Two Perspectives

MY ways are higher than your ways and MY thoughts are higher than your thoughts.  Isaiah 55:8  This is the way walk in it. Isaiah 30:21

Perspective One:

You are walking along a path and you come to the edge of a vast swamp.  You look out over the swamp and you see murky water with dead floating logs, dense trees growing out of the water.  You may see birds and frogs, maybe a turtle or something else that seem safe and inviting.  Do you want to go in?  Probably not, for under the water there could be quick sand, alligators, deep places where you could not touch bottom.  The wise person would look on but not go in.

What I have just described is life without GOD in it.  A place where it is murky, and dangerous, where pitfalls are everywhere and cannot be seen by the naked eye, for they are hidden.  Dangerous reptiles and unknown footing are lurking to attack or kill by sucking you down.  At first your eyes are drawn to the beauty, for there are beautiful things in the swamp, but the unseen is scary, full of the unknown.

This world, without a guide, is like that, we see the beauty of GOD’S creation, but without a guide to help us to see the pitfalls it is a dangerous place.  Drugs, alcohol, sex, all have their purpose but mishandled they are full of danger.  True, we may not lose our life, die, but we will lose it just the same, if we venture in alone.  We listen to others tell us how great these things are and we are enticed to try them, without knowing the other side.  There are two sides to every coin.  Going into the swamp without a proper guide is like going in with a blind one, or one who has listened to someone else but never really gone in themselves or the are deceived by drugs ect.  Listening to this kind of guide is not smart, like letting someone do surgery on us because they read a book, but had not actually had any experience.

Many are the teachers today, who have theories, but no practical experience, in the outside world.  They believe that the swamp is a good place to swim and have fun, and to explore, but they have never actually been in the swamp, or else they are in the swamp and blind to it’s effects.  It may not be actual drugs or something else, but the listening to someone else who hasn’t been in there either.  Proverbs says that a liar speaks and passes on but those who listen speak endlessly.  The teacher may even be someone who is religious who think they have new revelation.

Perspective two.

You’re walking along a path with an experienced guide who knows the area like the back of his hand.  The two of you come to the edge of a swamp, he’s a little behind you and sees you starting to go in.  He runs up and takes you by the arm to stop you before you make a fatal mistake.  While at the edge he starts to explain all the beauty of the area, but he also tells you of the dangers.  The guide shows you a boat and say this is the way, but not by yourself, for he knows the way through.

This second description is a picture of a world with GOD in our lives.  We still come to the swamp, and see the same things, we see the beauty and we see the frightening.  The big difference is that we have a guide who will lead us into all truth.  We call that guide, the HOLY SPIRIT; HE is GOD and knows everything.  HE knows all the neat stuff, and HE knows the dangers.  HE knows how to get us through safely because HE made the way possible, and if we will listen to HIM, though we will still have difficulty, HE will get us through to the wonderful sandy beach and ocean on the far side of the swamp.

Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life, and without HIM there’s no way through the swamp, there’s no lovely ocean with it’s gleaming sandy beaches, just swamp with no end because we have rejected the way and the teaching of the guide.  Our ways are finite and the future is unknown.  GOD’S way is infinite and HE knows what the future holds because HE knows the beginning and the end.  We can, in our shortsightedness, go it alone hoping to get through or we can consult the guide for directions.  Fortunately GOD, in HIS Wisdom, is not only the guide, but HE left us instructions in the form of the Bible.  It is GOD’S instruction manual for life.  What’s cool about it is the guide, HOLY SPIRIT, is a one on one tutor and helps us to understand what the manual says.  HE also acts as an alert when we are approaching danger.  HE won’t stop us from being stupid, but will gently warn us with second thoughts saying maybe we should take another look at the direction we are heading.

You may say, “How can I get this guide?”  Glad you asked, for it is simple and anyone, who is willing to trust in Jesus and HIS “Finished” work on the cross to wipe out their sin, can get help.  You see this guide doesn’t work for just anyone, but only for those who trust in HIM and surrender to HIS leadership.  Would be kind of dumb to get a guide and leave him at the edge of the swamp, paying no attention to his advice.  Don’t you think?

Folks it is beautiful out there but there is also the swamp, full of dangers, pitfalls, unseen hazards, better to have someone with you who knows the way rather than going it alone.  Ask Jesus into your life and trust HIM, read the instruction manual and HE will guide you through it.  HE knows all about things, seen and unseen.  We only have a minute amount of knowledge, about what we can physically see, but HE sees All.  Which is better walking alone or with someone who knows the right way?  You be the judge, but take a moment and think about it.

 

Until next time, thanks for looking,    al

 

JTB Ministries

Trust Me

If I do not the works of MY Father, do not believe ME, but if I do them, though you do not believe ME, believe the works, that you may know and understand that the Father is in ME, and I am in the Father. John 10:37&38

When we first meet someone we form a first impression because of what they have to say and probably by the way they dress, perhaps because of their mannerisms.  We listen to what they say and have, Some, trust that they are who they say they are.  After knowing someone for awhile we get a better sense of who they are not so much by what they say but what they do and if it lines up with their words.

If a person says that they are a believer in Christ and a Christian we all have ideas about what that looks like and we have expectations of the Character of that person.  We would think, for instance that they are truthful and honest, we would think that they would be kind.  These are some of the Characteristics of a person who claims to be Born Again.  They would to some degree, though not perfectly, the mind of Christ who came to teach us who GOD is, and to go to the Cross that we might have forgiveness of our sin.

What if that person, who claims to be a follower of Christ, brings division and promotes abominations?  Would we say that this person actually knew the Prince of Peace?  I think not for their actions would speak much louder than any words they could speak.  There is an old saying, “Actions speak louder than words,” and it is saying that if my actions don’t line up with my words then my words must be in error and I don’t really believe what I say.  Of course we are all guilty of doing something contrary to what we profess at some time because we are human and fail, then we confess it and repent of it and go on, hopefully learning something from our experience and not doing it again.

Jesus told us not to judge, lest we be judged, but in speaking to the Jews, HE told them to judge what HE said by what HE did.  If they were troubled by HIS words then they, at the very least, could look at HIS actions and believe, because HE Walked HIS Talk.  HE told them that Mercy was what the Father wanted instead of Sacrifice, and when a chance was presented HE healed a person on the Sabbath, because they needed it.  HE gave an illustration of watering an animal or helping an animal on the Sabbath, and said that a person deserved the same kind of treatment.  HE was doing what HE was saying.  But what if HE had been talking about lofty ideals and helping others and then when someone asked HIM for help, HE turned them away?  Do you think that HE would have had any followers?   I think not, because, if they judged rightly, they would see that HE was all talk and no action that HE could not or would not back up HIS claims of who HE is.

I see people today who claim to be compassionate only to find that they are seeking power over the lives of others, so that they become dependant on them for their provision.  Many say that they are looking out for people, but then they stand with Murderers.  They tell us that they are Born Again Christians, but push all the Abominations that the devil pushes.  I don’t know if these folks are saved or not, only GOD knows, but judging by their actions, they are either greatly deceived, or they are lying through their teeth about who they are.   I know that people can be deceived and do what is not right in GOD’S eyes, all the while professing that they are believers, but there are also those who lie about being Saved so that they can have power over others.  They are wolves in sheep’s clothing, Satan’s, angels of light, who go out to deceive, to get what they want.  They have a great line of talk but behind the scenes they are doing the opposite of what they are telling us.  They will give us great reasons for doing what they are doing and will appeal to our sensitivities, but what they really want is to control us.

We need to be wise as serpents and harmless as doves, as Jesus told us.  We should not judge the person of someone, but we can certainly judge their actions and how they line up with GOD’S word.  For instance, if they profess Christ and are found to be liars, we know that we should not listen to, nor, believe what they tell us.  If they tell us that as believers that it is all right to Murder then we know that they are wrong, for the 10 Commandments prove them wrong.  We also know that GOD does not change, but is the same, HIS word is the Same Today, Yesterday, and Forever.  We have an anchor to stand on because the word remains unchanged so that we can go to it and take confidence in it.  I like the Bereans who, after listening to Paul, went and studied the Word to see if he was correct in his teaching.  This is something we should all do for John told us to test all things and not to take it for granted that what we hear is the truth.  We should be making sure that our pastors are teaching truth as well as what we teach others.  Pastors are human too and make mistakes, our leaders are human and make mistakes, and we are human and make mistakes.  We are all in the same boat imperfect humans wanting to know the truth, and sometimes getting it wrong.  There are also those who know that they are teaching falsehoods or lies and do it for reasons of their own, and as Christians we need to be on guard against these people.

When someone says, “Trust me,” it is prudent to have observed that person over time, and if we haven’t to be cautious.  Those who want to be our leaders probably have a track record and before we endorse them we should check out their actions and words of their past.  We should also pray about it and not be too quick to give them our support.  Paul told us not to be too quick to lay hands on someone, it seems like great advice, not only in the Christian community but also in the world’s community.  A fool believes every word, but a wise person does some checking.  As Ronald Regan said, “Trust and Verify.”  Make sure that those whom we are trusting are doing what they say.

One that can be trusted is Jesus for HE came and Showed us the Father, and HE did what HE preached.  HE told us that HE would die and that the third day HE would rise from the dead and HE did.  HE told us to love one another and HE did the same.  We can trust HIM for HE is GOD and HE is not a man that HE should lie.  If you have not trusted in Jesus, today is a good day to do that for we know not what a day may bring.

Until next time, thanks for looking,   al

 

JTB Ministries

A Novel Idea

There is No Partiality with GOD. Romans 2:11

Novel in the sense of a new idea, but I must say that I am not the originator of this idea, but I believe that GOD is.

This may be an unpopular thing that I am going to write, as we look at what happened in Boston this last week.  There was great cheering and praise for the police and law enforcement after the capture of one of the bombers.  This is as it should be that they were able to start the process of justice for this young man who we believe is responsible for one of the bombs placed at the marathon. 

To me a question arises.  Why was this young man spared death, when his older brother was killed?  If we as Christians believe that GOD is in control of All things then we might ask why not just dispose of this person and be done with it?   But we believe that GOD is sovereign, so HIS Word is true that HE is not willing that any should perish but that all should come to the knowledge of the Truth.  Far be it from me to say that this man should not pay with, possibly, his life for his crimes, but GOD spared him for some reason.  Proverbs says that no one despises a thief if it is to feed himself, yet if he is caught he may have to give up All his substance.  Maybe GOD wanted to give him a chance at Eternal life which is much more valuable then this one we are living.  There was, after all, two others on Crosses along with Jesus and one went to be with Christ in paradise while, we presume being, unrepentant, went where all those who chose against Christ go, namely to hell.

GOD’S idea, from before the foundations of the world was to send HIS Son so that mankind would have a way to Salvation.  From the Cross Jesus said, “Father forgive them for they know not what they do.”  Jesus wanted HIS Father to forgive the very people who were Murdering HIM, a man Innocent of any crime.  As Christians we may ask for justice when a crime is committed but do we want that justice to include the loss of the person’s soul?  I believe not, for GOD is just and HE determines what the penalty is and not us.  While we may exact the death penalty and take the life of this young man it is GOD who has the right to forgive him if he asks for it.  Just like you and me, we asked for the LORD to forgive us and to save us, but we, I would suspect, all have had to suffer the consequences of our previous life, to some extent.

I know that there is a cry in the public for the life of this person and they may get their wish, but I for one choose to pray for the young man’s soul.   Whether that prayer is answered is up to the LORD, and the young man.  The implications of forgiveness are staggering, what if we all forgave this man, his person, and asked the LORD to save his soul, and then left it up to GOD what punishment he was to get?  He committed a grievous crime and I suspect he will get what is coming to him, but what of those who were directly affected by the crime?  If there choose to bear the resentment and unforgiveness against him they too will suffer.

I am of the firm belief that if Anyone asks the LORD to forgive them and take up residence in their hearts GOD will hear their prayer and save them.  If that is not true then GOD cannot be LOVE as 1 John tells us.  It is not to say that the person doesn’t have to ask, but it is to say that if they have a lucid moment and understand what they have done and truly repent, I believe that GOD will hear.  Before I was saved I cursed GOD and railed against HIM, but in a moment I was changed when I realized my need for a savior and asked the LORD to forgive and confessed my Crimes to HIM.  GOD is not happy at the death of a sinner, but would much rather that the sinner repent.

Jesus came to give life to anyone who would believe, and provided the Way for the whole world to be saved.  For GOD So Loved the World that HE sent HIS Only Son, that “Whosoever” would Believe would not perish but would have eternal life. John 3:16  We can judge the crime but only GOD can judge the person based on his or hers willingness to seek forgiveness from the One who can send us to hell.  We all had a hand in the death of Jesus and HE has Graciously forgiven us, should we be like the unjust steward who, for a few dollars had another thrown into prison?  We should be praying for the souls of All men and follow our LORD as HE opens HIS arms and dies for us saying Forgive them.

I’ve probably said this badly but so be it.  Surely we want law and order and cannot allow a crime like this to go unpunished for societies sake, but the butcher in Philadelphia who murdered many children is not any worse.  What I have to say is not condoning the acts of Lost people but is saying the Soul is more precious to GOD or else why did HE come?

Pray about this and put the matter into the LORD’S hands.

Until next time, thanks for looking,  al

 

JTB Ministries

One GOD

Before ME there was no God formed, and there is None after ME. I, even I am the LORD and there is No Savior besides ME.  Isaiah 43:10&11

Surely, if we take a tour around the world we would find monuments and statues of man’s gods, made of stone and wood, made from the works of men’s hands.  Unable to walk of talk, breathe, or move in any fashion, except if they are carried about by those who worship them.  Jehovah GOD says to All of mankind that there is No other GOD beside HIM, not before nor will there ever be.  HE is eternal and is without end or beginning.

To whom then will you liken GOD?  Or what likeness will you compare with HIM?  As for the “idol” a craftsman casts it, a goldsmith plates it with gold, and silversmith fashions chains of silver.  He that is too impoverished for such a thing, selects a tree that does not rot, he seeks out for himself a skillful craftsman to prepare an idol that will not totter.  Isaiah 40. Foolishness in the hearts of men and the spirit of the wicked one choose to ignore the Only living GOD, instead he wants one that he can see and touch, although it has no power, he endows it with great honor and believes a lie that this idol can answer his prayers.  When an enemy approaches he prays to it and because it is dead as the tree that was cut down, the enemy takes it into his own house and foolishly prays to it.  Is this stupid or what?  Surely if the idol could not save the one who commissioned it in the first place, how now can it save the new owner?

People all over the world pray to fictitious gods in hopes that these false gods will save them from whatever.  Made up gods cannot save anyone, but because people believe in them, those who believe make up demands of others to please a hunk of wood.  Or they elevate some person, born like everyone else, and give him allegiance, but they too die, never to be heard from again.  They are in the grave and cannot speak or move.  A good example of this is the carefully preserved remains of Lenin in Moscow.  He speaks not but his followers speak endlessly as it says in Proverbs.

Jehovah GOD, was not made by human hands but human hands were made by HIM.  There are no statues of HIM for HE is Spirit and therefore is not seen.  We have the Express Image of the Father in Jesus Christ, but those images of HIM are not HIM at all, for No One knows what Christ looked like.  The evidence for HIS existence is not in a statue but in the Resurrection.  The acceptance of Christ’s sacrifice is in that, after three days HE rose from the dead and was seen by over 500 people, many of who were still alive when the Gospels were written.  The Romans could not produce a dead body, nor could the Pharisees, and they would have if they could have.

There is only one GOD and HE has made HIMSELF known to us through HIS written word and through HIS prophets.  Then HE sent HIS Son to proclaim HIM.  Romans 1 says that there are no excuses for man to not believe, for all of nature testifies to HIS existence.  Jesus told us that if you do not believe in HIM then believe the Works that HE did, for they testify of HIS being sent from the Father.  Jesus came to make peace with man to GOD by the Work HE did on the Cross.  HE did not come to murder all those who did not believe but to save them, unlike the religions of the world, which will kill you if they think their god is insulted, or if we refuse to believe in it.

Elijah challenged the priests of Baal to a contest where they would pray to their god and he would pray to his, I AM.  The god that showed up was GOD.  The priests of Baal prayed and cut themselves and went through all kinds of chants and incantations but to no avail.  Baal never showed up, because he was a figment of someone’s imagination.  GOD showed up and devoured the sacrifice.  Here’s a challenge for your god.  Do nothing but pray to it, then pray to GOD and see who shows up.  It will be the GOD of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, for any other god is unable, for they do not exist.  If GOD is GOD then follow HIM, if your god is then follow it.  The god of this world has blinded the eyes so that the LORD cannot be seen and he has been doing that for a long time.  He can be overcome by the Blood of the Lamb, who took away the sin of the world, for he is under Christ’s authority and Christ’s name is above all names.

Jesus came to reconcile man to GOD, because sin had brought about a separation from HIM.  Peace has been made and by believing in the Work that Christ did on the Cross and Resurrection is the peacemaker.  Trusting in the Finished Work of Christ for the forgiveness of our sin and believing that GOD raised HIM from the dead is sufficient for Salvation, Romans 10.  Put away these other gods, made of stone, or the idols of money and fame, and love, for they will only bring destruction, while the LORD provides Life and that more abundantly.  Ask the LORD Jesus to reveal HIMSELF to you and HE will, for them that come to HIM, HE will in not way cast away, Romans 10.  Or you can go down to the local god and pray to him and believe in a piece of stone or wood, the choice is up to you, for GOD has given us Freewill to decide for or against HIM, that is how much love HE has for us.  We can choose Life or Death, Heaven or hell, it is our choice, but GOD is not happy that so many choose hell, for HE LOVES HIS creation, John 3:16.

Today is the day of Salvation; don’t miss this opportunity, for tomorrow may not come for you.   Jesus Loves You!

Until next time, thanks for looking,   al

 

JTB Ministries

Mission

Judge not lest you be judged. For in the way that you judge, you will be judged, and by your standard of measure, it will be measured back to you.  Matthew 7:1&2

The question remains, can we judge another and escape judgement ourselves?  Can we, as Christians judge evil without judging the person?  If we read the scriptures it is evident that Jesus did not go around judging others, he did not rail against Rome and those, who were brought to HIM, HE did not judge. Though who else could have been in a better position to do so?  The woman brought to HIM, caught in the act of adultery was merely told to go and sin no more.

So what was and is the mission of the Church and it’s followers of Christ?  Is it to judge the world and all the evil in it, or is it to preach the Good News?  Jesus did have some pretty stern things to say to those who were in authority in the temple, but HE did not rail against the political world nor did HE go around condemning those who were sinners.  Instead HE showed us that HE was willing for anyone who would follow HIM, to Come, and HE would not reject them.  HE knows that All who are not HIS followers are evil and in need of the Good News of redemption.  All those who reject GOD are HIS enemies, but the Good News is that HE has provided the way for them to have life and a life that is abundant with HIM.

Maybe it is time for the Church to get off of the “Holier than Thou,” kick and get on with proclaiming the death, burial and resurrection of Christ to a world that desperately needs it.  Instead of holding ourselves up as the pinnacle of virtue, maybe a real look at our own sin is in order.  Didn’t Jesus tell us to get the board out of our own eye before we try to take the speck out of our brother’s?  This is not our mission, but our mission is to, “Go and make disciples of All nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.”  It is not to go and proclaim the particular sin of the day and rail against those who are commiting them.  With what condemnation we condemn others we are, ourselves, condemned and if we cannot live by our standards then how can we expect others to?  This was Paul’s message of trying to keep the Law, that those who tried were not able to for, as James tells us, if you break one of the Laws you have broken them all.

Paul says that he was all things to all people that he may win some to Christ, in other words he did not go into the temples of other gods and rail against them, but went about proclaiming what Christ had done for him and preaching the Good News of Redemption through Christ and HIS Finished Work on the Cross.  It is said that when we point the finger at another that there are three pointing back at ourselves.  This being said, the Psalmist says, “Who can know their errors? Cleanse me from secret faults and keep back YOUR servant from presumptuous sin, then we shall be blameless and innocent of great transgression.”  This, found in Psalm 19 is and should be our aim, that GOD, show us our faults and help us to remedy them, and that we be not presumptuous in our thinking that “We alone” are so good that we can judge another.  We are responsible for Us and not the sins of others, our responsibility lies in telling others about Christ and how HE is working Salvation in us.

Jesus told us that HE stands at the door and knocks and that whosoever would let HIM in HE will come in and dwell with us.  HE says nothing about forcing the door open as in a drug raid, but HE gently knocks at the door of our hearts so that HE can come in, Invited.  When we rail against the sins of this world are we not conducting a raid where the doors are being kicked in and broken?  It is GOD who gives the increase as we plant seeds of Hope in the hearts of mankind, and do you not know that we shall judge angels?  It is GOD who brings conviction on the hearts of men and HE needs no help in that area, but our job is to speak of the LOVE OF CHRIST, and to proclaim freedom to the captives, for those of this world are held captive by the enemy of man’s soul.  Jesus came to set men free not to bring condemnation upon us.  Should we not do the same?

I want to encourage us to take a step back and ask the LORD to show us our own faults and help us to overcome them; one of them is Self-Righteousness, and the thinking that we are Good, for there is only One that is GOOD and that is GOD.  The norm of the day seems to be that GOD wants us healthy and wealthy and that is all, but I read it different, in that, we are to understand our utter helplessness to live a life pleasing to GOD without Jesus.  If this offends you then maybe you are at fault, for this is the truth.  Jesus told us that without HIM we can do nothing.  It is Presumption to believe that we have it all under control and we are in need of Immediate Repentance for this Presumption.

oH GOD! Try me and see if there is any wickedness in me and help me to turn away from it and be cleansed by the Blood of the Lamb.  This should be the prayer of Every person who claims that they are followers of Christ.  Our prayer seems to line up more with the Pharisee who proclaimed how good he was, instead of the Tax collector, that we are, beating his breast and asking the LORD to be merciful to us Sinners in need of a Savior.

If your toes feel like they have been stepped on, take no offence but look at it as a word from the LORD, saying, “I love you, and want the best for you.”  Jesus Loves You and HE loves the World HE created as John 3:16 tells us.  HIS message is Love to All not to the righteous but to All even the righteous.

Until next time, thanks for looking,   al

 

JTB Ministries

Death Has No Dominion

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for YOU are with me.  Psalm 23

As we celebrate this day as the day of the Resurrection of our LORD Jesus Christ, I want to give a word of exhortation and encouragement.  In no way do I want to diminish what the LORD has done, but only to say that while the grave and death could not hold HIM, it cannot hold us either.  Those who have settled in their hearts that No work of their own can save them, but Only the All Sufficient Work of Christ and the shedding of HIS Blood for the remission of our sin can have this assurance that the Grave and Death holds No Dominion over them.

A few years ago, while riding my motorcycle on the freeway, I passed out at about 70 MPH.  When I passed out I was in total darkness and in the natural world I should have gone down and probably would have died.  But GOD had a different plan for me, not that I am anyone, for I am a man, a man who is Not without sin and failures, but GOD showed HIS kindness to my wife by bringing me back from the dead.  

The darkness was total but there was no conscientiousness of fear.  Though it was blacker than anything I have ever experienced there was no fear and in time, I know not how long, I was brought into light, like that of a swimming pool as the light of the sun sparkles and shimmers.  I pulled over and got my bearings and since that time I have pondered what it was that really happened to me.  Our recognition of events is not always instantaneous but take some time to discover.

This A.M. I heard a sermon where it was said about the tunnel of death and, of course, how death could not hold our Savior Jesus.  It occurred to me that this is what happened to me on that ride.  I had been sucked into the tunnel of death and death could not hold me.  I believe that Jesus and HIS Work are sufficient to Save me, it is Settled in my heart.  There is Nothing that I can do, no work I can perform, no good deed that is going to save me.   All my works I have renounced as, our pastor said this morning, as Filthy Menstrual Rags.  They have no merit and cannot save me, but the Blood of Christ is Sufficient.

I give a word of exhortation to say to those who will read this, Settle in your heart that you trust in what Jesus has done and in this only, for there is no salvation in any other.   If our works were good enough then Jesus died in vain and for no reason.  We cannot be good enough because All have sinned and fall short of the glory of GOD.  GOD, in HIS Great Love came and paid the price for the wages of Sin.  If you can settle this in your heart you shall have no fear of death and the grave for they have also been conquered by the Work of Christ.  GOD Loves Us and HIS Love is Perfect, Perfect Love cast out All fear.

Am I saying that we may not suffer in an accident or that we will not die?  No, but what I am saying is that we can face whatever without fear, in the knowledge that whatever comes GOD is With US, HIS Rod and Staff they Comfort Us.  Knowing that Jesus has triumphed gives us confidence that death cannot triumph over us for it cannot hold us.  We shall be absent from the body and present with the LORD, or we may be snatched out of the hands of death like what I experienced.  Again I am Nobody and I know that GOD is no respecter of persons, but must have a plan for me and was not finished in my walk with HIM.  I thank GOD that I did not have to suffer the injuries that others have when circumstances like these arise.  Many today are telling of death experiences and the horrors they encountered as they went to hell and saw the torment there.  They speak of being pulled out of hell and given a look at heaven and saw how GOD loved them.  They speak of the fear they had in seeing hell and I have no similar thing to tell you, because I have settled my salvation in the knowledge that Christ is All and HIS Work is Sufficient.

Here is a word of encouragement to you.  If you have your salvation settled death and the grave cannot have dominion over you for GOD has given HIS angels charge over you to keep you in all your ways. (Psalm 91)  GOD’S Love is perfect and there is no fear in love. (1^st John)  If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is LORD and believe in your heart that GOD raised HIM from the dead you will be saved.  Death has no hold over the saints of GOD, for we are clothed in the Righteousness of Christ through HIS Blood.

I don’t know what you may be suffering today, but I know who is there with you and you can have confidence that GOD will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you can endure and Has Provided a way of Escape.  We may suffer death, but it is only a transition into the hands of the LORD, we may suffer injury but our GOD heals our wounds and should we pass from injury to death we will rejoice in the arms of the Father.  These temporary light afflictions are infestesimal compared to the glory we shall share with Christ.  The grave and death have no victory for they have been conquered. 

Yea, though I walk Through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear No evil, for YOU are with me, YOUR rod and staff, they comfort me.

Until next time, thanks for looking,   al

 

 

JTB Ministries

Some Thoughts on Suffering

That I may know HIM and the power of HIS resurrection, having fellowship with HIS Suffering and Identify with HIS death, in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.  Philippians 3:10&11

What is Paul saying in this passage?  Some would say that they are suffering in sickness or disease for the LORD, but I believe Paul is saying something entirely different.  Sickness and disease are a part of the fallen man; they are natural to a world that has fallen away from GOD.  This is not to say that those who are suffering from some disease are not in tune with the LORD, and that they are not saved.  Suffering a disease, and all the while believing in the LORD builds a faith that only those with maladies can understand.  We, along with them, pray for healing, and that the LORD will comfort them and give them peace in their suffering.

I believe that Paul is talking here about what our LORD suffered while HE was on this earth, namely the temptations that are common to man.  HE suffered all the same temptations that we, as human beings suffer, and yet HE did not sin.  Those who follow the teachings of the Word of GOD also suffer temptations and we, like Christ, have victory.  Unlike Christ we also have defeat as we grow in our walk with HIM.  We are tempted and resist and have that same victory that Jesus had in that successfully resisting we do not sin.  When we fail we pick ourselves back up, with GOD’S help, and carry on, and as Paul said, “Forgetting those things that are behind and pressing forward.” 

We have that power of HIS resurrection in our lives for the HOLY SPIRIT lives within us and guides us and provides that power, so that we, like Christ can live victorious over sin in our lives.  Of course we must receive that power and walk in it.  That means that we need to be in the Word of GOD daily having our minds renewed day by day by the Word that enters our souls. (Romans 12)  We have instruction in GOD’S Word that keeps our hearts and minds as it enters and transforms us into a picture of Christ.  That is GOD’S goal in us that we be Conformed to the Image of Christ and walk among men reflecting that image.

We also suffer temptation, the same temptations that Jesus suffered and this is the real suffering that, we as Christians, suffer.  We also suffer persecution, for all those who name the name of Christ will suffer persecution.  The world cannot accept us for they live in darkness and want to justify themselves, but we knowing the terrible consequences try to persuade people to receive Jesus so as to avoid the everlasting torment of hell.  We suffer rejection for our faith and are made fun of for believing in The All Powerful GOD who made everything.  We are rejected as Christ was rejected for the followers are not better than the Master, and if they rejected HIM they will reject us also.  That rejection does not stop us from our appointed duty to proclaim the Gospel, but causes us to pray harder for those souls we are trying to reach.

James tells us to “Submit ourselves to GOD and to resist the devil and he will flee from us.” (James 4:7)  First we have to Submit ourselves to GOD and HIS Will, then we can resist the enemy and have victory over sin and those temptations that are there every day and hour.  Many quote that last part about resisting but leave out the most important part, that being Submitting to GOD.  For how can we in our flesh resist when that flesh is weak, as Jesus said, “the Spirit is willing but the flesh is weak.”  We want to resist and have victory but the key is in the Submitting, for if we are Surrendered to the LORD then we have power to resist but if we are only trying in our flesh then we are no better then those who are without the LORD and are trying, for some reason, to be good.  They are trying to be good Enough to get to heaven, not knowing that their Works are futile. 

When evil thoughts come we Submit to the LORD and put them under the authority of Christ, casting down vain imaginations and putting them into subjection to Christ, 2 Corinthians 10.  First we must Submit or Surrender them and ourselves to GOD, then we can bring them under the authority of Christ and move on.  This is the Suffering that Paul is speaking of, for it involves being aware of evil thoughts and deeds and if we are aware then we will suffer through the resisting of them.  Paul told us that no temptation is any different than what All people go through and that with these temptations there is a way out, that way out is Subjection to GOD and the power of the HOLY SPIRIT in our lives who helps us through whatever we are being tempted by.

We fail but we are not failures.  We suffer temptation and sometimes we fail, then GOD helps us back up and we learned something from that failure, maybe what to avoid or what it was that brought us to the place of temptation.  Proverbs tells us that those who pay attention to the Rebukes of life are wise.  The Rebukes are those Temptations that we succumb to or that we See others going through.  We See another that is tempted and fails and we use the failure of another to avoid that same pitfall.  We see one who is steeped in alcohol or drugs and we avoid those things because we understand the harm they possess.  We see a fellow worker who is casual with another of the opposite sex and how they became involved in an affair, and so we pay attention because we love our spouses and know how harmful that affair would be to us and our loved ones.  Paul says that he forgets what happened yesterday and moves on.  We, when we fail, need to Repent, ask for forgiveness, believe that we are forgiven, and move on as Paul talks about.  What if Paul had been locked in the bondage of what he did to Christians before his conversion?  He probably would not have been the man who wrote most of the New Testament, for the bondage of yesterday would have paralyzed him from doing the Will of GOD.

All of us who are Christians suffer daily but we are more than Conquerors in Christ.  We will suffer until we go to be with the LORD so rejoice and count it all joy for we are working out our salvation with fear and trembling and the reward is sure; for who can take out of GOD’S hand what belongs to HIM?

Read the Word daily and listen to the HOLY SPIRIT as HE guides you into all truth.  If you are a Christian and trusting in the Blood of Christ for the forgiveness of your sin, then you have the HOLY SPIRIT living within you.  The more you read the Word the more deeply it is ingrained in your spirit, and living a life for Christ becomes, Somewhat, first nature.  If you are striving for perfection there was only One who is perfect and that is Christ, keep striving and trying, but in the Spirit and not the flesh.

This temporary light affliction is but for a moment and does not compare with the glory we shall experience in Heaven.

Until next time, thanks for looking,  al

 

JTB Ministries