A New Creature. . . an Apostolic Pentecostal blog

The Lesser Light

2012-01-28T19:21:00.002-05:00

Genesis 1:16 And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night. . .

The sun rules and indeed defines the boundary between day and night. The Son is the source of all good and true spiritual light. . .but we as the lesser lights, which reside in the land of darkness, have no light of our own making . . We shine solely with reflected light of the Son.

No metaphor is perfect and indeed this one breaks down in that the moon eternally reflects the light of the sun, without ever being changed by it and we must be changed or we are not truly followers of Christ. . .

2 Corinthians 3:18 But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.

We do not . . . We must not merely reflect the light of the Lord, but with open face. . .standing unveiled. . .to our deepest depths revealed, are changed from merely reflecting the light, into looking glasses. . .by the Spirit of God, we are changed into mirrors, that those in the darkness might not see a mere glow of light from us, but that they might clearly see an image of God by our reflection of Him. . .

Help me Lord. . .
Prefect my reflection. . .

The Day We Met. . .

2012-01-19T12:20:00.001-05:00

About 9:30 p.m. January 19th, 1990, 22 years ago today, Jackie and I met at a singles dance at the South Bend Elks club. Neither of us had been there before that evening. I asked Jackie to dance. We talked as we danced. It turned out that we had attended the same grade school and had even been in the same grade school class some 25 years or so before.

After the dance, we went for a walk at the East Race on a cold and snowy evening similar to today. After our walk, we went to Denny’s for hot chocolates before I dropped Jackie off at her house sometime well after midnight.

Unknown to me until a long time later, Jackie called her mom that night and began planning our wedding. . .

I had always had the thought that I would die when I was 35. I don’t know why, but that had been in my mind for many years before 1990. . . in the physical I obviously did not expire that year. . . but that snowy January evening, meeting and later marrying a woman with a strongly held Christian faith, numbered my days as an atheist. . . . That evening began the process, which culminated in the dying of my old self. . . and being reborn as a new creature in Christ. . .

I can see the hand of God all through my life. . . but never more so than in that evening 22 years ago today. . .

I thank you my Lord for praying wives. . .

I love you my God. . .
I love you my Wife. . .

To the Church of the Laodiceans. . .

2012-01-18T12:48:00.002-05:00

Revelations 3:14-22
And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God; (15) I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. (16) So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. (17) Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: (18) I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. (19) As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. (20) Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. (21) To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. (22) He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

The last letter to the churches from Jesus, is the letter to the church of the Laodiceans. We are commonly said to be in the age of the church of Laodicea. . .whether that be the case or not, there surely are great parallels between the state of religion addressed by Jesus in Laodicea and our modern day church.

This passage of Scripture reminds me of a computer virus. Only 8 verses long, the significance and density of thought is immense. Almost every word is weighty with massive significance. You cannot afford to ignore anything here. . .

(14) And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write. . .

It appears that this passage is directly dictated to John. Not leaving anything to chance. . . it appearing that Jesus was not wanting John to paraphrase Him in the least, Jesus directed John’s every word. Unto the angel of the church. . . not as in a heavenly angel, but to God’s messenger in that town. . . to the pastor of that church.

Names in the Bible are often not random, but carry great significance. The city of the church is Laodicea. The name Laodicea is composed of 2 Greek words: Laos, meaning ‘a people’, and the word ‘dike’, meaning right or justice. So the name might be said to mean, ‘people right’ or ‘people justice’. No mention of God in this name.

How similar to the transformation taking place in our country. We were a country founded upon Judeo-Christian principles and step by step we are removing God from our rights and justice and principles. There is huge danger in the road we are on. Without the moral compass of God to guide our judges and political leaders, any philosophical direction may be followed as long as a path of logic leads to it. Logic is heartless and has no morals. A thought or idea may be logical and greatly unrighteous at the same time, if not guided by any moral compass for direction.

(14) . . .These things saith the Amen. . .

Today when a Pastor speaks, oftentimes after an especially good point, members of the congregation will speak out with a loud and enthusiastic chorus of “AMEN’s” and at the end of virtually every prayer given today, the concluding word will be an “Amen.” In this contemporary usage, ‘amen’ means ‘let it be so’. . . ‘verily’. . . enthusiastic agreement with what has just been said, but Jesus has a very different meaning in mind for describing Himself as the Amen. . .

The Greek word used here (G281 ἀμήν), comes from an ancient Hebrew word: (H539 אמן Aw-man), as defined in Strong’s Hebrew dictionary: A primitive root; properly to build up or support; to foster as a parent or nurse; figuratively to render (or be) firm or faithful, to trust or believe, to be permanent or quiet; morally to be true or certain. . .

Jesus is not speaking here as a judge. . .He is speaking directly to us, across 2000 years, not rebuking us, but as a caring parent. . . even as a nurse. . . wishing to tend to us and nurture us in our time of need. . . not with anger, but with love and caring for us. . .He is not speaking to us when it is too late to do anything about it. He is lovingly giving us a warning that we need change.

(14). . . the beginning of the creation of God. . .

In the beginning God created the Heaven and the Earth. . . In that epoch, He created everything. . . But!!! In the beginning of the beginning, God placed Jesus. All of the entirety of His creation revolved around the axis of Jesus Christ. . . Every mote of cosmic dust. . . every sub-atomic particle to the furthest reaches of the universe was placed with Jesus in mind. . .He is the cornerstone. . .the foundation upon which all else rests. . . and as such had to be perfect.

When building a house, you might allow an error in the roof joists. The house might not be badly effected by a mistake in the walls. . . but an error in the foundation will not be worth taking the risk of building upon. Jesus is the foundation upon which we build. . . Jesus is the foundation upon which God built His creation. God gave us free will to choose and not choose as we saw fit and God knew from the beginning that we would require an atonement for our sins.

(15) I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.

He knows by our works. . .He knows by how we occupy ourselves. He knows the temperature of our heart, by what our hands produce, . . .Do we spend our time in godly pursuits? or is Christianity a mere hobby for us, which we only pick up as a fill in when there is nothing else more profitable to do? Can we be hobbyist Christians and make Jesus happy?

He desires us to be cold or hot. . . to have passion within us. . . He prefers passion against Him over complacency and apathy. If there is passion, even negative passion, there is still a caring heart, which He can use. The lukewarm. . . the tepid. . . the apathetic. . . those just going through the motions, with no fervor in their hearts are beyond reach. The Pharisee’s were negative to Him, but at least they cared. He could engage them. Those who walked on by, without even a glance at Him were in His day and indeed are today the truly lost.

(16) So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.

Because you have no passion. . . because there is no fire in your belly. . . because you are a Christian as convenient. . . My God!!! . . . “I will spue thee out of my mouth”. . . What a horrible vision of the Lord wanting to spue. . . to vomit me out of His mouth. My tepidness is so distasteful to Him, that I am as a wretched and vile flavor, and so must be immediately gotten rid of, even to His own humbling. When a person ejects something from their mouth in this manner, they are beyond caring what others might think of them. Their only motivation is to rid themselves of the distasteful mass from their mouth.

To think of my Lord viewing me in this manner, scares me to death. Has my ferver cooled since coming to church 11 years ago? Am I only going through the motions. . . Has Christianity become a mere habit, and not my passion. I. . . we must avoid this at all costs. I do not want to face Jesus and have Him grimace in displeasure. . . .I want above all to hear, “Well done thou good and faithful servant. . .”

(17) Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:

Many of us came to the Lord, wanting and needy. Our sinful and unreliable ways led to financial irresponsibility and lack. Now having lived for the Lord for a time, we begin to rebuild and bear the fruits of righteousness and responsibility. We have a little money in the bank. Our bills are current. We may have a dependable car and a nicer place to live than we’ve had in many a year. In our new found financial comfort, we are misled into thinking that we are spiritually well and wholesome.

We turn to the Lord in our times of need, and we again drift away from Him in our times of plenty. This is pattern repeated over and again in the Old Testament. The Lord wants bless us, as any Father wants to bless His children, but there is great spiritual danger in our mistaking physical comfort with spiritual health. We cannot allow our diminishing physical hunger pangs, to quench our spiritual hunger and thirst or to blind us to our spiritual neediness.

(18) I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; . . .

God now advises us on how to correct this error in our spiritual walk. Our first instruction:. . . “buy of me gold tried in the fire. . .”

Psalms 119:72 The law of thy mouth is better unto me than thousands of gold and silver.

Psalms 119:127 Therefore I love thy commandments above gold; yea, above fine gold.

Proverbs 8:10-19
Receive my instruction, and not silver; and knowledge rather than choice gold. (11) For wisdom is better than rubies; and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it. (12) I wisdom dwell with prudence, and find out knowledge of witty inventions. (13) The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate. (14) Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom: I am understanding; I have strength. (15) By me kings reign, and princes decree justice. (16) By me princes rule, and nobles, even all the judges of the earth. (17) I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me. (18) Riches and honour are with me; yea, durable riches and righteousness. (19) My fruit is better than gold, yea, than fine gold; and my revenue than choice silver.

Proverbs 16:16 How much better is it to get wisdom than gold! and to get understanding rather to be chosen than silver!

Proverbs 20:15 There is gold, and a multitude of rubies: but the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.

Seek God. . . seek His true wisdom. . . Wisdom which is not based upon Him, is false wisdom. Seek knowledge of Him. . . seek those things which make Him happy. . . Put every bit as much effort in coming to know Him, as you do in gaining expertise in the ways and knowledge of the world.

18. . . (cont.) [buy of Me] white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear

Put on garments holiness. . . put on robes of righteousness, that your sinful origins are covered and hidden.

Gensis 3:10-11 & 21 And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself. (11) And he said, Who told thee that thou wast naked? Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat?. . .(21) Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them.

As long as we were innocent. . . as long as we were without sin, there was no shame in our nakedness. . . in our being totally exposed to God, but after our fall, Adam knew that he had shame which needed to be covered. . . and even God agreed. God did not dispute with Adam, that he now needed to cover his body. He now had that which needed to be not exposed. God made coverings for Adam and Eve to hide their shame. . .The physical in the Old Testament is replaced by the Spiritual in the New Testament. We need the Spiritual covering provided by God for our nakedness. We must put on holiness. We must have a cloak of righteousness, to stand before God without having to try and hide from Him. . .We must be covered by the blood of His sacrifice. . .

(18) (cont.) . . .and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.

Jesus is saying, put a poultice on your eyes. . .something is wrong with your vision. . . Not your physical vision, but your spiritual vision. Put a plaster on your eyes. . . the Greek word here is derived from another Greek word meaning ‘glue’. I am reminded of Paul’s being struck blind by God putting scales on his eyes, on the road to Damascus:

Act 9:8-18 And Saul arose from the earth; and when his eyes were opened, he saw no man: but they led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus. (9) And he was three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink. (10) And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and to him said the Lord in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord. (11) And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and enquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth, (12) And hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hand on him, that he might receive his sight. (13) Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem: (14) And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name. (15) But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel: (16) For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake. (17) And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost. (18) And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized.

The Lord took away Saul’s natural sight, that He might show him spiritual things. God showed Saul in a vision who would restore his sight. He also showed Saul the future. God closed Saul’s physical eyes, as with scales. . . . What does it take for God to get our attention? Is He as Saul, pricking our steps. . . putting obstacles in our paths to bring our attention back to Him? He is begging us to take our eyes off of the world, and to spend time looking at Him. . .looking at. . . and. . . looking for spiritual things.

The world is filled with distractions. All of our technology demands attention. . . Twitter, Facebook, email, DVD’s, CD’s, Netflix, You Tube, iTunes, . . . and on and on. . . Watching godly movies. . . listening to godly music. . . or reading and posting and reposting spiritual links on Facebook, is no substitute for spending time alone seeking the face and the will of God.

(19) As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.

Jesus is saying these things, He is dictating this letter to John, not to condemn us, but to try to change the path we are on. . . to restore us to fervency and to reignite the fire of our passion for Him. He is not saying these things in His coming role as a judge, but as our advocate. . . as our counselor. . . giving loving advice to us as our loving Father.

(20) Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.

I have given hundreds upon hundreds of Bible verse cards out to people with this verse printed upon them. 90+ percent of those cards were given to people who had little or no relationship with God, but this verse was written not to those who are new to the Lord. . . though they surely may benefit from this verse, but this whole passage of Scripture is written to people who have begun to fall away from God by the cooling of their passion for Him. . . It is not written to new converts, but to saints who for long decades has sat upon church pews. . . Who have done that which has been asked of them by their Pastors. . .Who have lived from all outward appearances, righteous and holy lives. . . tithing. . . possibly doing daily devotions. . . but for all that, their spiritual temperature is not longer hot. They have become. . . or maybe better put. . . allowed themselves to become tepid and lukewarm.

God wants back in to your life. He once again wants to be the centerpiece of your existence. . . the reason for YOUR season of life. . . . your Rock. . . your Anchor. . . your Morning Star. . . not on the periphery, but at the very core of your fiery furnace of Spiritual passion. . .

(21) To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.

If we listen to these words, and heed them, forgiveness is complete and nothing will be kept from us. There is no shame in coming back to regain our passion for God. Jesus says that even He, had to fight this battle of losing His passion and faith. Like all battles we fight. . . like all temptations we face, Jesus walked this earth with a body of flesh. He knows what it is to be hurting and tired. . . He knows the difficulty of maintaining faith and passion in the face of discouragement. He fought this battle and prevailed. He gives us that same Spirit, with which He prevailed, for use in our own battle. . .

(22) He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

He is trying desperately to get our attention. . .Listen. . . Your Lord is speaking to you. . .

He that hath an ear, let him hear. . .
He that hath an ear, let him hear. . .
He that hath an ear, let him hear. . .
He that hath an ear, let him hear. . .

God's Word

2012-01-12T12:43:00.001-05:00

Exodus 14:21-22

And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the LORD caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night, and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided. (22) And the children of Israel went into the midst of the sea upon the dry ground: and the waters were a wall unto them on their right hand, and on their left.

Over the years, I’ve read of many explanations of different occurrences in the Bible, created in order to demonstrate how Biblical evens could have occurred without actually being miracles. I don’t know if the authors of such articles are Christians with doubts attempting to bolster up their own trembling faith, or if they are non-believers trying to boldfacedly destroy Scripture. . . in my mind the both paths are equal in their end result.

What ever rationale or logic or name you might put upon it, God’s word is either entirely Spirit inspired and infallible or it might as well be totally a construction of myths and folk tales and thereby wholly irrelevant. If the Bible is the Word of God, then it is without error, it needs no adjustment or modification and is worthy of being followed. If the Bible contains error, then it cannot be the Word of God for He contains no error, and in this case you may as well ignore it, for if It contains one error then what would prevent It from having a thousand errors.

In my opinion it is very much an all or nothing proposition. In the above passage, the argument is put forth that it was a mere weather front which cleared the water from in front of the Hebrews. . . but for one detail that might have been possible: “and the waters were a wall unto them on their right and, and on their left.” I tell you that there is no earthly wind, which could pile up water in a wall on both the left and right sides of a passage through the open sea. In the natural, neither wind nor water behave in such a manner. With no obstruction in front of it, water must be pushed in front of a wind, not pile up into a wall.

I do not pretend to know how God accomplished this feat. . . It is simply an incomprehensible divine miracle. . . In like manner, Jesus healed the deaf, blind, and lame. . . He was born of a literal virgin. . .raised the dead and furthermore He raised Himself from the dead. . .He demonstrated again and again that He had complete control of water. He walked on it, turned it into wine, spoke and immediately it calmed. The same water which in the Old Testament, was an instrument of planetary destruction, in the New Testament becomes a vehicle of salvation available to every man and woman through baptism. . .

He did all these things that we might see that He was and is GOD manifest in the flesh and by this knowledge come to Him. . . worship Him. . . adore Him. . . believe on Him and be saved from our sins. . .

I love you my God. . .
I love you my Lord. . .

I believe. . .

And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. . .

2012-01-04T05:35:00.000-05:00

Genesis 1:1-2 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. (2) And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.

To begin a new year, with a new beginning in reading my Bible. . . I have never understood this passage. . . and the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. . .Many questions come to my mind. Why does the Spirit of God move upon the face of the waters? Why would the Spirit of God be doing this? What purpose was there for Him to be acting this way? How does the Spirit of God move at all? God is omnipresent. He is everywhere. How does an entity which is everywhere move?

To move, one changes location from where you are, to where you are not. If you are already everywhere, how do you move?

But tonight I looked up the Hebrew word translated here as ‘moved’. From Gesenius’s Hebrew lexicon: To be soft. . . to be moved, to be affected. . . specially - with the feelings of tender love, hence to cherish. . . to brood over young ones, to cherish young (as an eagle).

So the Spirit of God was not aimlessly and depressingly hovering over the sterile, lifeless waters of a blind dark creation, but rather He paused. . . greatly affected. . .He did not move, rather He was greatly moved “with feelings of tender love.” Cherishing. . . anticipating. . . Twas night before creation, and all through His House, not a created thing was stirring. . . not even a mouse.

In my minds eye, I have only the dimmest awareness of the gladness in God’s heart at this moment. Every child’s Christmas hopes rolled into one, are but a candle to the hurricane of God’s hopes and dreams for His creation.No. . . His Spirit did not dance in some mystic ritual, in that last lightless eve. He tenderly and thoughtfully brooded as a mother bird over her young. . . Seeing even then, you and I before His eyes. . .

The Word of God continually amazes me. . . It is never ending in its depth. . .

I love you my God. . .
Thank you for your Word to us. . .

Hope has No Power. . .

2011-11-11T08:15:00.001-05:00

Faith goes far beyond hope. Faith is the evidence of things hoped for. . . Hope has no power. Faith moves mountains and casts them into the sea. . .While Jesus spoke of faith on many occasions, he only uttered the word 'hope' once:

(Luke 6:34) 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.

As if to illustrate the powerlessness of hope. When you lend someone money, all you can do is hope that they pay you back. They have the power. . . they have the money and can decide whether to repay you. You have nothing really.

Rather than clinging to faint and powerless hope. . . come to Jesus and appropriate for yourself a great measure of saving faith. . .

(Luke 7:50) And he said to the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace. . .

A Righteous Man. . .

2011-11-08T16:14:00.000-05:00

What does the Bible say about a righteous man?

(Psalms 37:16) A little that a righteous man hath is better than the riches of many wicked.

(Proverbs 10:11) The mouth of a righteous man is a well of life: but violence covereth the mouth of the wicked.

(Proverbs 12:10) A righteous man regardeth the life of his beast: but the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel.

(Proverbs 13:5) A righteous man hateth lying: but a wicked man is loathsome, and cometh to shame.

(Proverbs 21:12) The righteous man wisely considereth the house of the wicked: but God overthroweth the wicked for their wickedness.

(Proverbs 25:26) A righteous man falling down before the wicked is as a troubled fountain, and a corrupt spring.

(Isaiah 41:2) Who raised up the righteous man from the east, called him to his foot, gave the nations before him, and made him rule over kings? he gave them as the dust to his sword, and as driven stubble to his bow.

(Ezekiel 3:20) Again, When a righteous man doth turn from his righteousness, and commit iniquity, and I lay a stumblingblock before him, he shall die: because thou hast not given him warning, he shall die in his sin, and his righteousness which he hath done shall not be remembered; but his blood will I require at thine hand.

(Ezekiel 3:21) Nevertheless if thou warn the righteous man, that the righteous sin not, and he doth not sin, he shall surely live, because he is warned; also thou hast delivered thy soul.

(Ezekiel 18:26) When a righteous man turneth away from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, and dieth in them; for his iniquity that he hath done shall he die.

(Matthew 10:41) He that receiveth a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet's reward; and he that receiveth a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man's reward.

(Luke 23:47) Now when the centurion saw what was done, he glorified God, saying, Certainly this was a righteous man.

(Romans 5:7) For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die.

(1 Timothy 1:9) Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers,

(James 5:16) Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

(2 Peter 2:8) (For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;)

What Does God Know? (New Testament)

2011-11-07T12:33:00.000-05:00

What does God know? What does the Bible say? I searched the Bible for words containing 'know', this included 'knoweth', 'knowing', 'knows', 'knowledge'. This search came back with over 500 New Testament verses. I then looked at each verse to see if it was God who was doing the knowing. It was a very fascinating and powerful study for me.

(Matthew 6:8) Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.

1. God knows what you need.

(Matthew 6:31-32) Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.

2. God knows your physical requirements

(Matthew 9:4) And Jesus knowing their thoughts said, Wherefore think ye evil in your hearts?

3. God knows the thoughts of men.

(Matthew 11:27) All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him.

4. God knows who the Son is, and He knows who the Father is.

(Matthew 24:36) But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.

5. God knows when Jesus shall return to the earth.

(Mark 12:15) Shall we give, or shall we not give? But he, knowing their hypocrisy, said unto them, Why tempt ye me? bring me a penny, that I may see it.

6. God knows the untruth of men's words.

(Mark 13:32) But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father.

7. God knows when Jesus shall return to the earth.

(Luke 10:22) All things are delivered to me of my Father: and no man knoweth who the Son is, but the Father; and who the Father is, but the Son, and he to whom the Son will reveal him.

8. God knows who the Son is, and He knows who the Father is.

(Luke 11:17) But he, knowing their thoughts, said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and a house divided against a house falleth.

9. God knows the thoughts of men.

(Luke 12:30) For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things.

10. God knows what you need.

(Luke 16:15) And he said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God.

11. God knows men's hearts.

(John 1:48) Nathanael saith unto him, Whence knowest thou me? Jesus answered and said unto him, Before that Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig tree, I saw thee.

12. God knows you before you think He does.

(John 5:32) There is another that beareth witness of me; and I know that the witness which he witnesseth of me is true.

13. God knows the truth of a testimony.

(John 5:42) But I know you, that ye have not the love of God in you.

14. God knows you and He knows if the love of God is in you.

(John 7:29) But I know him: for I am from him, and he hath sent me.

15. God knows God.

(John 8:14) Jesus answered and said unto them, Though I bear record of myself, yet my record is true: for I know whence I came, and whither I go; but ye cannot tell whence I come, and whither I go.

16. God knows where He came from and where He is going.

(John 8:37) I know that ye are Abraham's seed; but ye seek to kill me, because my word hath no place in you.

17. God knows your ancestry.

(John 8:55) Yet ye have not known him; but I know him: and if I should say, I know him not, I shall be a liar like unto you: but I know him, and keep his saying.

18. God knows God.

(John 10:14) I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.

19. God knows His sheep.

(John 10:15) As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep.

20. God knows God.

(John 10:27) My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:

21. God knows His sheep.

(John 12:50) And I know that his commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak.

22. God knows that God's commandment is life eternal.

(John 13:3) Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he was come from God, and went to God;

23. God knows that God placed everything into His hands and that He came from God and the He went to God.

(John 13:18) I speak not of you all: I know whom I have chosen: but that the scripture may be fulfilled, He that eateth bread with me hath lifted up his heel against me.

24. God knows His chosen.

(John 16:30) Now are we sure that thou knowest all things, and needest not that any man should ask thee: by this we believe that thou camest forth from God.

25. God knows all things.

(John 17:25) O righteous Father, the world hath not known thee: but I have known thee, and these have known that thou hast sent me.

26. God knows God.

(John 18:4) Jesus therefore, knowing all things that should come upon him, went forth, and said unto them, Whom seek ye?

27. God knew everything that would befall Him.

(John 19:28) After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst.

28. God knew that everything was fulfilled.

(John 21:15) So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs.

29. God knew that Peter loved Him.

(John 21:16) He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep.

30. God knew that Peter loved Him.

(John 21:17) He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.

31. God knows all things.

(Acts 1:24) And they prayed, and said, Thou, Lord, which knowest the hearts of all men, shew whether of these two thou hast chosen,

32. God knows the hearts of all men

(Acts 15:8) And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us;

33. God knows the hearts of men.

(Acts 15:18) Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world.

34. God knows everything that He has done from the beginning.

(Romans 8:29) For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.

35. God knows us from the beginning.

(1 Corinthians 3:20) And again, The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain.

36. God knows the thinking of the wise.

(1 Corinthians 8:3) But if any man love God, the same is known of him.

37. God knows those who love Him.

(2 Corinthians 11:11) Wherefore? because I love you not? God knoweth.

38. God knows whether one man loves another.

(2 Corinthians 11:31) The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which is blessed for evermore, knoweth that I lie not.

39. God knows whether you tell the truth or not.

(2 Corinthians 12:2) I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven.

40. God knows whether a man had a vision or if he was truly out of his body.

(2 Corinthians 12:3) And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;)

41. God knows whether a man had a vision or if he was truly out of his body.

(Galatians 4:9) But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage?

42. When you come to God, God knows you.

(Colossians 2:3) In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

43. God has all wisdom and information.

(2 Timothy 2:19) Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.

44. God knows those whom are His.

(1 Peter 1:2) Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.

45. God knows beforehand who will come to Him.

(2 Peter 2:9) The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:

46. God knows how to save those who love Him from temptations and how to put aside judgement of the sinners to the day of judging.

(Revelation 2:2) I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars:

47. God knows the things you've accomplished, your work, the things you endure, how you cannot stand unrighteous men, and how you have been deceived by those who would mislead you and how you found them out.

(Revelation 2:9) I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan.

48. God knows the things you've accomplished, your troubles and lacks. He knows the depravity of those who claim a special relationship with Him.

(Revelation 2:13) I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where Satan's seat is: and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth.

49. God knows what you have accomplished, where you live, where Satan resides, and how you hold true to Him in the face of trial.

(Revelation 2:19) I know thy works, and charity, and service, and faith, and thy patience, and thy works; and the last to be more than the first.

50. God knows what you have accomplished, how loving you are and how you minister to others. He knows your growth in faith and patience.

(Revelation 3:1) And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead.

51. God knows what you have accomplished and He knows the that your good reputation is false.

(Revelation 3:8) I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name.

52. God knows what you have accomplished. He knows that you are weak, but that you have obeyed His commandments and have not denied Him.

(Revelation 3:15) I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.

53. God knows what you have accomplished. He knows the tepid faith of the lukewarm.

Those Whom Jesus Touched. . .

2011-11-02T12:42:00.002-05:00

I'm doing another Bible word study, looking for all those that Jesus touched. My search terms were for any verse containing the words: 'hand' and 'touch'. I was very surprised to find that, with that criteria, the Gospel of John contained no verses.

I arbitrarily included John 13:5 (Jesus washed the feet of the disciples) and John 13:23 (John leaned upon Jesus breast at the last supper)

I don't quite understand yet the significance of this finding (if any). . . it may have to do with the Gospel of John's focus upon the divinity of Jesus and maybe it was the humanity of Jesus with which He touched men's bodies physically. . . and by the divine nature of Jesus, He touched men's spiritual side. . .thereby touching their eternal souls. . . something to pray about and to ask the Lord for more clarity on. . .

(Matthew 8:3) And Jesus put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will; be thou clean. And immediately his leprosy was cleansed.

(Matthew 8:15) And he touched her hand, and the fever left her: and she arose, and ministered unto them.

(Matthew 9:25) But when the people were put forth, he went in, and took her by the hand, and the maid arose.

(Matthew 9:29) Then touched he their eyes, saying, According to your faith be it unto you.

(Matthew 14:31) And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?

(Matthew 17:7) And Jesus came and touched them, and said, Arise, and be not afraid.

(Matthew 19:15) And he laid his hands on them, and departed thence.

(Matthew 20:34) So Jesus had compassion on them, and touched their eyes: and immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed him.

(Mark 1:31) And he came and took her by the hand, and lifted her up; and immediately the fever left her, and she ministered unto them.

(Mark 1:41) And Jesus, moved with compassion, put forth his hand, and touched him, and saith unto him, I will; be thou clean.

(Mark 3:10) For he had healed many; insomuch that they pressed upon him for to touch him, as many as had plagues.

(Mark 5:41) And he took the damsel by the hand, and said unto her, Talitha cumi; which is, being interpreted, Damsel, I say unto thee, arise.

(Mark 6:5) And he could there do no mighty work, save that he laid his hands upon a few sick folk, and healed them.

(Mark 7:33) And he took him aside from the multitude, and put his fingers into his ears, and he spit, and touched his tongue;

(Mark 8:23) And he took the blind man by the hand, and led him out of the town; and when he had spit on his eyes, and put his hands upon him, he asked him if he saw ought.

(Mark 8:25) After that he put his hands again upon his eyes, and made him look up: and he was restored, and saw every man clearly.

(Mark 9:27) But Jesus took him by the hand, and lifted him up; and he arose.

(Mark 10:16) And he took them up in his arms, put his hands upon them, and blessed them.

(Luke 4:40) Now when the sun was setting, all they that had any sick with divers diseases brought them unto him; and he laid his hands on every one of them, and healed them.

(Luke 5:13) And he put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will: be thou clean. And immediately the leprosy departed from him.

(Luke 7:14) And he came and touched the bier: and they that bare him stood still. And he said, Young man, I say unto thee, Arise.

(Luke 8:54) And he put them all out, and took her by the hand, and called, saying, Maid, arise.

(Luke 13:13) And he laid his hands on her: and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God.

(Luke 22:51) And Jesus answered and said, Suffer ye thus far. And he touched his ear, and healed him.

(John 13:5) After that he poureth water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded.

(John 13:23) Now there was leaning on Jesus' bosom one of his disciples, whom Jesus loved.

Prophecy Speaks (E.A.Rowell)

2011-10-28T11:00:00.000-05:00

Someone from Perth, Australia sent me the book 'Prophecy Speaks' by E.A. Rowell. I can only guess that it was someone who had read my blog about my atheistic past.

I very much enjoyed the book. Thank you very much for sending it to me. Though it was written in 1933, I found it very powerful in its, what to me were new arguments for the divine nature of the Bible and Jesus.

I would highly recommend the book to others and indeed have passed the book along to others.

Again Thank you very much for sending the book to me.

Yours in the love of Christ,

Dave Stokely

Ignoring is for priests and Levites. . .

2011-10-26T12:57:00.000-05:00

I was going to do a little Bible word study this lunch hour on the word ‘ignore’. It was a quick study. In neither the KJV Old Testament nor in the KJV New Testament is the word ignore or any form thereof found.

In short, is your desire to be Godlike?. . .want to be Christlike?. . . Jesus never ignored. . . I cannot find that God is ever recorded as ignoring a person or a situation. Jesus was about engaging everyone He could. . . in every manner that He could.It wasn’t always pleasant, as when he drove the money changers from the temple. Sometimes He was in your face confrontational, as in the numerous times that He confronted the hypocrisy of the Pharisees. . . but. . . but. . . BUT He is never recorded to have walked by. . . ignoring someone in need. . . the priest and the Levite are used as illustrations of what not to do. The Samaritan is given as the model of how we are to behave.

Jesus was all about engagement and never about shutting someone out. He was about tearing walls down and not about building them up. . . We are instructed to be fisher’s of men and a hook on the end of a fishing pole. . . or a net cast into the ocean is the ultimate in non-discriminatory ministry. . .

I’ve been so very convicted for the past past month or so. . . I live in a very small town. Over the past two years, I have seen an individual quite regularly, whom I have in my mind accused, tried, and convicted of living a sinful lifestyle. I have completely written them off. On numerous occasions, I have done my best to ignore him, when passing in the grocery store aisles. My heart has been filled with anger at him. . . not love. I am so convicted. I am very ashamed at this self-righteousness within me.

I am now seeking to do my best to engage this person in love. . . without condemnation. . . more recently I see the ‘Occupy’ people in downtown Elkhart, on many afternoons when I pick my wife up from work. Again a feeling of anger has risen up within me. I really cannot even articulate a reason why. Perhaps in some way I feel threatened by them, but these are people greatly and genuinely dissatisfied with the world and how life is treating them. They are openly proclaiming their unhappiness. These men and women, so fervently waving their signs are opportunities for ministry. Their signs are cries for help. . .symptoms of their seeking change. They are looking for the answers to life’s various problems in politics and the solutions of man. . . A recipe for nothing but increased discontent.

One afternoon, I plan to arrive early. . .I need to spend some time to engage them. . . hear their woes. . . feel the pain in their hearts. . . and just maybe help them to show them a different . . . a non-political answer. . .

Where is Hope?

2011-10-21T11:29:00.002-05:00

In the perfect silky darkness of the womb. . . no hope was required. No need went unfilled. No sharp edges. . . No dimension of cold. . . No hunger. . . No lack in any measure. . . till fullness of term burst upon us in an inky magnitude 10 rupture of our universe. . .once a velvet vault. . . now a velvet vise. . . an amniotic tsunami carryied us forth. . .our first breath, a lung filled scream at the injustice. . harsh sterile lights. . .sudden lack. . . spawned in hunger. . . cold. . .and fear. . .

We live a lifetime of yearning for return to that maternal garden of Eden. . . Compounding needs. . .hunger. . . loneliness. . . pain. . . fear. . .grasping our fading memory of perfection. . . believing against all evidence that that one day we can return to that secret garden. . . our personal Eden. . . this is the mother of hope.

To hope is the oxygen of our soul. . . to draw breath is to hope. . .To look forward then to the other boundary of our earthly life. . .to the aching darkness of the grave. . . in that domain, there is no hope. With stillness of breath, comes the expiring of hope. . .Through that doorway, no unfound need gets filled. . .all false hope unmasked. . .

Between these lands of hope unknown and hope deceased, reside one true hope. . . He is the eternal hope of all mankind. His name is Jesus. He is God almighty robed in flesh. . . He is God our Father come to earth to save us. He is God who placed Himself upon the cross. . . He is God who became a lamb, to be willingly sacrificed for our sins. . .who by His horrible and humiliating execution, opened a doorway, enabling us to escape death and thereby become our HOPE fulfilled.

What are your aches and pains. . .
What are your fears and sorrows. . .

Lay them aside. . .
Place them before Him. . .
Receive His embrace. . .
Receive His promise never to forsake you. . .
Accept His sacrifice and forever celebrate with Him. . .

Come with us, to the land of joy and hope. . .

Bible occurrences of the word 'Hope'

2011-10-21T11:28:00.000-05:00

I'm doing a Bible study on hope. Here are all the occurrences of the word hope in the King James Version:

(Ruth 1:12) Turn again, my daughters, go your way; for I am too old to have an husband. If I should say, I have hope, if I should have an husband also to night, and should also bear sons;

(Ezra 10:2) And Shechaniah the son of Jehiel, one of the sons of Elam, answered and said unto Ezra, We have trespassed against our God, and have taken strange wives of the people of the land: yet now there is hope in Israel concerning this thing.

(Esther 9:1) Now in the twelfth month, that is, the month Adar, on the thirteenth day of the same, when the king's commandment and his decree drew near to be put in execution, in the day that the enemies of the Jews hoped to have power over them, (though it was turned to the contrary, that the Jews had rule over them that hated them;)

(Job 4:6) Is not this thy fear, thy confidence, thy hope, and the uprightness of thy ways?

(Job 5:16) So the poor hath hope, and iniquity stoppeth her mouth.

(Job 6:11) What is my strength, that I should hope? and what is mine end, that I should prolong my life?

(Job 6:20) They were confounded because they had hoped; they came thither, and were ashamed.

(Job 7:6) My days are swifter than a weaver's shuttle, and are spent without hope.

(Job 8:13) So are the paths of all that forget God; and the hypocrite's hope shall perish:

(Job 8:14) Whose hope shall be cut off, and whose trust shall be a spider's web.

(Job 11:18) And thou shalt be secure, because there is hope; yea, thou shalt dig about thee, and thou shalt take thy rest in safety.

(Job 11:20) But the eyes of the wicked shall fail, and they shall not escape, and their hope shall be as the giving up of the ghost.

(Job 14:7) For there is hope of a tree, if it be cut down, that it will sprout again, and that the tender branch thereof will not cease.

(Job 14:19) The waters wear the stones: thou washest away the things which grow out of the dust of the earth; and thou destroyest the hope of man.

(Job 17:15) And where is now my hope? as for my hope, who shall see it?

(Job 19:10) He hath destroyed me on every side, and I am gone: and mine hope hath he removed like a tree.

(Job 27:8) For what is the hope of the hypocrite, though he hath gained, when God taketh away his soul?

(Job 31:24) If I have made gold my hope, or have said to the fine gold, Thou art my confidence;

(Job 41:9) Behold, the hope of him is in vain: shall not one be cast down even at the sight of him?

(Psalms 16:9) Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope.

(Psalms 22:9) But thou art he that took me out of the womb: thou didst make me hope when I was upon my mother's breasts.

(Psalms 31:24) Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the LORD.

(Psalms 33:18) Behold, the eye of the LORD is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy;

(Psalms 33:22) Let thy mercy, O LORD, be upon us, according as we hope in thee.

(Psalms 38:15) For in thee, O LORD, do I hope: thou wilt hear, O Lord my God.

(Psalms 39:7) And now, Lord, what wait I for? my hope is in thee.

(Psalms 42:5) Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance.

(Psalms 42:11) Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.

(Psalms 43:5) Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.

(Psalms 71:5) For thou art my hope, O Lord GOD: thou art my trust from my youth.

(Psalms 71:14) But I will hope continually, and will yet praise thee more and more.

(Psalms 78:7) That they might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments:

(Psalms 119:43) And take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth; for I have hoped in thy judgments.

(Psalms 119:49) ZAIN. Remember the word unto thy servant, upon which thou hast caused me to hope.

(Psalms 119:74) They that fear thee will be glad when they see me; because I have hoped in thy word.

(Psalms 119:81) CAPH. My soul fainteth for thy salvation: but I hope in thy word.

(Psalms 119:114) Thou art my hiding place and my shield: I hope in thy word.

(Psalms 119:116) Uphold me according unto thy word, that I may live: and let me not be ashamed of my hope.

(Psalms 119:147) I prevented the dawning of the morning, and cried: I hoped in thy word.

(Psalms 119:166) LORD, I have hoped for thy salvation, and done thy commandments.

(Psalms 130:5) I wait for the LORD, my soul doth wait, and in his word do I hope.

(Psalms 130:7) Let Israel hope in the LORD: for with the LORD there is mercy, and with him is plenteous redemption.

(Psalms 131:3) Let Israel hope in the LORD from henceforth and for ever.

(Psalms 146:5) Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the LORD his God:

(Psalms 147:11) The LORD taketh pleasure in them that fear him, in those that hope in his mercy.

(Proverbs 10:28) The hope of the righteous shall be gladness: but the expectation of the wicked shall perish.

(Proverbs 11:7) When a wicked man dieth, his expectation shall perish: and the hope of unjust men perisheth.

(Proverbs 13:12) Hope deferred maketh the heart sick: but when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life.

(Proverbs 14:32) The wicked is driven away in his wickedness: but the righteous hath hope in his death.

(Proverbs 19:18) Chasten thy son while there is hope, and let not thy soul spare for his crying.

(Proverbs 26:12) Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit? there is more hope of a fool than of him.

(Proverbs 29:20) Seest thou a man that is hasty in his words? there is more hope of a fool than of him.

(Ecclesiastes 9:4) For to him that is joined to all the living there is hope: for a living dog is better than a dead lion.

(Isaiah 38:18) For the grave cannot praise thee, death can not celebrate thee: they that go down into the pit cannot hope for thy truth.

(Isaiah 57:10) Thou art wearied in the greatness of thy way; yet saidst thou not, There is no hope: thou hast found the life of thine hand; therefore thou wast not grieved.

(Jeremiah 2:25) Withhold thy foot from being unshod, and thy throat from thirst: but thou saidst, There is no hope: no; for I have loved strangers, and after them will I go.

(Jeremiah 3:23) Truly in vain is salvation hoped for from the hills, and from the multitude of mountains: truly in the LORD our God is the salvation of Israel.

(Jeremiah 14:8) O the hope of Israel, the saviour thereof in time of trouble, why shouldest thou be as a stranger in the land, and as a wayfaring man that turneth aside to tarry for a night?

(Jeremiah 17:7) Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is.

(Jeremiah 17:13) O LORD, the hope of Israel, all that forsake thee shall be ashamed, and they that depart from me shall be written in the earth, because they have forsaken the LORD, the fountain of living waters.

(Jeremiah 17:17) Be not a terror unto me: thou art my hope in the day of evil.

(Jeremiah 18:12) And they said, There is no hope: but we will walk after our own devices, and we will every one do the imagination of his evil heart.

(Jeremiah 31:17) And there is hope in thine end, saith the LORD, that thy children shall come again to their own border.

(Jeremiah 50:7) All that found them have devoured them: and their adversaries said, We offend not, because they have sinned against the LORD, the habitation of justice, even the LORD, the hope of their fathers.

(Lamentations 3:18) And I said, My strength and my hope is perished from the LORD:

(Lamentations 3:21) This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope.

(Lamentations 3:24) The LORD is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him.

(Lamentations 3:26) It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the LORD.

(Lamentations 3:29) He putteth his mouth in the dust; if so be there may be hope.

(Ezekiel 13:6) They have seen vanity and lying divination, saying, The LORD saith: and the LORD hath not sent them: and they have made others to hope that they would confirm the word.

(Ezekiel 19:5) Now when she saw that she had waited, and her hope was lost, then she took another of her whelps, and made him a young lion.

(Ezekiel 37:11) Then he said unto me, Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel: behold, they say, Our bones are dried, and our hope is lost: we are cut off for our parts.

(Hosea 2:15) And I will give her her vineyards from thence, and the valley of Achor for a door of hope: and she shall sing there, as in the days of her youth, and as in the day when she came up out of the land of Egypt.

(Joel 3:16) The LORD also shall roar out of Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem; and the heavens and the earth shall shake: but the LORD will be the hope of his people, and the strength of the children of Israel.

(Zechariah 9:12) Turn you to the strong hold, ye prisoners of hope: even to day do I declare that I will render double unto thee;

(Luke 6:34) 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.

(Luke 23:8) And when Herod saw Jesus, he was exceeding glad: for he was desirous to see him of a long season, because he had heard many things of him; and he hoped to have seen some miracle done by him.

(Acts 2:26) Therefore did my heart rejoice, and my tongue was glad; moreover also my flesh shall rest in hope:

(Acts 16:19) And when her masters saw that the hope of their gains was gone, they caught Paul and Silas, and drew them into the marketplace unto the rulers,

(Acts 23:6) But when Paul perceived that the one part were Sadducees, and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, Men and brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee: of the hope and resurrection of the dead I am called in question.

(Acts 24:15) And have hope toward God, which they themselves also allow, that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust.

(Acts 24:26) He hoped also that money should have been given him of Paul, that he might loose him: wherefore he sent for him the oftener, and communed with him.

(Acts 26:6) And now I stand and am judged for the hope of the promise made of God unto our fathers:

(Acts 26:7) Unto which promise our twelve tribes, instantly serving God day and night, hope to come. For which hope's sake, king Agrippa, I am accused of the Jews.

(Acts 27:20) And when neither sun nor stars in many days appeared, and no small tempest lay on us, all hope that we should be saved was then taken away.

(Acts 28:20) For this cause therefore have I called for you, to see you, and to speak with you: because that for the hope of Israel I am bound with this chain.

(Romans 4:18) Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be.

(Romans 5:2) By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

(Romans 5:4) And patience, experience; and experience, hope:

(Romans 5:5) And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

(Romans 8:20) For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope,

(Romans 8:24) For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?

(Romans 8:25) But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.

(Romans 12:12) Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;

(Romans 15:4) For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.

(Romans 15:13) Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.

(1 Corinthians 9:10) Or saith he it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written: that he that ploweth should plow in hope; and that he that thresheth in hope should be partaker of his hope.

(1 Corinthians 13:7) Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.

(1 Corinthians 13:13) And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.

(1 Corinthians 15:19) If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.

(2 Corinthians 1:7) And our hope of you is stedfast, knowing, that as ye are partakers of the sufferings, so shall ye be also of the consolation.

(2 Corinthians 3:12) Seeing then that we have such hope, we use great plainness of speech:

(2 Corinthians 8:5) And this they did, not as we hoped, but first gave their own selves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God.

(2 Corinthians 10:15) Not boasting of things without our measure, that is, of other men's labours; but having hope, when your faith is increased, that we shall be enlarged by you according to our rule abundantly,

(Galatians 5:5) For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.

(Ephesians 1:18) The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,

(Ephesians 2:12) That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:

(Ephesians 4:4) There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;

(Philippians 1:20) According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death.

(Philippians 2:23) Him therefore I hope to send presently, so soon as I shall see how it will go with me.

(Colossians 1:5) For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel;

(Colossians 1:23) If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;

(Colossians 1:27) To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:

(1 Thessalonians 1:3) Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father;

(1 Thessalonians 2:19) For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming?

(1 Thessalonians 4:13) But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.

(1 Thessalonians 5:8) But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.

(2 Thessalonians 2:16) Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace,

(1 Timothy 1:1) Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the commandment of God our Saviour, and Lord Jesus Christ, which is our hope;

(Titus 1:2) In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;

(Titus 2:13) Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;

(Titus 3:7) That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

(Hebrews 3:6) But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end.

(Hebrews 6:11) And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end:

(Hebrews 6:18) That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:

(Hebrews 6:19) Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil;

(Hebrews 7:19) For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God.

(Hebrews 11:1) Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

(1 Peter 1:3) Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

(1 Peter 1:13) Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;

(1 Peter 1:21) Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.

(1 Peter 3:15) But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:

(1 John 3:3) And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.

According to . . . word

2011-10-14T11:11:00.001-05:00

Doing a Bible word study on verses containing the phrase: according to . . . word.

(Genesis 30:34) And Laban said, Behold, I would it might be according to thy word.

(Genesis 39:17) And she spake unto him according to these words, saying, The Hebrew servant, which thou hast brought unto us, came in unto me to mock me:

(Genesis 41:40) Thou shalt be over my house, and according unto thy word shall all my people be ruled: only in the throne will I be greater than thou.

(Genesis 43:7) And they said, The man asked us straitly of our state, and of our kindred, saying, Is your father yet alive? have ye another brother? and we told him according to the tenor of these words: could we certainly know that he would say, Bring your brother down?

(Genesis 44:2) And put my cup, the silver cup, in the sack's mouth of the youngest, and his corn money. And he did according to the word that Joseph had spoken.

(Genesis 44:10) And he said, Now also let it be according unto your words: he with whom it is found shall be my servant; and ye shall be blameless.

(Exodus 8:10) And he said, To morrow. And he said, Be it according to thy word: that thou mayest know that there is none like unto the LORD our God.

(Exodus 8:13) And the LORD did according to the word of Moses; and the frogs died out of the houses, out of the villages, and out of the fields.

(Exodus 8:31) And the LORD did according to the word of Moses; and he removed the swarms of flies from Pharaoh, from his servants, and from his people; there remained not one.

(Exodus 12:35) And the children of Israel did according to the word of Moses; and they borrowed of the Egyptians jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment:

(Exodus 32:28) And the children of Levi did according to the word of Moses: and there fell of the people that day about three thousand men.

(Leviticus 10:7) And ye shall not go out from the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, lest ye die: for the anointing oil of the LORD is upon you. And they did according to the word of Moses.

(Numbers 3:16) And Moses numbered them according to the word of the LORD, as he was commanded.

(Numbers 3:51) And Moses gave the money of them that were redeemed unto Aaron and to his sons, according to the word of the LORD, as the LORD commanded Moses.

(Numbers 4:45) These be those that were numbered of the families of the sons of Merari, whom Moses and Aaron numbered according to the word of the LORD by the hand of Moses.

(Numbers 14:20) And the LORD said, I have pardoned according to thy word:

(Numbers 36:5) And Moses commanded the children of Israel according to the word of the LORD, saying, The tribe of the sons of Joseph hath said well.

(Deuteronomy 9:10) And the LORD delivered unto me two tables of stone written with the finger of God; and on them was written according to all the words, which the LORD spake with you in the mount out of the midst of the fire in the day of the assembly.

(Deuteronomy 34:5) So Moses the servant of the LORD died there in the land of Moab, according to the word of the LORD.

(Joshua 2:21) And she said, According unto your words, so be it. And she sent them away, and they departed: and she bound the scarlet line in the window.

(Joshua 8:27) Only the cattle and the spoil of that city Israel took for a prey unto themselves, according unto the word of the LORD which he commanded Joshua.

(Joshua 8:34) And afterward he read all the words of the law, the blessings and cursings, according to all that is written in the book of the law.

(Joshua 19:50) According to the word of the LORD they gave him the city which he asked, even Timnathserah in mount Ephraim: and he built the city, and dwelt therein.

(Joshua 22:9) And the children of Reuben and the children of Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh returned, and departed from the children of Israel out of Shiloh, which is in the land of Canaan, to go unto the country of Gilead, to the land of their possession, whereof they were possessed, according to the word of the LORD by the hand of Moses.

(Judges 11:10) And the elders of Gilead said unto Jephthah, The LORD be witness between us, if we do not so according to thy words.

(1 Samuel 17:23) And as he talked with them, behold, there came up the champion, the Philistine of Gath, Goliath by name, out of the armies of the Philistines, and spake according to the same words: and David heard them.

(1 Samuel 25:9) And when David's young men came, they spake to Nabal according to all those words in the name of David, and ceased.

(2 Samuel 7:17) According to all these words, and according to all this vision, so did Nathan speak unto David.

(1 Kings 3:12) Behold, I have done according to thy words: lo, I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart; so that there was none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee.

(1 Kings 12:24) Thus saith the LORD, Ye shall not go up, nor fight against your brethren the children of Israel: return every man to his house; for this thing is from me. They hearkened therefore to the word of the LORD, and returned to depart, according to the word of the LORD.

(1 Kings 13:26) And when the prophet that brought him back from the way heard thereof, he said, It is the man of God, who was disobedient unto the word of the LORD: therefore the LORD hath delivered him unto the lion, which hath torn him, and slain him, according to the word of the LORD, which he spake unto him.

(1 Kings 14:18) And they buried him; and all Israel mourned for him, according to the word of the LORD, which he spake by the hand of his servant Ahijah the prophet.

(1 Kings 16:12) Thus did Zimri destroy all the house of Baasha, according to the word of the LORD, which he spake against Baasha by Jehu the prophet,

(1 Kings 16:34) In his days did Hiel the Bethelite build Jericho: he laid the foundation thereof in Abiram his firstborn, and set up the gates thereof in his youngest son Segub, according to the word of the LORD, which he spake by Joshua the son of Nun.

(1 Kings 17:1) And Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the inhabitants of Gilead, said unto Ahab, As the LORD God of Israel liveth, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word.

(1 Kings 17:5) So he went and did according unto the word of the LORD: for he went and dwelt by the brook Cherith, that is before Jordan.

(1 Kings 17:16) And the barrel of meal wasted not, neither did the cruse of oil fail, according to the word of the LORD, which he spake by Elijah.

(1 Kings 22:38) And one washed the chariot in the pool of Samaria; and the dogs licked up his blood; and they washed his armour; according unto the word of the LORD which he spake.

(2 Kings 1:17) So he died according to the word of the LORD which Elijah had spoken. And Jehoram reigned in his stead in the second year of Jehoram the son of Jehoshaphat king of Judah; because he had no son.

(2 Kings 4:44) So he set it before them, and they did eat, and left thereof, according to the word of the LORD.

(2 Kings 6:18) And when they came down to him, Elisha prayed unto the LORD, and said, Smite this people, I pray thee, with blindness. And he smote them with blindness according to the word of Elisha.

(2 Kings 7:16) And the people went out, and spoiled the tents of the Syrians. So a measure of fine flour was sold for a shekel, and two measures of barley for a shekel, according to the word of the LORD.

(2 Kings 9:26) Surely I have seen yesterday the blood of Naboth, and the blood of his sons, saith the LORD; and I will requite thee in this plat, saith the LORD. Now therefore take and cast him into the plat of ground, according to the word of the LORD.

(2 Kings 14:25) He restored the coast of Israel from the entering of Hamath unto the sea of the plain, according to the word of the LORD God of Israel, which he spake by the hand of his servant Jonah, the son of Amittai, the prophet, which was of Gathhepher.

(2 Kings 23:16) And as Josiah turned himself, he spied the sepulchres that were there in the mount, and sent, and took the bones out of the sepulchres, and burned them upon the altar, and polluted it, according to the word of the LORD which the man of God proclaimed, who proclaimed these words.

(2 Kings 24:2) And the LORD sent against him bands of the Chaldees, and bands of the Syrians, and bands of the Moabites, and bands of the children of Ammon, and sent them against Judah to destroy it, according to the word of the LORD, which he spake by his servants the prophets.

(1 Chronicles 11:3) Therefore came all the elders of Israel to the king to Hebron; and David made a covenant with them in Hebron before the LORD; and they anointed David king over Israel, according to the word of the LORD by Samuel.

(1 Chronicles 11:10) These also are the chief of the mighty men whom David had, who strengthened themselves with him in his kingdom, and with all Israel, to make him king, according to the word of the LORD concerning Israel.

(1 Chronicles 12:23) And these are the numbers of the bands that were ready armed to the war, and came to David to Hebron, to turn the kingdom of Saul to him, according to the word of the LORD.

(1 Chronicles 15:15) And the children of the Levites bare the ark of God upon their shoulders with the staves thereon, as Moses commanded according to the word of the LORD.

(1 Chronicles 17:15) According to all these words, and according to all this vision, so did Nathan speak unto David.

(2 Chronicles 35:6) So kill the passover, and sanctify yourselves, and prepare your brethren, that they may do according to the word of the LORD by the hand of Moses.

(Ezra 10:5) Then arose Ezra, and made the chief priests, the Levites, and all Israel, to swear that they should do according to this word. And they sware.

(Nehemiah 6:6) Wherein was written, It is reported among the heathen, and Gashmu saith it, that thou and the Jews think to rebel: for which cause thou buildest the wall, that thou mayest be their king, according to these words.

(Nehemiah 6:7) And thou hast also appointed prophets to preach of thee at Jerusalem, saying, There is a king in Judah: and now shall it be reported to the king according to these words. Come now therefore, and let us take counsel together.

(Esther 1:21) And the saying pleased the king and the princes; and the king did according to the word of Memucan:

(Psalms 119:9) BETH. Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word.

(Psalms 119:25) DALETH. My soul cleaveth unto the dust: quicken thou me according to thy word.

(Psalms 119:28) My soul melteth for heaviness: strengthen thou me according unto thy word.

(Psalms 119:41) VAU. Let thy mercies come also unto me, O LORD, even thy salvation, according to thy word.

(Psalms 119:58) I intreated thy favour with my whole heart: be merciful unto me according to thy word.

(Psalms 119:65) TETH. Thou hast dealt well with thy servant, O LORD, according unto thy word.

(Psalms 119:76) Let, I pray thee, thy merciful kindness be for my comfort, according to thy word unto thy servant.

(Psalms 119:107) I am afflicted very much: quicken me, O LORD, according unto thy word.

(Psalms 119:116) Uphold me according unto thy word, that I may live: and let me not be ashamed of my hope.

(Psalms 119:154) Plead my cause, and deliver me: quicken me according to thy word.

(Psalms 119:169) TAU. Let my cry come near before thee, O LORD: give me understanding according to thy word.

(Psalms 119:170) Let my supplication come before thee: deliver me according to thy word.

(Isaiah 8:20) To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.

(Jeremiah 13:2) So I got a girdle according to the word of the LORD, and put it on my loins.

(Jeremiah 26:20) And there was also a man that prophesied in the name of the LORD, Urijah the son of Shemaiah of Kirjathjearim, who prophesied against this city and against this land according to all the words of Jeremiah:

(Jeremiah 27:12) I spake also to Zedekiah king of Judah according to all these words, saying, Bring your necks under the yoke of the king of Babylon, and serve him and his people, and live.

(Jeremiah 32:8) So Hanameel mine uncle's son came to me in the court of the prison according to the word of the LORD, and said unto me, Buy my field, I pray thee, that is in Anathoth, which is in the country of Benjamin: for the right of inheritance is thine, and the redemption is thine; buy it for thyself. Then I knew that this was the word of the LORD.

(Jeremiah 38:27) Then came all the princes unto Jeremiah, and asked him: and he told them according to all these words that the king had commanded. So they left off speaking with him; for the matter was not perceived.

(Jeremiah 42:4) Then Jeremiah the prophet said unto them, I have heard you; behold, I will pray unto the LORD your God according to your words; and it shall come to pass, that whatsoever thing the LORD shall answer you, I will declare it unto you; I will keep nothing back from you.

(Jonah 3:3) So Jonah arose, and went unto Nineveh, according to the word of the LORD. Now Nineveh was an exceeding great city of three days' journey.

(Haggai 2:5) According to the word that I covenanted with you when ye came out of Egypt, so my spirit remaineth among you: fear ye not.

(Luke 1:38) And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.

(Luke 2:29) Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word:

The Infinity at Each End of the Rainbow

2011-10-08T06:07:00.000-05:00

I speak of no seen rainbow born of shining sun and drops of rain, but rather of the entire arc of heaven beneath which man resides. . . this spans from distant infinite beauty and glory and wisdom and power, to its nearer end, where is found a lesser infinity of unending unimaginable cruelty, darkness, and despair.

The longer I live, the more apparent it becomes that the ability of man to serve suffering and pain upon his fellows, and indeed upon all of his domain, is only limited by opportunity and available power. Mankind does continue to change and advance and achieve ever greater capacities, but rather than providing needed energy for increased illumination, perversely, against all hope, this added power only allows man to be able to commit greater blackness.

Each unimagined headline of man’s atrocities upon other men, is soon to be exceeded by some new grotesque and unholy hybrid of wicked human spirit and clever human invention. No. There is no pot of gold in that direction. . .only hopelessness is to be found where that arched leg touches the earth. . .

Betrayal and disappointment from human all institutions are not to be viewed as a fly in a bowl of soup, they are not the unexpected exceptions, but are rather the foundational stock of all human endeavors. Corruption resides innately within us all and the necessary arrival at this recognition represents passage from the innocence of childhood to a needed maturing of our world view.

The child weeps bitter tears at the injustices inflicted by the playground bully, but the bitterest tears well forth much later at the sickening recognition that this bully resides in us each without exception. We hated him so very fervently, when he shoved us down and stole our candy, but now with our discovery of his intimate residence within us, the brutal honesty of this awakening revelation requires that we likewise must necessarily assume this loathing for our own selves.

Some never admit the darkness within. . . ever blaming parents, environment, missed opportunities, discrimination, the political system, the unfairness of the world. . . and on and on. . . grasping at every external reason for the evil within and ever present in our world. . . Trapped by a cocoon of their own spinning. . . unable to grow beyond the confines of their darkened and finite universe.

Where then is the wellspring of hope? At what exit portal lies our escape? To deny this bully within or to try and hide him behind a facade of nicety, is no solution. A cave dwelling denizen, he does his best work in the darkness. He thrives in secret places. To destroy him, we must take him. . .take him, who is at the most primal level ourselves, on a journey. . . Somewhere over the Rainbow. . .not to follow Dorothy’s Yellow Brick Road, not to seek a false wizard, hiding behind a facade of smoke and mirrors. . . handing out only disappointing trinkets, which hold no power. . .

But in a grace full sweep away from mankind, in the direction of the Son. . .the point source of all hope and illumination. The overwhelming disappointment and unbreechable darkness at one end of the rainbow, gives way to eternal faithfulness, patience, truth, and beauty at the other end. God never grows impatient. He never wearies of well doing. His way is perfect. At the end of the day, no one may point a finger at Him and question His holiness, and righteousness.

Our spiritual journey necessarily begins in a land of darkness. No detailed directions are needed and each seeker, in the path of our present lives, begin the walk towards the light. . . called by God as moths to the light. . .always maintaining the bright horizon before us. . .In our first faltering steps, as babies newly learning to walk we can only dimly discern a glow between the mountains, but as we gain confidence and climb, struggling against the world onward and upward. . . as we continue our journey casting away all and turning our backs upon every obstacle between ourselves and the light until the air becomes rarefied, and the view crystalline blue. . .Standing at the pinnacle, we open ourselves fully to God. Not caring for anything, but our desire to be close to Jesus.

In our lives. . . no chemical intoxication, no celebration of earthly events has equalled the felt joy upon the restoration of God’s Spirit with ours. I say restoration, as this is the existence we were designed and ultimately created. The ripping away of our daily fellowship with God in the Garden of Eden, left a gaping hole within us. . .a void never satisfactorily filled. . .a hunger for love. . . a desperate thirst for security. . . an aching desire for acceptance. . . into which we have shoved drugs, lust, money, seeking personal power, and all manner of earthly possessions to satisfy this need.

Nothing of this world can fill a God shaped hole in our very soul. With mismatched pieces, the hunger and dissatisfaction only grows. . . Give a hungry man a stone to eat. . . it may fill his belly, but it won’t nourish his bones or quench the gnawing pains of need. . .The hunger continues unabated until that which is rich and good and nourishing is attained. . .

And ever has He stood from that day of separation. . . Waiting ptiently, until this day anyway, with open arms. . . hoping against hope that the prodigal son. . . the offspring of His beloved hand formed, God breathed Adam, may once again return home and be restored to daily fellowship.

The journey of the rainbow begins in darkness and clouds, but it leads without fail to the Son. Leave the land of confusion. . .Begin your own quest to find the light. . . Seek His righteousness, and grace and mercy. . . Ride the rainbow and find your pot of gold in the arms of God. . .

Uncommon Beauty. . .

2011-09-19T11:49:00.003-05:00

Not everything uncommon is beautiful, but that which is common will always cease to be considered beautiful. . .A person living in the mountains will long for vistas of rolling lowlands, peaceful slow flowing rivers and grassy emerald plains. . .Surrounded by rocky bluffs and saguaro cacti, beauty is seen in stately oak trees and crimson hued maples. . .

That which is sinful or worldly is never rare, but only all too ubiquitous. . .In a sea of painted faces. . . extravagantly processed hair. . .and immodest attire, the wholesomeness of refreshing cleanness found in a woman modestly attired, with her God given face undiminished. . . is as an island to one long at sea. . .her natural beauty unaltered by man made artifice. . . is striking, refreshing, and restorative to the soul. . .

For women to run to the example presented by the monthly magazine fashion models, is to join a stampede to destroy her own unique beauty, by striving to replace it by the cloning of the appearance, of every other member of the herd, thereby achieving the very commonness they think to avoid. . .

The only winners of this mass quest for unique beauty being publishers of magazines and the manufacturers of cosmetics. . .The clear losers are the women themselves, who live their lives on a never ending quest for that same rare beauty which they unrealizingly have had bestowed upon them from birth. . .

Thank you Lord for modest and holy women, who allow their God given beauty to shine. . .

The Shadow of Death. . .

2011-09-16T11:26:00.003-05:00

Job seems to be the 'shadow of death' book of the Bible. The phrase first occurs in the Bible in Job, and by far Job leads the rest of the Bible with 10 occurances in 9 verses there.

(Job 3:5) Let darkness and the shadow of death stain it; let a cloud dwell upon it; let the blackness of the day terrify it.

(Job 10:21) Before I go whence I shall not return, even to the land of darkness and the shadow of death;

(Job 10:22) A land of darkness, as darkness itself; and of the shadow of death, without any order, and where the light is as darkness.

(Job 12:22) He discovereth deep things out of darkness, and bringeth out to light the shadow of death.

Job chapter 12 must be one of the best chapters in the Bible for describing God’s power and abilities. . .

(Job 16:16) My face is foul with weeping, and on my eyelids is the shadow of death;

(Job 24:17) For the morning is to them even as the shadow of death: if one know them, they are in the terrors of the shadow of death.

(Job 28:3) He setteth an end to darkness, and searcheth out all perfection: the stones of darkness, and the shadow of death.

(Job 34:22) There is no darkness, nor shadow of death, where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves.

(Job 38:17) Have the gates of death been opened unto thee? or hast thou seen the doors of the shadow of death?

God speaking to Job. . . apparently the gates of hell cast shadows, and it is this these shadows which are the shadow of death. . .

(Psalms 23:4) Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

Surely by far the most famous usage of the phrase. . .

(Psalms 44:19) Though thou hast sore broken us in the place of dragons, and covered us with the shadow of death.

(Psalms 107:10) Such as sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, being bound in affliction and iron;

(Psalms 107:14) He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, and brake their bands in sunder.

(Isaiah 9:2) The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.

(Jeremiah 2:6) Neither said they, Where is the LORD that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, that led us through the wilderness, through a land of deserts and of pits, through a land of drought, and of the shadow of death, through a land that no man passed through, and where no man dwelt?

(Jeremiah 13:16) Give glory to the LORD your God, before he cause darkness, and before your feet stumble upon the dark mountains, and, while ye look for light, he turn it into the shadow of death, and make it gross darkness.

(Amos 5:8) Seek him that maketh the seven stars and Orion, and turneth the shadow of death into the morning, and maketh the day dark with night: that calleth for the waters of the sea, and poureth them out upon the face of the earth: The LORD is his name:

What a very powerful verse. . .What power. . . What beauty. . .

Seek Him which created the very stars in the sky. . .
Seek Him which can turn the darkness of the darkest despair into glowing crystalline radiant light. . .
Seek Him which can turn the bright Egyptian day dark with thick blackness (as in the 9th plague of Pharoah). . .
Seek Him who controls all the life giving waters of the earth. . .
Seek Him. . .
Seek Him. . .
Seek Him. . .

(Matthew 4:16) The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up.

Notice the parallel of this verse with Isaiah 9:2. Matthew must surely have been knowlingly paraphrasing Isaiah with this New Testament verse.

(Luke 1:79) To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.

Thank you Lord. . . from one who resided in the land of the shadow of death. . . who now guides my feet to that eternal land of peace awaiting me. . .

Fruit as a Consequence. . .

2011-09-13T11:16:00.000-05:00

Every time you hear the word ‘fruit’ you can substitute the word ‘consequence’.

As a young child, I thought nothing of consequences. I did not understand that the likely potential consequence of playing with fire, was a greatly increased risk of being burned. I saw my parents not allowing me to ride my bicycle along busy streets, in terms only of the restriction on my freedom, not in avoiding a risk of being hit by a car. . .

Later as an early teen. . . against the warnings of parents and all good sense, I began to smoke cigarettes, drink alcohol, use illegal drugs, and engage in sex outside of marriage. . .ignoring again and again consequence. . .

Much of the wisdom of the elderly is rooted in intimate familiarity with the consequences of their life’s choices. Seniors possess long years of living with consequences. . .

Consequences are the effects on the water after a stone is thrown. . .
You have control. . .
You can choose when and where to throw a rock into a pond, but the moment it leaves your finger tips, you have no control over where it strikes or the ripples which spread in all directions over its surface. . .

Consequence is linkage. . .

We want to think, especially when we do wrong, that there is strict isolation between the various compartments of our life, when in reality our life is as a pond and for good or for evil, every rock thrown spreads ripples which have an effect upon the entire pond. . .

Jesus said that we are to know a tree by its fruit. . .

A tree would be known by its consequences. . . the soil it grew in, whether it was in a sunny or shaded spot, did it receive sufficient fertilization and water, was it pruned, what is its ancestry, who are and how close is it to its neighbors, what was the weather in the growing season, what is its age. . . and on and on. All these components go into the production of its fruit. . .

Here is a list of all the verses of the Bible which contain the word ‘fruit’:

(Genesis 1:11) And God said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself, upon the earth: and it was so.

(Genesis 1:12) And the earth brought forth grass, and herb yielding seed after his kind, and the tree yielding fruit, whose seed was in itself, after his kind: and God saw that it was good.

(Genesis 1:29) And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat.

(Genesis 3:2) And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden:

(Genesis 3:3) But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die.

(Genesis 3:6) And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.

(Genesis 4:3) And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the LORD.

(Genesis 30:2) And Jacob's anger was kindled against Rachel: and he said, Am I in God's stead, who hath withheld from thee the fruit of the womb?

(Exodus 10:15) For they covered the face of the whole earth, so that the land was darkened; and they did eat every herb of the land, and all the fruit of the trees which the hail had left: and there remained not any green thing in the trees, or in the herbs of the field, through all the land of Egypt.

(Exodus 21:22) If men strive, and hurt a woman with child, so that her fruit depart from her, and yet no mischief follow: he shall be surely punished, according as the woman's husband will lay upon him; and he shall pay as the judges determine.

(Leviticus 19:23) And when ye shall come into the land, and shall have planted all manner of trees for food, then ye shall count the fruit thereof as uncircumcised: three years shall it be as uncircumcised unto you: it shall not be eaten of.

(Leviticus 19:24) But in the fourth year all the fruit thereof shall be holy to praise the LORD withal.

(Leviticus 19:25) And in the fifth year shall ye eat of the fruit thereof, that it may yield unto you the increase thereof: I am the LORD your God.

(Leviticus 23:39) Also in the fifteenth day of the seventh month, when ye have gathered in the fruit of the land, ye shall keep a feast unto the LORD seven days: on the first day shall be a sabbath, and on the eighth day shall be a sabbath.

(Leviticus 25:3) Six years thou shalt sow thy field, and six years thou shalt prune thy vineyard, and gather in the fruit thereof;

(Leviticus 25:19) And the land shall yield her fruit, and ye shall eat your fill, and dwell therein in safety.

(Leviticus 25:21) Then I will command my blessing upon you in the sixth year, and it shall bring forth fruit for three years.

(Leviticus 25:22) And ye shall sow the eighth year, and eat yet of old fruit until the ninth year; until her fruits come in ye shall eat of the old store.

(Leviticus 26:4) Then I will give you rain in due season, and the land shall yield her increase, and the trees of the field shall yield their fruit.

(Leviticus 27:30) And all the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land, or of the fruit of the tree, is the LORD'S: it is holy unto the LORD.

(Numbers 13:20) And what the land is, whether it be fat or lean, whether there be wood therein, or not. And be ye of good courage, and bring of the fruit of the land. Now the time was the time of the firstripe grapes.

(Numbers 13:26) And they went and came to Moses, and to Aaron, and to all the congregation of the children of Israel, unto the wilderness of Paran, to Kadesh; and brought back word unto them, and unto all the congregation, and shewed them the fruit of the land.

(Numbers 13:27) And they told him, and said, We came unto the land whither thou sentest us, and surely it floweth with milk and honey; and this is the fruit of it.

(Deuteronomy 1:25) And they took of the fruit of the land in their hands, and brought it down unto us, and brought us word again, and said, It is a good land which the LORD our God doth give us.

(Deuteronomy 7:13) And he will love thee, and bless thee, and multiply thee: he will also bless the fruit of thy womb, and the fruit of thy land, thy corn, and thy wine, and thine oil, the increase of thy kine, and the flocks of thy sheep, in the land which he sware unto thy fathers to give thee.

(Deuteronomy 11:17) And then the LORD'S wrath be kindled against you, and he shut up the heaven, that there be no rain, and that the land yield not her fruit; and lest ye perish quickly from off the good land which the LORD giveth you.

(Deuteronomy 22:9) Thou shalt not sow thy vineyard with divers seeds: lest the fruit of thy seed which thou hast sown, and the fruit of thy vineyard, be defiled.

(Deuteronomy 26:2) That thou shalt take of the first of all the fruit of the earth, which thou shalt bring of thy land that the LORD thy God giveth thee, and shalt put it in a basket, and shalt go unto the place which the LORD thy God shall choose to place his name there.

(Deuteronomy 28:4) Blessed shall be the fruit of thy body, and the fruit of thy ground, and the fruit of thy cattle, the increase of thy kine, and the flocks of thy sheep.

(Deuteronomy 28:11) And the LORD shall make thee plenteous in goods, in the fruit of thy body, and in the fruit of thy cattle, and in the fruit of thy ground, in the land which the LORD sware unto thy fathers to give thee.

(Deuteronomy 28:18) Cursed shall be the fruit of thy body, and the fruit of thy land, the increase of thy kine, and the flocks of thy sheep.

(Deuteronomy 28:33) The fruit of thy land, and all thy labours, shall a nation which thou knowest not eat up; and thou shalt be only oppressed and crushed alway:

(Deuteronomy 28:40) Thou shalt have olive trees throughout all thy coasts, but thou shalt not anoint thyself with the oil; for thine olive shall cast his fruit.

(Deuteronomy 28:42) All thy trees and fruit of thy land shall the locust consume.

(Deuteronomy 28:51) And he shall eat the fruit of thy cattle, and the fruit of thy land, until thou be destroyed: which also shall not leave thee either corn, wine, or oil, or the increase of thy kine, or flocks of thy sheep, until he have destroyed thee.

(Deuteronomy 28:53) And thou shalt eat the fruit of thine own body, the flesh of thy sons and of thy daughters, which the LORD thy God hath given thee, in the siege, and in the straitness, wherewith thine enemies shall distress thee:

(Deuteronomy 30:9) And the LORD thy God will make thee plenteous in every work of thine hand, in the fruit of thy body, and in the fruit of thy cattle, and in the fruit of thy land, for good: for the LORD will again rejoice over thee for good, as he rejoiced over thy fathers:

(Joshua 5:12) And the manna ceased on the morrow after they had eaten of the old corn of the land; neither had the children of Israel manna any more; but they did eat of the fruit of the land of Canaan that year.

(Judges 9:11) But the fig tree said unto them, Should I forsake my sweetness, and my good fruit, and go to be promoted over the trees?

(2 Samuel 16:2) And the king said unto Ziba, What meanest thou by these? And Ziba said, The asses be for the king's household to ride on; and the bread and summer fruit for the young men to eat; and the wine, that such as be faint in the wilderness may drink.

(2 Kings 19:30) And the remnant that is escaped of the house of Judah shall yet again take root downward, and bear fruit upward.

(Nehemiah 9:25) And they took strong cities, and a fat land, and possessed houses full of all goods, wells digged, vineyards, and oliveyards, and fruit trees in abundance: so they did eat, and were filled, and became fat, and delighted themselves in thy great goodness.

(Nehemiah 9:36) Behold, we are servants this day, and for the land that thou gavest unto our fathers to eat the fruit thereof and the good thereof, behold, we are servants in it:

(Nehemiah 10:35) And to bring the firstfruits of our ground, and the firstfruits of all fruit of all trees, year by year, unto the house of the LORD:

(Nehemiah 10:37) And that we should bring the firstfruits of our dough, and our offerings, and the fruit of all manner of trees, of wine and of oil, unto the priests, to the chambers of the house of our God; and the tithes of our ground unto the Levites, that the same Levites might have the tithes in all the cities of our tillage.

(Psalms 1:3) And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.

(Psalms 21:10) Their fruit shalt thou destroy from the earth, and their seed from among the children of men.

(Psalms 72:16) There shall be an handful of corn in the earth upon the top of the mountains; the fruit thereof shall shake like Lebanon: and they of the city shall flourish like grass of the earth.

(Psalms 92:14) They shall still bring forth fruit in old age; they shall be fat and flourishing;

(Psalms 104:13) He watereth the hills from his chambers: the earth is satisfied with the fruit of thy works.

(Psalms 105:35) And did eat up all the herbs in their land, and devoured the fruit of their ground.

(Psalms 127:3) Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.

(Psalms 132:11) The LORD hath sworn in truth unto David; he will not turn from it; Of the fruit of thy body will I set upon thy throne.

(Proverbs 1:31) Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices.

(Proverbs 8:19) My fruit is better than gold, yea, than fine gold; and my revenue than choice silver.

(Proverbs 10:16) The labour of the righteous tendeth to life: the fruit of the wicked to sin.

(Proverbs 11:30) The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise.

(Proverbs 12:12) The wicked desireth the net of evil men: but the root of the righteous yieldeth fruit.

(Proverbs 12:14) A man shall be satisfied with good by the fruit of his mouth: and the recompence of a man's hands shall be rendered unto him.

(Proverbs 13:2) A man shall eat good by the fruit of his mouth: but the soul of the transgressors shall eat violence.

(Proverbs 18:20) A man's belly shall be satisfied with the fruit of his mouth; and with the increase of his lips shall he be filled.

(Proverbs 18:21) Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.

(Proverbs 27:18) Whoso keepeth the fig tree shall eat the fruit thereof: so he that waiteth on his master shall be honoured.

(Proverbs 31:16) She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.

(Proverbs 31:31) Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.

(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.

(Song of Solomon 8:11) Solomon had a vineyard at Baalhamon; he let out the vineyard unto keepers; every one for the fruit thereof was to bring a thousand pieces of silver.

(Song of Solomon 8:12) My vineyard, which is mine, is before me: thou, O Solomon, must have a thousand, and those that keep the fruit thereof two hundred.

(Isaiah 3:10) Say ye to the righteous, that it shall be well with him: for they shall eat the fruit of their doings.

(Isaiah 4:2) In that day shall the branch of the LORD be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the earth shall be excellent and comely for them that are escaped of Israel.

(Isaiah 10:12) Wherefore it shall come to pass, that when the Lord hath performed his whole work upon mount Zion and on Jerusalem, I will punish the fruit of the stout heart of the king of Assyria, and the glory of his high looks.

(Isaiah 13:18) Their bows also shall dash the young men to pieces; and they shall have no pity on the fruit of the womb; their eye shall not spare children.

(Isaiah 14:29) Rejoice not thou, whole Palestina, because the rod of him that smote thee is broken: for out of the serpent's root shall come forth a cockatrice, and his fruit shall be a fiery flying serpent.

(Isaiah 27:6) He shall cause them that come of Jacob to take root: Israel shall blossom and bud, and fill the face of the world with fruit.

(Isaiah 27:9) By this therefore shall the iniquity of Jacob be purged; and this is all the fruit to take away his sin; when he maketh all the stones of the altar as chalkstones that are beaten in sunder, the groves and images shall not stand up.

(Isaiah 28:4) And the glorious beauty, which is on the head of the fat valley, shall be a fading flower, and as the hasty fruit before the summer; which when he that looketh upon it seeth, while it is yet in his hand he eateth it up.

(Isaiah 37:30) And this shall be a sign unto thee, Ye shall eat this year such as groweth of itself; and the second year that which springeth of the same: and in the third year sow ye, and reap, and plant vineyards, and eat the fruit thereof.

(Isaiah 37:31) And the remnant that is escaped of the house of Judah shall again take root downward, and bear fruit upward:

(Isaiah 57:19) I create the fruit of the lips; Peace, peace to him that is far off, and to him that is near, saith the LORD; and I will heal him.

(Isaiah 65:21) And they shall build houses, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and eat the fruit of them.

(Jeremiah 2:7) And I brought you into a plentiful country, to eat the fruit thereof and the goodness thereof; but when ye entered, ye defiled my land, and made mine heritage an abomination.

(Jeremiah 6:19) Hear, O earth: behold, I will bring evil upon this people, even the fruit of their thoughts, because they have not hearkened unto my words, nor to my law, but rejected it.

(Jeremiah 7:20) Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, mine anger and my fury shall be poured out upon this place, upon man, and upon beast, and upon the trees of the field, and upon the fruit of the ground; and it shall burn, and shall not be quenched.

(Jeremiah 11:16) The LORD called thy name, A green olive tree, fair, and of goodly fruit: with the noise of a great tumult he hath kindled fire upon it, and the branches of it are broken.

(Jeremiah 11:19) But I was like a lamb or an ox that is brought to the slaughter; and I knew not that they had devised devices against me, saying, Let us destroy the tree with the fruit thereof, and let us cut him off from the land of the living, that his name may be no more remembered.

(Jeremiah 12:2) Thou hast planted them, yea, they have taken root: they grow, yea, they bring forth fruit: thou art near in their mouth, and far from their reins.

(Jeremiah 17:8) For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit.

(Jeremiah 17:10) I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.

(Jeremiah 21:14) But I will punish you according to the fruit of your doings, saith the LORD: and I will kindle a fire in the forest thereof, and it shall devour all things round about it.

(Jeremiah 29:5) Build ye houses, and dwell in them; and plant gardens, and eat the fruit of them;

(Jeremiah 29:28) For therefore he sent unto us in Babylon, saying, This captivity is long: build ye houses, and dwell in them; and plant gardens, and eat the fruit of them.

(Jeremiah 32:19) Great in counsel, and mighty in work: for thine eyes are open upon all the ways of the sons of men: to give every one according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings:

(Lamentations 2:20) Behold, O LORD, and consider to whom thou hast done this. Shall the women eat their fruit, and children of a span long? shall the priest and the prophet be slain in the sanctuary of the Lord?

(Ezekiel 17:8) It was planted in a good soil by great waters, that it might bring forth branches, and that it might bear fruit, that it might be a goodly vine.

(Ezekiel 17:9) Say thou, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Shall it prosper? shall he not pull up the roots thereof, and cut off the fruit thereof, that it wither? it shall wither in all the leaves of her spring, even without great power or many people to pluck it up by the roots thereof.

(Ezekiel 17:23) In the mountain of the height of Israel will I plant it: and it shall bring forth boughs, and bear fruit, and be a goodly cedar: and under it shall dwell all fowl of every wing; in the shadow of the branches thereof shall they dwell.

(Ezekiel 19:12) But she was plucked up in fury, she was cast down to the ground, and the east wind dried up her fruit: her strong rods were broken and withered; the fire consumed them.

(Ezekiel 19:14) And fire is gone out of a rod of her branches, which hath devoured her fruit, so that she hath no strong rod to be a sceptre to rule. This is a lamentation, and shall be for a lamentation.

(Ezekiel 25:4) Behold, therefore I will deliver thee to the men of the east for a possession, and they shall set their palaces in thee, and make their dwellings in thee: they shall eat thy fruit, and they shall drink thy milk.

(Ezekiel 34:27) And the tree of the field shall yield her fruit, and the earth shall yield her increase, and they shall be safe in their land, and shall know that I am the LORD, when I have broken the bands of their yoke, and delivered them out of the hand of those that served themselves of them.

(Ezekiel 36:8) But ye, O mountains of Israel, ye shall shoot forth your branches, and yield your fruit to my people of Israel; for they are at hand to come.

(Ezekiel 36:11) And I will multiply upon you man and beast; and they shall increase and bring fruit: and I will settle you after your old estates, and will do better unto you than at your beginnings: and ye shall know that I am the LORD.

(Ezekiel 36:30) And I will multiply the fruit of the tree, and the increase of the field, that ye shall receive no more reproach of famine among the heathen.

(Ezekiel 47:12) And by the river upon the bank thereof, on this side and on that side, shall grow all trees for meat, whose leaf shall not fade, neither shall the fruit thereof be consumed: it shall bring forth new fruit according to his months, because their waters they issued out of the sanctuary: and the fruit thereof shall be for meat, and the leaf thereof for medicine.

(Daniel 4:12) The leaves thereof were fair, and the fruit thereof much, and in it was meat for all: the beasts of the field had shadow under it, and the fowls of the heaven dwelt in the boughs thereof, and all flesh was fed of it.

(Daniel 4:14) He cried aloud, and said thus, Hew down the tree, and cut off his branches, shake off his leaves, and scatter his fruit: let the beasts get away from under it, and the fowls from his branches:

(Daniel 4:21) Whose leaves were fair, and the fruit thereof much, and in it was meat for all; under which the beasts of the field dwelt, and upon whose branches the fowls of the heaven had their habitation:

(Hosea 9:16) Ephraim is smitten, their root is dried up, they shall bear no fruit: yea, though they bring forth, yet will I slay even the beloved fruit of their womb.

(Hosea 10:1) Israel is an empty vine, he bringeth forth fruit unto himself: according to the multitude of his fruit he hath increased the altars; according to the goodness of his land they have made goodly images.

(Hosea 10:13) Ye have plowed wickedness, ye have reaped iniquity; ye have eaten the fruit of lies: because thou didst trust in thy way, in the multitude of thy mighty men.

(Hosea 14:8) Ephraim shall say, What have I to do any more with idols? I have heard him, and observed him: I am like a green fir tree. From me is thy fruit found.

(Joel 2:22) Be not afraid, ye beasts of the field: for the pastures of the wilderness do spring, for the tree beareth her fruit, the fig tree and the vine do yield their strength.

(Amos 2:9) Yet destroyed I the Amorite before them, whose height was like the height of the cedars, and he was strong as the oaks; yet I destroyed his fruit from above, and his roots from beneath.

(Amos 6:12) Shall horses run upon the rock? will one plow there with oxen? for ye have turned judgment into gall, and the fruit of righteousness into hemlock:

(Amos 7:14) Then answered Amos, and said to Amaziah, I was no prophet, neither was I a prophet's son; but I was an herdman, and a gatherer of sycomore fruit:

(Amos 8:1) Thus hath the Lord GOD shewed unto me: and behold a basket of summer fruit.

(Amos 8:2) And he said, Amos, what seest thou? And I said, A basket of summer fruit. Then said the LORD unto me, The end is come upon my people of Israel; I will not again pass by them any more.

(Amos 9:14) And I will bring again the captivity of my people of Israel, and they shall build the waste cities, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and drink the wine thereof; they shall also make gardens, and eat the fruit of them.

(Micah 6:7) Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, or with ten thousands of rivers of oil? shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?

(Micah 7:1) Woe is me! for I am as when they have gathered the summer fruits, as the grapegleanings of the vintage: there is no cluster to eat: my soul desired the firstripe fruit.

(Micah 7:13) Notwithstanding the land shall be desolate because of them that dwell therein, for the fruit of their doings.

(Habakkuk 3:17) Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls:

(Haggai 1:10) Therefore the heaven over you is stayed from dew, and the earth is stayed from her fruit.

(Zechariah 8:12) For the seed shall be prosperous; the vine shall give her fruit, and the ground shall give her increase, and the heavens shall give their dew; and I will cause the remnant of this people to possess all these things.

(Malachi 1:12) But ye have profaned it, in that ye say, The table of the LORD is polluted; and the fruit thereof, even his meat, is contemptible.

(Malachi 3:11) And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the LORD of hosts.

(Matthew 3:10) And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.

(Matthew 7:17) Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.

(Matthew 7:18) A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.

(Matthew 7:19) Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.

(Matthew 12:33) Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit.

(Matthew 13:8) But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold.

(Matthew 13:23) But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.

(Matthew 13:26) But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also.

(Matthew 21:19) And when he saw a fig tree in the way, he came to it, and found nothing thereon, but leaves only, and said unto it, Let no fruit grow on thee henceforward for ever. And presently the fig tree withered away.

(Matthew 21:34) And when the time of the fruit drew near, he sent his servants to the husbandmen, that they might receive the fruits of it.

(Matthew 26:29) But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom.

(Mark 4:7) And some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up, and choked it, and it yielded no fruit.

(Mark 4:8) And other fell on good ground, and did yield fruit that sprang up and increased; and brought forth, some thirty, and some sixty, and some an hundred.

(Mark 4:20) And these are they which are sown on good ground; such as hear the word, and receive it, and bring forth fruit, some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some an hundred.

(Mark 4:28) For the earth bringeth forth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear.

(Mark 4:29) But when the fruit is brought forth, immediately he putteth in the sickle, because the harvest is come.

(Mark 11:14) And Jesus answered and said unto it, No man eat fruit of thee hereafter for ever. And his disciples heard it.

(Mark 12:2) And at the season he sent to the husbandmen a servant, that he might receive from the husbandmen of the fruit of the vineyard.

(Mark 14:25) Verily I say unto you, I will drink no more of the fruit of the vine, until that day that I drink it new in the kingdom of God.

(Luke 1:42) And she spake out with a loud voice, and said, Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb.

(Luke 3:9) And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: every tree therefore which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.

(Luke 6:43) For a good tree bringeth not forth corrupt fruit; neither doth a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.

(Luke 6:44) 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.

(Luke 8:8) And other fell on good ground, and sprang up, and bare fruit an hundredfold. And when he had said these things, he cried, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

(Luke 8:14) And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection.

(Luke 8:15) But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.

(Luke 13:6) He spake also this parable; A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came and sought fruit thereon, and found none.

(Luke 13:7) Then said he unto the dresser of his vineyard, Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none: cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground?

(Luke 13:9) And if it bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down.

(Luke 20:10) And at the season he sent a servant to the husbandmen, that they should give him of the fruit of the vineyard: but the husbandmen beat him, and sent him away empty.

(Luke 22:18) For I say unto you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine, until the kingdom of God shall come.

(John 4:36) And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal: that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together.

(John 12:24) Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.

(John 15:2) Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.

(John 15:4) Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.

(John 15:5) I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

(John 15:8) Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.

(John 15:16) Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.

(Acts 2:30) Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne;

(Romans 1:13) Now I would not have you ignorant, brethren, that oftentimes I purposed to come unto you, (but was let hitherto,) that I might have some fruit among you also, even as among other Gentiles.

(Romans 6:21) What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death.

(Romans 6:22) But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.

(Romans 7:4) Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God.

(Romans 7:5) For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death.

(Romans 15:28) When therefore I have performed this, and have sealed to them this fruit, I will come by you into Spain.

(1 Corinthians 9:7) Who goeth a warfare any time at his own charges? who planteth a vineyard, and eateth not of the fruit thereof? or who feedeth a flock, and eateth not of the milk of the flock?

(Galatians 5:22) But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,

(Ephesians 5:9) (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;)

(Philippians 1:22) But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labour: yet what I shall choose I wot not.

(Philippians 4:17) Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may abound to your account.

(Colossians 1:6) Which is come unto you, as it is in all the world; and bringeth forth fruit, as it doth also in you, since the day ye heard of it, and knew the grace of God in truth:

(Hebrews 12:11) Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.

(Hebrews 13:15) By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.

(James 3:18) And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.

(James 5:7) Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain.

(James 5:18) And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit.

(Jude 1:12) These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots;

(Revelation 22:2) In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.

Things which are an abomination to the Lord. . .

2011-09-08T15:43:00.001-05:00

I've recently done a study on things which are abominations. In the KJV, there are 8 Hebrew words and 4 Greek words translated as 'abomination' or variations of such. The word is found a total 176 times in 166 verses. The following list is from the most commonly translated Hebrew word:

Strongs: H8441
תּעבה תּועבה
tô‛êbah tô‛êbah
to-ay-baw', to-ay-baw'
Feminine active participle of H8581; properly something disgusting (morally), that is, (as noun) an abhorrence; especially idolatry or (concretely) an idol: - abominable (custom, thing), abomination.

112 verses
117 matches

Here are those occurrences, where it is said that something is specifically an abomination to the Lord:

Unto the Lord

(Deuteronomy 7:25) The graven images of their gods shall ye burn with fire: thou shalt not desire the silver or gold that is on them, nor take it unto thee, lest thou be snared therein: for it is an abomination to the LORD thy God.
(Deuteronomy 12:31) Thou shalt not do so unto the LORD thy God: for every abomination to the LORD, which he hateth, have they done unto their gods; for even their sons and their daughters they have burnt in the fire to their gods.
(Deuteronomy 17:1) Thou shalt not sacrifice unto the LORD thy God any bullock, or sheep, wherein is blemish, or any evilfavouredness: for that is an abomination unto the LORD thy God.
(Deuteronomy 18:10-12) There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch,(11) Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer.(12)For all that do these things are an abomination unto the LORD: and because of these abominations the LORD thy God doth drive them out from before thee.
(Deuteronomy 22:5) The woman shall not wear that which pertaineth unto a man, neither shall a man put on a woman's garment: for all that do so are abomination unto the LORD thy God.
(Deuteronomy 23:18) Thou shalt not bring the hire of a whore, or the price of a dog, into the house of the LORD thy God for any vow: for even both these are abomination unto the LORD thy God.
(Deuteronomy 24:4) Her former husband, which sent her away, may not take her again to be his wife, after that she is defiled; for that is abomination before the LORD: and thou shalt not cause the land to sin, which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an inheritance.
(Deuteronomy 25:16) For all that do such things, and all that do unrighteously, are an abomination unto the LORD thy God.
(Deuteronomy 27:15) Cursed be the man that maketh any graven or molten image, an abomination unto the LORD, the work of the hands of the craftsman, and putteth it in a secret place. And all the people shall answer and say, Amen.
(Proverbs 3:32) For the froward is abomination to the LORD: but his secret is with the righteous.
(Proverbs 6:16) These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: (17) A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, (18) An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, (19) A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.
(Proverbs 11:1) A false balance is abomination to the LORD: but a just weight is his delight.
(Proverbs 11:20) They that are of a froward heart are abomination to the LORD: but such as are upright in their way are his delight.
(Proverbs 12:22) Lying lips are abomination to the LORD: but they that deal truly are his delight.
(Proverbs 15:8) The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD: but the prayer of the upright is his delight.
(Proverbs 15:9) The way of the wicked is an abomination unto the LORD: but he loveth him that followeth after righteousness.
(Proverbs 15:26) The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the LORD: but the words of the pure are pleasant words.
(Proverbs 16:5) Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD: though hand join in hand, he shall not be unpunished.
(Proverbs 17:15) He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, even they both are abomination to the LORD.
(Proverbs 20:10) Divers weights, and divers measures, both of them are alike abomination to the LORD.
(Proverbs 20:23) Divers weights are an abomination unto the LORD; and a false balance is not good.
(Isaiah 1:13) Bring no more vain oblations; incense is an abomination unto me; the new moons and sabbaths, the calling of assemblies, I cannot away with; it is iniquity, even the solemn meeting.

Life in the Light. . .

2011-08-30T07:56:00.000-05:00

As long as we use the behavior of other people as the yardstick, with which to judge our own conduct there will be no motivation for us to change. No matter the bad things I was doing. . . no matter the lies I told. . . no matter the promises I broke. . . no matter the immoral acts I committed, I could always find someone, who in my mind was doing worse things things than I. . .I would remember good things I had done and be satisfied that they somehow cancelled out the bad. . .

There were always reasons for my short comings. . . there was always rationalization and justification for my acts. . . which though I knew deep in my heart to be wrong, but still I could justify them. . . until that day when I met the Lord Jesus, and He revealed himself to me. . . Then He became my yardstick. If you’ve never seen anything white, you can fool yourself into thinking any shade of gray is almost white. . . When I found Jesus, I saw purity and unblemished holiness. . . I saw for the first time in my life, something purely white and then. . . and only then, when I took my eyes off of the actions of other people and looked upon Jesus, was the true blackness of my soul revealed for what it was. . . .only then did I realized the true corruptness of my soul. . . only then did I realized that I had to change. . .The conviction was so strong upon me. . . the shame for my past foolishness was so strong. . .but. . . but!. . . BUT!!!!! His love and forgiveness and grace was even stronger. . .

He has given me the power to change those things in me which I could never have changed on my own. . . He has given me a new nature. . . He has given me a new heart and soul. . .I have been reborn. . . a new creature in Christ. Yes, the same flesh hangs upon my bones. . . Yes, I am still capable of sin, but sin is no longer my nature. . . sin is the exception rather than the rule of my life. If I stumble. . . I brush myself off. . . I ask God to forgive me, and go right back to living for God.

There is no way for me to put into words that will fully explain to you, the peace. . . the joy. . . the power of having a close relationship with God. You are so close to having that for your own life. It’s not like you have to slay a dragon or perform some heroic and difficult task in order to justify yourself. . . Jesus has already done that on the cross. . . He did that which no man could do. . . He paid the price which no man could pay. . .

I am praying for you. . . I was so foolish for so long. I well know the blinding message of the world to the power of God. We are scorned and ridiculed as simple minded fools. . . But. . . I once was blind and now I see. . . I once was in the darkness and now I can truly see the light. . . and life in the light is so completely superior to living in darkness. . . I pray for you to open your heart. . . Let Him in and find a life of love and light. . . . .

In Search of Holiness. . .

2011-08-29T11:05:00.000-05:00

Hebrews 12:14
Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord.

Beginning to reread this morning as my devotional, the third book of David Bernards Pentecostal Theology series. The book is titled: "In Search of Holiness". The above verse is the caption for the beginning page of the first chapter.

Holiness, as all things having to do with God and religion, if taken with the wrong spirit. . . without love. . . can be damaging. . . having a destructive effect.

We shouldn't strive for holiness, with the goal in mind of demonstrating our righteousness. . . We shouldn't strive for holiness motivated solely in the hopes of being judged worthy of entering into heaven. . . Our Lord desires us to be holy and to live holy and sanctified lives. . . Be ye holy for I am holy He said. . . and loving the Lord with all our heart, mind. . . body. . . strength. . . we should hunger to do those things which are pleasing to Him and to avoid those things displeasing to Him. . .With this as our motivation we can avoid legalism and becoming Pharisee's. . .avoiding self-righteousness and pride in ourselves.

I seek holiness, not because of my righteousness. . ., not for my strength, but due to my weakness, and I need to be as close to the Lord as possible to avoid temptation and falling away from Him. . .

Surely an old saying with wisdom, is that a journey of a thousand miles begins with one step. . .a spiritual journey can be one of moving toward the Lord and likewise it can be a journey of moving away from the Lord. Few if any who fall away from God do so in one giant move. . .Most generally it is a journey of many small steps. Maintaining vigilance upon the small things in your walk with God, will largely inoculate you from the danger of facing a day where you wake up a great distance from Him. . .

Strive for holiness in every aspect of your life. . .

Thank you my God. . .You are holy. . . therefore I desire to be holy. . .

From Such Turn Away. . .

2011-08-27T06:50:00.001-05:00

Last evening Jackie and I put the movie, "Paul the Apostle" in the DVD player in anticipation of watching a 3 hour movie on the life of Paul.

A few minutes into the move, it portrays the day of Pentecost. It shows Jesus telling them to wait for the Holy Spirit, then the scene changes to the upper room, where many are shown praying, then there was a great sound of a mighty rushing wind in the room. . . the flames of the lights brighten apparently in reference to the tongues of fire, but there is absolutely no speaking in tongues when the 120 were filled with the God’s Holy Spirit. . .

Here is the Scripture:

Acts 2:1-4 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. (2) And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. (3) And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. (4) And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

It showed no gathering of people around, wondering why they were miraculously speaking in languages, which as uneducated Galilaeans, they should have not known. . .

Again here the Scripture:

Acts 2:5-7 And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven. (6) Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language. (7) And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans?

It then didn’t really show Peter strongly preaching the first message of the New Testament, but it did show him rather quietly saying. . . something like, “You need to repent and be baptized so that your sins are forgiven. . .”

Again the movie absolutely gutted the scripture:

Acts 2:38-39 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. (39) For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.

At that point Jackie and I shut the movie off and I took it out of the DVD player an threw it in the garbage can. . . not even being fit for donation back to Good Will where I bought it. . .

Why would I sit and listen to a movie which distorts. . . even distorts by omission the Word of God.

In Acts 1:8 Jesus said: But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

They would have POWER after the Holy Ghost came upon them. . . the sign at the day of Pentecost and at other instances where the baptism of the Holy Ghost took place was the speaking in tongues. . . that cannot be ignored. . . Peter said that baptism should be done in the name of Jesus. . . that cannot be ignored. . . there is power in the Holy Spirit. . . there is power in the name of Jesus:

Acts 4:12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

I will not listen to a movie. . . I will not listen to preaching which denies the promised power of God available to us through the receiving of His Spirit, as evidenced by speaking in tongues and confuses men about the necessity of taking the name of Jesus at baptism. . .

Paul warned of such times as these:

2 Timothy 3:1-5 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. (2) For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, (3) Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, (4) Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; (5) Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

. . . Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof:. . . from such turn away. . .

Turn away. . . Turn away. . . Turn away from such. . .

The very image of repentance. . . I beg of you turn away. . .

We are not bad because we sin. . . but rather we sin because we are bad. . .

2011-08-17T14:29:00.004-05:00

We are not bad because we sin. . . but rather we sin because we are bad. . .

Sin is a symptom, and not a root cause. Our nature itself is one of selfish, and prideful hungers. No matter how idyllic our childhood. . . no matter how abundant our lives. . . no matter how fine an education we have. . .no matter the advantages and blessings which befall us, if we are left to our own devices, we will eventually express the blackness which inherently resides inside of us.

Sin is the rule and not the exception. Without God, the only difference between the scarred and tattooed thug sitting in a prison cell and the little white haired grandmotherly lady with her apron and her hair done up in a bun, is the battle ground on which they fight their battles. . . be it meth or crack cocaine or peaking at cards at gin rummy. . . sin is sin is sin. . . and it befalls all of us.

Externally applied righteousness is no righteousness. The Law of Moses was given to show, that rules written on tablets of stone, were not if themselves able to confer righteous behavior. Moses could only convey the rules of God. The people requested that God not speak directly to them:

Exodus 20:18-19
And all the people saw the thunderings, and the lightnings, and the noise of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking: and when the people saw it, they removed, and stood afar off. (19) And they said unto Moses, Speak thou with us, and we will hear: but let not God speak with us, lest we die.

He could not convey the relationship he had with God. He could only pass along the rules and commandments of God. . .rules without relationship = failure. This is as true today as it was 4,000 years ago and yet most who call themselves Christians today, continue to strive for righteousness and holiness without the power of the direct relationship with God available to all people today.

The final words before Jesus ascended into heaven:

Acts 1:4-8
And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. (5) For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence. (6) When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? (7) And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power. (8) But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

In Acts chapter 2, the Holy Spirit fell upon the waiting disciples and they were baptized with the Spirit of God as evidenced by their speaking with an unknown tongue:

Acts 2:1-4
And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. (2) And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. (3) And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. (4) And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

It is this power given to us by the Holy Spirit of God residing within us, which make a way for us to overcome our sinful nature. It is estimated that there are some 2 billion Christians in the world today. Of those only about 500 million are spirit filled. . . some 75% of all Christians do not have the Spirit of God within them. They love God. . .they seek after God, but they have been misled into believing that the Spirit of God come to them automatically at the time of baptism or at the time when they “accepted” Christ even though the Bible clearly shows this not to be the case.

Up until Acts chapter 10, the entire Bible is concerned with salvation of the Jews only, but Peter after being given a vision from God, was called to the home of a gentile to preach and when he did:

(Acts 10:44-45) While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost.

How did they know that they were filled with the Holy Ghost?

(Acts 10:46) For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter,

Did this filling of the Holy Spirit of God come at the same time as their belief? Did it come when automatically when they were baptized?

(Acts 10:47-48) Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we? And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.

No, it did not. . .

Did this filling of the Holy Spirit of God come at the same time as their belief? Did it come when automatically when they were baptized?

(Acts 19:2-6) He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost. And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism. Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus. When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.

No, it did not. . .

(2 Corinthians 13:1)
. . . In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established.

Are you a Christian? Do you believe in the Bible? Then I suggest to you, that you need to model your faith and actions on what is recorded in the Bible. . .

In whom. . .

2011-07-25T11:28:00.000-05:00

I've been reading in Paul's letters for my devotions for the past several weeks. Each author has their own favorite literary constructions and one of Paul's seems to be "In whom." Here is a list of Paul's "In whoms":

In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. (2 Corinthians 4:4)

In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; (Ephesians 1:7)

In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will: (Ephesians 1:11)

In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, (Ephesians 1:13)

In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: (Ephesians 2:21)

In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit. (Ephesians 2:22)

In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him. (Ephesians 3:12)

In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: (Colossians 1:14)

In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. (Colossians 2:3)

In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ: (Colossians 2:11)

Here are a couple of others, where the "in whom" doesn't start the sentence, but is contained within:

How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? (Romans 10:14)

Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver: in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us; (2 Corinthians 1:10)

Christianity. . . a crutch for the lame. . .

2011-07-15T11:57:00.000-05:00

Recently I was reading a forum entry on the Internet, where someone asked the question, “Why all the hate expressed toward Jesus?” One of the responses, justifying the attitude of hatred toward Jesus and Christianity in general, was the following statement, “Christianity is a crutch for the lame.” My first reaction to anyone attacking my Lord, is for the hair to rise on the back of my neck, and to begin to form a response in my mind. . . but this statement beyond my initial rejection of it, I believe I would have to heartily agree with. . .

Christianity. . .or more properly not Christianity the institution, but the doctrine preached by our Lord Jesus Christ is indeed a crutch for the lame. . . and I give thanks to you my God for that crutch.

A crutch is a tool that allows one disabled by their physical defect to regain their feet. . .allows one destined to be mired in the roadside dust, to participate and to contribute productively to the world rather than to forever beg from the filth at the side of the road.

Our pride rebels at the thought of being called lame or disabled, but that is indeed what sin does to us. When in our sin, we are hobbled by its chains, unable to be of full benefit to our families, to our employers. . . to the world at large.

This metaphor falls short, in that when a lame man is given a crutch, he indeed is able now to walk, but he is not in a full sense completely restored to a healthful condition. He can never put down his crutch without stopping all his movement. I am dependent upon Christ. . . upon His grace. . . upon His mercy. . . upon His strength. . . His love and kindness. . . but not in the same way as a lame man needs his crutch. I have freedom in a way that the lame man will never know. I can walk away from the Lord with full mobility. . . as rapidly as I choose. . . thereby leaving my ‘crutch’ behind.

I most willingly carry the Lord with me, never wanting to lay Him down. . . never dreaming of desiring to part ways with Him. . . More than a crutch. . . we walk hand in hand along life’s path. . . I along His path and He along my path, at other times when I choose a way not perfectly in His will, but still He is with me. Allowing me, to choose a road with dangerous crevasses. . . a path of my own making, not leading me closer to a holy objective. . .but He stays with me. . . guiding me, when His light shines upon my feet and I see that I have strayed . . . then guiding me back to the High way. . .never leaving nor forsaking me. . . even in times of my foolishness. . .

Yes. . . Christianity is indeed a crutch for the lame. . . it is sight for the blind. . . hearing for the deaf. . . healing for the ill. . . A pardon to all those imprisoned by sin and by it therefore sentenced to die. . .

Thank you my Lord. . .
Thank you my Savior. . .
I love you God. . .