Just sharing.

[beensetfree]

Is Shame the New Silent Killer in America?



Protesters were everywhere.
I recently pulled into a private event for one of our Georgia Congressmen to find sign-holders yelling out chants of “SHAME! SHAME! SHAME!”
The signs were held high and venom was pouring from their lips, and as soon as I was recognized to be a woman, the shouting got a little louder. Apparently, I was supposed to be ashamed for attending an event for one of our Congressmen, because somewhere in the recesses of the Left’s mind, I had violated an unspoken oath of sexual solidarity.

My first instinct was to wave, or at the very least, head into the crowd with my mic and recording device to get to the bottom of their obvious incessant need for attention. But it was hot, I was late, my heels were hurting and mobs aren’t really my thing.

I don’t have a mob mentality, at least I don’t think so…
I don’t believe I ever have. I’ve never been interested in running with the pack. It has done me a great service and great disservice at times. As a human being, it can be rough going it alone when there is a community ready, willing, and yet not always equipped to heal outside of the proverbial box.
Shame. I have found in eight years of ministry, the number one deterrent to people seeking authentic relationship with others in what is supposed to be the Hospital of Christ, is the left’s buzzword of the day: Shame.

It leaves the wounded paralyzed on the battlefield of life. I can vividly visualize a battlefield with bloodied, maimed and the left-for-dead. If we could see the souls and minds of others the way our healer can, we would quite possibly perish instantly. But not from shame, rather from grief.
If we knew how many opportunities we took to step over the dying, we would drop dead from the heaviness it caused. If we knew how much shame we fed every time we backed away from a hard conversation or confession, we would immediately start the Old Testament process of sackcloth and fasting and beg for our own mercy.

We keep waiting for Jesus, but it’s our responsibility.
Jesus entrusted us. We post our cute little signs and slogans as if heaven rejoices because we thought of a more clever way to say choose Jesus right this second or burn in hell forever. We underestimate the hell people already live in their lives.
I am fortunate, blessed, and prosperous in my relationships. But it wasn’t always so. I didn’t always have someone to call to confess my addictions in life, to ask why I kept jumping into the same toilet bowls of life.

I had few people who knew just how much I struggled to simply stay alive while I watched my daughter dying before my eyes.
Who was I supposed to tell that I hated the God that was supposed to protect us? Who was I supposed to share my shame with of not being able to provide for my family?
I was an island. And it was hell. Cute signs weren’t going to cut it. Memes weren’t a thing yet, and had they been at the time, I would’ve created my own that wouldn’t have been appropriate to share. I had enough shame to host a liberal sit-in that would make Elizabeth Warren wish she was Pocahontas.
The hospital of Christ wasn’t open to me. Or at least I thought. And some of you think the same too.

My encouragement to you in this age of slut, age, race, gender, belief, party, national- shaming, is to recognize your need for true community and actively seek it.
The sane, safe, forgiving, truth-speaking community. I hope to offer that through my resources on my website.
And there are many other resources to plug yourself into to help set your feet back on the path of liberty. It’s an opportunity for liberation from thinking and being governed by your unnecessary feelings. You feel you are alone because you think alone, but you’re not.
Find someone who is ‘safe’ to confess your faults with, receive your forgiveness and reach back for someone else. We need CNA’s, RN’s PA’s and MD’s in the body.
We don’t need sign-holders.
We need people willing to roll up their sleeves, with or without masks and gloves, and wrap their arms around the emotionally and spiritually dying.

We need you to show up in your communities.
You need to show up whether you feel qualified or not and rally around sane principles that preserve truth, justice, and our liberties. We don’t need sinless people, we need people who are overcoming their propensity to fall short while learning that love isn’t a notion. It’s a verb that requires proper application, not co-dependency.

The redeemer of the world despised the shame he endured for the joy set before him. I encourage you today, look that giant of shame in the face with that same mind of despising it and cut off its head.
Say no to the disappointment it brings, the identity it tries to heap on you as a blood-bought son or daughter and walk boldly into your destiny. There is a place for you right now, right where you are. Don’t isolate yourself. Isolation is the language of death.

We are children of life.
Remember, there are more of us than there are of the ones who chant “SHAME!” as if it actually means something.
This has been a major battleground for me in my own life. And glory be to GOD, he’s walked through that valley of shadow of death with me. Funny thing was, I wasn’t the one dying. It did.
When I walked by those protestors on that hot day I wanted to take my 4 inch strappy-heal wearing butt across that street and shout back, “Baby! Your little shame sign and megaphone couldn’t stand a chance against the shame giant I’ve had to slay, so take your mantra, your bus ticket back to Sorosville, and bite me!”
But like I said, it was too hot, my heels were hurting, and I was late for the party.

Rise, Beloved. This is your time.

 

[beensetfree]

Children - The Heritage of the Lord Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off - for all whom the Lord our God will call." Acts 2:38,39 NIV ________________ "For I will pour out water on the thirsty land and streams on the dry ground; I will pour out My Spirit on your offspring And My blessing on your descendants" Isaiah 44:3 NASB ________________ Blessed is every one that feareth the LORD; that walketh in his ways. For thou shalt eat the labour of thine hands: happy shalt thou be, and it shall be well with thee. Thy wife shall be as a fruitful vine by the sides of thine house: thy children like olive plants round about thy table. Psalm 128:1-3 KJV ________________ 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.

 

[beensetfree]

“His heavenly kingdom.”

2 Timothy 4:18

Yonder city of the great King is a place of active service. Ransomed spirits serve him day and night in his temple. They never cease to fulfil the good pleasure of their King. They always “rest,” so far as ease and freedom from care is concerned; and never “rest,” in the sense of indolence or inactivity. Jerusalem the golden is the place of communion with all the people of God. We shall sit with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, in eternal fellowship. We shall hold high converse with the noble host of the elect, all reigning with him who by his love and his potent arm has brought them safely home. We shall not sing solos, but in chorus shall we praise our King.

Heaven is a place of victory realized. Whenever, Christian, thou hast achieved a victory over thy lusts — whenever after hard struggling, thou hast laid a temptation dead at thy feet — thou hast in that hour a foretaste of the joy that awaits thee when the Lord shall shortly tread Satan under thy feet, and thou shalt find thyself more than conqueror through him who hath loved thee. Paradise is a place of security. When you enjoy the full assurance of faith, you have the pledge of that glorious security which shall be yours when you are a perfect citizen of the heavenly Jerusalem. O my sweet home, Jerusalem, thou happy harbour of my soul! Thanks, even now, to him whose love hath taught me to long for thee; but louder thanks in eternity, when I shall possess thee.

“My soul has tasted of the grapes,
And now it longs to go
Where my dear Lord his vineyard keeps
And all the clusters grow.
“Upon the true and living vine,
My famish'd soul would feast,
And banquet on the fruit divine,
An everlasting guest.”

 

[beensetfree]

6 Things That Damage Our Relationship With God



There are a lot of things that might destroy our relationships with others, but what 6 things can damage our relationship with God?
Words
How can words damager our relationship with God? Our words can hurt others, and it’s not true that “words can never hurt me.” That’s probably uttered by someone who’s been hurt, but harsh or judgmental words spoken to others, and in particular to brothers and sisters in Christ, is something Jesus takes personally. Remember when Jesus met Saul (later, known as the Apostle Saul) on the Damascus Road? Paul had been persecuting believers, some to the point of death, so Jesus asks him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me” (Acts 9:4)? Wait! Isn’t Jesus in heaven? Then how can Saul have been persecuting Him? Because anyone who persecutes believers, is persecuting Jesus since He is the Head of the church and we are the Body of Christ.

Unconfessed Sin
For a long time, King David suppressed his sin…the sin of conspiracy to commit murder, and adultery; both sins that were punishable by death in Israel, but even though David took a long time in confessing these sins, and it took Nathan the Prophet to finally penetrate his conscience, David was miserable. In perhaps one of the greatest prayers of repentance, David wrote, “I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me” (Psalm 51:3), showing that his unconfessed sin was a burden that wouldn’t go away, saying that “when I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long” (Psalm 32:3). He told God, it was like, all “day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was dried up as by the heat of summer” (Psalm 32:4). Unconfessed sin has similar effects our human relationships, so how much more does it affect our relationship with God?

No Communication
When we are mad at someone, we sometimes refuse to speak to them, and giving them the silent treatment makes it harder to reconcile the differences. When communications are severed between parties, there’s slim chance for reconciliation, so when we cut ourselves off from God, we won’t be able to hear His voice as easily. I don’t mean His audible voice, but how He speaks through the Spirit of God. A man wrote his girlfriend for 3 straight years since he lived a long distance from her. He wrote her almost every day…so what happened? She married the postal carrier! Bad story, but the point is, if we don’t seek to communicate with God in daily prayer, we’re cutting ourselves off the most critical communication we have. And it seems the longer you go without praying (same thing with Bible reading and study), the harder it is to get back to it. Before you know it, it’s been 3 months since you prayed. I have found that the times when I least feel like praying, are the very times when I need it the most.

Worry
Imagine your child coming to you, day after day, asking to see the kitchen cupboards, look into the refrigerator, and ask how much is in the bank. If a child kept coming back to ask, “Mom, is there enough food for me to eat tomorrow,” mom would finally say, “Enough. Yes, we have enough food for tomorrow and the next day and the next week!” Of course, children don’t do that (usually) because they trust that their parents will provide for them. They feel a sense of security. Now think how God feels when we don’t trust Him with today, not to mention tomorrow?

To me, worry is the opposite of trust. If I worry about someone driving too fast, it’s because they could get someone hurt (including me!), but if they’re driving the speed limit, I don’t have to worry, at least as much. Jesus said that we should “not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear’” (Matt 6:31). Paul echo’s that statement by writing, we should “not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God” (Phil 4:6). Worry says, “I don’t trust You God,” but trust says, “I’m not worried because You are God.”

Robbing Glory
God is never happy when we take credit for something He has done. Paul would asked, “What do you have that you did not receive? If then you received it, why do you boast as if you did not receive it” (1 Cor 4:7)? John the Baptist correctly stated that “A person cannot receive even one thing unless it is given him from heaven” (John 3:27), so we must acknowledge Him in all things, and give thanks to Him for the many blessings. The psalmist got it right when he wrote, “Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to your name give glory” (Psalm 115:1a). We must acknowledge God and how much He has blessed us by making it known to others. If you (and I) can learn to always “acknowledge him,” “he will make straight your paths” (Prov 3:6).

The World
There is an unholy trinity out there that seeks to destroy us. The Apostle John says that “all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world” (1 John 2:16). Those three are what brought down Adam and Eve in the Garden, and we battle the same three things every day, so we are told, “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). If we claim to know God but live like the world, we ought to examine ourselves to see if we’re really in the faith (2 Cor 13:5; 2 Pet 1:10-11). Living like the world is certainly going to damage our relationship with God.

Conclusion
There are dozens of other things that can damage our relationship with God. Maybe you can think of one, but I know by experience that I’ve hurt God by my ungodly behavior, many times. Thankfully, He is a God Who forgives, and there is no sin that the blood of the Lamb of God cannot cover. Have you trusted in Him today? If not, you don’t have a relationship with God, but that relationship begins with Jesus Christ. And today is the best of days to come to Him (2 Cor 6:2).

 

[beensetfree]

The LORD reigns forever; The LORD reigns forever; he has established his throne for judgment. He will judge the world in righteousness; he will govern the peoples with justice. The LORD is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble. Those who know your name will trust in you, for you, LORD , have never forsaken those who seek you. Psalm 9:7-10 NIV ________________ The LORD is King forever and ever; Nations have perished from His land. O LORD, You have heard the desire of the humble; You will strengthen their heart, You will incline Your ear To vindicate the orphan and the oppressed, So that man who is of the earth will no longer cause terror. Psalm 10:16-18 NASB ________________ May the glory of the LORD endure forever; May the LORD rejoice in His works. He looks on the earth, and it trembles; He touches the hills, and they smoke. Psalm 104:31,32 NKJV ________________ Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever. 1 John 2:15-17 KJV ________________ Glorious, eternal life belongs to those who belong to Him! Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb? ________________ 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.

 

[beensetfree]

“When I cry unto thee, then shall mine enemies turn back: this I know; for God is for me.”

Psalm 56:9

It is impossible for any human speech to express the full meaning of this delightful phrase, “God is for me.” He was “for us” before the worlds were made; he was “for us,” or he would not have given his well-beloved son; he was “for us” when he smote the Only-begotten, and laid the full weight of his wrath upon him — he was “for us,” though he was against him; he was “for us,” when we were ruined in the fall — he loved us notwithstanding all; he was “for us,” when we were rebels against him, and with a high hand were bidding him defiance; he was “for us,” or he would not have brought us humbly to seek his face.

He has been “for us” in many struggles; we have been summoned to encounter hosts of dangers; we have been assailed by temptations from without and within—how could we have remained unharmed to this hour if he had not been “for us”? He is “for us,” with all the infinity of his being; with all the omnipotence of his love; with all the infallibility of his wisdom; arrayed in all his divine attributes, he is “for us,”—eternally and immutably “for us”; “for us” when yon blue skies shall be rolled up like a worn out vesture; “for us” throughout eternity.

And because he is “for us,” the voice of prayer will always ensure his help. “When I cry unto thee, then shall mine enemies be turned back.” This is no uncertain hope, but a well grounded assurance—“this I know.” I will direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up for the answer, assured that it will come, and that mine enemies shall be defeated, “for God is for me.” O believer, how happy art thou with the King of kings on thy side! How safe with such a Protector! How sure thy cause pleaded by such an Advocate! If God be for thee, who can be against thee?

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Morning by Morning Devotional for Tomorrow, July 14
Charles H. Spurgeon

“If thou lift up thy tool upon it, thou hast polluted it.”

Exodus 20:25

God's altar was to be built of unhewn stones, that no trace of human skill or labour might be seen upon it. Human wisdom delights to trim and arrange the doctrines of the cross into a system more artificial and more congenial with the depraved tastes of fallen nature; instead, however, of improving the gospel carnal wisdom pollutes it, until it becomes another gospel, and not the truth of God at all. All alterations and amendments of the Lord's own Word are defilements and pollutions.

The proud heart of man is very anxious to have a hand in the justification of the soul before God; preparations for Christ are dreamed of, humblings and repentings are trusted in, good works are cried up, natural ability is much vaunted, and by all means the attempt is made to lift up human tools upon the divine altar. It were well if sinners would remember that so far from perfecting the Saviour's work, their carnal confidences only pollute and dishonour it. The Lord alone must be exalted in the work of atonement, and not a single mark of man's chisel or hammer will be endured.

There is an inherent blasphemy in seeking to add to what Christ Jesus in His dying moments declared to be finished, or to improve that in which the Lord Jehovah finds perfect satisfaction. Trembling sinner, away with thy tools, and fall upon thy knees in humble supplication; and accept the Lord Jesus to be the altar of thine atonement, and rest in him alone.

Many professors may take warning from this morning's text as to the doctrines which they believe. There is among Christians far too much inclination to square and reconcile the truths of revelation; this is a form of irreverence and unbelief, let us strive against it, and receive truth as we find it; rejoicing that the doctrines of the Word are unhewn stones, and so are all the more fit to build an altar for the Lord.

​

 

[beensetfree]

When a Story is Better than a Sermon






About ten years ago, an imam walked into my office at Fairfax Presbyterian Church with a Christmas present. He was the leader of the nearby Turkish mosque, a man with a big smile and a warm spirit.
He and I became friends and went on to lead two clergy trips to Turkey, a country with a rich history of interfaith relations. When the rulers of Spain expelled its Jews in 1492, Turkey welcomed them. And while there have been interfaith conflicts over the years, Jews, Christians and Muslims have lived together in peace through much of Turkish history. Back in the US, members of the mosque have helped us to feed the homeless on cold winter nights, and we have celebrated the end of Ramadan together under a tent in our church parking lot.

I often preach about the importance of interfaith cooperation, but I find that sermons have their limits. People naturally push back against sermons — a common expression is, “Don’t preach at me.” And interfaith events can be easily declined by those who don’t want to leave the comfort of their religious traditions.
Now I’m trying a new vehicle for interfaith dialogue: The novel.
Not that this story-telling approach is original to me. Jesus didn’t give lectures on heaven, but taught through parables such as, “The kingdom of God is as if someone would scatter seed on the ground” (Mark 4:26). And Jewish rabbis continued this approach through midrash aggadah, a type of biblical interpretation which centered on the story or characters of the biblical law.

In line with this tradition, I am delivering a message about the need for deeper interfaith relations, especially in a time of Muslim bans and terrorist threats, through my novel City of Peace. In it, a Methodist pastor named Harley Camden is sent to Occoquan, Virginia, and soon after his arrival, he is asked — as the only clergy in town — to visit a prisoner named Muhammad Bayati, an Iraqi immigrant accused of murdering his daughter.
After introducing himself, Harley tells Muhammad that he has recently lost his own daughter and wife. Looking Muhammad in the eyes to gauge his reaction, he says, “They were killed by terrorists at the Brussels airport.”
Muhammad’s eyes well up, which is not the reaction Harley expects. “I was informed of your loss,” he says. “You have my sympathy.” Harley thanks him but feels a little off balance.
“You may know that the Qur’an says that whoever kills a person unjustly, it is as though he has killed all mankind,” says Muhammad. “I condemn the killers of your wife and daughter.”
The two men go on to talk about justice, God, and even Jesus — a prophet for Muhammad and the messiah for Harley. Then Harley says, “Our Bible says that God is love.”

Muhammad cocks his head slightly and replies, “That is different from our understanding. We have many names for God, but love is not among them.” He knows that “All-Compassionate” is one of the 99 names for God, but so is “The Distressor.” In Islam, none of these attributes of God is identical to God’s essence.
“For Christians, love is at the core of who God is,” explains Harley. “God reveals his love by sending Jesus. And the response we are supposed to make is to love one another.”
“I would agree with that,” says Muhammad. “Loving God does require that we love the people around us.” Harley begins to see that he and Muhammad have much in common, and that he is wrong to be prejudiced against someone with a commitment to love of God and neighbor.

This, then, is a portion of my parable, my midrash aggadah. Church members who have little interest in interfaith relations are attracted to the whodunnit aspect of the story, and are learning about Muslim attitudes through Muhammad, a multidimensional and sympathetic character. Readers identify better with Harley, a flawed and grieving man, than they do with a minister in robes.
But a story is no guarantee of interfaith harmony. When I presented City of Peace to members of the Turkish mosque, one woman complained that I had slighted Islam by saying love was absent from the names it gave God. But after a long discussion between two imams, one said, “On this point, Pastor Brinton is correct.” Whew. I was relieved.

Novels can ignite important conversations about matters of faith and morality, and they can get people talking outside the walls of the church. Such conversations can lead to new visions for our life together, and draw people together around values that are common to diverse faiths and cultures. I don’t plan on giving up the pulpit, but I am glad to have discovered a less preachy way of preaching.

 

[beensetfree]

The Lord Lives! Fear Not! I sought the LORD, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears. They looked unto him, and were lightened: and their faces were not ashamed. This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles. The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them. Psalm 34:4-7 KJV ________________ Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. Psalm 23:4 NIV ________________ When I saw Him, I fell at His feet like a dead man. And He placed His right hand on me, saying, "Do not be afraid; I am the first and the last, and the living One; and I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of death and of Hades. Revelation 1:17,18 NASB ________________ Glorious, eternal life belongs to those who belong to Him! Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb? ________________ 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.

 

[beensetfree]

“As it began to dawn, came Magdalene, to see the sepulchre.”

Matthew 28:1

Let us learn from Mary Magdalene how to obtain fellowship with the Lord Jesus. Notice how she sought. She sought the Saviour very early in the morning. If thou canst wait for Christ, and be patient in the hope of having fellowship with him at some distant season, thou wilt never have fellowship at all; for the heart that is fitted for communion is a hungering and a thirsting heart.

She sought him also with very great boldness. Other disciples fled from the sepulchre, for they trembled and were amazed; but Mary, it is said, “stood” at the sepulchre. If you would have Christ with you, seek him boldly. Let nothing hold you back. Defy the world. Press on where others flee. She sought Christ faithfully—she stood at the sepulchre. Some find it hard to stand by a living Saviour, but she stood by a dead one. Let us seek Christ after this mode, cleaving to the very least thing that has to do with him, remaining faithful though all others should forsake him.

Note further, she sought Jesus earnestly—she stood “weeping”. Those tear-droppings were as spells that led the Saviour captive, and made him come forth and show himself to her. If you desire Jesus’ presence, weep after it! If you cannot be happy unless he come and say to you, “Thou art my beloved,” you will soon hear his voice.

Lastly, she sought the Saviour only. What cared she for angels, she turned herself back from them; her search was only for her Lord. If Christ be your one and only love, if your heart has cast out all rivals, you will not long lack the comfort of his presence. Mary Magdalene sought thus because she loved much. Let us arouse ourselves to the same intensity of affection; let our heart, like Mary's, be full of Christ, and our love, like hers, will be satisfied with nothing short of himself. O Lord, reveal thyself to us this evening!

 

[beensetfree]

Speaking the Truth Can Transform Your Relationship



Relationships are hard. We try all sorts of different things to make them better. Even in the best of relationships, struggle and perseverance are inevitable. We encounter challenges at every corner. We cannot escape them, but we try to work through them with activities and ideas that keep the passion going, remind us of the purpose of relationship, and rekindle the joy of togetherness.

Perhaps the one thing that will transform a relationship more than anything else is a simple, easy, obvious practice. State the truth.

Truth is elusive in our relationships. There are walls of perception and face-saving excuses. Blaming practices and a fear of conflict. But the courage and commitment to say the truth is vital for relationships and here is why:

Not So Obvious
When we were on the World Race, it was required for our team to meet every night and talk about the day. We gave each other “feedback” about where we saw successes and failures in each other. It was painful and awkward, but was also one of the keys to developing trust, intimacy, and unity. Of course, for some teams it was done so poorly, it destroyed them. That is the great fear. But it doesn’t have to be so. The alternative is stale apathy.


One of the Race teams did a thing called Obvious Feedback. They spent a night telling each other about all the great things they see in one another. The obvious things.
We have a guy in our NYC community group that is so incredible at inviting people to group. He’s our evangelist. He has a gift for relationships. It is so clear to all of us. But to him, it doesn’t seem that big of a deal. He, like all of us, doesn’t think he is doing anything special.
This is how speaking the truth can transform a relationship. Tell your wife how much you adore her laugh. Tell her over and over. Tell your husband how great he is at X, Y, or Z.

People do not see truth the same way you do, especially concerning themselves. There are people in this world wildly empathetic, charismatic, bold, and wise who have no idea of the gifts they are walking in. Everyone around assumes they hear it all the time, but maybe they don’t. Be the one to share truth. State it. Say it. What is obvious to you may not be obvious to them.

The Humbling Truth
There is nothing more important to relationship than truth. We need to run toward it. State how we feel, what we think, and what we see in others. Bringing the truth to light breeds health. Even if it causes some hurt and confusion, if stewarded properly it ends in thriving.

 

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He has prepared wonderful things for us! However, as it is written: "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him" 1 Corinthians 2:9 NIV _________________ "For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; And the former things will not be remembered or come to mind. Isaiah 65:17 NASB _________________ There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. Romans 8:1,2 NKJV _________________ "Do not be afraid; I am the first and the last, and the living One; and I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of death and of Hades. Revelation 1:18 NASB _________________ Glorious, eternal life belongs to those who belong to Him! Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?

 

[beensetfree]

“He appeared first to Mary Magdalene.”

Mark 16:9

Jesus “appeared first to Mary Magdalene,” probably not only on account of her great love and persevering seeking, but because, as the context intimates,she had been a special trophy of Christ's delivering power. Learn from this, that the greatness of our sin before conversion should not make us imagine that we may not be specially favoured with the very highest grade of fellowship. She was one who had left all to become a constant attendant on the Saviour. He was her first, her chief object.

Many who were on Christ's side did not take up Christ's cross; she did. She spent her substance in relieving his wants. If we would see much of Christ, let us serve him. Tell me who they are that sit oftenest under the banner of his love, and drink deepest draughts from the cup of communion, and I am sure they will be those who give most, who serve best, and who abide closest to the bleeding heart of their dear Lord. But notice how Christ revealed himself to this sorrowing one—by a word, “Mary.” It needed but one word in his voice, and at once she knew him, and her heart owned allegiance by another word, her heart was too full to say more. That one word would naturally be the most fitting for the occasion.

It implies obedience. She said, “Master.” There is no state of mind in which this confession of allegiance will be too cold. No, when your spirit glows most with the heavenly fire, then you will say, “I am thy servant, thou hast loosed my bonds.” If you can say, “Master,” if you feel that his will is your will, then you stand in a happy, holy place. He must have said, “Mary,” or else you could not have said, “Rabboni.” See, then, from all this, how Christ honours those who honour him, how love draws our Beloved, how it needs but one word of his to turn our weeping to rejoicing, how his presence makes the heart's sunshine.

 

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Isaiah 53 And The Prophecy About Jesus Christ



Isaiah the Prophet wrote a stunningly accurate portrait of Jesus’ all-encompassing work before, at, and after the cross.
Before the Cross
Isaiah the Prophet wrote Isaiah 53 with the Messiah in mind. He starts out by a statement that could have been made during Jesus’ earthly ministry: “Who has believed what he has heard from us? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed” (Isaiah 53:1). Not many did follow Jesus after some of His hard teachings (John 6:66). Not many believed it in the end. At the cross they all fled. The crowds liked the fish and loaves of bread, but they were not willing to follow Him. Even Nathanael asked, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth” (John 1:46).

Scriptures seem to indicate that Jesus was like many of the other Jews. They referred to Him as a carpenter (Mark 6:3), and so He probably looked just like any other Jew of the day, so Isaiah tell us that Jesus “had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him, and no beauty that we should desire him” (Isaiah 53:2). The religious crowed despised Jesus as claiming to be Who He really was. They asked, “are not all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all these things” (Matt 13:56), so “they took offense at him” (Matt 13:57a), so clearly Jesus “was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief” (Isaiah 53:3).

During the Passion
After Jesus entered the Passion, He took upon Himself the sins of the world, motivated by the love of God (John 3:16), so Isaiah wrote that Jesus Christ “has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted” (Isaiah 53:4). He “was pierced for our transgressions [and] he was crushed for our iniquities” (Isaiah 53:5a), so it “was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed” (Isaiah 53:5b). Physical healing is one thing, but to be ransomed by Jesus Christ’s own life (Mark 10:45) brings the ultimate healing. Whoever is healed will die again anyway, but whoever believes in Jesus Christ shall never die (John 11:25-26). Calvary was the only way that we could have been saved, since “All we like sheep have gone astray,” for “we have turned—every one—to his own way” (Isaiah 53:6a). Sheep, if left to themselves, will turn to their own way, and their own way probably won’t be the right way. Jesus is the right way. In fact, He is the only way into the kingdom (John 14:6). Isaiah 53 is about how “the Lord has laid on [Jesus] the iniquity of us all” (Isaiah 53:6b).

At the Cross
When Jesus was falsely accused, arrested, illegally tried and convicted, “he opened not his mouth,” so even though “He was oppressed, and he was afflicted,” “he opened not his mouth,” but rather “like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth”. Twice it said that Jesus “opened not his mouth,” meaning He did not try to defend Himself from this travesty of justice. He could have called down legions of angels if He desired (Matt 26:53), but “When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly” (1 Pet 2:23). Jesus’ physical body was “was cut off out of the land of the living, stricken for the transgression of my people” (Isaiah 53:8), not stricken for His own sins. Jesus Christ was the sinless Lamb of God, and His supreme sacrifice was the only thing that would make us acceptable to God (2 Cor 5:21). This was not set of circumstances that spun out of Jesus’ control, but rather, “it was the will of the Lord to crush him; he has put him to grief; when his soul makes an offering for guilt” (Isaiah 53:10). If not for Jesus’ sinless life, suffering, death, and resurrection, we would all be without hope (1 Cor 15).

After the Cross
After Jesus’ death, He was buried, and so it was prophesied that He would make “his grave with the wicked and with a rich man in his death although he had done no violence, and there was no deceit in his mouth” (Isaiah 53:9). Joseph of Arimathea was the rich man who gave Jesus’ his own grave (Matt 27:60), so Jesus was buried in a rich man’s grave, which is what Isaiah referred to in Jesus’ being in the “grave…with a rich man in his death.” Today, Jesus is interceding for the saints in prayer; running His church from the right hand of the Father; and still drawing men and women to Himself (John 12:32). When Jesus Christ comes again and judges the world, God “will divide him a portion with the many, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong, because he poured out his soul to death and was numbered with the transgressors” (Isaiah 53:12a), and so Jesus alone is worthy of all honor, glory, and praise.

Conclusion
Today, Jesus is still using others as a means to bring people into the kingdom, as He forgives “the sin of many, and makes intercession for the transgressors” (Isaiah 53:12b), so “Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them” (Heb 7:25). Notice in these verses (Isaiah 53:12, Heb 7:25) that Jesus prays not for “these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their world” (John 17:20). That means Jesus prays for you if you’ve repented and trusted in Him (Mark 1:14-15).

You are on Jesus’ prayer list. Imagine that! You don’t have to because it’s true! Isaiah 53 gives us such a graphic view of Christ’s ministry that sometimes it’s hard to imagine how badly Jesus must have looked…beaten almost to the point where you couldn’t even recognize Him (Isaiah 52:14). That will sound barbaric to some, but it was the only way that we might be saved. Does that offend you? To someone without the Spirit of God, it will. It can’t be helped. That’s because the gospel is “to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life. Who is sufficient for these things” (2 Cor 2:16)? Many have received this life…eternal life in Jesus Christ. Jesus has paid for your sins if you have trusted in Him. If not, you will have to die in your sins and pay for them yourself. May it never be so my friend! I plead with you; trust in Him today while there is still yet time (2 Cor 6:2). Tomorrow may be too late (Heb 9:27).

 

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Now is the Day of Salvation We then, as workers together with Him also plead with you not to receive the grace of God in vain. For He says: "In an acceptable time I have heard you, And in the day of salvation I have helped you." Behold, NOW is the accepted time; Behold, NOW is the day of salvation. 2 Corinthians 6:1,2 NKJV _________________ Since we have NOW been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God's wrath through him! For if, when we were God's enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! Not only is this so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation. Romans 5:9-11 NIV _________________ There is therefore NOW no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. Romans 8:1,2 NKJV _________________ Glorious, eternal life belongs to those who belong to Him! Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?

 

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“Thou shalt arise, and have mercy upon Zion: for the time to favour her, yea, the set time is come. For thy servants rake pleasure in her stones, and favour the dust thereof.”

Psalm 102:13, 14

A selfish man in trouble is exceedingly hard to comfort, because the springs of his comfort lie entirely within himself, and when he is sad all his springs are dry. But a large-hearted man full of Christian philanthropy, has other springs from which to supply himself with comfort beside those which lie within. He can go to his God first of all, and there find abundant help; and he can discover arguments for consolation in things relating to the world at large, to his country, and, above all, to the church.

David in this Psalm was exceedingly sorrowful; he wrote, “I am like an owl of the desert. I watch, and am as a sparrow alone upon the house top.” The only way in which he could comfort himself, was in the reflection that God would arise, and have mercy upon Zion: though he was sad, yet Zion should prosper; however low his own estate, yet Zion should arise. Christian man! learn to comfort thyself in God's gracious dealing towards the church. That which is so dear to thy Master, should it not be dear above all else to thee? What though thy way be dark, canst thou not gladden thine heart with the triumphs of his cross and the spread of his truth?

Our own personal troubles are forgotten while we look, not only upon what God has done, and is doing for Zion, but on the glorious things he will yet do for his church. Try this receipt, O believer, whenever thou art sad of heart and in heaviness of spirit: forget thyself and thy little concerns, and seek the welfare and prosperity of Zion. When thou bendest thy knee in prayer to God, limit not thy petition to the narrow circle of thine own life, tried though it be, but send out thy longing prayers for the church's prosperity, “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem,” and thine own soul shall be refreshed.

 

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How Joy Is A Source of Strength



The joy of the Lord is a source of strength, but it’s so much more.
Joy is a Gift
If you are grieving or going through a difficult time right now, it’s hard to have joy, but the joy of the Lord is a great source of strength, but it’s also a gift from God. Human joy can’t take us very far. It disappears in the dark shadows of our trials and tribulations, but the joy which God gives is permanent and is as eternal as the life God has given us through Christ. Prior to Jesus going to the cross and returning to the Father, He told His disciples, “Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full” (John 16:24). Notice that they must have had some joy in order for it to be full, so even though the disciples were troubled about Jesus leaving them, He said, “you have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you” (John 16:22). The Lord has “spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full” (John 15:11). The psalmist understood that joy did not from a human source, but from God, writing, “You have put more joy in my heart than they have when their grain and wine abound” (Psalm 4:7). What God puts there, stays there, so first of all, joy is a gift from God.

Joy is Strength
During the times that we grow weary and might feel overwhelmed by life’s circumstances, we need only look to God to renew the joy in our lives. After Jerusalem was repopulated by the exiles, the people wept after hearing the law read, so in trying to encourage the Jews, Nehemiah, Ezra, and the Levites told the people, “Go your way. Eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions to anyone who has nothing ready, for this day is holy to our Lord. And do not be grieved, for the joy of the LORD is your strength” (Neb 8:20). It’s easy to have joy in the Lord when things are going good, but when it gets hard, we must think about God’s blessings.

Think about His great kindness, love, mercy, and grace, and the joy of being cleansed by the blood of the Lamb of God. That joy is indescribable. All the guilt is gone. All our sins are forgiven. Whoever is now in Christ, can stand before God, being seen as having Jesus’ own righteousness (2 Cor 5:21). Some shout for joy at the moment they’re saved or after they’re baptized, but so do their family and loved ones. Jesus told His disciples, “you have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you” (John 16:22). Joy is not only a gift, it’s a source of strength, and it’s permanent!

Consider it Joy
Every person who trusts in Christ will experience persecution, trials, and tribulations, but the believer does not have to base their joy upon circumstances. They’ve learned, like the Apostle Paul, to be content is all circumstances (Phil 4:11-13). Paul’s contentment rested in Christ, not in circumstances. He knew that God does not change, so Paul’s contentment remained. James tells us to “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness” (James 1:2-3). The word “count” means to consider, or reckon it as such. We could consider the trials and tests of our faith as joy, knowing that God is testing our faith, but He does not test our faith in order that He’ll learn how strong or weak it is (He is omniscient).

It is in order for us to know how strong or weak it is. Most believers I know are yearning for the day of Jesus’ appearance because that’s when the “tests” will be over. The Apostle Peter tries to encourage the church by telling then that, even “Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory” (1 Pet 1:8). When you’re waiting for someone at the airport, knowing the time of their arrival is drawing near, you naturally have a building sense of joy. You cannot wait to have that joy fulfilled when you finally see them. That’s counting it all joy!

Joy is Good
You’ve probably heard the Proverb, “A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones” (Prov 17:22), and I don’t have to go into scientific evidence to show that this is true, but the point it, joy is good for us. When we worship with our brothers and sisters, we rejoice and sing, “This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it” (Psalm 118:24). And why shouldn’t I be glad since God has “shown to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore” (Psalm 16:11), however, we can’t have the “fullness of joy” without the Holy Spirit, so why not be more joyful because God’s “anger is but for a moment, and his favor is for a lifetime. Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning” (Psalm 30:5). I know what gives God, the holy angels, and me great joy. It’s when even one person puts their trust in Christ. This brings me joy; it brings the new believer joy; and it brings God and the holy angel’s great joy too. Jesus said that “there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents” (Luke 15:10). Paul adds that “the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit” (Rom 14:37).

Conclusion
I think joy is contagious. When someone around you is joyful, it’s hard not to notice, but the most powerful thing about joy is that it’s a source of strength for us. Joy is a natural byproduct of being chosen by God; being saved by God; and having God’s Spirit live within us. It joy is also a fruit of the Holy Spirit. Paul writes that “the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness” (Gal 5:22), so joy is a gift from God; joy is a source of strength; and joy is a fruit of the Spirit. We can also consider the tests, trials, and tribulations as joy, knowing the end result. And finally, joy is good for us and good for those around us. Our secure standing before God in Christ ought to fill us with joy, because now, there is no more condemnation for those who are in Christ (Rom 8:1). What could be better than that!?

 

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Live in Him! For I through the law died to the law that I might live to God. I have been crucified with Christ; 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 for me. Galatians 2:19-20 _________________ But as it is, he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment, so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him. Hebrews 9:26b-28 ESV _________________ So if you're serious about living this new resurrection life with Christ, act like it. Pursue the things over which Christ presides. Don't shuffle along, eyes to the ground, absorbed with the things right in front of you. Look up, and be alert to what is going on around Christ--that's where the action is. See things from his perspective. Colossians 3:1,2 MSG _________________ Glorious, eternal life belongs to those who belong to Him! Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?

 

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“Let not one of them escape.”

1 Kings 18:40

When the prophet Elijah had received the answer to his prayer, and the fire from heaven had consumed the sacrifice in the presence of all the people, he called upon the assembled Israelites to take the priests of Baal, and sternly cried, “Let not one of them escape.” He took them all down to the brook Kishon, and slew them there. So must it be with our sins — they are all doomed, not one must be preserved. Our darling sin must die. Spare it not for its much crying. Strike, though it be as dear as an Isaac. Strike, for God struck at sin when it was laid upon his own Son. With stern unflinching purpose must you condemn to death that sin which was once the idol of your heart.

Do you ask how you are to accomplish this? Jesus will be your power. You have grace to overcome sin given you in the covenant of grace; you have strength to win the victory in the crusade against inward lusts, because Christ Jesus has promised to be with you even unto the end. If you would triumph over darkness, set yourself in the presence of the Sun of Righteousness. There is no place so well adapted for the discovery of sin, and recovery from its power and guilt, as the immediate presence of God. Job never knew how to get rid of sin half so well as he did when his eye of faith rested upon God, and then he abhorred himself, and repented in dust and ashes.

The fine gold of the Christian is oft becoming dim. We need the sacred fire to consume the dross. Let us fly to our God, he is a consuming fire; he will not consume our spirit, but our sins. Let the goodness of God excite us to a sacred jealousy, and to a holy revenge against those iniquities which are hateful in his sight. Go forth to battle with Amalek, in his strength, and utterly destroy the accursed crew: let not one of them escape.

 

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How God Limits Satan’s Power



Since Satan is called the “god of this world,” how does God still have control over his actions?
The “god” of this World
A quick glance at the news should tell us all we need to know about the state of this world. Violence, as in the days of Noah, is growing worse, but there’s a sinister minister behind it all. For example, the Apostle Paul wrote that “if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing” (2 Cor 4:3), and the reason the gospel is veiled to the world is because “the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God” (2 Cor 4:4). That would seem to indicate that Satan’s winning, but wait!

The Bible also tells us that we “were dead in the trespasses and sins” (Eph 2:1), and all of us were, at one time, “following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience” (Eph 2:2). And if not for the grace of God, we’d still be dead. Dead in our sins…dead men and dead women walking, but God intervened because “God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved” (Eph 2:4-5). The point behind this is there is an invisible enemy that works visibly, either through powers or people, but he can only go so far.

The Invisible Enemy
Why does the world seem so vulnerable to satanic influence? For one thing, they do not even believe in Satan. Someone who they don’t believe exists, is no threat to them, but we know that “we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places” (Eph 6:12). It’s easier to fight something that’s visible; something that’s right before us, but an invisible enemy is more dangerous because you don’t always see them, however, there’s one who lurks around us today, and he is alive and active. He is so deceptive that he can imitate the gospel and the preachers while deceiving millions.

For example, many wealth and prosperity gospels have infiltrated the church today and the shift, like consumerism, is to “what can the church do for me.” We’ve watered down the gospel by eliminating words like sin, the cross, the blood of the Lamb of God, sanctification, holiness, and repentance. He’s deceptive and crafty, and his messages do make you feel really good, but remember, his main purpose is to strike you and other believers down, and to veil the true gospel of repentance and faith (Mark 1:14-15). That teaching doesn’t require anyone to change, so it’s not really the gospel at all.

God’s Devil
Martin Luther once said that Satan is on a leash, or that the Devil is God’s Devil. Satan can only do as much as God allows, but even in Satan’s evil, God brings about much good. We can look at the cross to see that (John3:16-17). It is not accurate to say “the Devil made me do it,” but rather, the Devil influenced me to do it, but we are still responsible for our actions. The Apostle Peter was told by Jesus, “Get behind me, Satan” because Peter was trying to have Jesus avoid the cross, which was our only hope. That’s the same thing Satan wanted because he knew it sealed his fate (John 19:28-30). When Satan had been roaming the earth, presumably to make people’s lives miserable, the “Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil” (Job 1:8), but Satan wanted to prove to God that Job was just “being good” so that God would bless him.

Then, “Satan answered the Lord and said, “Does Job fear God for no reason? Have you not put a hedge around him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land” (Job 1:9-10), so Satan asked the Lord to “stretch out your hand and touch all that he has, and he will curse you to your face” (Job 1:11). That’s when the Lord told Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your hand. Only against him do not stretch out your hand.” So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord” (Job 1:11-12). Satan did nearly destroy Job and his faith, but Satan could not take Job’s life. That right is only given to the One Who gives life, and that is God.

Disqualified
Lucifer may well have been God’s greatest creation. He was splendid beyond description, but verses like Isaiah 14:11-15, Ezekiel 28:12-19 and Revelation 12:4 indicate that Satan was tossed out of heaven, and about 1/3rd of the angels followed him. These became demons. Instead of being a light bearer in heaven, he became full of darkness due to his pride. He became so lifted up, that his logic left him, and he thought he could even take over the thorn of God, even becoming God (Isaiah 14:14)! By the way, there are a few cults that teach that we can become gods, and that has a satanic source too, but that’s what pride does. It blinds you to the truth. Satan sealed his own fate by rebelling against God, and will face a final torment that is simply indescribable. It says that “the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever” (Rev 20:11). If satanic influence begins to affect you, then remind Satan of his future.

Conclusion
The Devil can only do so much. God allows him to roam the earth, like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour, so we must remain diligent (1 Pet 5:8), but more likely, it is demonic influence that we face. That’s because Satan is not omnipresent. He has to roam about on the earth, but Satan is the god of this world and will try to influence the leaders of this world, and he’s done a very good job, don’t you think, but even this will play right into the sovereign hands of God. That’s because even the Devil is God’s Devil.

 

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Walk in Humility And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away. Young men, in the same way be submissive to those who are older. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble." Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. 1 Peter 5:4-7 NIV _________________ Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up. James 4:10 KJV _________________ Therefore do not go on passing judgment before the time, but wait until the Lord comes who will both bring to light the things hidden in the darkness and disclose the motives of men's hearts; and then each man's praise will come to him from God. Now these things, brethren, I have figuratively applied to myself and Apollos for your sakes, so that in us you may learn not to exceed what is written, so that no one of you will become arrogant in behalf of one against the other. For who regards you as superior? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it? 1 Corinthians 4:5-7 NASB _________________ Glorious, eternal life belongs to those who belong to Him! Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?