“Hearing GOD!”

 John 8:47                       (ESV)

“Whoever is of GOD hears the WORDS of GOD. The reason why you do not hear them is that you are not of GOD.”

“WILL RETURN!”

 Hebrews 9:27-28                     (ESV)

“[27] And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment, [28] so CHRIST, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, “WILL APPEAR” a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for HIM.”

The FACT is NOT left for humanity to debate whether JESUS is coming again???

The Scripture above says CHRIST “WILL APPEAR a second time to SAVE those who are eagerly waiting for HIM!!!  Even so, LORD JESUS, come!!!

“HE HUMBLED HIMSELF!”

 Philippians 2:5-11                        (ESV)

“[5] Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in CHRIST JESUS, [6] WHO, though HE was in the form of GOD, did not count equality with GOD a thing to be grasped, [7] but emptied HIMSELF, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. [8] And being found in human form, “HE HUMBLED HIMSELF” by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. [9] Therefore GOD has HIGHLY EXALTED HIM and bestowed on HIM the NAME that is above every name, [10] so that at the NAME of JESUS EVERY KNEE should bow, IN HEAVEN and ON EARTH and UNDER THE EARTH, [11] and every tongue confess that JESUS CHRIST is LORD, to the glory of GOD the FATHER.”

Following the Brain Hemorrhage in 2007 I was prescribed an antidepressants.  I got off of them rather quickly because they caused me side effects that were terrible.  A couple of months later a dear friend of mine was killed in a bicycle accident and I was QUICKLY prescribed another medication for depression!  After a two or three year period I was able to get off of the antidepressants and began taking something to sleep better to help me not feel so “out of control”!  I “needed” help and I wasn’t ashamed to ask for it in my position!!!   I was humbled to seek help, but I didn’t have any other choice!!!

JESUS, the CREATOR OF THE UNIVERSES (Colossians 1:16), submitted HIMSELF to be born in a manger, raised by a carpenter, rejected by mankind, and crucified by HIS OWN people, all because HE LOVED the world (John 3:16)!  HE became obedient to the point of death, EVEN DEATH ON A CROSS because you and I were in need of a SAVIOR!!  JESUS provided the SACRIFICE that ONLY HE could pay because humanity was broken and sinful and JESUS was the ONLY HOPE for our REDEMPTION!  HE gave up HIS THRONE and came to “this world” and provided the ULTIMATE GIFT for us!!!

There was/is NOTHING that could duplicate the SACRIFICE JESUS CHRIST paid for my sins!  “HE HUMBLED HIMSELF” to even come to earth for us, but mankind made it worse because HE yielded EVERYTHING so that HIS SACRIFICE would be enough to cover my sins!  “HE HUMBLED HIMSELF” out of LOVE for us!!!  I am so grateful that HE did!!!

“MAN OF GOD!”

 2 Timothy 3:16-17                    (ESV)

“[16] All Scripture is breathed out by GOD and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, [17] that the “MAN OF GOD” may be complete, equipped for every good work.”

Perhaps I peruse social media too often?  However, the things that you see can utterly cause you to ponder the thinking of others?  Recently I saw a post that only asked “Do you believe the Bible is truly inspired by God.”  I didn’t read all of the responses but, surprisingly enough, a LOT of people did NOT believe that Scripture was by the Divine Inspiration of GOD.  Apparently their EYES have yet to be OPENED to SEE the TRUTH contained within SCRIPTURE can change their life???

“All SCRIPTURE is BREATHED out by GOD and profitable for teaching, for reproof (conviction), for correction, and training for righteousness, that the “MAN OF GOD” may be complete, equipped for every good work.”  The WORD OF GOD can do an IMMEASURABLE work, but only when the SPIRIT OF GOD works in a person’s heart!  

A lot of unbelievers DO NOT have the SPIRIT OF GOD working in their heart.  Romans 1:28 enlightens us to understand “And since they did not see fit to acknowledge GOD, GOD gave them up to a debased (reprobate) mind to do what ought not to be done.”  I would not have the SPIRIT OF GOD working on me had HE not CHOSEN me before the foundation of the world (Ephesians 1:4) to be HIS servant!  

Has HE CHOSEN you to serve HIM as well?  You can be a “MAN OF GOD”, complete, equipped for every good work if you are being DRAWN by the HOLY SPIRIT.  Will everything be easy and without conflict?  ABSOLUTELY NOT!  But the PEACE and COMFORT are UNIMAGINABLE and the LONG TERM benefits are OUT OF THIS WORLD!  Being a “MAN OF GOD” is something that I wouldn’t trade for anything in “this world”, for it will only “pass away”!!!

“WE WALK BY FAITH!”

 

2 Corinthians 5:7                      (ESV)

“[7] for “WE WALK BY FAITH”, not by sight.”

Very simply this morning, the WE that the Apostle Paul is writing about is those who BELIEVE that JESUS is GOD IN THE FLESH!  

The WALK tells me especially to not run, as this servant lived most of my life prior to July 09, 2007!  GOD is able to do “far more abundantly” (Ephesians 3:20) than we can imagine, so don’t be “tricked” by the lies and deception of the enemy!  

BY FAITH is precisely what it says in the following part of this verse, NOT BY SIGHT!  If we are WALKING BY FAITH, do our tendencies display this???

Those who AREN’T CHOSEN tend to operate by what they “see” as reality?  WE (BELIEVERS), have to operate by a different operational system than those who operate by sight.  WE MUST OPERATE by FAITH!  Hebrews 11:1 says “Now FAITH is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things NOT SEEN.”  

Unless “WE (BELIEVERS) WALK BY FAITH”, we exhibit the same characteristics of “this world”!  WHO we are following should be identified by how we are walking!!!  “WE WALK BY FAITH”!!!

“JESUS!”

 Luke 14:25-33                          (ESV)

The Cost of Discipleship

“[25] Now great crowds accompanied HIM, and HE turned and said to them, [26] “If anyone comes to ME and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be MY disciple. [27] Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after ME cannot be MY disciple. [28] For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it? [29] Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, [30] saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish.’ [31] Or what king, going out to encounter another king in war, will not sit down first and deliberate whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? [32] And if not, while the other is yet a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks for terms of peace. [33] So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has CANNOT be MY disciple.”

I love my wife, kids, AND GRANDCHILDREN more than life itself!!  But JESUS says in a different translation “You CANNOT be MY disciple, unless you love ME MORE than you love your father and mother, your wife and children, and your brothers and sisters”!

While growing up, I thought my mom was the greatest person alive!  Then I met my wife and she was the greatest person!  Then the LORD blessed us with two sons, and they were rather special!  Then the LORD BLESSED us with GRANDCHILDREN, and mere words aren’t enough to describe how much I love them!!!

But JESUS CHRIST comes before even my wife, sons and grandchildren!  HE is the CREATOR of ALL OF US!!!  HE CHOSE me before the foundation of the world (Ephesians 1:4) and preserved me for 64 years (almost) and is “preparing a place for me” (John14:3) where we will live FOREVER!!!  

My mom, my WIFE, and my kids and grandkids are BLESSINGS that I cannot find enough words to describe.  But JESUS is my LORD, and I praise HIS NAME forever and forever!!!!

“THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH!”

 

1 John 4:4-6                        (ESV)

“[4] Little children, YOU ARE FROM GOD and have overcome them, for HE WHO is in you is greater than he who is in the world. [5] They are from the world; therefore they speak from the world, and the world listens to them. [6] We are from GOD. Whoever KNOWS GOD listens to us; whoever is not from GOD does not listen to us. By this we KNOW “THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH” and the spirit of error.”

Have you ever pondered precisely who you are and where you came from?  This weekend I attended a family reunion of sorts and I was reunited with some family and friends, some of whom I hadn’t seen for almost sixty years!  Being around unfamiliar people can be awkward, especially when you don’t KNOW who they are and how you are connected to them???

KNOWING “THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH” is NOT something that we can achieve without THE GRACE OF GOD.  Ephesians 1:4 says very distinctly that “…HE CHOSE us in HIM before the foundation of the world”!!  So LONG before I was CREATED BY GOD, HE CHOSE me to be an instrument for HIS GLORY!  Others may not HEAR from GOD??   They are TOO BUSY listening to the things in “this world”, 

There are those that are able to SEE “THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH”, not because we are better than others, but simply because we are CHOSEN by our CREATOR!  Those who listen to the things of “this world” can’t grasp what they are missing because they are blind to TRUTH!!!  They cannot SEE what they are missing because their EYES have not been OPENED……..yet?!?!

“THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH” is present in “this world,, but those whose EYES have yet to be OPENED and whose EARS are unable to HEAR CANNOT recognize HIM?  Although I am a member of an earthly family, PRAISE GOD that I am CHOSEN and I KNOW HIM, and will follow “THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH”!!!

Psalm 119:35-37

 Psalm 119:35-37                      (ESV)

   “ [35] Lead me in the path of YOUR commandments,

        for I delight in it. 

    [36] Incline my heart to YOUR testimonies,

        and not to selfish gain! 

    [37] Turn my eyes from looking at worthless things;

        and give me life in YOUR ways.”

Mark 7:1-8

 Mark 7:1-8                    (ESV)

Traditions and Commandments

[1] Now when the Pharisees gathered to HIM, with some of the scribes who had come from Jerusalem, [2] they saw that some of HIS disciples ate with hands that were defiled, that is, unwashed. [3] (For the Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they wash their hands properly, holding to the tradition of the elders, [4] and when they come from the marketplace, they do not eat unless they wash. And there are many other traditions that they observe, such as the washing of cups and pots and copper vessels and dining couches.) [5] And the Pharisees and the scribes asked HIM, “Why do your disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat with defiled hands?” [6] And HE said to them, “Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written, 

    “‘This people honors ME with their lips,

        but their heart is far from ME; 

    [7] in vain do they worship ME,

        teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’

    [8] You leave the commandment of GOD and hold to the tradition of men.”

“DO NOT GET UPSET!”

 Psalms 37:7-8                   (NASB)

”¶Rest in the LORD and wait patiently for HIM; Do not get upset because of one who is successful in his way, Because of the person who carries out wicked schemes. Cease from anger and abandon wrath; DO NOT GET UPSET; it leads only to evildoing.“”

“WAIT PATIENTLY FOR HIM!”

 Psalm 37:7                    (ESV)

        “Be still before the LORD and WAIT PATIENTLY FOR HIM;

        fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way,

        over the man who carries out evil devices!”

“NO ONE KNOWS!”

 Matthew 24:36                                    (ESV)

NO ONE KNOWS That Day and Hour

“But concerning that day and hour NO ONE KNOWS, not even the angels of heaven, NOR THE SON, BUT THE FATHER ONLY.”

“THE WORD!”

 

John 1:1-5                            (ESV)

“THE WORD” Became Flesh

“[1] In the beginning was “THE WORD”, and “THE WORD” was with GOD, and “THE WORD” WAS GOD. [2] HE was in the beginning with GOD. [3] ALL THINGS were made through HIM, and without HIM was not any thing made that was made. [4] In HIM was life, and the life was the light of men. [5] The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”

“THE WORD” can manifest ITSELF through our thoughts and actions, even without our knowledge or consent!  The two paragraphs below were written by this servant yesterday morning without any thoughts of trying to tie in “THE WORD” to the point I was attempting to get across!

“Why do I DARE to even ingest anything other than HIS WORD before spending time with “THE WORD”?  When I do I am openly inviting “the enemy” to infiltrate my thoughts, which is used to capture my mind!  JESUS, “THE WORD”, demonstrates in the verses above that HE is capable of silencing “the enemy”, and I CHOOSE to allow him access to my thoughts and mind instead of “letting go” and surrendering to HIS guidance?  

THIS IS THE GREAT AND FIRST COMMANDMENT of “You shall LOVE the LORD your GOD with all your HEART and with all your SOUL and with all your MIND” needs to be FIRST and FOREMOST on my heart!  SEEING “the enemy” capture my mind is a scary phenomenon.  I must acknowledge that surrendering any part of my thoughts to him is inviting chaos and confusion into my life!  I must remember that “THIS IS THE GREAT AND FIRST COMMANDMENT”, that I LOVE the LORD your GOD with all your HEART and with all your SOUL and with all your MIND!!!”

“THE WORD” is JESUS, and without JESUS “ALL THINGS were made through HIM, and without HIM was not any thing made that was made”!  HE IS EVERYTHING and we don’t even recognize that we are HIS??? Why do I try to understand anything without SEEING “THE WORD” first???  

“IN THE BEGINNING WAS “THE WORD””, and like John was able to SEE 2,000 years ago, my thoughts and mind need to operate with “THE WORD” as the catalyst for EVERYTHING every day!!!

“THIS IS THE GREAT AND FIRST COMMANDMENT!”

Matthew 22:34-40                            (ESV)

The Great Commandment

“[34] But when the Pharisees heard that HE (JESUS) had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together. [35] And one of them, a lawyer, asked HIM a question to test HIM. [36] “TEACHER, which is the great commandment in the Law?” [37] And HE said to him, “You shall LOVE the LORD your GOD with all your HEART and with all your SOUL and with all your MIND. [38] “THIS IS THE GREAT AND FIRST COMMANDMENT”. [39] And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. [40] On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.””

Most mornings I don’t eat breakfast, I just take the oral medicine and supplements and spend invaluable time with THE CREATOR!  However, there are times when I start looking at social media and emails and get caught up in the cares/chaos of “this world”, almost unintentionally.  

In the passage of Scripture above JESUS is speaking to the Pharisees.  HIS answer to the question submitted to a lawyer, someone who supposedly “knew” the law,  but was trying to “catch” HIM with through the lawyers usage of words.  But a few verses later JESUS asked them a question, and their response was NILL!  In Matthew 22:46 it is recorded “And NO ONE was able to answer HIM a word, NOR FROM THAT DAY DID ANYONE DARE TO ASK HIM ANY MORE QUESTIONS.”

Why do I DARE to even ingest anything other than HIS WORD before spending time with THE WORD?  When I do I am openly inviting “the enemy” to infiltrate my thoughts, which is used to capture my mind!  JESUS, THE WORD, demonstrates in the verses above that HE is capable of silencing “the enemy”, and I CHOOSE to allow him access to my thoughts and mind instead of “letting go” and surrendering to HIS guidance?  

“THIS IS THE GREAT AND FIRST COMMANDMENT” of “You shall LOVE the LORD your GOD with all your HEART and with all your SOUL and with all your MIND” needs to be FIRST and FOREMOST on my heart!  SEEING “the enemy” capture my mind is a scary phenomenon.  I must acknowledge that surrendering any part of my thoughts to him is inviting chaos and confusion into my life!  I must remember that “THIS IS THE GREAT AND FIRST COMMANDMENT”, that I LOVE the LORD your GOD with all your HEART and with all your SOUL and with all your MIND!!!

“THE WAY!”

 John 14:1-6                          (ESV)

I AM THE WAY, and THE TRUTH , and THE LIFE 

“[1] “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in GOD; believe also in me. [2] In my FATHER’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? [3] And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to MYSELF, that where I am you may be also. [4] And you know THE WAY to where I am going.” [5] Thomas said to HIM, “LORD, we do not know where YOU are going. How can we know the way?” [6] JESUS said to him, “I AM THE WAY, and THE TRUTH, and THE LIFE. NO ONE comes to the FATHER except through ME.”

There are (MANY) occasions when I seemingly lose SIGHT that “THE WAY”, THE TRUTH and THE LIFE!  I tend to let “the enemy” disguise himself with adoration’s that are “easy on eyes” and appear to be the “best thing”, all the while that “lead to destruction” (Matthew 7:13)!  

A study that I observed recently says this:::

Here is a shortlist of how the enemy speaks to us.

He Rushes you

He Pushes you

He Scares you

He Confuses you

He Discourages you

He Worries you

He Obsesses you

He Goes Against God’s Word

He Steals your peace

He Steals your joy

He Hurts you

He Is harsh

He Is Cruel

He Encourages you to sin

He Flatters and manipulates you

He Condemns you

ANYTHING that isn’t based on “THE WAY”, THE TRUTH and THE LIFE is NOT what needs to allow into our lives!!  We don’t need to get caught up in the “rat-race” of “this world” when our HOME is in HEAVEN with “THE WAY”, THE TRUTH and THE LIFE!!!

“THEY?”

 

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John 8:39-47                         (ESV)

You Are of Your Father the Devil

“[39] “THEY” (the Jews and Pharisees) answered HIM, “Abraham is our father.” JESUS said to them, “If you were Abraham’s children, you would be doing the works Abraham did, [40] but now you seek to kill ME, a MAN WHO has told you the TRUTH that I heard from GOD. This is not what Abraham did. [41] You are doing the works your father did.” They said to HIM, “We were not born of sexual immorality. We have one FATHER—even GOD.” [42] JESUS said to them, “If GOD were your FATHER, you would love ME, for I came from GOD and I AM HERE. I came not of my OWN accord, but HE sent ME. [43] “WHY DO YOU NOT UNDERSTAND WHAT I SAY?” It is because you cannot bear to hear MY WORD. [44] You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies. [45] But because I tell the TRUTH, you do not believe ME. [46] Which one of you convicts ME of sin? If I tell the TRUTH, why do you not believe ME? [47] Whoever is of GOD hears the words of GOD. The reason why you do not hear them is that you are not of GOD.”

Who are you?  The “THEY” written about in John 8:1 were the Jews and Pharisees, the people who claimed to be more holy than people who are seen as “the chief of sinners”, such as the Apostle Paul (1 Timothy 1:15)!!!

FATHER IN HEAVEN, cause me to SEE that I simply remain on earth as an instrument of YOURS to do what YOUR PLAN is for my life, and for YOUR GLORY!!!!