The Most Important Question You'll ever be Asked:

The Most Important Question You'll ever be Asked:

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Saturday, May 31, 2014

The LOVE Command of the Song of Solomon


The LOVE Command of the Song of Solomon

    Dear reader, the Song of Solomon says several times “. . . Do not stir up nor awaken love until it pleases (Song of Solomon 8:4 NKJV).” What does this “arousing” or “awakening” of love mean? Let’s start by looking at the definition of arouse.

Noah Webster’s 1828 American Dictionary of the English Language defines arouse as:

To excite into action, that which is at rest ; to stir, or put in motion or exertion, that which is languid ; as, to arouse one from sleep ; to arouse dormant faculties.

   LOVE is often associated with feelings or physical actions, like a kiss or sex in our 21st century culture, but God’s WORD describes LOVE as something else. Read first Corinthians 13.      

     First Corinthians 13 describes love as patient and kind. In light of these two attributes, do you really love someone? Or are you just lusting after them? Lust is wanting and love is waiting. Let’s be wise, there is no need to “…stir up nor awaken love until it pleases (Song of Solomon 8:4 NKJV).” Those unmarried, let’s wait until God directs us to arouse/awaken “romantic love” in marriage. We will experience God’s blessing on a relationship only when we are obedient, but how can we expect to have God’s blessings without obeying His rules on real love? LET’S WAIT. Adults, what experiences do you have of arousing/awakening “romantic love” before God gave the ok? Your experience is what the younger generation desperately needs to hear! Please share it; because we need to know the pain that comes with ignoring God’s righteous way. Let’s return to the Scriptures, stop lusting and start truly loving.

Personal Question:

V  Are you “arousing” the physical side of a relationship that is supposed to come only in marriage in any way?

Friday, May 30, 2014

Do You Remember to Love?


Do You Remember to Love?

          God is love (1 John 4:8). But this love is much deeper than just a good feeling; likewise, it is not a physical or emotional concept, but rather a spiritual. Can you grasp that? Do you understand that? It is an amazing concept! God keeps us on track: He disciplines and waits for us because He loves us; He administers justice and refuses to forsake us in our hour of darkest need; He gives us peace and joy. He is Holy. He is Awesome. He is God. All these and more are marks of God’s character. Please, REMEMBER that God is love, but I also challenge you to go a step farther than just knowing that and to live a loving life with the Holy Spirit as your Counselor and Guide (1 Cor.13, Gal. 5).

V  Take some time in a still and quiet place to meditate about what God’s love really is and how you can share it.

Thursday, May 29, 2014

Remembering That God Has “Arranged” Marriages


Remembering That God Has “Arranged” Marriages

Read Genesis 24.

        This chapter tells of the incredible story of Isaac and Rebekah being brought together by God. My words do not do this story justice so I won’t try to retell it, but I will say that this story is just amazing! God worked in this passage, He literally arranged their marriage!  Think about this because I believe that God is still in the business of bringing people together in unique ways.

V  Why do you think that so many Christians struggle with willingly letting God “arrange” their marriages in a special way and just giving Him control instead of worrying and fretting, trying to find “the One” and “make it happen” on their own?

Wednesday, May 28, 2014

Culture’s Twisted View on Marriage


Culture’s Twisted View on Marriage

Prior to reading this thought, please read Matthew 19:1-12.

    Marriage is an institution that was established and is initiated by God. Today, however, the media, the culture, the government, and even some churches treat marriage as an unimportant institution.

     Why does the younger generation of America have crumbling marriages, broken families, devastated hearts, and a rule twisting spirit?  One of the answers lies in the viewpoint that many have toward marriage. On many TV stations, on any given day of the week, programs are featuring two people happily fornicating or a “needed” divorce is taking place.

     The devil understands all too well the folly of allowing children to grow up with a view that says that fornication is ok; so he uses his demons, the World, and the media to do so. The fragmented foundation that the devil sows into people’s lives obscures the proper view that Christ wants to instill in us about sex, male roles, female roles, and marriage relationships. Could this be the reason why sexually transmitted diseases are appearing to rise? And why so many families break up and so many children have to “brave the waters” of everyday life without a mother or a father to lovingly comfort them?

      I will conclude with the following verses, but you don’t have to end this thought. You can still dwell on the topics mentioned and pray.

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” ~ Romans 12:1-2 KJV
And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female, And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh? Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.” ~ Matthew 19:4-6 KJV

 

Tuesday, May 27, 2014

Worry and Confusion


Worry and Confusion

For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace. . .”

1 Corinthians 14:33 KJV

      

   If this Scripture is true, and it is, then why do we give the impression that we are confused as we walk through life? Well, we often worry before we become confused, right? I mean, we get worried about that upcoming test and before we know it we are confusing our history with our science—the facts just get all jumbled up in a confusing mess.

    The Bible calls worry sin, and why shouldn’t it be? If we are worrying then we are essentially saying, “God, you aren’t good enough for me. I am going to trust in myself and try to process this issue with my own understanding”—we place worry and our understanding up as idols!

    While on this issue a sin principle needs to be mentioned: when we commit a sin and do not repent, that sin ends up multiplying in various other forms and has various other side effects. We can sin by worrying and then become really confused, frustrated and discouraged in consequence. Are you getting this? Without worry there is often not confusion, and thus we are able to rest in the peace of the arms of God. Even though our circumstances scream, “You should worry!” we can have peace instead, like the Apostle Paul who got up and went back to the city of those who thought they had killed him by stoning (based on Acts 14:19-20). Paul had the assurance that God had a job for him to do in that city, so he did not worry and was not confused about what he should do—he was truly led by the Spirit—and, after all, Paul could have chosen to run away confused and angry that God would allow something so extreme as stoning to happen to him; but he did not, wow!

    This worrying factor of confusion has been a big part of my life recently. I have begun to really understand that worry encompasses more than I ever thought it did; yet, in Messiah Jesus, I can find peace. The relationship between worry and confusion is sheerly amazing! Yet, God’s peace comes through choosing not to worry; and instead choosing to cast our worries to the ground at the foot of the cross, at Jesus’ feet.

    Before we go on, which will you choose in your life: will you worry about making the change that the Holy Spirit is gently prompting you to; or will you step forward—in the strength of Christ!—determining not to worry; casting all of your cares on Christ?

     God understands everything! Nothing is unknown or needs to be discovered by Him. His ways always make sense . . . ., that is, if we could see things from the all-inclusive perspective that He does.

      Ok, so I’ve preached, now let’s put confusion and worry into a real-life context: a woman marries the man of her dreams, they have a few kids and everything is great until ten years later. At that point, she discovers that “Mr. Perfect” is having an affair with a younger woman. Now, this woman is a Christian; but should she get a divorce or not? And should she be worried or not? Scripture gives only one ground for divorce in the New Testament: marital unfaithfulness, a.k.a. adultery, but the Scripture also says that God hates divorce, so what should she do? She can get divorced on Biblical grounds, but should she? This is where prayer comes in. Worry and confusion definitely want to gain ground in her life during this situation! But she has to attack them with Scripture and patient prayer in order to be open to God’s will and maintain her peace.

       Let’s take a moment and remember that she only has two basic options: 1) she can either get divorced or 2) she can fight on and hope for a complete restoration to her husband (for more information on this, check out the movie Fireproof and the book The Love Dare).

      We do not know, just by looking at the Scriptures, which option she should take. Only God knows, and she will have to seek Him whole-heartedly to find out. Can you see worry and confusion trying to push their way into a situation like this instead of the peace of God which transcends all our understanding (Phil.4:7)?

       Situations like this woman’s are great places for confusion and worry to fester. But even in our deepest, darkest places there can still be hope and peace. If we will simply seek Him first, everything else falls in place over time (Matt. 6:33). The point of this thought is this, will we wait for the Lord’s direction, or will we only look at Scripture (in our own understanding) and get confused?

          Also, please, understand that I am in no way attempting to belittle the Word of God in saying that its passages do not provide a clear answer. We simply cannot find answers to everything by knowing all the connected passages of Scripture on some issues. Scripture can be very helpful, and I fully and heartily endorse Bible study; but are we so elevating the Bible and what we intellectually interpret it to mean that it has become our ‘god,’ and source of strength; instead of our relationship with the Lord Himself? In other words, have we exchanged our relationship for a mere set of reason’s rules? I dare say that the answer to these two questions will separate the religious from the redeemed. Those are tough questions, but I pray that the Holy Spirit will use them to convey what you need to understand right now. God Bless, and remember not to worry.

Monday, May 26, 2014

The Mouth


The Mouth

          Are you kissing demons? That is, are you speaking the things that the Enemy wants you to speak and aligning yourself with Satan’s will rather than God’s? Life and death disseminate out of your mouth (Proverbs 18:21). Proclaim blessings instead of curses!

Will you be different from the world in how you talk?

Take some time and listen to what the Holy Spirit has to reveal to you about the condition your tongue and mouth.

 

Sunday, May 25, 2014

Lust


Lust, Our Outer Shell

  Noah Webster’s 1828 American Dictionary of the English Language defines lust as:

1.     Longing desire ; eagerness to posses or enjoy ; as the lust of gain.

2.     Concupiscence ; carnal appetite ; unlawful desire of carnal pleasure. Rom. i.           2 Pet. ii.

3.     Evil propensity ; depraved affections and desires.  James i.  Ps. lxxxi.

 

Lust is not limited to men only; women can lust AS WELL.

          Many a Christian couple has “fallen in love” based completely on their lustful thoughts and emotions, not the true, patient, and enduring love that is true love.

Really “listen” to 1 Corinthians 13:4-9:

“Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part (NKJV).”

          Love is not, in truth, the lustful, perverted form that is portrayed by the media, by Hollywood, by our culture, by our music or by our video games; instead, true love offers us hope! It never weakens! It is the fruit which guides our Christian life because it is the most important. Don’t pursue lust, but pursue God’s true love.

Ask the Lord to show you what love is as you study 1 Corinthians 13 again and allow HIS Spirit to teach you what true love is.                                                   

Prayer for you:

  Lord, please come and teach us all what true love is. Your love is so much greater than our lustful you give and I’ll give system. Please lead us in the way everlasting; in love, in spirit, in truth, in relationship, and in life with You. We thank You for Your power, Your revelation, and the teaching that You will provide by means of Your Spirit through Your Word in due time. Amen.

Saturday, May 24, 2014

Purity


Purity

The 1828 American Dictionary of the English Language by Noah Webster defines purity as:

1.     Cleanness; freedom from foulness or dirt; as the purity of a garment.

2.     Freedom from guilt or the defilement of sin; innocence; as purity of heart or life.

3.     Chastity; freedom from contamination by illicit sexual connection.

4.     Freedom from any sinister or improper views; as the purity of motives or designs.

          Whether you are married or single you can still be pure. Our culture teaches that purity is just waiting to have sex till marriage and that’s where purity ends; but this is not the truth that God tells us in Scripture.  First off, God does say to wait to have sex until marriage, but guarding your eyes (by what you watch), your ears (with what you listen too), and your friends (you become like your friends) is just as important. You see there is this thing called the Spirit of the Law. This phrase is based on Jesus’ statement in Matthew 5:27-28; verse twenty-seven says that the law (rule) is not to commit adultery—this is referring to physically committing adultery—but Jesus raised this law to the spirit (verse 28), which means that if man even desirously fantasizes (lusts) about a woman, then he is guilty of committing adultery with her. We can sum this concept up in two words, thoughts and motive. From these, we can understand that waiting till marriage to have “sex” also includes not entertaining the wrong thoughts and motives (God knows what our hearts are). This realization makes us pause, and that’s good because we realize all the more how short we fall and why we need Christ’s cross to make us clean. We also realize that we have a battle on our hands—a purity battle.

           Secondly, marriage is pure; it is not impure. When you are married and have “had sex” you have not lost your purity along with your virginity. The reason being if you obediently follow the Lord, aren’t you pure? Yes!

           Thirdly, your purity is not just sexual, rather spiritual; it involves all sin and righteousness—much larger in scale than mere sexual purity. Purity is the righteous, pure and holy standard of God that is measured against your life: whether you lie or tell the truth, steal or give, cheat or aid, lust or love, etc . . . The implications of your purity are huge, but to be completely pure is really as simple as believing in Jesus so much that you daily carry your cross and follow Him. Upon believing in Christ, we are instantly made pure (His righteousness becomes our righteousness); and given the capability to remain pure (that is, the ability walk in the Spirit).

For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him. As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.”

Psalm 103:11-12 KJV

Friday, May 23, 2014

Finding a Wife


Finding a Wife

          Young men need to know that God has already picked out the right wife for them. That is, if He has chosen to have them marry one day. Later on down the road you will meet her . . . or maybe you have already met her. Be careful not to get caught up in the “lust of the moment” and ‘date’ just any girl. Be careful with confusing lust for love. Most of the time “guys” want to date a girl for a lustful reason like how she looks. Likewise, many young women date a man because of his looks or accomplishments, not his character. Love, true love, is described in the Bible as patient and kind: it never wants (lusts); however, your fleshly nature does so you will have to seek the Lord to walk in true love.

Read 1 Corinthians 13 and muse on its meaning.

Perhaps the best way for a boy to prepare for a godly wife is to prepare himself to be a Godly man, which includes making intercessions for her before they meet and acquiring an understanding from god’s word of what God will require of him as a husband, otherwise how will he treat his future wife correctly?

 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; that he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word.” Ephesians 5:25-26 KJV

House and riches are the inheritance of fathers: and a prudent wife is from the Lord.  Proverbs 19:14 KJV

Thursday, May 22, 2014

A godly Wife


A godly Wife

  Read Proverbs 31 before going on.

        A godly wife is a blessing directly from the throne of God: she is a helpmeet, a confidant, a true lover and a friend. She’s with you in the hard times and she’s there with you in the good—truly in sickness and health. Many claim that the charm or beauty of their wife is what attracted them, but is this a Scripturally grounded claim?

Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing, but a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised.” Proverbs 31:30 NKJV

Character triumphs over looks

          Throughout the ages many men have been “attracted” to women because of their charm, “beauty,” and or riches; but Scripture teaches us that all these will fade. You might have a “hot” or charming wife, but what really lasts is a wife who has a godly character. In truth, a godly wife will help a man through the good and bad times. Men, we need the specific helpmeet that God has for us like Eve was for Adam. Remember that being a Christian of character is what matters the most in choosing a wife, not what she looks like.

Wednesday, May 21, 2014

True Beauty


True Beauty

Read: 1 Corinthians 13.

True beauty is Christ’s character.

Let’s take a look at an insightful Scripture passage from 1 Peter:

Wives, likewise, be submissive to your own husbands, that even if some do not obey the word, they, without a word, may be won by the conduct of their wives, when they observe your chaste conduct accompanied by fear.  Do not let your adornment be merely outward—arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel— rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God.  For in this manner, in former times, the holy women who trusted in God also adorned themselves, being submissive to their own husbands, as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord, whose daughters you are if you do good and are not afraid with any terror.   1 Peter 3:1-6 NKJV

          There it is in black and white: the Bible tells women how to make themselves internally beautiful; and this internal beauty then radiates to the outside in the form of her character. Perhaps this is why Isaac’s wife Rebekah was called beautiful (Gen. 24:16, 29:17). Scripture lets us know that not only was Rebekah physically beautiful, but she had a beautiful character because she volunteered to water the camels of a foreigner for free (Gen. 24).

Another Angle

          Many people focus on the external “beauty” that they see on TV, but the beauty described in this passage is so much more valuable than a “perfect body,” and quite frankly, will benefit a man much, much more. I have brought up the first Peter 3 passage aforementioned during a Bible study. I said, “Who wants to know how to make themselves beautiful, because the Bible has the answer?” The girls in the room seemed to perk up and listen inventively. . . . The answer that they got may not have been what they were looking for, but it was a truth that all need to realize contained in 1 Peter 3:1-6 and 1 Corinthians 13: True beauty is having the character of Christ, not the sexiest body.

Tuesday, May 20, 2014

But It Is Hardly Credible That One Could So Persecute Jesus!

But It Is Hardly Credible That One Could So Persecute Jesus!

 
Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou Me? — Acts 26:14

     Am I set on my own way for God? We are never free from this snare until we are brought into the experience of the baptism of the Holy Ghost and fire. Obstinacy and self-will will always stab Jesus Christ. It may hurt no one else, but it wounds His Spirit. Whenever we are obstinate and self-willed and set upon our own ambitions, we are hurting Jesus. Every time we stand on our rights and insist that this is what we intend to do, we are persecuting Jesus. Whenever we stand on our dignity we systematically vex and grieve His Spirit; and when the knowledge comes home that it is Jesus Whom we have been persecuting all the time, it is the most crushing revelation there could be.
 
    Is the word of God tremendously keen to me as I hand it on to you, or does my life give the lie to the things I profess to teach? I may teach sanctification and yet exhibit the spirit of Satan, the spirit that persecutes Jesus Christ. The Spirit of Jesus is conscious of one thing only – a perfect oneness with the Father, and He says, "Learn of Me, for I am meek and lowly in heart." All I do ought to be founded on a perfect oneness with Him, not on a self-willed determination to be godly. This will mean that I can be easily put upon, easily over-reached, easily ignored; but if I submit to it for His sake, I prevent Jesus Christ being persecuted.

--Oswald Chambers, My Utmost For His Highest
--http://utmost.org/classic/but-it-is-hardly-credible-that-one-could-so-persecute-jesus-classic/

Monday, May 19, 2014

Look Again And Think

Look Again And Think

 
 Take no thought for your life. — Matthew 6:25

    A warning which needs to be reiterated is that the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the lust of other things entering in, will choke all that God puts in. We are never free from the recurring tides of this encroachment. If it does not come on the line of clothes and food, it will come on the line of money or lack of money; of friends or lack of friends; or on the line of difficult circumstances. It is one steady encroachment all the time, and unless we allow the Spirit of God to raise up the standard against it, these things will come in like a flood.

      "Take no thought for your life." "Be careful about one thing only," says our Lord – "your relationship to Me." Common sense shouts loud and says – "That is absurd, I must consider how I am going to live, I must consider what I am going to eat and drink." Jesus says you must not. Beware of allowing the thought that this statement is made by One Who does not understand our particular circumstances. Jesus Christ knows our circumstances better than we do, and He says we must not think about these things so as to make them the one concern of our life. Whenever there is competition, be sure that you put your relationship to God first.

     "Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof." How much evil has begun to threaten you to-day? What kind of mean little imps have been looking in and saying – Now what are you going to do next month – this summer? "Be anxious for nothing," Jesus says. Look again and think. Keep your mind on the "much more" of your heavenly Father.

 
--Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest
--http://utmost.org/classic/look-again-and-think-classic/

Sunday, May 18, 2014

Look Again and Consecrate

Look Again and Consecrate

If God so clothes the grass of the field . . . , will He not much more clothe you . . . ? —Matthew 6:30

 
    A simple statement of Jesus is always a puzzle to us because we will not be simple. How can we maintain the simplicity of Jesus so that we may understand Him? By receiving His Spirit, recognizing and relying on Him, and obeying Him as He brings us the truth of His Word, life will become amazingly simple. Jesus asks us to consider that “if God so clothes the grass of the field . . .” how “much more” will He clothe you, if you keep your relationship right with Him? Every time we lose ground in our fellowship with God, it is because we have disrespectfully thought that we knew better than Jesus Christ. We have allowed “the cares of this world” to enter in (Matthew 13:22), while forgetting the “much more” of our heavenly Father.
 
    “Look at the birds of the air . . .” (Matthew 6:26). Their function is to obey the instincts God placed within them, and God watches over them. Jesus said that if you have the right relationship with Him and will obey His Spirit within you, then God will care for your “feathers” too.
 
    “Consider the lilies of the field . . .” (Matthew 6:28). They grow where they are planted. Many of us refuse to grow where God plants us. Therefore, we don’t take root anywhere. Jesus said if we would obey the life of God within us, He would look after all other things. Did Jesus Christ lie to us? Are we experiencing the “much more” He promised? If we are not, it is because we are not obeying the life God has given us and have cluttered our minds with confusing thoughts and worries. How much time have we wasted asking God senseless questions while we should be absolutely free to concentrate on our service to Him? Consecration is the act of continually separating myself from everything except that which God has appointed me to do. It is not a one-time experience but an ongoing process. Am I continually separating myself and looking to God every day of my life?
 
--Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest
http://utmost.org/look-again-and-consecrate/
 
 

Saturday, May 17, 2014

God’s Overpowering Purpose

God’s Overpowering Purpose

I have appeared to you for this purpose . . .—Acts 26:16

    The vision Paul had on the road to Damascus was not a passing emotional experience, but a vision that had very clear and emphatic directions for him. And Paul stated, “I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision” (Acts 26:19). Our Lord said to Paul, in effect, “Your whole life is to be overpowered or subdued by Me; you are to have no end, no aim, and no purpose but Mine.” And the Lord also says to us, “You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go . . .” (John 15:16).
 
   When we are born again, if we are spiritual at all, we have visions of what Jesus wants us to be. It is important that I learn not to be “disobedient to the heavenly vision”—not to doubt that it can be attained. It is not enough to give mental assent to the fact that God has redeemed the world, nor even to know that the Holy Spirit can make all that Jesus did a reality in my life. I must have the foundation of a personal relationship with Him. Paul was not given a message or a doctrine to proclaim. He was brought into a vivid, personal, overpowering relationship with Jesus Christ.Acts 26:16 is tremendously compelling “. . . to make you a minister and a witness . . . .” There would be nothing there without a personal relationship. Paul was devoted to a Person, not to a cause. He was absolutely Jesus Christ’s. He saw nothing else and he lived for nothing else. “For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified” (1 Corinthians 2:2).
 
--Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest
http://utmost.org/god%e2%80%99s-overpowering-purpose/
 

Friday, May 16, 2014

God's Overpowering Purpose

God’s Overpowering Purpose

     The vision Paul had on the road to Damascus was not a passing emotional experience, but a vision that had very clear and emphatic directions for him. And Paul stated, “I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision” (Acts 26:19). Our Lord said to Paul, in effect, “Your whole life is to be overpowered or subdued by Me; you are to have no end, no aim, and no purpose but Mine.” And the Lord also says to us, “You did not choose Me, but I chose youand appointed you that you should go . . .” (John 15:16).
     When we are born again, if we are spiritual at all, we have visions of what Jesus wants us to be. It is important that I learn not to be “disobedient to the heavenly vision”—not to doubt that it can be attained. It is not enough to give mental assent to the fact that God has redeemed the world, nor even to know that the Holy Spirit can make all that Jesus did a reality in my life. I must have the foundation of a personal relationship with Him. Paul was not given a message or a doctrine to proclaim. He was brought into a vivid, personal, overpowering relationship with Jesus Christ.Acts 26:16 is tremendously compelling “. . . to make you a minister and a witness . . . .” There would be nothing there without a personal relationship. Paul was devoted to a Person, not to a cause. He was absolutely Jesus Christ’s. He saw nothing else and he lived for nothing else. “For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified” (1 Corinthians 2:2).
--My Utmost of His Highest by Oswald Chambers   http://utmost.org/god’s-overpowering-purpose/



Thursday, May 15, 2014

What the Law of Love means…in Jesus own words


What the Law of Love means…in Jesus own words

 

But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you, 28 Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you. 29 And unto him that smiteth thee on the one cheek offer also the other; and him that taketh away thy cloke forbid not to take thy coat also. 30  Give to every man that asketh of thee; and of him that taketh away thy goods ask them not again. 31 And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise. 32 For if ye love them which love you, what thank have ye? for sinners also love those that love them. 33 And if ye do good to them which do good to you, what thank have ye? for sinners also do even the same. 34 And if ye lend to them of whom ye hope to receive, what thank have ye? for sinners also lend to sinners, to receive as much again. 35 But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil. 36 Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful. 37  Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven: 38 Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again. 39 And he spake a parable unto them, Can the blind lead the blind? shall they not both fall into the ditch? 40 The disciple is not above his master: but every one that is perfect shall be as his master. 41 And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but perceivest not the beam that is in thine own eye? 42 Either how canst thou say to thy brother, Brother, let me pull out the mote that is in thine eye, when thou thyself beholdest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, cast out first the beam out of thine own eye, and then shalt thou see clearly to pull out the mote that is in thy brother's eye. 43 For a good tree bringeth not forth corrupt fruit; neither doth a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. 44 For every tree is known by his own fruit. For of thorns men do not gather figs, nor of a bramble bush gather they grapes. 45 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh. 46 And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say? 47 Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like: 48 He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock. 49 But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built an house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great.

Luke 6:27-49 (KJV)

Wednesday, May 14, 2014

What Do you Let your Eyes be Enraptured with?



What Do you Let your Eyes be Enraptured with?
 

The light of the body is the eye

Luke 11:34 (KJV)

Context: Luke 11:33-36

      Your eyes are the light of your body. That is what Jesus said. O how important it is for us to pay attention to what we are reading, watching and who we are looking at! In the Proverbs, Solomon recognized the importance of the eyes when he said:

He winketh with his eyes, he speaketh with his feet, he teacheth with his fingers; 14 Frowardness is in his heart, he deviseth mischief continually; he soweth discord.

Prov 6:13-14 (KJV)

For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life: 24 To keep thee from the evil woman, from the flattery of the tongue of a strange woman. 25 Lust not after her beauty in thine heart; neither let her take thee with her eyelids.

Prov 6:23-25 (KJV)

    It is because of God’s Word that we know what sin (what wrong and evil) is. Paul put it this way:

I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet.

Romans 7:7 (KJV)

    Watch your eyes. What you read determines how you think at what you believe. What you dwell on ends up coming out of your mouth. What you watch in entertainment quickly takes root in your heart. Lustful fantasies speedily turn you into nothing more than a loaf of bread (Prov 6:26). But if your eyes dwell on what is pure:

Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? or who shall stand in his holy place? 4 He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully.

Psalms 24:3-4 (KJV)

Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word.

Psalms 119:9 (KJV)

I will behave myself wisely in a perfect way. O when wilt thou come unto me? I will walk within my house with a perfect heart. 3 I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes: I hate the work of them that turn aside; it shall not cleave to me. 4 A froward heart shall depart from me: I will not know a wicked person. 5 Whoso privily slandereth his neighbour, him will I cut off: him that hath an high look and a proud heart will not I suffer. 6 Mine eyes shall be upon the faithful of the land, that they may dwell with me: he that walketh in a perfect way, he shall serve me. 7 He that worketh deceit shall not dwell within my house: he that telleth lies shall not tarry in my sight. 8 I will early destroy all the wicked of the land; that I may cut off all wicked doers from the city of the Lord.

Psalms 101:2-8 (KJV)

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