![[Facebook]](/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/facebook.png)
![[Twitter]](/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/twitter.png)
![[YouTube]](/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/youtube.png)
![[Amazing Life Church Home]](/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/church.png)
![[Mail]](/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/mail.png)
Category Archives: Light and Salt
In His Hands
In His Hands
Betty and I have had a very busy week. We are honored to serve our family and friends, along with our community. Always acknowledging this awesome group of people and your faithfulness to God.
I am not a good time manager. However my thoughts are almost always on God’s work. Listening, reading, praying for revelation and understanding.
I often think of the past while praying. Mostly my past and the awesome love and grace of God. At times it brings me great sorrow. The pain you feel when you realize you could have done better. Then that feeling turns into tears of joy when I begin to worship and praise the God who has forgotten my past, and moves me forward in His amazing purpose.
Micah 7:19 Message, “And compassion is on its way to us. You’ll stamp out our wrongdoing. You’ll sink our sins to the bottom of the ocean.”
In Prayer, when I began to write notes and research scriptures for this message a phrase came to mind. I stopped in my tracks, lifted my eyes towards the heavens and said, “Jesus, Were It Not For You”
“Can you think on that for a moment?”
Psalms 31:14-15
14 But as for me, I trust in You, O Lord, I say, “You are my God.”
15 My times are in Your hand; Deliver me from the hand of my enemies and from those who persecute me.
Verse 15 says my times. It literally means, my days, hours, weeks, years. MY TIMES
The Message says, “Hour by hour I place my days in your hand, safe from the hands out to get me.”
“In His Hands”
Jesus said.
John 10:27-30
27 My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me;
28 and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand.
29 My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand.
“Do we really understand what this says?”
“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them”= speaks of mutual recognition.
“They follow me, and I give them eternal life” = speaks of reciprocal activity.
“They shall not perish forever, and no one shall pluck them out of my hand” = this is an authoritative assurance, and its promise and justification.
“This stuff is awesome. What promises God has provided for us.”
“He knows us, He has given eternal life to us, and nobody can take us away from Him.”
Job said this in describing his cataclysmic loss of family and wealth.
Job 12:9-10
9 “Who among all these does not know That the hand of the Lord has done this,
10 In whose hand is the life of every living thing, And the breath of all mankind?
“Do we really understand the presence and power of God that keeps us, and empowers us.”
Isaiah 49:14-16
14 But Zion said, “The Lord has forsaken me, And the Lord has forgotten me.”
15 “Can a woman forget her nursing child And have no compassion on the son of her womb? Even these may forget, but I will not forget you.
16 “Behold, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands; Your walls are continually before Me.
David shared this from Psalms 139.
Psalms 139:9-10
9 If I take the wings of the dawn, If I dwell in the remotest part of the sea,
10 Even there Your hand will lead me, And Your right hand will lay hold of me.
Psalms 138:7
Though I walk in the midst of trouble, You will revive me; You will stretch forth Your hand against the wrath of my enemies, And Your right hand will save me.
“The safety and power of the promises we have inherited as we live our lives, in His hands.”
Wisdom Vindicated
Wisdom Vindicated
I am old enough to understand the meaning of Wisdom. I, like many others have found wisdom in the mistakes we have made in our lifetime. Not that this is useful to anyone but you personally.
It’s like when you see your kids or a friend fixing to do something that in your experience was a mistake. Probably the same thing happened when you advised them of the possibilities that could come from their choice. Someone advised you against your decision and you did it anyway. After you cleaned up the mess you could say with confidence that you have embraced wisdom about that situation.
Wisdom comes from life events. Things we do, things that have been done to us. Every life event is a teaching tool. It can reveal good, or bad.
Knowing that, is defined as wisdom.
Wisdom in the New Testament is taken from the Greek word, sophia. It is defined broadly as, “full of intelligence, and the knowledge of very diverse matters.”
I want to just share a little on Jesus and His attempts to teach the religious community. He was trying by visible experiences to teach them the wisdom of God.
All of us have learned many of these Biblical principles the hard way.
Matthew 11:19
The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Behold, a gluttonous man and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ Yet wisdom is vindicated by her deeds.”
What is Jesus trying to say?
I believe He is saying just watch what happens when people embrace Me. When I open a door for the very ones that you reject.
How many times have you wondered how in the world that someone you knew ever changed their life and embraced Christ with everything they have. You may have believed that nothing could reach them.
What happened was an encounter that helped them understand God’s eternal love, and that He had a purpose for them. This was wisdom at it’s very best.
Here is the story that says it better than me.
Luke 5:29-32
29 And Levi gave a big reception for Him in his house; and there was a great crowd of tax collectors and other people who were reclining at the table with them.
30 The Pharisees and their scribes began grumbling at His disciples, saying, “Why do you eat and drink with the tax collectors and sinners?”
31 And Jesus answered and said to them, “It is not those who are well who need a physician, but those who are sick.
32 I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.”
Many religious folks, even today do not really understand the heart of Jesus. Yes if you have been in church for a while you have heard His word. You know who the sinners are and the failures of life.
Jesus tried to teach us that these folks were the reason He came.
Luke 5:32 Amplified
I did not come to call the [self-proclaimed] righteous [who see no need to repent], but sinners to repentance [to change their old way of thinking, to turn from sin and to seek God and His righteousness].”
Message
“Who needs a doctor: the healthy or the sick? I’m here inviting outsiders, not insiders—an invitation to a changed life, changed inside and out.”
The wisdom that has been vindicated by the work of Jesus goes far beyond the rules and regulations the religious folks impose on people.
It is very important to the followers of Christ that we learn His heart. His love for the sinner, the afflicted, the sick, and the hopeless. It was His heart for them that moved Him beyond religion.
“Yet wisdom is vindicated by her deeds.”
Called to Engage
Called to Engage
I love to talk about Jesus and His church. I do my best to share the Biblical principles regarding salvation, and the relevance of Jesus to the world today.
From time to time I get very broad with my pronouncements but it is what it is.
Many people refer to their opinion when explaining the story of Jesus and the church. I am one of the many that believes these things should not be referenced as an opinion. These principles are easily understood.
I will be the first to admit that there are things in the Bible that are not easily understood. With much study and prayer the best we can do is come up with an educated opinion.
The story of Jesus and the structure of the church is not one of these things. Jesus and the purpose of the church have been made clear Biblically. So clear that they can be taught with authority throughout every generation.
Keep your opinions of a persons lifestyle and destination to yourself. You can’t save them, so don’t judge them. Tell them the story of Jesus.
Regarding the church, when you remove accountability you have become rogue. No longer following the Biblical principles of Apostolic ministry and authority.
The Father created the church to be a living breathing organism in each community. Bringing the story of Jesus. The work of the Holy Spirit. The ministry to the poor and the hurting. Teaching the need to follow Christ and then making them disciples of Christ. So these folks can change the world they live in.
These, we are all one body groups, are doing their best to reject the Biblical principles of the New Testament church. I do believe they love Jesus but without accountability there is too much confusion. Everyone goes their own way. Believing in their own opinions.
Pray with me for these good folks, and the entire global church as well. The enemy is roaring about, and without a strong foundation of accountability. So many folks are left all alone to deal with the life events that come to all of us.
It’s All Very Simple
It’s All Very Simple
Well, the morning has started with some reruns of the Andy Griffith Show. I like to watch them on the Sundance channel because they show different cuts from the original episodes. Scenes that are usually not viewed.
Yes, this probably indicates that I am over 21 years old. It reminds me how things used to be. I can remember how simple life was. Things were sort of black or white, right or wrong. It didn’t take a Doctorate to understand all the relevant points when someone says, I am thirsty. I would like a glass of water.
Did they really mean glass, or would a Dixie cup do. Spring water, tap water, flavored water. A full glass, or just half full.
Cold water or room temp.
THIS MAKES ME TIRED.
The same thing has happened to the Gospel. I believe that most of the 41,000 different denominations and institutions believe that Jesus is the answer. It is the path to reach Him, and to embrace Him, that is all over the place.
I have a lot to say about Biblical principles and the Apostolic authority that has been passed on to the church. What was accomplished in the book of Acts and throughout the NT is relevant today.
Keep an eye on my blog posts. I address these things all the time. For now I am going to keep it simple.
John 12:32
And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to Myself.
The word all, or a synonym is used in all the English translations of this verse. “All, Means All”
Luke 9:23-25
23 And He was saying to them all, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me.
24 For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake, he is the one who will save it.
25 For what is a man profited if he gains the whole world, and loses or forfeits himself?”
What an amazing Savior. He died for all, called all. It’s all very simple.
Jesus suffered intense Roman persecution. The rejection of the very people He came for. People who should have known who He was. His crucifixion and death.
He went through this so all would have a path to Him.
That path requires us to give up our will and ways to follow Him, Our cross if you will. “It’s all very simple.” We lose who we are, to become who He has called us to be.
He even made the journey very simple when it comes to theological principles.
Luke 22:36-40
36 “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” 37 And He said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’
38 This is the great and foremost commandment.
39 The second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’
40 On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets.”
It’s All Very Simple.
John 1:12
But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name.
One Body
One Body
Well I thought I would address another subject that tends to be used inappropriately. At least it will be my take on the subject.
It seems there is a movement about that suggests that the local church is not relevant.
These ministries often say that we are all members of the same body. This of course is true.
1 Corinthians 12:12-13
12 For even as the body is one and yet has many members, and all the members of the body, though they are many, are one body, so also is Christ.
13 For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.
Anybody reading this should understand that this is referring to spiritual alignment with Christ. All Christians are connected in the Spirit to the will and purpose of God. We have to go beyond this and understand that the Apostolic ministry beginning in the book of Acts started building local churches.
Not necessarily structures, but groups of people in given areas that join together to worship the Lord. These people fellowshipped together, prayed together. Helped meet the needs of one another. Most importantly they had oversight.
When a group formed, the Apostles set a Pastor over the congregation. Trained teachers and evangelist to work in and out of the church. All of this Kingdom structure was covered with Apostolic authority. The church was not only accountable to the 5 fold ministry. They were accountable to one another, and to their local communities.
We have been given a commission to change our world. Our country is starving for leadership. There are too many people who want to lead, before they ever learn to follow.
Remember the Apostle John gave us the book of Revelation. It was a letter to seven churches. SEVEN CHURCHES. Six of which Jesus had an issue with. He did not have an issue with the church at Philadelphia.
Just so you know from the Greek. Philadelphia means, “brotherly love” Just had to get that in.
Blessings to you all, in His name. www.visitlivinghope@gmail.com
A Message not a Massage
A Message not a Massage
There has been an issue on my heart for weeks and I have finally found time to share some thoughts. I hear all too often how preachers are not addressing sin issues enough. They call it soft and compromising if you preach the love of God and His love for all people. Sinners and saints. I have heard said that some call it giving a massage, instead of preaching them a message about hell fire and eternal damnation.
The prophet Jeremiah addresses a similar issues in his 6th chapter verse 14. “They dress the wound of my people as though it were not serious. ‘Peace, peace,’ they say, when there is no peace.”
Ministries often spend time preaching against things that no one in their congregation is dealing with. Social issues, sexual sins. Never addressing the value that love has to turn the heart of someone that has not embraced Christ.
When I share my thoughts on this subject, I often get a lot of criticism. I love that. In some small manner it puts me in the same situation Christ was in. The religious folks didn’t like His message either.
They often forget that it was the religious folks that hated Him because He loved the sinners. He forgave them, healed them, embraced them.
2 Corinthians 4:3-4 Message
3 If our Message is obscure to anyone, it’s not because we’re holding back in any way. No, it’s because these other people are looking or going the wrong way and refuse to give it serious attention.
4 All they have eyes for is the fashionable god of darkness. They think he can give them what they want, and that they won’t have to bother believing a Truth they can’t see. They’re stone-blind to the day spring brightness of the Message that shines with Christ, who gives us the best picture of God we’ll ever get.
The religious folks were looking for the Messiah. Those in the temple knew every prophesy about Him, yet they could not recognize Him.
Much like to day many have a picture in their minds of what Christ should look like. How He would respond to sinners and saints. All too often that picture is a God with a sword, poised to kill those who are in sin.
It is a picture that is painted all too often when telling the story of Jesus.
In John chapter 4 Jesus had the longest conversation recorded in the Bible with a woman who had been married 5 times, and was currently living with another man.
History tells us a lot about this woman.
Sometime after this encounter she was baptized by the Apostles and given the name, Photine. Her name means, “the luminous one” or enlightened one.
History says that she was recognized by the church as equal to the Apostles because she won so many people to the Lord.
Look her up. It is an awesome story.
In reading the story in John chapter 4 Jesus pointed out her life issues.
John 4:15-18
15 The woman said to Him, “Sir, give me this water, so I will not be thirsty nor come all the way here to draw.”
16 He said to her, “Go, call your husband and come here.”
17 The woman answered and said, “I have no husband.” Jesus said to her, “You have correctly said, ‘I have no husband’;
18 for you have had five husbands, and the one whom you now have is not your husband; this you have said truly.”
So where is the condemnation? He pointed out her issue and then opened the path to redemption. Seems like I read somewhere that if you have been forgiven much, you will love much.
I could go on and on so let me wrap this one up. Tell the story of Jesus. His birth, life, death, resurrection, and ascension. Tell them why He did it. That must be the message. “Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends.”
By the way Photine converted her 5 sisters and two sons. They won many to Christ. In 66AD they were all martyred under the persecution of Nero. Some say he threw her body in a dry well.
Let me know what you think. visitlivinghope@gmail.com
“The Enemy Within”
The Enemy Within
What an awesome season we are in. God has blessed, revealed, and confirmed in these past few weeks. The purpose for this church has widened in scope. God is positioning us to change more than just ourselves, and our community.
There are people everywhere in need of the faith, love, and prayers that we embrace. Doubt and fear is a cloud of darkness. It hides the revelation we love. The story of Jesus. That is the light of the world.
“The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.” Ro. 13:12 KJV
I want to share some thoughts titled, “The Enemy Within”
There are four areas in our life that we have to deal with. You might say they are enemies to the plan and purpose of God. If you remember from last week, God has already given us the promises we need to be successful in our walk with Christ.
Just as He gave the children of Israel the promised land, we have to take our promises just as they had to take the land.
They fought a physical enemy. We are fighting something different. There are 4 areas of our life we must conquer. I will deal with 2 today.
The mind, and the will. Buckle your seat belts
Let’s begin with an attitude adjustment!!
Philippians 2:5-8 KJV
5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
Verse 5 from the Amp reads, “Have this same attitude in yourselves which was in Christ Jesus [look to Him as your example in selfless humility],”
Humility has been lacking in Kingdom authority in this day and time. You can’t even begin to embrace the promises of God until you break before Him, and know it is not about you. It is all about Him.
The 1st area of our life we must deal with is our mind.
Romans 7:21-25
21 I find then the principle that evil is present in me, the one who wants to do good.
22 For I joyfully concur with the law of God in the inner man,
23 but I see a different law in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin which is in my members.
24 Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death?
25 Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, on the one hand I myself with my mind am serving the law of God, but on the other, with my flesh the law of sin.
Romans 7:21-23 Message
21“It happens so regularly that it’s predictable. The moment I decide to do good, sin is there to trip me up. 22 I truly delight in God’s commands,
23 but it’s pretty obvious that not all of me joins in that delight. Parts of me covertly rebel, and just when I least expect it, they take charge.”
Our minds and our thoughts. There is a war going on for our thoughts.
1 Corinthians 2:14-16
14 But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised.
15 But he who is spiritual appraises all things, yet he himself is appraised by no one.
16 For who has known the mind of the Lord, that he will instruct Him? But we have the mind of Christ.
Verse 16 AMPC
For who has known or understood the mind (the counsels and purposes) of the Lord so as to guide and instruct Him and give Him knowledge? But we have the mind of Christ (the Messiah) and do hold the thoughts (feelings and purposes) of His heart.
The second issue we must deal with is our will.
Joshua gave a charge to the children of Israel when the land had been taken.
Joshua 24:14-15
14 “Now, therefore, fear the Lord and serve Him in sincerity and truth; and put away the gods which your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord.
15 If it is disagreeable in your sight to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves today whom you will serve: whether the gods which your fathers served which were beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”
Believing the promise is only the beginning. You then have to disregard all the reasons why you can’t, and then choose to do what He said you can do.
Choose to believe and receive, or choose to walk away.
Here is a familiar word from David
Psalms 143:8-10 NASB
8 Let me hear Your lovingkindness in the morning; For I trust in You; Teach me the way in which I should walk;
For to You I lift up my soul.
9 Deliver me, O Lord, from my enemies; I take refuge in You.
10 Teach me to do Your will, For You are my God; Let Your good Spirit lead me on level ground.
We have to be taught to do His will. Prayer, study, counsel.
Let me close with this admonition from Hebrews.
Hebrews 13:20-21 NASB
20 Now the God of peace, who brought up from the dead the great Shepherd of the sheep through the blood of the eternal covenant, even Jesus our Lord,
21 equip you in every good thing to do His will, working in us that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.
Strengthen (complete, perfect) and make you what you ought to be.
What will you choose? Your thoughts, or your will. Imperfect and lacking.
Choose you this day!!! #wewill #inHisname
“It Either is, or it Ain’t”
It Either is, or it Ain’t
Our thoughts and prayers are always on this ministry, and the people who are faithful to continue with us in obedience to God’s Word, and our work in this community.
I mentioned last week that God was speaking to multiple people. It seems to be a common message of entering a new season for Amazing Life Church. I am excited to see God confirming His word, and challenging us to get ready to embrace His greatness.
Our faith and confidence in the Father must remain strong. Our prayers for wisdom and understanding must be consistent.
Holy Father knows that I will never embrace cookie cutter religion. I am not interested in following the popular movement. Being religiously correct.
I am however, very interested in stepping out of the boat. Climbing the mountain. Casting the net. I am interested in stopping to help the one who has been beaten and left for dead. “Beaten down with life, alcohol, drugs, failure and disappointment.” I am interested in becoming more like Jesus. Embracing His fulness, and I am very interested in challenging you to do the same.
I come to you in His name to share some thoughts titled,“It Either is, or it Ain’t”
For your information. I googled, “How many promises are in the Bible?” Several sites came up and I chose Bible Gateway. It responded with 5467 Divine promises. “Promise number one”
Hebrews 6:13-18
13 For when God made the promise to Abraham, since He could swear by no one greater, He swore by Himself,
14 saying, “I will surely bless you and I will surely multiply you.”
15 And so, having patiently waited, he obtained the promise.
16 For men swear by one greater than themselves, and with them an oath given as confirmation is an end of every dispute.
17 In the same way God, desiring even more to show to the heirs of the promise the unchangeableness of His purpose, interposed with an oath,
18 so that by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have taken refuge would have strong encouragement to take hold of the hope set before us.
Hebrews 6:18 AMPC
This was so that, by two unchangeable things His promise and His oath in which it is impossible for God ever to prove false or deceive us, we who have fled to Him for refuge might have mighty indwelling strength and strong encouragement to grasp and hold fast the hope appointed for us and set before us.
God has laid the foundation for our life and its purpose. The foundation to build upon has an eternal cornerstone. A chief cornerstone. All the weight of our life. Our destiny, our success, our ministry, our everything is built upon Jesus. “His birth, life, death, resurrection, and ascension.” Himself declaring, I am the way, the truth, and the life.
God said to Abraham, “I will surely bless you and I will surely multiply you.”
In verse 17 God said He would do the same for the heirs of the promise, In verse 18 Father defines such, as those who have taken refuge in Him.
Deuteronomy 1:6-8
6 “The Lord our God spoke to us at Horeb, saying, ‘You have stayed long enough at this mountain.
7 Turn and set your journey, and go to the hill country of the Amorites, and to all their neighbors in the Arabah, in the hill country and in the lowland and in the Negev and by the seacoast, the land of the Canaanites, and Lebanon, as far as the great river, the river Euphrates.
8 See, I have placed the land before you; go in and possess the land which the Lord swore to give to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to them and their descendants after them.’
The word Horeb from the Hebrew means, desert. It comes from a root word which means, to be waste, lay waste, make desolate, be desolate, be in ruins.
God said you have stayed long enough.
Why the urgency?
Preach conforming to your surroundings.
No blessings there.
The blessing is in the promise.
You may have to go through the desert, but don’t stay too long.
You have to get up and leave the ruins, and take what God has promised. God gives, and we have to take it.
The children of Israel never realized the promise under the leadership of Moses. Joshua took His place and did two very important things to claim the promise of God.
Joshua 11:23
So Joshua took the whole land, according to all that the Lord had spoken to Moses, and Joshua gave it for an inheritance to Israel according to their divisions by their tribes. Thus the land had rest from war.
He took it all. The second is very important, and relevant to us today.
Joshua 12:7
Now these are the kings of the land whom Joshua and the sons of Israel defeated beyond the Jordan toward the west, from Baal-gad in the valley of Lebanon even as far as Mount Halak, which rises toward Seir; and Joshua gave it to the tribes of Israel as a possession according to their divisions,
It goes on to list all the kings by name and territory.
Joshua 12:24
the king of Tirzah, one: in all, thirty-one kings.
To realize the promises of God, you will have to believe they are yours. You will have to remove every obstacle that hinders you from receiving them.
Colossians 2:8-15
8 See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ.
9 For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form,
10 and in Him you have been made complete, and He is the head over all rule and authority;
11 and in Him you were also circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, in the removal of the body of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ;
12 having been buried with Him in baptism, in which you were also raised up with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead.
13 When you were dead in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions,
14 having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. 15 When He had disarmed the rulers and authorities, He made a public display of them, having triumphed over them through Him.
“It Either is, or it Ain’t”
#wewill #inHisname
“Calling for Maturity”
Calling for Maturity
I want to share some thoughts titled, “Calling for Maturity”
“God is calling for the saints to scripturally position themselves. He is not winking at Spiritual ignorance and religious traditions. He is calling for the maturity of the saints.”
1 Corinthians 14:20 KJV
Brethren, do not be children in your thinking; yet in evil be infants, but in your thinking be mature.
1 Corinthians 14:20 AMP
Brothers and sisters, do not be children [immature, childlike] in your thinking; be infants in [matters of] evil [completely innocent and inexperienced], but in your minds be mature [adults].
Ephesians 4:9-16 KJV
9 (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?
10 He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)
11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
15But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:
16From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.
Ephesians 4:15 TLB
Instead, we will lovingly follow the truth at all times—speaking truly, dealing truly, living truly—and so become more and more in every way like Christ who is the Head of his body, the Church.
AMPC
Rather, let our lives lovingly express truth [in all things, speaking truly, dealing truly, living truly]. Enfolded in love, let us grow up in every way and in all things into Him Who is the Head, [even] Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One).
The phrase speak the truth comes from a Greek with a very broad meaning. It means, “to speak the truth, teach the truth, profess the truth. To be true in doctrine and in your profession of faith.”
Love is from the Greek agape, and it means brotherly love, affection, goodwill, and benevolence.
Nothing in this passage tells us to use it to attack, judge and condemn. Nothing in this passage gives us the right to tell anyone anything beyond the story of Jesus. It is a command for us to personally know, speak, live, and declare the Gospel of our Lord.
Pulpit commentary says this of verse 15. “Truth is the element in which we live, move, and have our being. Being consistent in truth is the backbone of Christian ministry. Truth must be inseparably married to love.”
This passage ends with an exhortation. “But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:”
Hebrews 5:11-14 KJV
11 Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing.
12 For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.
13 For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.
14 But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.
12-13 Amplified
12 For though by this time you ought to be teachers [because of the time you have had to learn these truths], you actually need someone to teach you again the elementary principles of God’s word [from the beginning], and you have come to be continually in need of milk, not solid food.
13 For everyone who lives on milk is [doctrinally inexperienced and] unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a spiritual infant.
#wewill #inHisname
“What Difference Does it Make”
What Difference Does it Make
Establishing on a firm foundation of love and grace, the Biblical principles that will strengthen and encourage those who hear. The same principles that move us beyond these walls, and with great authority, impact our community.
You might say this is the mission statement that I have used to form the words I share each week. Hoping and praying that purpose will take our thoughts and dreams forward in the plan of God.
I want to share some thoughts titled, “What Difference Does it Make?”
Balak, king of Moab. Feared Israel.
Numbers 23:19-21 KJV
19 God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?
20 Behold, I have received commandment to bless: and he hath blessed; and I cannot reverse it.
21 He hath not beheld iniquity in Jacob, neither hath he seen perverseness in Israel: the Lord his God is with him, and the shout of a king is among them.
AMPC
19 God is not a man, that He should tell or act a lie, neither the son of man, that He should feel repentance or compunction [for what He has promised]. Has He said and shall He not do it? Or has He spoken and shall He not make it good?
20 You see, I have received His command to bless Israel. He has blessed, and I cannot reverse or qualify it.
21 [God] has not beheld iniquity in Jacob [for he is forgiven], neither has He seen mischief or perverseness in Israel [for the same reason]. The Lord their God is with Israel, and the shout of praise to their King is among the people.
David wrote in Psalms 138:7, KJV. “Though I walk in the midst of trouble, thou wilt revive me: thou shalt stretch forth thine hand against the wrath of mine enemies, and thy right hand shall save me.”
(The enemy can not touch the blessed of God.)
Psalm 102 does not have a confirmed author but some Believe it was written by David after his trouble with Absalom. The header says this. “Prayer of an Afflicted Man for Mercy on Himself and on Zion. A Prayer of the Afflicted when he is faint and pours out his complaint before the Lord.”
Psalms 102:24-28 KJV
24 I said, O my God, take me not away in the midst of my days: thy years are throughout all generations.
25 Of old hast thou laid the foundation of the earth: and the heavens are the work of thy hands.
26 They shall perish, but thou shalt endure: yea, all of them shall wax old like a garment; as a vesture shalt thou change them, and they shall be changed:
27 But thou art the same, and thy years shall have no end.
28 The children of thy servants shall continue, and their seed shall be established before thee. We Are Blessed
Hebrews 1:10-12 KJV
10 And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine hands:
11 They shall perish; but thou remainest; and they all shall wax old as doth a garment;
12 And as a vesture shalt thou fold them up, and they shall be changed: but thou art the same, and thy years shall not fail.
(God is eternally the same!)
Hebrews 13:8 KJV
Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.
Hebrews 13:20-21 KJV
20 Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant,
21 Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is well pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
James 1:16-17
16 Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren.
17 Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow.
James 1:17 AMP
Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above; it comes down from the Father of lights [the Creator and Sustainer of the heavens], in whom there is no variation [no rising or setting] or shadow cast by His turning [for He is perfect and never changes].
He never changes. He never moves from His purpose. Revival, awakening, a move of God is not about where we are. If God moves in, Dallas, Pensacola, Canada, Kentucky, California, The Colonies.
Azusa Street, and on and on. “What Difference Does it Make?” (If God did it anywhere, He will do it here.)
(The enemy can not touch the blessed of God.)
1 John 4:4 AMP
Little children (believers, dear ones), you are of God and you belong to Him and have [already] overcome them [the agents of the antichrist]; because He who is in you is greater than he (Satan) who is in the world [of sinful mankind].
What difference does it make where we are at. God is the same. He simply needs us, needs you to say yes.
Yes to His love and grace. Yes to the call in your heart. Yes to the dream you have. Yes to His kingdom authority. Yes to the blood He shed for you.
#wewill #inHisname