IS SOMETHING MISSING?

 

IS SOMETHING MISSING?

Have you ever had an internal gnawing that your spiritual life is missing something?

When one questions the fact the early church must have had something I don’t have. How could they have made it without the huge cathedrals, T.V. preachers, millions of how to live a Christian life books and recorded media.

Were they able to plumb the depths of the Christian experience to a greater degree than you have?  Are we facing a greater challenge than they did?

I’m certainly not qualified to answer that question fully but if there is a longing for more of GOD than what you now have; then something is missing.

We are promised fullness of joy, peace and comfort in the HOLY GHOST.  Is that your experience? It is needful to ask yourself these questions and more first before you can work through the lack to the supply of your need.

In so many cases we have accepted; “this is it, all of it” and have remained stuck at this level of satisfaction which doesn’t really satisfy. If you don’t have what the scripture says is available, then you have work to do.

Being English speaking I find myself not able to understand but maybe half of what is said at times. In today’s world people use expressions and words I haven’t got a clue as to what they are talking about.

When it comes to scripture the same thing applies.  “Joy in the HOLY GHOST,” I might have it and don’t know it!   If so I need to be walking in the power that accompanies it.

Oft times the scriptures are interpreted in the light of the meanings of today’s world. We need to know what Paul the Apostle meant when he spoke.  The more modern translations can be of some help unless the translation has been tainted by denominational bias.

If you waver in your belief that the early church had spiritual power that is not available to the church today then you have been half defeated already.

The truth is that everything they had is available today. Whether it is the ability to show forth the fruit of the Spirit, manifest the gifts of the Spirit or to walk in paths of righteousness.  Not withstanding Paul had to admonish them to stir up their gifts.

2 Timothy 1:6 This is why I remind you to fan into flames the spiritual gift God gave you when I laid my hands on you.

This is a principle. That we must be spiritually alive and empowered by the HOLY GHOST constantly.

I don’t think I’m being presumptuous in saying that what Paul said in Philippians 4:8-9 applies to us today;  Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things. The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.

In other words do what I do.

THE TRIUMPHAL ENTRY

 

 

THE TRIUMPHAL ENTRY

By E. David Schneider

 

On the road from Jericho ascending into Jerusalem,

At the Mount of Olives, the place He was near,

Jesus sent two of His disciples to the village nearby

“Find the donkey, loose him and bring him here.”

 

The Disciples went as they were told

And found the colt waiting there

“Why are you loosing him, the owner said,

“The Lord hath need of him,” was the message the disciples did share.

 

They brought the colt to Jesus

And upon his back their garments they placed

They set Jesus upon the Donkey

The Messiah was now ready to enter the city in praise.

 

For the prophet had written long ago

“Rejoice oh daughter of Zion, rejoice

For your King is coming to you

Salvation He is bringing, so life up your voice.

 

“His rulership shall be from sea to sea,

And “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.”

So as He descended from the Mount of Olives to Jerusalem,

A great multitude of disciples lifted their voices in one accord.

 

While a great company of people shouted

“Hosanna here is our coming King.”

As palm branches from trees, they spread in the way

And praised God for the great works they had seen.

 

Rebuke your disciples, some of the Pharisees said,

For they understood the message being conveyed,

For they were exalting a new King,

And great claims were being made.

 

Jesus aid, “If all these should hold their peace,

Even the stones would cry out to you.”

And reaching the City of Jerusalem, Jesus prophesied

That the city would be demolished and they that lived there too.

 

Arriving at the Temple, He cast out all who bought and sold,

For Jesus was very - very grieved,

My house shall be a house of prayer,

But you have made it a den of thieves.

 

The blind man and the lame came to Him

And He healed everyone,

Even the children crying Hosanna in the Temple

Made the Chief Priest and Pharisees unhappy with Him.

 

They sought for ways to destroy Him,

This man of great authority

But they could find none

For all the people His message received.

I NEED A WORD 3

Let Me Hear From You - Oh Lord !

 

Here lately it seems that GOD isn't talking very much or doesn't have very much to say to me.  It may be because that when he speaks, I'm not listening.

 

As I go around Christian people some are always saying; “GOD told me” this and that. To hear them talk they have a pipeline to heaven where they have an ongoing dialogue with GOD and they converse with HIM constantly getting directions for all they do.

 

This may be true because GOD isn’t talking to me that much and the reason may be because others have all HIS attention and he is too busy to get around to me.  Or it may not be true and they are having a self induced conversation with an imaginary friend. 

 

Do we from time to time get a word from the LORD? The answer is simply stated, yes we do.

 
A recent example of how this works in my own life was before I went to sleep the other night I was thinking; “GOD is sure quite lately,” that is, HIM speaking within me, and I decided to pray about this, so I said;  “LORD I would like a word of encouragement or instruction or something.”
 

As I laid there a word came to me that I didn’t want to hear, and that was - -

 

 “You need to pray for your leaders.”

 

Now I knew the scriptures that admonished Christians to hold up and pray for the leadership of this country, and up out of my memory came the scripture

 

1 Timothy 2 :1-2  I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people.  Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them. Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity.

 

I got what I asked for a word from GOD confirmed by the scripture but I didn’t like it. 

The last thing I wanted to do was pray for our sitting president because I don’t like where he is leading us.

 

After settling down I began to see a different picture, I saw a man who is far over his head with responsibility, and he needs GOD’S help more than he realizes.

 

Whether he will humble himself and follow GOD’S leading is not my responsibility, my job is to do what GOD has directed me to do, and that is to pray for him.

 

The next part was to pray for the Congress, that peace shall be in those chambers. That within their disagreements there shall always be unity, and one body with one agenda, and that is the good for the citizens of this country.

 

Well agree or disagree it’s of no matter as long as the spirit of unity is preserved. Listen to the song below, and even if you disagree with my rant it will bless you and make up for my lack of ability to bless!

 

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6KUmDuQP1mQ&feature=related

 

CHRIST OUR PASSOVER

CHRIST OUR PASSOVER

 

“Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29)

When John spoke these words every Jew immediately reflected back to the scripture found in Exodus 12:21-24 Then Moses called for all the elders of Israel and said to them, "Pick out and take lambs for yourselves according to your families, and kill the Passover lamb.  And you shall take a bunch of hyssop, dip it in the blood that is in the basin, and strike the lintel and the two doorposts with the blood that is in the basin. And none of you shall go out of the door of his house until morning.  For the Lord will pass through to strike the Egyptians; and when He sees the blood on the lintel and on the two doorposts, the Lord will pass over the door and not allow the destroyer to come into your houses to strike you. And you shall observe this thing as an ordinance for you and your sons forever.

While what John said wasn’t totally clear it got the people’s attention and two of John’s disciples began to follow Jesus to get a further explanation of what John meant. What they knew was the lamb covered sin for a period of time, but John declared Jesus would take sin away.  This was almost beyond belief, a permanent solution for the sin problem.

They recognized sin was a big issue and would separate us from GOD in a big way. The purpose of the sacrifices was to allow man to stand before GOD cleansed by the blood of the lamb and was a sign of what was to come.

Paul the Apostle said I do not frustrate the grace of GOD (by adding the law). We can frustrate the purpose of GOD in your life by acting as if grace is the permission to sin. To take the attitude that grace allows me to do as I please instead of walking after the Spirit is a presumptuous sin and will break your fellowship with GOD.

Broken fellowship with GOD is not that easy to restore because verbalization won’t get it done. Saying words might seemingly be the right way to go, but in order to get from the dark place you have entered it will require total repentance with nothing being feigned.

God knows you thoughts before you think them so you can’t fake it with GOD. This is a mistake most Christians have tried at one time or the other (what fools we mortals be.)

The price of grace was too high to be misused or another way to say it is; “while grace is free it didn’t come at a cheap price”.

1 Corinthians 5:7 Purge out therefore the old leaven (sin), that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us.

Read the Ten Commandments again and ask yourself which one of these can’t I obey?  Then realize it is not but a case of can’t but of won’t if you consider one or more is beyond your reach.

Romans 6:11 For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God. Even so consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus. Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its lusts.

The world today is disgusted with Christians who do not live the Christ life.  

Do not be numbered among those who excuse themselves and have to plead for grace unnecessarily.

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aXm48oASJ7U

 

 

THE ROOT OF BITTERNESS

THE ROOT OF BITTERNESS 

Genesis 27:34-37 Easy-to-Read Version (ERV)

34 When Esau heard his father’s words, he became very angry and bitter. He cried out and said to his father, “Then bless me also, father!”

35 Isaac said, “Your brother tricked me! He came and took your blessing!”

36 Esau said, “His name is Jacob. That is the right name for him. He has tricked me twice. He took away my rights as the firstborn son. And now he has taken away my blessing.”

If anyone had the right to be ticked off it was Esau. His brother had made a case study of Esau since childhood and knew his weaknesses and how to use them to his advantage. He also knew how to work his mother as he was her favorite.

Being the firstborn Esau had certain rights and Jacob used guile to rob him of both.  Had this not happened the way it was played out, our history would be written differently.

How many of you have some of the feelings Esau harbored and believe you have been taken advantage of within the family structure.

Perhaps you didn’t “get yours” and are carrying around bad feeling toward other members of the family. The cost for harboring those hurts and feelings come at a high price. Your psychological profile carries not only the reality of the circumstance but also an unreality conjured up by damaged feelings.

Jacob didn’t get off Scott free because the separation from his family cost him greatly but it was Esau who suffered the most for those many years until he got over it. The time came when he forgave Jacob the offending one and this brought a measure of peace to his soul.

To those who harbor unforgiveness; I encourage you to take advantage of what forgiving the guilty person can do for you and what they did even if they have passed on.

This isn’t a total remedy because forgiveness doesn’t provide forgetfulness but it is the best thing we have to deal with the malady of being short changed some way.

Perhaps it is time to lighten the required load you carry for just living in this world.

Mark 11:25 “And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins."

This post is shared at “Tell Me a True Story.” 

 

SANCTIFY YOU COMPLETELY 7 - Until the Coming of The Lord

Sanctified Until The Coming of The Lord

 

SANCTIFY YOU COMPLETELY 7 - Until the Coming of The Lord

1 Thessalonians 5:23 May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

While the forces of evil arrayed against us are formidable the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit far exceeds those who are against us. But he requires us to cooperate with HIM spirit, soul, and body.

Is your human spirit working with or against the Holy Spirit?

What about your soul and body are they helping as much as possible? We have talked a little about the spirit and soul so now a few words about the body.

While the spirit seeks fellowship with the Father the emotions and body lean more to self-satisfaction. 

 

Therefore the body is lust on parade. It constantly sends messages to the will to satisfy whatever it desires.  Food, sex and comfort are some of the prime desires it find most needful.  It hooks up with the emotions and makes strong demands for relief from its drives.

Excess is the enemy the body has to face whether it is for food or a myriad of other things. Unfortunately we find the body is more closely attuned to the soul than the spirit.

1 Corinthians 9:25-27 Everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. They then do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. 26Therefore I run in such a way, as not without aim; I box in such a way, as not beating the air; 27but I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified.

Paul realized that he had to control the whole man, and that he was; spirit, soul and body.

Much of the troubling areas he called “flesh” and warned us to not follow after the flesh but to walk after the Spirit.

We are to be filled with the Spirit and be led by The Spirit. To do otherwise will lead us to live a lukewarm existence.

Having double vision isn’t allowed in living for Christ; if therefore your eye be single, your whole body shall be full of light.

Paul was convinced we could walk in the light and stay out of darkness by making sure our whole spirit, soul and body was kept blameless until the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

SANCTIFY YOU COMPLETELY 6 Protect the Eye Gate to your Soul

Eye Gate Must be Protected

SANCTIFY YOU COMPLETELY 6  Protect the Eye Gate to your Soul

Thessalonians 5:23 Now may the God of peace make you holy in every way, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ comes again.

You are wholly into the scriptures and believe fully into Jesus Christ and everything he stands for but yet you fail to serve him as you know you should. Many of the body of Christ suffer from this malady and fall short. Some do the most outrageous things in spite of their testimony for Him. No one is exempt from such an implosion yet understanding the whys of it can help ward it off for a lifetime.

As the mind interacts with the second feature of the soul, the emotions it is challenged for how we feel can override what is often called “Common sense”. How often we say; “I knew better” but we go head first onto a situation that can cause us and the cause of Christ great damage. We find ourselves being dishonest in circumstances we find ourselves in. Our image of ourselves is being a strong stalwart Christian but end up acting as a heathen would. Our associates are expert in promoting such conduct.

1 Corinthians 15:33  Do not be misled: "Bad company corrupts good character."

This speaks volumes about who we hang out with and in some cases who we try to convert. Unfortunately many have ended by being converted to the ways of those they were trying to convert.

The emotional arena is where the evil powers attack us most and have their greatest success.

Ephesians 6:12 For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.

These evil spirits have available to them all the resources of the Devil better known as the wiles (devious or cunning stratagems employed in manipulating or persuading someone to do what one wants) of the Devil. Beyond having His power being available to them to attack you they are invisible and unseen which multiplies their effectiveness. They are by nature evil and unclean.

The eyegate is where the unclean has its most effectiveness. This is not to exclude what you hear for it also has its part in the downfall of the Christian. The combining of the two is a mighty force and requires the whole of GOD’S armor for a defense.

Matt.6:22-23 The eye is the lamp of the body; so then if your eye is clear, your whole body will be full of light. 23"But if your eye is bad, (what you are focusing on) your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light that is in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!

Luke 8:18 "So pay attention to how you hear. To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given. But for those who are not listening, even what they think they understand will be taken away from them."

The Christian lives in a world that is fully conditioned to be compatible with Satan’s agenda and it is charged to bring down all who name the name of Christ as redeemer. They are spiritual by nature and must be resisted on three levels, mentally, emotionally and physically.

How we think, how we feel and how we act.

This post is shared at “Tell Me a True Story.”

 

SANCTIFY YOU COMPLETELY 5 Renew Your Mind

Renew Your Mind

 

 

SANCTIFY YOU COMPLETELY 5  Renew Your Mind

1 Thessalonians 5:23 May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Your mind is the mind of your spirit. It interprets what your spirit receives from the SPIRIT OF GOD and relates the message to what you already know. The message isn’t always clear to us because of our lack of spiritual understanding. We know GOD has spoken but aren’t sure what HE has said to us. This is why it is so important to hide GOD’S word in our heart (mind) so we can comprehend what the Spirit is saying to us. This is the first step to living a successful Christian life.

Romans 8:5-9 For those who are according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace, because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so, You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ.

1 Corinthians 2:16  “For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him (no one)?” But we have the mind of Christ.

Well how did we get the mind of Christ? The answer is simple; Through the word of GOD, and being taught by the Holy Spirit.

John 16:13 But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth.

There is a further conditioning process outlined in 1John 1:3 We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ.

Having fellowship with the Father and the Son develops a familiarity with GOD that causes us to understand what the Spirit is communicating to us. All of what I have been speaking of is His messages that are internalized. There are also tongues and interpretation and prophecy which are verbal expressions. 

All too many do not reach the level where they understand what the Spirit is saying, and miss God’s perfect will for their lives. When God speaks to us it is wisdom hidden for us - - not from us but we must be able to receive it by our minds and spirit being in tuned with His Spirit.

If you aren’t getting the message right that GOD is sending to you, then you will end up going to places He never sent you to.  Doing things HE doesn’t want you to do and saying things HE doesn’t want you to say.

The result being you will question your ministry and having given your best, you will see yourself as a failure. The greatest remedy for this is to realize you got the message wrong and work on your communication skills with GOD and go at it again.  

 

SANCTIFY YOU COMPLETELY 4 Keep You Blameless

Blameless

 

SANCTIFY YOU COMPLETELY 4  Keep You Blameless

1 Thessalonians 5:23 English Standard Version
Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Paul the Apostle defines man as being a trichotomy.  He dealt with each part of the trichotomy throughout his epistles and the part each played in the whole.  We now look into the part called Soul (psuché).  Our will, emotions and mind.

While it isn’t more important than the spirit it certainly plays a more active role in the affairs of man.  The way you think of GOD. What you think about GOD and how you respond to GOD is controlled by the soul. Your spiritual interaction with GOD is either enhanced or hindered by the soul.

Romans 12:2  And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

This is Paul’s admonishment to continue to pursue righteousness after being born again. The conditioning of one’s mental state is vital to showing outwardly what has occurred inwardly. Men everywhere are declaring they are followers of Christ but the fruit they bear says otherwise.

Romans 1:18  For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth.

Whether it be a nation or an individual, to ignore GOD and His word will bring down the wrath of GOD upon them. This is the promise of GOD and doesn’t require faith to cause it to happen. People often put their toe in the water to see if it is hot enough to burn them. In the same way they try a little sin to see if GOD’s wrath will fall not realizing that in this period of grace GOD may delay his wrath for a short while allowing people to repent of their evil but know it can fall at any moment.

Titus 2:12 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age.

Conformity to what the ungodly declare to be righteousness puts you in the same category as them. The task set before us is to see everything as GOD sees it and act accordingly. The philosophy that drives the way you think and act must be derived from the word that God has caused to be spoken and written. Whether it has been written by the finger of GOD as in the Ten Commandments or by men moved by the Holy Spirit.

The necessity of reading and studying the bible and the submitting yourself to its commands can’t be overstated for only then can you be led by the Spirit of GOD. The yielding of the heart of the believer to the will of GOD outlined in the Bible is the foundation of successful living as a Christian.

As we think so we shall act.

SANCTIFY YOU COMPLETELY and Make you Holy

 

SANCTIFY YOU COMPLETELY  and Make you Holy in Every Way

1 Thessalonians 5:23 New Living Translation

Now may the God of peace make you holy in every way, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ comes again.

This scripture should be implanted in every Christians mind. I have been emphasizing the human spirit part of this scripture because a full grasp of this is the first step in answering the question, “Who am I?”

Prior to the new birth the answer is, “I’m a lost sinner.” After being born again you say, “I’m a child of GOD.”  Every step you take and every breath you breathe the answer should resonate that fact and life lived accordingly. Any further discovery must needs be a part of this equation. 

Sensing the spirit and the things of the spirit takes a more focused approach because of the sensory part of our being is part of the soul (the mind, will and emotions). The spirit is the life force that comes from GOD. As we shall see the soul must harmonize with the born again spirit in order to produce the Christian life we are admonished live.  Definitively the explanation we are a spirit, we have a soul and live in a body serves us well for our understanding and study.

The spirit and soul are indivisibly connected and can only be fully discerned by the word of GOD.

Hebrews 4:12 NAS  For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts (mind)  and intentions (will) of the heart (desires).

Everybody has a soul problem to one degree or another and this is the basic cause for our Christian lives not reflecting the Christ life fully. While you are perfect in spirit being infused by the Holy Spirit the same doesn’t apply to the soul and it must be brought into harmony with the spirit man.

 

Romans 12:2 New Living TranslationDon't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God's will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.

That good and pleasing and perfect part is where it’s at.  Changing the way you think, do you get that? In this world system that is what is going on. People are trying to control you by changing the way you think.  Go back to the garden scene. What did the serpent do when approaching Eve? He changed the way she thought which led to her disobedience. Then she fed Adam the same message and he followed her way that she had bought into.

All sin is the product of Satan, administered by unclean spirits. When you decide to disobey GOD’S word you are doing business with one or more unclean spirits.  When Jesus found one at work he basically said: “hit the road Jack” and it was so.

Perhaps this is the best Theology to apply today.

 

 

SANCTIFY YOU COMPLETELY Spirit Soul and Body

To Please Jesus in ALL Areas of our Lives

 

1 Thessalonians 5:23 New Living Translation
Now may the God of peace make you holy in every way, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ comes again.

John 14:20 "In that (this day) day you will know that I am in My Father, and you in me, and I in you.

John 17:22-23 "The glory which You have given Me I have given to them, that they may be one, just as We are one; I in them and You in Me,

So we start with scriptures that speak of the unity the believer has with the Father Son and Holy Spirit.

This has been accomplished through the regeneration of the new birth and is the fulfillment of the statements Jesus made while speaking to the father.

John 14:16-17 I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever;  that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you.

This was a precursor of what was going to happen when one is born again and came to pass after the ascension of Christ.

1 Corinthians 12:13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body (the corporate body of Christ). By this act the Holy Spirit is fully immersed into the spirit of the believer and whereas before He was the one who convicted us and brought us to Christ He now is the Helper that enables us to serve Christ. 

1 Corinthians 6:19 New Living Translation
Don't you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself.

All these scriptures lead up to one thing and that is God the Holy Spirit is dwelling in your body in your spirit. Do you get it? I repeat do you get it. This is reality. The third member of the Godhead who in the beginning was actively creating the universe now dwells within you.

Too many people do not either know this or they ignore the relationship they have with the Almighty. Understanding this do you dare to premeditatedly, wittingly, willfully, calculatingly, consciously and by design, sin?

I had to ask myself if I took my relationship with my maker as serious as I should. I shan’t tell you my conclusion but after giving it much thought I realized I needed to make big time changes. I just thought about it for I wasn’t bold enough to ask God His opinion about it.

Your spirit is the utmost factor in your being and your life force both spiritual and psychologically is dependent upon its condition before God.

 Proverbs 4:23 Above all else, guard your heart (spirit), for everything you do flows from it. Are you getting everything you should from this relationship with the Holy Spirit?