Just sharing.

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Jesus would be of the house and lineage of David For Unto Us A Child Is Born... Prophecy Fulfilled in the Person of Jesus of Nazareth __________________ Messiah - of the house and lineage of David. Prophecy: "Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this." Isaiah 9:7 ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Fulfillment: "THE book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham." Matthew 1:1 ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Prophecy: "Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth. In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS." Jeremiah 23:5-6 ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Fulfillment: "Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God. For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. 2 Corinthians 5:20-21 __________________ Thanks be unto God for His wonderful gift: Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God is the object of our faith; the only faith that saves is faith in Him.

 

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“Even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.”

Romans 8:23

This groaning is universal among the saints: to a greater or less extent we all feel it. It is not the groan of murmuring or complaint: it is rather the note of desire than of distress. Having received an earnest, we desire the whole of our portion; we are sighing that our entire manhood, in its trinity of spirit, soul, and body, may be set free from the last vestige of the fall; we long to put off corruption, weakness, and dishonour, and to wrap ourselves in incorruption, in immortality, in glory, in the spiritual body which the Lord Jesus will bestow upon his people. We long for the manifestation of our adoption as the children of God.

“We groan,” but it is “within ourselves.” It is not the hypocrite's groan, by which he would make men believe that he is a saint because he is wretched. Our sighs are sacred things, too hallowed for us to tell abroad. We keep our longings to our Lord alone. Then the apostle says we are “waiting,” by which we learn that we are not to be petulant, like Jonah or Elijah, when they said, “Let me die”; nor are we to whimper and sigh for the end of life because we are tired of work, nor wish to escape from our present sufferings till the will of the Lord is done.

We are to groan for glorification, but we are to wait patiently for it, knowing that what the Lord appoints is best. Waiting implies being ready. We are to stand at the door expecting the Beloved to open it and take us away to himself. This “groaning” is a test. You may judge of a man by what he groans after. Some men groan after wealth—they worship Mammon; some groan continually under the troubles of life—they are merely impatient; but the man who sighs after God, who is uneasy till he is made like Christ, that is the blessed man. May God help us to groan for the coming of the Lord, and the resurrection which he will bring to us.

 

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Christian, Examine Thyself



No Christian is perfect, but there are certain things that believers should look for in their lives.
First John 1
The Book of 1 John may be one of the greatest self-diagnostic tools a believer has in their Bible. For example, it tells us what our relationship should look like with other believers and with the world. This book also tells us that “If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth” (1 John 1:6), however, “if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin” (1 John 1:7). Another attribute or character trait of the believer is that they admit they sin and then confess it. The Word of God says, “If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us” (1 John 1:8), so “If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us” (1 John 1:10). John wouldn’t have told us to confess our sins to God if it weren’t necessary. Besides, it’s for our benefit because He will “forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9b), and that’s just what we need after we sin. Next, we look at 1 John 2 and some of the attributes of a child of God.


Obedience
Jesus told His disciples that “If you love me, you will keep my commandments” (John 14:15), and “If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love” (John 15:10), so there is ample evidence that Jesus sees obedience as an expression of love toward Him. Someone who loves the Lord will naturally strive to please Him, and we please God by living in obedience to His Word. Jesus commanded us to love one another, and that love acts as an apologetics of sorts because all people will know whether we are His disciples by the way we love one another (John 13:34-35).

To love God is to have a heart to obey God. “Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him” (1 John 2:4-5), so you cannot say you “know the Lord” if you do not keep His Word, and while hating your brother or sister. God calls anyone that does this, a liar. The Bible says that many (not a few!) will claim to know Christ on the Day of Judgment, but these same many will be turned away because Christ did not know them (Matt 7:21-23). Its fine to say that you know the Lord, but your eternal destination depends on whether Jesus knows you!
Love
Jesus once told the disciples that it would be by their love for one another that others would know who His disciples are, so love is an outward character trait or attribute of the believer. John writes that “Whoever says he is in the light and hates his brother is still in darkness” (1 John 2:9). This would be like saying, “I love God but I can’t stand to be around His children.” I don’t believe God is pleased by someone saying they love Him but being hateful toward their brothers and sisters. This is incompatible for the child of God. The person with the Spirit of God cannot love God and hate others. We might have moments of course, but the overriding attribute will be love, even toward our enemies (Luke 6:27-28). My fear is that many have deceived themselves into thinking they’re saved, because the truth is, “whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness” (1 John 2:11a).

Practices
I once challenged the congregation to inventory their time for the next week and try and keep track of how much time they spent on all the different activities and the time spent in prayer and Bible reading/study. And the results were: No one had time to do it! We can get so in love with the things of the world (and I say we), that the world can gobble up most of our free time. When we spend more time on Facebook than in the Book, we are dying of malnutrition from the daily Bread of Life. Posting and reading daily devotionals cannot take the place of regular Bible study and reading. In this light, John writes, “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him” (1 John 2:15). Why would we love the things that are temporary because “the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever” (1 John 2:17)?

Jesus’ Divinity
From day one of Jesus’ resurrection, there have been skeptics about His being raised from the dead and even His existence, but that shouldn’t surprise us because much of the world denies that Jesus is the Messiah or the Savior, and fewer still that Jesus is God. That’s not good because the Word of God says, “Who is the liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, he who denies the Father and the Son” (1 John 2:22). This clearly means that “No one who denies the Son has the Father” (1 John 2:23a), however “whoever confesses the Son has the Father also” (1 John 2:23b).

Jesus said that “this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent” (John 17:3). Our eternity depends on Who Jesus is to us. Many see Jesus as just a good man, a prophet, or a holy man, and some even as a created being, but that’s not entirely Who He is. To know Jesus means to know that He is God Who came to give His life as a ransom for many (Mark 10:45), but for how many? The many (not all) are those who know Jesus Christ and the One Who sent Him (the Father). If you only have a created Jesus or only a human Jesus, you don‘t have the right Savior, and that means you will die in your sins.

Conclusion
Not every believer will always act in loving ways, nor will they always have a desire for the Word of God, but all believers will love their brothers, and true believers will strive to live in obedience to Christ’s commands (not perfectly of course). To say you love Jesus but don’t love obeying Him is to tell Jesus that you really don’t love Him. Again, Jesus says, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him” (John 14:23), and “if anyone keeps my word, he will never see death” (John 8:51). That’s why it’s essential to “Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test” (2 Cor 13:5). The Book of 1 John lets you test yourself to see if you genuinely are in the faith. That’d be a great thing to get settled today, while it’s still called today (2 Cor 6:2).

 

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Messiah would be God Incarnate For Unto Us A Child Is Born... Prophecy Fulfilled in the Person of Jesus of Nazareth __________________ Clearly, Messiah would be God Incarnate Prophecy: "Of old hast thou laid the foundation of the earth: and the heavens are the work of thy hands. 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." Psalm 102:25-27 ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Fulfillment: "And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine hands: 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." Hebrews 1:10-12 ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ "And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:" Ephesians 3:9 ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Messiah is Lord of All Prophecy: "The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool." Psalm 110:1 ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Fulfillment: "While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them, Saying, What think ye of Christ? whose son is he? They say unto him, The son of David. He saith unto them, How then doth David in spirit call him Lord, saying, The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool? 45 If David then call him Lord, how is he his son? And no man was able to answer him a word, neither durst any man from that day forth ask him any more questions." Matthew 22:41-45 __________________ Thanks be unto God for His wonderful gift: Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God is the object of our faith; the only faith that saves is faith in Him.

 

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“And the Lord shewed me four carpenters.”

Zechariah 1:20

In the vision described in this chapter, the prophet saw four terrible horns. They were pushing this way and that way, dashing down the strongest and the mightiest; and the prophet asked, “What are these?” The answer was, “These are the horns which have scattered Israel.” He saw before him a representation of those powers which had oppressed the church of God. There were four horns; for the church is attacked from all quarters. Well might the prophet have felt dismayed; but on a sudden there appeared before him four carpenters. He asked, “What shall these do?”

These are the men whom God hath found to break those horns in pieces. God will always find men for his work, and he will find them at the right time. The prophet did not see the carpenters first, when there was nothing to do, but first the “horns,” and then the “carpenters.” Moreover, the Lord finds enough men. He did not find three carpenters, but four; there were four horns, and there must be four workmen. God finds the right men; not four men with pens to write; not four architects to draw plans; but four carpenters to do rough work.

Rest assured, you who tremble for the ark of God, that when the “horns” grow troublesome, the “carpenters” will be found. You need not fret concerning the weakness of the church of God at any moment; there may be growing up in obscurity the valiant reformer who will shake the nations: Chrysostoms may come forth from our Ragged Schools, and Augustines from the thickest darkness of London's poverty. The Lord knows where to find his servants. He hath in ambush a multitude of mighty men, and at his word they shall start up to the battle; “for the battle is the Lord's,” and he shall get to himself the victory. Let us abide faithful to Christ, and he, in the right time, will raise up for us a defence, whether it be in the day of our personal need, or in the season of peril to his Church.

 

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Blind Bartimaeus And The Salvation Of The Sinner



The account of Jesus healing a blind man named Bartimaeus is similar to how a person is saved.
The Gospel
I’ve heard it said that repentance and faith are two sides of the same coin, and that coin refers to salvation, and when we read the gospels, we read about repentance and faith. Naturally, the gospel is introduced by Jesus Christ. Shortly “after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel” (Mark1:14-15), so the gospel includes repentance and faith. Before we even know we need to repent, we are born from above by the Spirit of God (John 3:3-7).

The Father draws us to Himself, but we can only come to Him through Jesus Christ (John 6:44), but thankfully, God grants us repentance (Acts 5:31, 11:18, 2 Tim 2:24-26). That means only God grows the church (Acts 2:47), but God does use others as a means to bring people to Christ, and interestingly, the historical account of the blind man named Bartimaeus and his encounter with Jesus is similar to how a person is saved.

Humility
There was a blind man named Bartimaeus, and who knows how many years he’d been blind. He may have even been born blind, so when you’re in this desperate of a state, and know that Jesus is nearby, you’re probably going to cry out to Him because He’s you’re only hope. That’s just what Bartimaeus did as “he began to cry out and say, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me” (Mark 10:47)! Bartimaeus was humbled by his blindness and dependency on others to survive, so a person who comes to believe often comes in a state of humility. And they’re not afraid to cry out for Jesus, even in the presence of others.

The disciples apparently didn’t like this man crying out for Jesus so “many rebuked him, telling him to be silent. But he cried out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me” (Mark 10:48). That didn’t stop the man because he was man was willing to do whatever it took to get to Jesus. The man was determined, even in his humbled state. He even identifies Jesus as the Son of David, with the implications of His being the Messiah, so this blind man obviously believed in Jesus, and humbly pleaded His help.

Participants
Almost like the time when the disciples tried to prevent children from coming to Jesus, they tried to stop the blind man from coming Jesus, however, Jesus said, “Call him.” And they called the blind man, saying to him, “Take heart. Get up; he is calling you” (Mark 10:49). There are two similarities to a person’s salvation here. First, Jesus called Him (John 6:44; 15:16). “Many are called, but few are chosen” (Matt 22:14). This man was apparently chosen. Also, after the man knew Jesus was calling him, it is assumed that they led the blind man to Jesus, so God will use others (including us!) to bring people to Christ, even though it is God alone Who saves (Eph 2:8-9), so the blind man, “throwing off his cloak…sprang up and came to Jesus” (Mark 10:50), and received eternal life (as we will later read).

Ask, Seek, Knock
After the blind man came to Jesus (or was brought to him), “Jesus said to him, “What do you want me to do for you?” And the blind man said to him, “Rabbi, let me recover my sight” (Mark 10:51). Obviously Jesus knew the man’s needs, but Jesus wanted the man to verbalize his faith…his faith that Jesus is the Son of David, and that he knew that Jesus could restore his sight. The point is, everyone must speak up for themselves and cry out to God. The man cried out to Jesus and desired to see. He went after Jesus, and knocked on heaven’s door as a result. Why do I say that? Because Jesus said, “Go your way; your faith has made you well.” And immediately he recovered his sight and followed him on the way” (Mark 10:52). He was blind, but now he could see. Now he could see his way to follow Jesus. Jesus is still looking for others who will follow Him.

Follow Me
You might not have noticed the last thing that was said of Bartimaeus. After he received his sight, and believing in Christ, the man “followed him on the way” (Mark 10:52b). Jesus told the first disciples, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men” (Matt 4:19), and He did! The man didn’t need to be told that “whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me” (Matt 10:38), because he wanted to follow Him. Jesus says, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me” (Matt 16:24). Bartimaeus was blind, but now he could see. So were we! He now followed Jesus instead of the world. He was once a blind, beggar, but now he was a child of God. He was following Jesus, while others were just making excuses (Luke 9:59, 61, 18:22). Those that don’t follow Christ, like Bartimaeus, are not of Jesus’ sheepfold because He says, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me” (John 10:27). Even blind sheep somehow find the Good Shepherd.

Conclusion
There are so many other examples of the gospel accounts within the gospels themselves, if only we would see. I find many of these by the simple means of my daily Bible reading. I learn them at times incidentally, and not necessarily seeking them out. That’s the way the Word of God is. It is so rich and infinite in content that a hundred million theologians could study for a hundred million years and still not plumb the depths of God’s infinite wisdom and knowledge. There are unsearchable riches in Christ, yet enough can be known that even a young child can be saved.

 

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Messiah would be the Son of God For Unto Us A Child Is Born... Prophecy Fulfilled in the Person of Jesus of Nazareth __________________ Messiah would be the Son of God Prophecy: "Who hath ascended up into heaven, or descended? who hath gathered the wind in his fists? who hath bound the waters in a garment? who hath established all the ends of the earth? what is his name, and what is his son's name, if thou canst tell?" Proverbs 30:4 ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Fulfillment: "And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." Matthew 3:16-17 (see also: Luke 1:31-35; John 1:34; 2 Peter 1:17) ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Prophecy: "I will declare the decree: the Lord hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee." Psalm 2:7 Fulfillment: "For unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee? And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son? And again, when he bringeth in the firstbegotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him." Hebrews 1:5-6 ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ But God raised him from the dead: And he was seen many days of them which came up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are his witnesses unto the people. And we declare unto you glad tidings, how that the promise which was made unto the fathers, God hath fulfilled the same unto us their children, in that he hath raised up Jesus again; as it is also written in the second psalm, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee. Acts 13:30-33 __________________ Thanks be unto God for His wonderful gift: Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God is the object of our faith; the only faith that saves is faith in Him.

 

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“Girt about the paps with a golden girdle.”

Revelation 1:13

“One like unto the Son of Man” appeared to John in Patmos, and the beloved disciple marked that he wore a girdle of gold. A girdle, for Jesus never was ungirt while upon earth, but stood always ready for service, and now before the eternal throne he stays not is holy ministry, but as a priest is girt about with “the curious girdle of the ephod.” Well it is for us that he has not ceased to fulfil his offices of love for us, since this is one of our choicest safeguards that he ever liveth to make intercession for us.

Jesus is never an idler; his garments are never loose as though his offices were ended; he diligently carries on the cause of his people. A golden girdle, to manifest the superiority of his service, the royalty of his person, the dignity of his state, the glory of his reward. No longer does he cry out of the dust, but he pleads with authority, a King as well as a Priest. Safe enough is our cause in the hands of our enthroned Melchizedek.

Our Lord presents all his people with an example. We must never unbind our girdles. This is not the time for lying down at ease, it is the season of service and warfare. We need to bind the girdle of truth more and more tightly around our loins. It is a golden girdle, and so will be our richest ornament, and we greatly need it, for a heart that is not well braced up with the truth as it is in Jesus, and with the fidelity which is wrought of the Spirit, will be easily entangled with the things of this life, and tripped up by the snares of temptation. It is in vain that we possess the Scriptures unless we bind them around us like a girdle, surrounding our entire nature, keeping each part of our character in order, and giving compactness to our whole man. If in heaven Jesus unbinds not the girdle, much less may we upon earth. Stand, therefore, having your loins girt about with truth.

 

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This virus is a thief. But it cannot steal my joy



I haven’t been glued to the ins and outs of COVID-19. I’ve been trying to manage the news, allowing only the highlights to scroll through the bottom part of my mind’s eye. My work is deeply entrenched in real-time impacts and that is quite simply, enough. I only have so much bandwidth for bad news. I work. I come home and work more.

But the impacts are inescapable. Today, while going on a walk through our neighborhood, I saw this in our neighborhood park. A playground horse, you know, the ones attached to a humongous spring, was wrapped in Yellow Caution tape. In fact, the whole playground was wrapped in the stuff. The picnic tables. The merry go round. The swings. All were off-limits. I didn’t read the sign posted in orange letters. No doubt it threatened discipline to include jail or fines.

When the virus first hit our shores, it was distant for most of us. A few pockets in the Northwest and Detroit and New York were popping up. But like most danger, we believe it would pass us by. But then with lightning speed, the dots began to spread across the country with thousands of positives nearly every day.
As of today, there are 1.2 million cases worldwide. And likely there are some in your town. Maybe even your family.

The virus is a thief.
It is stealing our health. Like a medical bully, it is picking off our most vulnerable. The aged are the most likely to die from the virus. Having lived full lives marked by school, work, family and retirement, a silent bug takes it all way. It’s a cruel executioner, picking off those who have diabetes, lung and heart issues.

It’s stealing our livelihood. We just experienced the greatest two weeks of job loss in our nation’s history. The entire world is shutting down and billions of lives are being impacted. It’s one thing to stay home for the common good. It’s quite another to pay the rent, to buy groceries and afford basic living. Governments cannot prop this up for long.

It is stealing our confidence. We have a certain swagger in our country. We’ve lived through war, terrorism, drought, and Depression. We’ve had the entire world hate us because of our ability to produce and flex our strength. We’ve protected the innocent only to have the bully find a way to call us names. And yet we’ve prevailed. Usually, in times of crisis, we come together. But now, we are fractured, pointing fingers when we should be lifting each other up.

It is stealing our future. The impact on tomorrow is uncertain, but we all know it will change. Businesses will never recover. The huge transfer of made up printed money from our treasury will take decades to repay. Our retirements are not only in question, but our tomorrows. No one really knows.

It is stealing our freedoms. How quickly we gave up our cherished rights to free speech, to assemble, to worship. In the name of emergency, we, like sheep, complied. And now in some locations, police are roaming the streets, looking for freedom lovers. Martial law isn’t far off. I understand the protection and temporary restraints. But the speed we gave up our rights should give us pause.


It is stealing from our children. The accumulated wealth of Baby Boomers, their business acumen and holdings may evaporate. And isn’t just wealth that won’t get passed to our children. It’s the world that has been built for them that is at risk. Commerce, education, and entertainment are all upside side. What is their future?

It is stealing our innocence. An entire generation has now grown up in a 9-11 world. Our youth don’t know what it’s like to walk onto an airplane without raising their arms and being scanned. They don’t know what it’s like to take a water bottle onto on airplane. They don’t know what a world without a terror threat looks like. Like the Civil War, the Depression, World War II, Viet Nam War, the Kennedy assassination, and the Civil Rights unrest and 9/11 forever changed culture, this too will change our world. The innocent world of having a conversation with a stranger might forever disappear. Exploring new lands and new peoples will forever be haunted by the lurking, silent unknown.

It cannot have my joy
But COVID-19 cannot steal our joy.
Joy is a misplaced word, incidentally, thrown into birthday parties and honeymoons and a surprise bunch of flowers from a lover. But that’s not what it means.
For me, and others of faith, joy is the that deep-rooted strength that doesn’t depend on circumstance. It’s a word that frustrates the worldly man or woman, who measures everything by a net sum/gain. But our view is deeper and longer and simply not a problem to solved by a set of variables.
Jack Wellman level sets the word. “Joy remains even amidst the suffering. Joy is not happiness.”

Rick Warren says this. “Joy is the settled assurance that God is in control of all the details of my life, the quiet confidence that ultimately everything is going to be alright, and the determined choice to praise God in every situation.”
Joy is the secret ingredient to a resilient life. And no. I’m not giving that up.
COVID. You can take my riches, my liberty, my freedom, and even my life. But you cannot take my joy.

 

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Messiah would be the Son of God For Unto Us A Child Is Born... Prophecy Fulfilled in the Person of Jesus of Nazareth __________________ Jesus is the Prince of Peace, bringing peace between A Holy, Righteous God and sinners like you and me. Prophecy: "For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace." Isaiah 9:6 ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Fulfillment: "And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven." Colossians 1:20 ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ "These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world." John 16:33 __________________ And, He is the wonderful counselor in Isaiah 9 as well Fulfillment: "And when he was come into his own country, he taught them in their synagogue, insomuch that they were astonished, and said, Whence hath this man this wisdom, and these mighty works?" Matthew 13:54 ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ "But he passing through the midst of them went his way, And came down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee, and taught them on the sabbath days. And they were astonished at his doctrine: for his word was with power." Luke 4:30-32 ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ "That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ; In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge." Colossians 2:2-3 __________________ Thanks be unto God for His wonderful gift: Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God is the object of our faith; the only faith that saves is faith in Him.

 

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“I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.”

1 Corinthians 9:22

Paul's great object was not merely to instruct and to improve, but to save. Anything short of this would have disappointed him; he would have men renewed in heart, forgiven, sanctified, in fact, saved. Have our Christian labours been aimed at anything below this great point? Then let us amend our ways, for of what avail will it be at the last great day to have taught and moralized men if they appear before God unsaved? Blood-red will our skirts be if through life we have sought inferior objects, and forgotten that men needed to be saved.

Paul knew the ruin of man's natural state, and did not try to educate him, but to save him; he saw men sinking to hell, and did not talk of refining them, but of saving from the wrath to come. To compass their salvation, he gave himself up with untiring zeal to telling abroad the gospel, to warning and beseeching men to be reconciled to God. His prayers were importunate and his labours incessant. To save souls was his consuming passion, his ambition, his calling. He became a servant to all men, toiling for his race, feeling a woe within him if he preached not the gospel.

He laid aside his preferences to prevent prejudice; he submitted his will in things indifferent, and if men would but receive the gospel, he raised no questions about forms or ceremonies: the gospel was the one all-important business with him. If he might save some he would be content. This was the crown for which he strove, the sole and sufficient reward of all his labours and self-denials.

Dear reader, have you and I lived to win souls at this noble rate? Are we possessed with the same all-absorbing desire? If not, why not? Jesus died for sinners, cannot we live for them? Where is our tenderness? Where our love to Christ, if we seek not his honour in the salvation of men? O that the Lord would saturate us through and through with an undying zeal for the souls of men.

 

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The Surprising Truth About Persecution



Persecution doesn’t feel good at the time, but it’s actually a very good thing for the believer.

All the Godly
The Apostle Paul delivering the Areopagus sermon in Athens, by Raphael, 1515.
The Apostle Paul reminded Timothy that “all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted” (2 Tim 3:12), while at the same time, “evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived” (2 Tim3:13). I think Paul wanted Timothy to know that because he had likely experienced persecution. He knew what they did to Jesus, Stephen (the deacon), and James, and maybe he thought he’d be next!

By Paul saying, “all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted” (2 Tim 3:12), he was saying that it’s going to be the norm for every believer. The surprising thing would be if a believer never experienced persecution. Persecution, while being painful, is a testament to your faith being seen or heard by the world. Paul knew what it felt like, writing that they were being “persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed” (2 Cor 4:9). When persecuted, they were not forsaken; when struck down, they got back up. They could say, even though “Greatly have they afflicted me from my youth, yet they have not prevailed against me” (Psalm 129:2).

Not Unusual
Don’t be surprised to suffer for your faith, but rather be surprised if you’ve never suffered for it. One reason might be you’re not sharing your faith or maybe you’re not living your faith, and no one can see any difference in you than in those in the world. If that’s true, then it’s time to examine yourself to see if you’re in the faith, because good works are the fruit of salvation (Eph 2:20; James 2:14-26), even though they’re not the root of salvation (Acts 4:12; Eph 2:8-9). Cleary, persecution is to be expected. Jesus said, “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you” (Matt 5:10-12). Jesus didn’t say “if others revile you and persecute you,” but “when others revile you and persecute you,” so it’s not a matter of if but when you are persecuted, but this persecution is for His account, not ours.

The prophets didn’t suffer persecution for their own message, but that which comes from the Word of God. Our response shouldn’t be, “Please Lord, take this away,” but we should “rejoice and be glad.” We rejoice, not so much for the rewards, but we rejoice we’re being persecuted like the prophets of old. That’s pretty good company, but remember, it’s not them or us that people hate; it is the message. The postal carrier may bring the bills, but their debt is owed to their creditors, not the postal carrier, so it’s not the messenger they really hate but the message itself. This means we should not take it as personally, but even so, you must take it and not respond in kind.

The Unusual
Jesus reminded the disciples that “A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours” (John 15:20). This means we cannot avoid persecution. The Apostle Paul wanted to know Christ so desperately, that he was willing to enter into His sufferings, so “that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death” (Phil 3:10). The point being, “we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him” (Rom 8:17b), but it’s more than that. If your friend shares his suffering with you, you know him better; likewise, if you share your pain with your friend, she is going to know you better because of it. Suffering for Christ’s name’s sake is a great way to know Him better. This doesn’t mean we seek it out, but it does mean we see it as a blessing, so “let those who suffer according to God’s will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good” (1 Pet 4:19). Why? Because “it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil” (1 Pet 3:17).

Martyrs Syndrome
Persecution is not a good thing when someone has a “martyr’s complex.” That is, they actually go out and look for persecution, but the Bible never teaches this. Even though every Christian cannot avoid persecution, it does not mean we should seek it out. That’s not what persecution really is. That’s just being obnoxious. There is no cause for sharing Christ and being antagonistic. Jesus never tried to cram His beliefs down anyone’s throat. He said that whosoever may come, can come. It doesn’t say, make people come. God the Father draws people to Himself, but only through Christ (John 6:44). The Prodigal Father didn’t put out an APB for his son and go looking for him. He waited and watched for the son to come to Him. Even now, while it is still called today (2 Cor 6:2), Jesus Christ says to you, and He says to all, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light” (Matt 11:28-30).

Conclusion
The Apostle Peter’s encouraging words to every persecuted believer is, if you are persecuted for His name’s sake, “rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed” (1 Pet 4:13), and even better, “If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you” (1 Pet 4:14). Don’t you want that? Of course, you don’t seek out persecution to have “the Spirit of glory and of God” resting upon you. If you do, then you’re not really being persecuted for His name’s sake but for your own sake, and that’s not acceptable to God. It’s not persecution if someone’s being “holier than thou,” or Bible-bashing people. That’s plain being obnoxious. And that’s not a good thing.

 

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Preach the Gospel! Preach the Gospel! Then I saw another angel flying in midair, and he had the eternal gospel to proclaim to those who live on the earth-- to every nation, tribe, language and people. He said in a loud voice, "Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has come. Worship him who made the heavens, the earth, the sea and the springs of water." Revelation 14:6,7 NIV __________________ NOW I make known to you, brethren, the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received, in which also you stand, by which also you are saved, if you hold fast the word which I preached to you, unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures. 1 Corinthians 15:1-4 NASB __________________ And He said to them, Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned. Mark 16:15,16 NASB __________________ Thanks be unto God for His wonderful gift: Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God is the object of our faith; the only faith that saves is faith in Him.

 

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“Thou, O God, hast prepared of thy goodness for the poor.”

Psalm 68:10

All God's gifts are prepared gifts laid up in store for wants foreseen. He anticipates our needs; and out of the fulness which he has treasured up in Christ Jesus, he provides of his goodness for the poor. You may trust him for all the necessities that can occur, for he has infallibly foreknown every one of them. He can say of us in all conditions, “I knew that thou wouldst be this and that.”

A man goes a journey across the desert, and when he has made a day's advance, and pitched his tent, he discovers that he wants many comforts and necessaries which he has not brought in his baggage. “Ah!” says he, “I did not foresee this: if I had this journey to go again, I should bring these things with me, so necessary to my comfort.” But God has marked with prescient eye all the requirements of his poor wandering children, and when those needs occur, supplies are ready. It is goodness which he has prepared for the poor in heart, goodness and goodness only. “My grace is sufficient for thee.” “As thy days, so shall thy strength be.”

Reader, is your heart heavy this evening? God knew it would be; the comfort which your heart wants is treasured in the sweet assurance of the text. You are poor and needy, but he has thought upon you, and has the exact blessing which you require in store for you. Plead the promise, believe it and obtain its fulfilment. Do you feel that you never were so consciously vile as you are now? Behold, the crimson fountain is open still, with all its former efficacy, to wash your sin away. Never shall you come into such a position that Christ cannot aid you. No pinch shall ever arrive in your spiritual affairs in which Jesus Christ shall not be equal to the emergency, for your history has all been foreknown and provided for in Jesus.

 

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3 Ways the Resurrection of Jesus Should Change Us



For Christians, Easter and the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead should be much more than a religious holiday or even a sacred observance. It should impact the way we live, just like the American Revolution of 1776 has impacted the way North Americans have lived on this continent ever since. How should the resurrection change us?

1. We should believe. The resurrection is the whole basis for Christianity. At its core, Christianity is not a set of rules and regulations about how we can work our way into God’s good graces. Christianity is simply believing that Jesus is the Son of God, that he died on the cross and rose again, and that by believing we have forgiveness and eternal life. If you haven’t done that yet, you can make a decision to place your trust in Jesus.

2. We should rejoice. Luke records that after the resurrection the followers of Jesus rejoiced, and why not? Jesus literally conquered death and the grave! What more could his enemies do? Jesus proved once and for all that he was the son of God, and what could the Jews or the Romans do to threaten Christians? Kill them? Jesus had literally just risen from the dead! The grave has no power over us. If you believe in Jesus, every single day should be a day to rejoice, because God is still on His throne, the tomb is still empty, and no matter what you’re going through, at the end of it all, those who believe spend eternity with our Savior in heaven. Can I get an ‘amen’ somebody?

3. We should change the world. Look at what the followers of Jesus did after Jesus’ resurrection: they went out and changed the course of human history. Within a few hundred years this group of religious outcasts with this fantastic claim about a resurrected rabbi became the dominant religion in the Roman Empire, shaping all of western civilization. The resurrection of Jesus is still changing the world, that’s why our driving passion should be to make a difference. in the lives of others for Jesus.

 

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He is watching over us! For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil. And who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good? But and if ye suffer for righteousness' sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled. 1 Peter 3:12-14 KJV __________________ On the day the LORD gives you relief from suffering and turmoil and cruel bondage, you will take up this taunt against the king of Babylon: How the oppressor has come to an end! How his fury has ended! The LORD has broken the rod of the wicked, the scepter of the rulers, which in anger struck down peoples with unceasing blows, and in fury subdued nations with relentless aggression. Isaiah 14:3-6 NIV __________________ Then you will walk in your way securely And your foot will not stumble. When you lie down, you will not be afraid; When you lie down, your sleep will be sweet. Proverbs 3:23,24 NASB __________________ Thanks be unto God for His wonderful gift: Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God is the object of our faith; the only faith that saves is faith in Him.

 

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“My people shall dwell in quiet resting places.”

Isaiah 32:18

Peace and rest belong not to the unregenerate, they are the peculiar possession of the Lord's people, and of them only. The God of Peace gives perfect peace to those whose hearts are stayed upon him. When man was unfallen, his God gave him the flowery bowers of Eden as his quiet resting places; alas! how soon sin blighted the fair abode of innocence.

In the day of universal wrath when the flood swept away a guilty race, the chosen family were quietly secured in the resting-place of the ark, which floated them from the old condemned world into the new earth of the rainbow and the covenant, herein typifying Jesus, the ark of our salvation. Israel rested safely beneath the blood-besprinkled habitations of Egypt when the destroying angel smote the first-born; and in the wilderness the shadow of the pillar of cloud, and the flowing rock, gave the weary pilgrims sweet repose.

At this hour we rest in the promises of our faithful God, knowing that his words are full of truth and power; we rest in the doctrines of his word, which are consolation itself; we rest in the covenant of his grace, which is a haven of delight. More highly favoured are we than David in Adullam, or Jonah beneath his gourd, for none can invade or destroy our shelter. The person of Jesus is the quiet resting-place of his people, and when we draw near to him in the breaking of the bread, in the hearing of the word, the searching of the Scriptures, prayer, or praise, we find any form of approach to him to be the return of peace to our spirits.

“I hear the words of love, I gaze upon the blood,
I see the mighty sacrifice, and I have peace with God.
’Tis everlasting peace, sure as Jehovah's name,
’Tis stable as his steadfast throne, for evermore the same:
The clouds may go and come, and storms may sweep my sky,
This blood-sealed friendship changes not, the cross is ever nigh.”

 

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Mark of the Beast? Microchips to replace credit cards, car keys



This is not a joke or fake news. This is actually happening right now.
The Independent reports that Swedish workers were implanted with microchips– the size of one grain of rice– to replace cash cards and ID passes.
Microchips are injected in between the thumb and index figure and injected with a syringe.
The Associated Press reports:

“What could pass for a dystopian vision of the workplace is almost routine at the Swedish startup hub Epicenter. The company offers to implant its workers and startup members with microchips the size of grains of rice that function as swipe cards: to open doors, operate printers, or buy smoothies with a wave of the hand.”

The injections have become so popular that workers at Epicenter hold parties for those willing to get implanted.
Patrick Mesterton, co-founder and CEO of Epicenter, says the microchip basically “replaces a lot of things you have, other communication devices, whether it be credit cards or keys.”
The human microchip is similar to the one used for pets. Except these chips show how often an employee comes to work or what they buy at a store.
Epicenter oversees more than 100 companies and roughly 2,000 employees. It began implanting some employees with microchips four years ago, in January 2015.
A volunteer getting a chip implanted in his hand (EPA)
Microchips use near field communication (NFC) technology– the same used for contactless credit cards or mobile payments– to transfer a small amount of data between two devices through electromagnetic waves.


Imagine having your hand hacked– which is a possibility.

According to Ben Libberton, a microbiologist at Stockholm’s Karolinska Institute, he told the AP that hackers “could conceivably gain huge swathes of information from embedded microchips,” creating huge ethical dilemmas.
“The data that you could possibly get from a chip that is embedded in your body is a lot different from the data that you can get from a smartphone,” he told the AP. “Conceptually you could get data about your health, you could get data about your whereabouts, how often you’re working, how long you’re working, if you’re taking toilet breaks and things like that.”

Microchips throw privacy out the window. Imagine all of the data collected and stored in your hand– what happens to it, who uses it, for what and why– is completely out of the control of the user. People who willingly become chipped are quite literally giving their lives away.
In a remarkable turn of events: “The implants have become so popular that Epicenter workers stage monthly events where attendees have the option of being ‘chipped’ for free.”

 

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Regarding Faith Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good report. Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear. Hebrews 11:1-3 KJV __________________ So that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge--that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Ephesians 3:17-19 NIV __________________ I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me. Galatians 2:20 NASB __________________ For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal. 2 Corinthians 4:17,18 NASB __________________ Thanks be unto God for His wonderful gift: Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God is the object of our faith; the only faith that saves is faith in Him.

 

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“Whose heart the Lord opened.”

Acts 16:14

In Lydia's conversion there are many points of interest. It was brought about by providential circumstances. She was a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, but just at the right time for hearing Paul we find her at Philippi; providence, which is the handmaid of grace, led her to the right spot. Again, grace was preparing her soul for the blessing — grace preparing for grace. She did not know the Saviour, but as a Jewess, she knew many truths which were excellent stepping-stones to a knowledge of Jesus.

Her conversion took place in the use of the means. On the Sabbath she went when prayer was wont to be made, and there prayer was heard. Never neglect the means of grace; God may bless us when we are not in his house, but we have the greater reason to hope that he will when we are in communion with his saints. Observe the words, “Whose heart the Lord opened.” She did not open her own heart. Her prayers did not do it; Paul did not do it. The Lord himself must open the heart, to receive the things which make for our peace. He alone can put the key into the hole of the door and open it, and get admittance for himself. He is the heart's master as he is the heart's maker.

The first outward evidence of the opened heart was obedience. As soon as Lydia had believed in Jesus, she was baptized. It is a sweet sign of a humble and broken heart, when the child of God is willing to obey a command which is not essential to his salvation, which is not forced upon him by a selfish fear of condemnation, but is a simple act of obedience and of communion with his Master. The next evidence was love, manifesting itself in acts of grateful kindness to the apostles. Love to the saints has ever been a mark of the true convert. Those who do nothing for Christ or his church, give but sorry evidence of an “opened” heart. Lord, evermore give me an opened heart.