“HIS INVISIBLE ATTRIBUTES!”

Romans 1:18-25                                    (ESV)

“18 For the wrath of GOD is revealed from Heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness SUPPRESS the TRUTH.

19 For what can be known about GOD is PLAIN TO THEM, BECAUSE GOD HAS SHOWN IT TO THEM.

20 For “HIS INVISIBLE ATTRIBUTES”, namely, HIS eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, EVER SINCE the CREATION (Colossians 1:16) of the world, in the things that have been made. SO THEY ARE WITHOUT EXCUSE.

21 For although they knew GOD, THEY DID NOT HONOR HIM as GOD or give thanks to HIM, but they became futile in their thinking, and THEIR FOOLISH HEARTS were DARKENED.

22 CLAIMING TO BE WISE, THEY BECAME FOOLS,

23 and EXCHANGED the glory of the immortal GOD for images RESEMBLING mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things.

24 Therefore GOD GAVE THEM UP in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies AMONG THEMSELVES,

25 because they EXCHANGED the TRUTH about GOD for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the CREATOR, WHO is blessed forever! AMEN.”

This quote was on a social media site recently, and sadness quickly enveloped me!  “I was talking to a co-worker today. He's very intelligent, well spoken, well-liked & is successful in everything he does.”  One translation of Genesis 3:1 says that the serpent was “sneakier” than any other of the wild animals that GOD had made!  GOD made the serpent, but he thought he was smart enough to be god himself!  GOD has no equal (Isaiah 45:5-6) and HE has no competition.  HE ALONE is worthy of our Praise (Deuteronomy 10:21) and it is high time HIS Creation admits that!!!

But humans are a people who seem to have a necessity to prove something true with facts.  We want undeniable proof that there is a GOD, and that HE has the POWER that HE claims.  While studying a book that our church is reading, the word “IMPERIUM” was introduced to my vocabulary.  According to the dictionary, IMPERIUM is defined as “supreme power; superpower”!  What most of “this world” desires to see is a god that will give them what THEY WANT, even when we don’t know what is best for us!  As long as we are satisfied, everything is fine....WITH US.  As long as our selfish desires are met, we aren’t worried about the rest of Creation?  As long as everything WE are touching is going as we think it should, we are fine with famine and torture in other places on earth!?!

Folks, WE ARE NOT GOD, no matter what we believe or how supreme we act!  No King, no President, no magistrate, no billionaire, potentate, nor any other human has IMPERIUM.  Until we recognize that we are subject to a HIGHER BEING, an IMPERIUM, we will not be able to SEE ourselves in the roles we were Created to fulfill.  GOD ALONE should be EXALTED by anyone and until we recognize that we will continue to live in the natural state of existence, not the Victorious SPIRITUAL!  

We cannot live in a condition that we were not Created for.  We must CEASE being a people “...who by their unrighteousness SUPPRESS the TRUTH” and accept that GOD and “HIS INVISIBLE ATTRIBUTES” are alive and active in ALL OF CREATION!  Whether we are living above or below what we were Created for, we are not pleasing our CREATOR!  If and when we get a glimpse of “HIS INVISIBLE ATTRIBUTES”, we will finally be able to SEE what HE is able to do in, and through, our lives.  “HIS INVISIBLE ATTRIBUTES” are just as real as the air we breath, we just have to BELIEVE!!!

“HIS LOVE!”

Romans 5:6-8                                  (ESV)

“6 For while we were still weak, at the right time CHRIST died for the ungodly.

7 For one will scarcely die for a righteous person-though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die-

8 but GOD shows “HIS LOVE” for us in that while we were still sinners, CHRIST died for us.”

“”Love” has been REDEFINED as a broad tolerance that overlooks sin and embraces good and evoke alike. That is not love, it’s APATHY!!!”  John MacAuthur

John MacArthur is an experienced minister of the Gospel of JESUS CHRIST who is known for being rather straight forward with his words, regardless of the ones those words may offend!  The quote above was shared recently on social media, and it caused me to evaluate how the church in general, but specifically me, has allowed peoples feelings to regulate the warnings that GOD has issued through HIS WORD!  

Job 1:12 plainly says “And the LORD said to Satan, "Behold, all that he (Job) has is in your hand. Only against him do not stretch out your hand." So Satan went out from the presence of the LORD.”  Although GOD IS IN CONTROL, HE sometimes allows the enemy enough flexibility to cause us distress in order for HIM to receive GLORY!  Scripture says in Romans 1:28 (KJV) “....And even as they did not like to retain GOD in theirknowledge, GOD gave them over to a reprobate mind,....”!  HE may be trying to place us where we can draw Honor and Glory to HIS NAME?!?

The phrase has been used by yours truly many times, “If you saw a person driving down a road that you KNEW a bridge was out , would it be “love” for you to allow them to continue driving with NO WARNINGS!”  My response is a resounding NO!!! Unless ALMIGHTY GOD CHOOSES to give me the WORDS to say, HE has proven to me that I cannot even communicate!  My friends and loved ones are driving down the road of life, and I seem to be so caught up in “life” that I won’t even alert them they are headed down the road to destruction!  

Being exposed to “HIS LOVE” is something that I don’t have the words to adequately describe.  But my lack of WORD RECALL is something that GOD ALMIGHTY isn’t hamstrung with.  “HIS LOVE” can overcome a lot bigger deficits than my inability to choose the correct words from time to time.  “...but GOD shows “HIS LOVE” for us in that while we were still sinners, CHRIST died for us” says Romans 5:8.  If GOD can overcome the cross, HE can overcome any problem we have today!!!

“WHEN I AM WEAK!”

 2 Corinthians 12:9-10                                    (ESV)

“9 But HE said to me, "MY grace is sufficient for you, for MY POWER IS MADE PERFECT in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the POWER of CHRIST may rest upon me.

10 For the sake of CHRIST, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For “WHEN I AM WEAK”, then I am strong.”

Being awakened before you are “rested” can cause your day to begin on a path that is something short of desirable.  Being able to identify the cause of your discontent can be extremely frustrating, even maddening!  When we sleep, generally we REST, restoring our bodies abilities to cognitively process matters in a rational manner, or simply put, we THINK CLEARLY.  When we don’t REST, our abilities to THINK CLEARLY often becomes clouded and fuzzy, especially when we have pressure from our surroundings.  

Have pressures that occur exactly at the time when we DON’T need them IS NOT circumstantial!  When the confluence of multiple things occurs when we are less than at our optimal abilities, it is a PERFECT TIME for GOD to display HIS POWER.  The Apostle Paul states that he “....will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the POWER of CHRIST may rest upon me.”  He understood that both he and CHRIST couldn’t be in control at the same time.  JESUS says in Matthew 6 and Luke 16 that man CANNOT serve two masters!  

So when I am not “rested”, it behooves me to allow my CREATOR to control my actions, AND WORDS, as I am in no condition to be driving something that can hurt others so badly.  “WHEN I AM WEAK”, which I often am, I need to yield to CHRIST!  Only HE can overcome my “weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities”, and Heaven knows I have plenty!  Being a large man, I have been physically strong for most of my adult life.  But Spiritually is a TOTALLY different thing.  “WHEN I AM WEAK”, Spiritually, HE steps in a displays HIS ABILITIES through my feebleness, and like Paul, I AM FINE WITH THAT!!!

“NO ONE SEEKS FOR GOD!”

Romans 3:9-18                                             (ESV)

“9 What then? Are we Jews any better off? No, not at all. For we have already charged that all, both Jews and Greeks, are under sin,

10 as it is written: "None is righteous, no, not one; 

11 no one understands; “NO ONE SEEKS FOR GOD”. 

12 All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one." 

13 "Their throat is an open grave; they use their tongues to deceive." "The venom of asps is under their lips." 

14 "Their mouth is full of curses and bitterness." 

15 "Their feet are swift to shed blood; 

16 in their paths are ruin and misery, 

17 and the way of peace they have not known." 

18 "There is no fear of GOD before their eyes."”

Political leaders in both parties hold press conferences telling the news media what they think “we the people” want to hear, when all the time they usually DO exactly what their party bosses prescribe for them to do.  Until, UNLESS, someone actually SEEKS THE LORD in their actions and deeds, America, and the world, is going to find out about THE WRATH OF ALMIGHTY GOD, and it is NOT going to be pretty!  We hear about how the President, Vice President, and everyone else has faults and is the worst thing to have ever been elected!  But look who is talking?  We are ALL broken, repugnant sinners in the eyes of GOD, so why do we try to berate others who might not be as bad as we are!  

The Apostle Paul writes that “NO ONE SEEKS FOR GOD”, not me, not you, not the Pope, not the President, not anyone serving in congress, not our pastor, “NO ONE SEEKS FOR GOD“!!!  He also writes in the surrounding verses just how wicked we all are.  It is only “natural” (1 Corinthians 2:14) for us to claim our so-called “righteousness”, but in reality, we ALL are nothing but sinners needing a Savior.  Unless JESUS CHRIST steps in for me during THE JUDGEMENT, I AM DOOMED!!!

So I can join the throngs identifying everyone else’s faults, or I can fall down on my knees and beg for JESUS CHRIST to be exalted among the nations, for HIM to be exalted in the earth (Psalms 46:10)!  This rant comes free of charge, but it’s warning will not be free on recourse!  “NO ONE SEEKS FOR GOD” needs to be emblazoned upon our foreheads as we are the only CHRIST most people will ever see!  What do they see when looking at you???  

“BUT GOD!”

Jonah 4:5-11                                          (ESV)

“5 Jonah went out of the city and sat to the east of the city and made a booth for himself there. He sat under it in the shade, till he should see what would become of the city.

6 Now the LORD GOD appointed a plant and made it come up over Jonah, that it might be a shade over his head, to save him from his discomfort. So JONAH WAS EXCEEDINGLY GLAD because of the plant.

7 But when dawn came up the next day, GOD APPOINTED a WORM that attacked the plant, so that it withered.

8 When the sun rose, GOD APPOINTED a scorching east wind, and the sun beat down on the head of Jonah so that he was faint. And he asked that he might die and said, "It is better for me to die than to live."

9 “BUT GOD” said to Jonah, "Do you do well to be angry for the plant?" And he said, "Yes, I do well to be angry, angry enough to die."

10 And the LORD said, "You pity the plant, for which you did not labor, nor did you make it grow, which came into being in a night and perished in a night.

11 And should not I pity Nineveh, that great city, in which there are more than 120,000 persons who do not know their right hand from their left, and also much cattle?"”

There are times when I start feeling sorry for myself, even with my amazing story of Deliverance from GOD ALMIGHTY.  This morning is/was one of those days!  The pressures of work, compounded by what I Believe GOD has Planned for me to do IN HIS TIMING, have been causing me to be a little on edge.  But this morning I was reading in the book of Jonah and I SEE where GOD was so minutely involved with Jonah’s life that HE directed A WORM to kill a plant FOR HIS GLORY!  

That caused me to recall my testimony about the Brain Hemorrhage that I wrote while recovering from the same, and it made me realize how the enemy can blind us from SEEING GOD’s majestic work right in front of our very eyes!  Most have heard (probably many times!) about the letter written by yours truly on August 15, 2002 supporting the transfer of the Neurologist to the same hospital where I would go on July 09, 2007, almost five years later!  The letter was faxed to a United States Senator’s office and then promptly filed away and forgotten about.  When I recovered enough to go back to work, the letter was found in a file and shown to me.  I literally had to sit down weep, then show the letter to the same Neurologist.  He couldn’t believe it either!  

GOD is so intricately involved with our lives that HE is right with us, regardless of how we seem to act as though we are ALL ALONE!  Jonah felt this way, even after seeing GOD deliver the city of Nineveh from destruction.  Jonah actually wanted GOD to destroy Nineveh because of their prior actions.  “BUT GOD”, GOD wanted to show HIS Glory through the Ninevites!  GOD’s Plan didn’t fit Jonah’s idea of what should happen, so he was angry about the results.  

Now I could not have dreamed up a scenario in 2002 where I would end a Neurologist.  The letter was written for a friend who worked at the aforementioned hospital.  “BUT GOD”, I believe, wanted to display to me how much HE is capable of using our imperfect work for HIS Glory, IN HIS TIMING!  Our sufferings (Romans 5:3-5) are sometimes sent to Glorify HIM, using us for HIS Glory!  “BUT GOD” is masterfully IN CONTROL of our lives, just as HE was with Jonah, and we are not!   “BUT GOD!!!”

“THINK OVER?”

2 Timothy 2:1-7                                                   (ESV)

“1 You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in CHRIST JESUS,

2 and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also.

3 SHARE IN SUFFERING as a good soldier of CHRIST JESUS.

4 No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him.

5 An athlete is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules.

6 IT IS THE HARD-WORKING FARMER WHO OUGHT TO HAVE THE FIRST SHARE OF THE CROPS.

7 “THINK OVER” what I say, FOR THE LORD WILL GIVE YOU UNDERSTANDING IN EVERYTHING.”

There are verses of Scripture that are rather plain, such as Exodus 20:13 which says “You shall not murder.”  Then there are verses that explicitly tell us to ponder what GOD is saying to us (Luke 2:19), and then to act appropriately.  In verse seven above, the author is saying for us to “THINK OVER” what he tells us, not to “speed-read” it hoping it will change our lives simply because we took time to read HIS WORD.  We must have our lives CHANGED BY THE WORD OF GOD for it to accomplish what HE intends!  

Walking through our prescribed wilderness, BY FAITH, there will undoubtedly be times when we aren’t really certain which path to take?  Going back almost 12 years ago, when I was placed into a coma for almost three weeks, I don’t remember anyone asking me what my thoughts were about being being “knocked out” until someone else thought I was better?  Without a doubt, my life was DRAMATICALLY CHANGED since, slowing me down and causing me to “THINK OVER” what GOD is doing in, and through, my actions.  

Knowing that GOD IS GOD is something that most of us almost take for granted, or we don’t “THINK OVER”!  HE can grant us wealth, and HE can cause us to live in poverty.  HE can cause us to be healed, and HE can walk with us through the valley of the shadow of death (Psalms 23:4)!  HE IS GOD and HE doesn’t need our approval to do anything HE desires!  When JESUS was in the Garden of Gethsemane HE didn’t pray for deliverance from what was about to happen (Luke 22:39-46).  Instead JESUS prayed, “Nevertheless, not MY will, but YOURS, be done”.  Scripture then states that HE continued to pray, that angels ministered to HIM, and HE began to sweat drops of blood, probably because HE knew what HE was about to experience!

HE took time to “THINK OVER” what HE was about to endure, yet HE CHOSE to continue to Glorify HIS FATHER and save my soul!  And I don’t think I have time to spend a few minutes each day allowing HIS WORD to mold my life into what HE needs me to be?  GOD IN HEAVEN, what is wrong with me?  The GOD OF CREATION wants to infuse HIMSELF into me, and just as I was in 2007, I have NO IDEA what HE is trying to accomplish.  SEEING HIS handiwork, what is there to “THINK OVER”???

“DEPART FROM ME!”

Matthew 7:21-23                                       (ESV)

“21 "Not everyone who says to me, 'LORD, LORD,' will enter the kingdom of Heaven, but the one who does the WILL OF MY FATHER WHO is in Heaven.

22 On that day many will say to ME, 'LORD, LORD, did we not prophesy in YOUR name, and cast out demons in YOUR name, and do many mighty works in YOUR name?'

23 And then will I declare to them, 'I never knew you; “DEPART FROM ME”, you workers of lawlessness.'”

Just because some people claim to be a “Christian” doesn’t mean that they are a follower of the teachings of JESUS.   Just because some people go to a Roman Catholic Church doesn’t mean that they adhere to every edict and premise that the current Pope espouses.  And for absolutely certain, not all Baptist’s will enter the gates of Heaven.  As a matter of fact, a lot of Baptist’s that rely on “Once saved, always saved” to get them into Heaven will be shocked to find out that they have yet to be “once saved”!!!

We can call ourselves any name we want to be labeled with, but TRUSTING in the MIGHTY NAME of JESUS is what will determine where we spend eternity.  True persecution is yet to be realized in America.  Sure, we may be ridiculed and jeered because we live differently from “this world”, but I’m afraid that very soon it will be considered radical to have FAITH IN GOD, a SPIRIT that cannot be seen or felt by those who don’t have a relationship with HIM (1 Corinthians 2:14).  GOD’s WORD is becoming less and less respected, not only by people not attending church, but by those who go to church, yet are never changed by applying Scripture to their lives. Not being concerned about that should literally scare folks to death, but they are trusting in their works, or their “living a good life”, or some other false religious schemes!  

It has been rightfully said, the three most horrible words that will ever be heard by mankind is “DEPART FROM ME”.  But, you say, JESUS loves us all, so how can HE send us to hell since HE loves us so much?  HE is being patient beyond belief, but people that are unwilling to FOLLOW after HIM, and be ridiculed, tortured, mocked, and laughed at, are in essence CHOOSING to spend eternity, not only apart from HIM, but also having the WRATH OF ALMIGHTY GOD continuously poured out on them for eternity!  

There is no great joy or elation from sharing this post.  But there can be.  Trusting in the Sacrificial Life, death, and resurrection of JESUS is the ONLY WAY to not be told “DEPART FROM ME” one day.  Relying on Buddha, Mohammed, Hare Krishna, or any other name will prove to be fatal.  Relying on your own good works will likewise be disastrous!  “DEPART FROM ME” will be the most devastating words ever spoken, especially when you remember these words written as a warning on May 21, 2019!  

“PRAYING AT ALL TIMES!”

Ephesians 6:16-20                                                  (ESV)

“16 In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which YOU CAN EXTINGUISH ALL THE FLAMING DARTS of the evil one;

17 and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the SPIRIT, which is the WORD of GOD,

18 “PRAYING AT ALL TIMES” in the SPIRIT, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints,

19 and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel,

20 for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.”

Preparing for battle is something that I have physically experienced.  Never had I had to prepare myself, not only to be physically ready for individual combat, but certainly I have never experienced mentally preparing to actually take another human’s life!  

SPIRITUALLY preparing to do battle should be considered with equal seriousness.   However, I am afraid that we don’t recognize the enemy (“the evil one”) as our true opposer, the one we “wrestle” (Ephesians 6:12) against.  We can be used by our Heavenly FATHER, or we can be used by our enemy.  Being used by the enemy will generally make our lives comfortable and non-confrontational.  Being used by our Heavenly FATHER will more than likely cause us trials and tribulations.  This world and the enemy are fighting for the same thing, to prevent ALMIGHTY GOD from receiving Glory!  

When we are “PRAYING AT ALL TIMES” we are not intended to come before GOD unless we realize who we are, and mostly WHO HE is!  Isaiah 2:11-17 says that the “haughtiness” of man WILL BE brought low, and the “LORD ALONE” will be “exalted” in that day!  When we prepare for Spiritual battle, we have to realize that our war has already been won by JESUS.  We must know who we are IN HIM, and that HE is already victorious!  

Why, then, was Paul writing this letter to the church at Ephesus from prison if the war had already been won?  It is GOD’s Plan to have a great many who CHOOSE to praise HIS NAME for eternity.  Until the last CHOSEN person enters the family of GOD, we will continue seeing the enemy act as though he still has a chance.   “PRAYING AT ALL TIMES” protects us, strengthens us, unites us, elevates us, and draws us closer to HIS likeness of, a place where we should desire to be!  When we are “PRAYING AT ALL TIMES” IN THE SPIRIT, we too can celebrate from prison as we serve HIM!!!

“AND THEN!”

Matthew 7:1-5                                            (ESV)

“1 "Judge not, that you be not judged.

2 For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you.

3 Why do you see the speck that is IN YOUR BROTHER’S EYE, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?

4 Or how can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when there is the log in your own eye?

5 You hypocrite, FIRST TAKE THE LOG OUT OF YOUR OWN EYE, “AND THEN” you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye.”

How many times have we heard Matthew 7:1 used to refrain from lovingly explaining to our brothers and sisters that a bridge on the road they are traveling is washed out and certain destruction lies ahead if the continue on the current path?  It is difficult, when someone is as sinful as I am, to alert others about what they are doing wrong.  But, out of love, we have to TAKE THE LOG OUT OF YOUR OWN EYE, “AND THEN” help those we SEE headed down the wrong path.  

Far too many times we tend to focus one one verse of Scripture and forget about the surrounding verses?  JESUS is speaking in Matthew 5 through Matthew 7 with only a few verses at the beginning and end that are NOT spoken by HIM.  Ignoring anything that our CREATOR says is a dangerous thing to do, especially when we take HIS WORD out of context to suit our own agendas.  When we leave just a few words, we run the risk of missing the entire scope of the message.

In Matthew 7:1, JESUS says “Judge not, that you be not judged”.  But that doesn’t delete Matthew 7:5 from Scripture, which says “You hypocrite, FIRST TAKE THE LOG OUT OF YOUR OWN EYE, “AND THEN” you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye.”  “AND THEN” Instructs us to stop driving down the path of destruction, “AND THEN” start alerting others of the danger awaiting them.  Is it LOVE to let them proceed without being warned of the danger ahead???

However, all we can do is alert them.  ALMIGHTY GOD is the ONLY ONE WHO is able to change a heart and John 6:44 says “.....No one can come to ME unless the FATHER WHO sent ME draws him.....”.  Alerting others isn’t an option, we MUST tell them that destruction awaits, but HE has provided a way (John 14:6) around the trouble, “AND THEN” if they choose to continue on, the consequences rest solely in their court!  

“WHATEVER IT MAY BE!”

Deuteronomy 15:7-11                                            (ESV)

“7 "If among you, one of your brothers should become poor, in any of your towns within your land that the LORD your GOD is giving you, you shall not harden your heart or shut your hand against your poor brother,

8 but you shall OPEN YOUR HAND to him and lend him SUFFICIENT FOR HIS NEED, “WHATEVER IT MAY BE”.

9 Take care lest there be an unworthy thought in your heart and you say, 'The seventh year, the year of release is near,' and your eye look grudgingly on your poor brother, and you give him nothing, and he cry to the LORD against you, and you be guilty of sin.

10 You shall give to him freely, and your heart shall not be grudging when you give to him, because for this the LORD your God will bless you in all your work and in all that you undertake.

11 For there will never cease to be poor in the land. Therefore I command you, 'You shall open wide your hand to your brother, TO THE NEEDY and TO THE POOR, “

It is extremely difficult to let go of something that the LORD has blessed you with.  If we get $100 in our checking account, some of us act as though it ALL OURS!  And some of us act as though 90% is ours and 10% belongs to the LORD.  BUT, IN REALITY, do you know that when I was near death in 2007, I wasn’t asked if I could afford it, or how did I expect to pay for my hospital bill!  The doctors and people treating me didn’t inquire about my financial situation, they only were concerned with my physical situation, mainly my brain hemorrhage!!!

Now, for those who WON’T work, who choose not to provide for themselves or their families, let him NOT EAT!  2 Thessalonians 3:10-12 (ESV) says “For even when we were with you, we would give you this command: If anyone is not willing to work, LET HIM NOT EAT.  For we hear that some among you walk in idleness, not busy at work, but busybodies.  Now such persons we command and encourage in the LORD JESUS CHRIST to do their work quietly and to earn their own living.”  We aren’t supposed to facilitate laziness and being slothful.  However, we are to lovingly support those who we SEE who are going through difficult times.  

Of course, I had NO CHOICE about the situation I found myself in during my illness.  Allowing others to assist was a humbling experience, but the whole thing was a learning process that GOD has used to grow me into a vessel that HE can be Glorified with.  GOD has a unique way of opening our EYES to SEE needs that HE wants to fulfill.  HE can provide, “WHATEVER IT MAY BE”, for HIS Glory!  

“EXAMINING THE SCRIPTURES!”

Acts 17:10-15                                       (ESV)

“10 The brothers immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, and when they arrived they went into the Jewish synagogue.

11 Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; THEY RECEIVED THE WORD with all eagerness, “EXAMINING THE SCRIPTURES” daily to see if THESE THINGS WERE SO.

12 Many of them therefore believed, with not a few Greek women of high standing as well as men.

13 But when the Jews from Thessalonica learned that the word of GOD was proclaimed by Paul at Berea also, they came there too, agitating and stirring up the crowds.

14 Then the brothers immediately sent Paul off on his way to the sea, but Silas and Timothy remained there.

15 Those who conducted Paul brought him as far as Athens, and after receiving a command for Silas and Timothy to come to him as soon as possible, they departed.”

This was on my Twitter Feed as I started my day recently:

Accuracy matters.

Airline pilots, surgeons, architects, engineers, pharmacists — lives depend on their accuracy.

Why have we come to expect anything less from those who proclaim God’s Word?

So often people who claim to be Believers are fed things from the pulpit in their church and they accept it as “Gospel”.  Sadly, there are modern-day pastors that have never been called by GOD ALMIGHTY, they are “in the ministry” maybe because it seemed like a good way to make a living, or they are able to tickle ears???

Scripture instructs us over and over again to continue being in the WORD OF GOD, allowing “.....the WORD of the LORD may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you:” (2 Thessalonians 3:1).  Hearing from the man of GOD is something that we must do, but there is NO SUBSTITUTE for “EXAMINING THE SCRIPTURES” ourselves!  From experience, the WORD OF GOD will change your life, all you have to do is get IT in you!  It usually has no effect on a person unless it is read and applied. 

It would not be wise to have a fatal disease, be given the cure for the disease, and to avoid exposure to the cure?!?  Most people cannot SEE their illness, that they are dying from sin, and without JESUS have NO HOPE for the CURE!  We may need to look at our lives through the prism of “EXAMINING THE SCRIPTURES” daily to get a TRUE vision of who we are?  

“CREATE IN ME!”

Psalms 51:10-12                                    (ESV)

“10 “CREATE IN ME” a clean heart, O GOD, and renew a right spirit within ME. 

11 Cast ME not away from YOUR presence, and take not your HOLY SPIRIT from ME. 

12 Restore to ME the joy of your salvation, and uphold ME with a willing spirit.”

Many times have I written about my parents being divorced when I was four years old.  My father chose to not be apart of our lives, so we children were left to only hear things from my maternal side of the family.  However, my mother and her parents never saw fit to disparage my father, even though he refused to even check on his own offspring.  They let his actions speak for themselves.  

King David wasn’t in the same predicament as my mother.  He had committed adultery with Bathsheba while her husband was fighting for Israel in battle.  When he was writing this confessional psalm, he could only write about himself needing forgiveness, not about anyone else!  He didn’t write about the sins of Israel, or the dreadful behavior of others, his sins were what needed to be dealt with, nothing more!

There are times when I want to discuss the shortcomings of others instead of looking at my own sins!  King David wrote “CREATE IN ME”, not create in your children.  If I were to only look at my sins, I would kept busy constantly confessing those!  Instead l the enemy wants me to look at others and ignore that I am so wretched that it took JESUS HIMSELF as a sacrifice for my redemption.  JESUS “Created” ALL THINGS, so only HE can RE-CREATE us to what we should be!

Don’t become as this wretch!  Make your prayer to “CREATE IN ME” a clean heart, and let everyone else be concerned about their own hearts!  After all, you don’t want to be accountable for their sins on Judgement Day, do you?  Maybe if we learn from King David and only be concerned about our own lives, GOD might change more hearts in those surrounding us?  ONLY HE can “CREATE IN ME” anything that is good!!!

“I AM! THE LORD!”

Exodus 7:5-7                                                     (ESV)

“5 The Egyptians shall know that “I AM THE LORD”, when I stretch out my hand against Egypt and bring out the people of Israel from among them."

6 Moses and Aaron did so; THEY DID JUST AS THE LORD COMMANDED THEM.

7 Now Moses was eighty years old, and Aaron eighty-three years old, when they spoke to Pharaoh.”

There are many times that I THINK I know what GOD has told me that HE is going to do.  Many times that I act out of Spiritual ignorance attempting to perform that which ONLY GOD can perform, USUALLY finding out that I have gotten ahead of GOD’S timing and I experienced failure!  

Recently my Spirit was searching for a WORD from GOD and the passage of Exodus 7:7 came into my mind, “Now Moses was eighty years old, and Aaron eighty-three years old, when they spoke to Pharaoh.”  Now I didn’t SEE what GOD was saying to me at the time, but I highlighted the passage KNOWING that GOD was going to speak direction to me through these verses soon.  This morning HE had done so!

“Moses was eighty years old, and Aaron eighty-three years old” tells me that they were not spring-chickens any longer, that they were “experienced” in the things of the LORD.  It also tells me that whatever they accomplished, it would be less likely to be credited to their own strength and skills.  They were maturing into vessels that would draw Honor and Glory to GOD, not themselves!  When “this world” witnessed “MY HAND” against Egypt, they would have no doubt that ALMIGHTY GOD had performed the miraculous!  

There are miracles that occur everyday, we just become so accustomed to seeing them that we accept them as “nature”!  How else can one explain how oxygen is breathed into our bodies and carbon dioxide is exhaled seconds later?  There are some people who have numerous children, and some people can never conceive?  Some children grow to be 100+ years old, and some never make it out of the womb?  

When “I AM THE LORD” decrees that something WILL BE, man has no power to prevent it from happening!  When will we realize and understand that we ARE NOT in control, but ALMIGHTY GOD is in Control!  THAT IS WHY why we NEED TO DO JUST AS THE LORD COMMANDS us to do!  “I AM THE LORD” is leading us, not some novice who doesn’t have a clue where we need to go!  When “I AM THE LORD” says HE is going to do something, consider IT DONE!!!