Jesus our Lord. |
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