NEVER enthrone your own study or supposed knowledge of God. Subjective. Pride. You know nothing outside of Christ! Becoming and remaining humble, teachable, pliable, and correctible are proof you are known of God (Matthew 18:3-4; Ecclesiastes 4:13).
May God tenderize the hearts of His men today (Ezekiel 36:24-26).
Can the LORD still touch our hearts? Is there a tear when He touches?
“Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.” Proverbs 4:23
No person who names Jesus as LORD should even begin to be satisfied till their heart is that “heart of flesh,” soft and sensitive to the LORD and others. This happens at regeneration and God ordains us to walk in it (Ezekiel 36:24-26).
YOUR PRAYER: Holy Father, do it in me, do Your deep work. Break me Jesus, please. I love You my LORD. Take away the hardened places in my heart and replace them with “an heart of flesh” that is humble, convicted, pliable, innocent, and teachable. In Jesus’ name, I ask You dear Father. I love You Jesus.
“Yes! We need to let God break us to see there is nothing good in us. That leads to humility and the fear of God!“ Karen
“We pray earnestly, O God, that we may not be found among those with hardened hearts, no longer able to hear Thy voice.” AW Tozer
We can simply, and should ask our heavenly Father to grant us to have a heart of flesh and to remove all the stones, the stony places. Let it be dear Father in the name of Jesus!
THERE’S only one reason God’s Word would not be rocking your whole world today – a hard heart! But GOD has a cure for that! He has the only solution – and that is to replace it with “an heart of flesh” (Ezekiel 36:24-26)! Cry out to JESUS! IF you will REACH, He will RESCUE! There’s not one person reading this that doesn’t need a softer, more pliable heart – which God alone can provide when we cry out to Him with sincere heart! Now!
“Circumcise yourselves to the LORD, and take away the foreskins of your heart, ye men of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem: lest my fury come forth like fire, and burn that none can quench it, because of the evil of your doings.” Jeremiah 4:4
“O Jerusalem, wash thine heart from wickedness, that thou mayest be saved. How long shall thy vain thoughts lodge within thee?” Jeremiah 4:14
It’s so very important to stop our life, to repent truly before and to our Maker, receiving Jesus as the Savior and Lord of our life before it’s too late. Those who push God away instead of getting right with Him suffer hardness of heart which may be the point of no return. The Bible calls it being seared in conscience (1 Timothy 4:2; Hebrews 3:12-15). | Fresh Start with God
All hardened hearts are going to Hell – because a heart can only be hard by way of sin. When God forgives and restores, that includes taking away the stony places and granting that humble, repentant soul an heart of flesh! God is so good!
What takes the heart away from God? Sin!
“Whoredom and wine and new wine take away the heart.” Hosea 4:11
Anyone not fighting the good fight of faith, choosing to seek the face of the LORD for His overcoming and a pure heart, is hardened in heart, becoming seared in conscience as with a hot iron, and backslidden (1 Timothy 4:1-3; 6:12). Such a person is in desperate need of a touch from God to which he must respond in true repentance and as he does, the “times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the LORD” (Acts 3:19). Heavenly Father, please let the restoration begin. May the LORD touch each of those who name the name of Jesus as their LORD and Savior, causing us to turn from our wicked ways and to “depart from iniquity” (2 Timothy 2:19). May Jesus begin His work afresh this hour – the work of taking away the stony places of our hearts and granting us hearts of flesh as He promised to those who are born again and seek Him (Ezekiel 36:24-26).
Every heart made by the LORD repentant and pliable, an heart of flesh, will be with Him now and forever!
“For I will take you from among the heathen, and gather you out of all countries, and will bring you into your own land (picture of salvation). 25 Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you. 26 A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.” Ezekiel 36:24-26
This is a picture of salvation in Christ where He cleanses us from “filthiness” and all idolatry, gives us His Holy Spirit, and takes away the stony heart and replaces it with “an heart of flesh.”
Paramount to knowing and walking with Jesus, is being possessed by “an heart of flesh” which God greatly aggrandizes. The opposite of “an heart of flesh” is a hardened, stony heart which God will not work in without our true repentance.
Is the soil of your heart parched? Is it dry and hardened?
“Thus saith the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD. 6 For he shall be like the heath in the desert, and shall not see when good cometh; but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, in a salt land and not inhabited. 7 Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is. 8 For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit. 9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? 10 I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.” Jeremiah 17:5-10
Fallen Man is Deceitful in Heart
“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” Jeremiah 17:9
Scripture tells us that our own heart is wicked and also that the LORD reveals “the thoughts of his heart” to us in and through His written Word (Jeremiah 17:9; Psalms 33:11).
So which shall we follow?
“He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool.” Proverbs 28:26
“For thus saith the LORD to the men of Judah and Jerusalem, Break up your fallow ground, and sow not among thorns. 4 Circumcise yourselves to the LORD, and take away the foreskins of your heart, ye men of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem: lest my fury come forth like fire, and burn that none can quench it, because of the evil of your doings.” Jeremiah 4:3-4
Jesus speaks of the only heart soil that will be in glory and He uses the term “an HONEST and GOOD heart.”
“But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience” (Luke 8:15). Honesty goes a long way with God!
God is able saints…..Jacob was a deceiver and Peter had much falsity in him just as all of us …. God is able. I love to cry out to the LORD and ask Him to make me absolutely authentic to the core and to remove every trace of iniquity from my being, in Jesus’ name! (Psalms 51; 139:23-24)
“Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the LORD, till he come and rain righteousness upon you.” Hosea 10:12
God specializes in restoration. He loves to build those places in our hearts and lives that are/were “ruined,” “desolate.”
“Then the heathen that are left round about you shall know that I the LORD build the ruined places, and plant that that was desolate: I the LORD have spoken it, and I will do it.” Ezekiel 36:36
HOW do Our Hearts become Hardened?
It is a sin to serve self daily and not the Savior. Idolatry.
If you are not living in fervent fellowship with Jesus today, you are backslidden. You are living in sin. It doesn’t matter if you think you are saved or not. The fact is, that if you aren’t seeking the face of the LORD daily, diligently, you are reverting back to type – the sinful nature of the flesh.
God’s Word informs us that our hearts become hardened “through the deceitfulness of sin.” ….
“Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. 13 But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. 14 For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end; 15 While it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation.” Hebrews 3:12-15
The condition of men’s hearts are of extreme importance in the eyes of God.
IF I am not truly seeking the face of the LORD, engaging daily in the life-giving abiding relationship He desires, I am simply going through religious motions, have a hardened heart, and a mere “form of godliness” (1 Chronicles 16:11; Psalms 27:4, 8; Philippians 3:10; 2 Timothy 3:5). Seeking God
“God renovates us from the inside out, he isn’t an exterior decorator..that would be like putting pearls on swine. God looks on the heart: therefore that is where the sinner must start to cry out from for mercy and salvation from their own wickedness. Praise and worship come after that he creates in us a pure heart. (Matt. 7:6; Ps. 51:1-10; Ezek. 36:26)” Jon Crane
“The LORD looketh on the heart.” 1 Samuel 16:7
“But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.” 1 Samuel 16:7
The LORD spoke this to Samuel His servant, who like most of us, are prone to view things from a physical perspective instead of a divine perspective. Jesse had some very handsome, strong sons and yet they were passed over. When it was time to anoint a new king among God’s people, David, still young and raw, yet obediently serving the LORD out of a pure heart, was chosen. David was the youngest son of Jesse. See 1 Samuel 17.
God told His servant Samuel to not look on the outer man but rather observe how He judges, qualifies men – by their hearts. We should never judge things by the flawed whims of sinful men but rather through the lens of God’s Word which informs us that the LORD looks on the hearts of men, not the outward appearance of things. To see things as God sees them, we must have purified, cleansed, pure hearts.
Memory Verse:
“Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.” Matthew 5:8
Sinful religious men appraise themselves and others by the outward, by what things look like on the outside. Such a man is deceived into thinking that the vain show of church attendance, charitable works, giving, etc., make him pleasing to God. No. Through the hand of the beloved Paul, the Holy Spirit puts His divine finger on such that we see being played out today among many who profess to know Christ who have but a mere “form of godliness, but denying the power (authority) thereof: from such turn away” (2 Timothy 3:5). This passage seems to indicate that many professing believers deny Christ the power of authority over their lives. This would mean they are not submitted to the lordship of Christ in the daily cross but rather have a mere outward religion, making a fair show among mere men.
“For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.” John 12:43
“And rend (open) your heart, and not your garments (outer form of godliness), and turn unto the LORD your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil.” Joel 2:13
“The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.” Psalms 34:18
“The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.” Psalms 51:17
Our Daily Walk with Jesus is Vital to a Pure, Pliable Heart!
Sister Debbie shares:
“‘Seek’ the Lord came through as a recurring theme while reading the Word as the Lord led to various Scriptures. This particular theme had come to my attention a few days ago – and was highlighted again today. Have determined to set myself to seek Him and look up the related Scriptures and write them down. I think I’ve known for awhile that this would be a season dedicated to seeking the Lord – seeking His face, when it all started with 1 Chronicles 16:11 ‘Seek the Lord and his strength, seek his face continually.'”
The recipe for a hardened, calloused heart is simply neglecting to seek the face of the LORD continually.
Only God can purify our hearts and He does this as we seek His face.
“Seek the LORD and his strength, seek his face continually.” 1 Chronicles 16:11
So, you aren’t perfect? Join the club! And, yet we serve the only One who is divine perfection and who is working in us “both to will and to do of his good pleasure” – as we work out our “own salvation with fear and trembling.”
“Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ: … Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. 13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.” Philippians 1:6; 2:12-13
Being corrected is “the way of life” and not just here and there, not just once in a while. Have you noticed this?
Are you in God’s Word daily? If so His Word will light His way for your life and you will continue to learn of Jesus through His blessed reproofs, corrections, chastisements.
“For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life:” Proverbs 6:23
We ALL have the same iniquities which are evil and if not daily crucified with Christ, if we are not full of the Holy Ghost daily, the fruit of the Holy Spirit will not be present (1 Corinthians 9:27). And the works of the flesh will be in full operation (Galatians 5:19-23). This is why rising up early to spend quality moments with Jesus are so very foundational, so essential and such a blessing! God is working in the lives of all who truly put Him first in their lives (Philippians 1:6; 2:12-13).
PRAYER: Holy Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, please melt and grant this heart You gave to be truly a heart of flesh, pliable, teachable, and full of Your love. Please remove the stony places that came by way of my sin and pour into my heart the oil of Your Holy Ghost dear LORD. In the name of Jesus, Father, please do this now!
Act 17:27 That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us:
Act 17:28 For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.
“For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.” Psalms 30:5
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Abiding
Bride of Heaven vs Harlot from Hell [podcast]
How Do We Know, Right Now, Who will be Seated at the at the Table, at the Great Supper of the Lamb? (Matthew 22; Revelation 19)
The remnant, those who will be present at the Great Supper of the Lamb in Heaven, are ALREADY feasting at the banqueting table of His Word. All others whom Jesus has saved in the past, are not fueled or flourishing but are rather famishing, fainting, and falling away.
The “little flock” of Christ desires to be with Him both now and forever, not just forever (Luke 12:32). They’ve been born again and present “abide” in/with the Savior (John 15:1-6).
No good man wants an arrangement but rather a marriage with a virtuous, faithful wife. He rightly desires a beloved wife in holy matrimony, not a whore to shack up with! Those who espouse OSAS are spiritual adulterers, whore mongers. They want a quick fix, an illicit affair that requires no commitment, carries no requirements.
The God fearing wife has set aside all else to serve her husband (1 Peter 3:1-7). She is not sidetracked nor does she waiver in her love and duty to her man. And this is what the true bride of Christ is doing today – setting aside the distractions and pursuits of this fleeting world and are seated at the feet of Jesus, waiting upon Him (1 John 2:14-17).
Her life is all about Him, not herself.
The heart of a true under shepherd is heard in these words from Christ’s apostle Paul: “I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.”
“For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. 3 But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. 4 For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.” 2 Corinthians 11:2-4
It’s the adulterous heart, the heart where Jesus is not truly the “first love,” the highest priority, that migrates to this sin-justifying system of theology called “eternal security” (Revelation 2:4-5). Jesus’ teaching concerning the five foolish virgins who were espoused to the Bridegroom (Jesus), and were later shut out of His bridal chamber, is clear proof that all who begin with Christ will not be with Him eternally (Matthew 25:1-13). Jesus invented the term “fall away” and told us that some who initially believe will later “fall away”—they will not “endure to the end” with Him (Luke 8:12-13; Matthew 10:22; 24:13). So, someone’s lying and it’s not the Son of God. Why would He use such words as “fall away” if these things weren’t possible, if it weren’t essential to “endure to the end” to be “saved”?
Paul says we, the saints of Christ on earth, are “espoused” to Christ the Bridegroom – engaged, not married (2 Corinthians 11:2-4).
With no exception, ALL wise virgin believers are in the Word daily. They commune with the Bridegroom and He fills them daily with His heavenly virtue, oil (Matthew 25:1-13).
Just because one is “espoused” to Jesus, that is, engaged to the Bridegroom of Heaven, doesn’t mean they will ultimately be married to Him as is proven in Christ’s parable of the 10 virgins where only 5 made it into the eternal bridal chamber with the bridegroom (Matthew 25:1-13). They other 5 were shut out for treating the engagement/espousal as a mere arrangement.
The most elaborate, the most grandiose dinner awaits the saints of Christ! Words cannot possibly express the grandeur of Christ’s welcoming dinner…. a celebration to end all others – the beginning, the inaugural celebration of eternity with Christ and His saints of all ages.
The foolish virgins are making excuse for sins (Proverbs 28:13a. The wise virgins are hastening to repentance (Matthew 25:1-13; Ephesians 5:25-27; 1 John 3:3; Revelation 19:7-10).
“Revelation 19:7-9: We are to ‘bear the image of the heavenly.’ (1 Cor 15:49).Our sinful nature crucified, sanctified, dead and buried, and then we take on the heavenly glorified nature of Christ! Our whole spirit, soul and body is being transformed more and more into the image of Jesus! (1 Thesolonians 5:23). We must be fully clothed in righteousness and holiness to enter the marriage supper of the Lamb! This is the only way to be accounted worthy! And not have our names blotted out of the book of life.” Karen Cochran
“Fools make a mock at sin: but among the righteous there is favour.” Proverbs 14:9
Mocking at sin relates to any lax or crass attitude toward what He that is Holy declares to be sin – which separates men from God. There’s is divine grace and favor on all who are honest, repent, and forsake sin.
“Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and HIS WIFE HATH MADE HERSELF READY. 8 And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. 9 And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.” Revelation 19:7-9
WHAT’s the use of talking about end times and the events of these final days if we aren’t even going to be “READY” when Jesus does return?
“Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not.” Luke 12:40
Read the passage below as to exactly, specifically what Bride Jesus will return for and please explain how a person who genuinely got saved and now is living in sin is going to be Christ’s Bride eternally:
“Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; 26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, 27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.” Ephesians 5:25-27
“Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, 12 Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? 13 Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. 14 Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.” 2 Peter 3:12-13
As the husband and wife require their intimate personal time together for relations, so the bride of Christ must have her individual, set apart time of intimacy with the Bridegroom, Jesus. This is biblical imagery (Matthew 25:1-13; Ephesians 5:25-30; Revelation 19:7-9).
Christ’s bride that He will soon return for is holy and holy means set apart. Christ’s Heaven-bound disciples are known by their fervent loyalty to their Master, Jesus. Sweet fellowship with Christ is at the cornerstone of their schedule. The LORD is their undisputed priority. Having a daily, set apart time with Christ is essential of the infusion of Heaven’s nutrient-rich substance, to remaining in an abiding relationship with the Bridegroom (Psalms 27:4, 8; Matthew 5:6, etc.).
Drinking from the well of Heaven daily is the mainstay duty and practice of every true wise virgin believer (Matthew 25:1-13). Their relationship with their Bridegroom is their most important occupation. He’s absolutely first. Jesus is not a second class citizen in their life (Revelation 2:4-5).
Do we remember how Paul spoke of a man and wife coming together and how if they don’t, if they neglect intimacy, they will be tempted to migrate to someone else other than their mate? (1 Corinthians 7:1-5)
“Now concerning the things whereof ye wrote unto me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman. 2 Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband. 3 Let the husband render unto the wife due benevolence: and likewise also the wife unto the husband. 4 The wife hath not power of her own body, but the husband: and likewise also the husband hath not power of his own body, but the wife. 5 Defraud ye not one the other, except it be with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency.” 1 Corinthians 7:1-5
Are we, are you rendering “due benevolence” to your LORD and Savior, the Bridegroom of Heaven? If not, you are being drawn away to another lover, a false god, an altar of idol worship.
You are Cordially Invited to this Great Supper of and with the Lamb of God
“And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.” Revelation 22:17
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Abiding
Worshipping the God of all Grace through the Fiery Trials [podcast]
“That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:” 1 Peter 1:7
“In the world ye shall have tribulation”
“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
“There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked.” Isaiah 57:21
WE the body of Christ, are a separate entity from the world (2 Corinthians 6:14-18). We are here on earth for but a short time more—saved and sent to do Christ’s Great Commission (Matthew 9:35-38; 28:18-20; Mark 16:15-20; John 4:34-38). Jesus foretold that these final days before His return would be tumultuous (Matthew 24; Luke 21). And to “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me” (John 14:1).
“Let not your heart be troubled” … and when we begin to perceive the big picture of the LORD, it will be easier to not be “troubled” in “the sufferings of this present time” (Romans 8:18).
“Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” John 14:27
Making biblical sense of the suffering.
Makes us want to go home and to live like it (Daniel 12:10).
“The sufferings of this present time” are a mere speed bump saints. We are going to eternal glory with our King Jesus!
“For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.” Romans 8:18
Nothing can separate God and His true saints—those who are hearing His voice presently and following, walking with Him, abiding in vital union with Jesus (John 10:27-29; 15:1-6).
“What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? 32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? 33 Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth. 34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. 37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. 38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:31-39
DO WE have the “Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him” spirit and disposition of the beloved Job?
“Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him.” Job 13:15
Going though a season of testing and trials and yet not worshipping God through it all, is a waste. Personally I had to learn this the hard way.
God has been so wonderfully gracious to teach this disciple!
“I am understanding Job in a new way. Old Adam wants to see it as a punishment, or an injustice, and this belief is subtle and corrosive.” Justin Ballis
“But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you. To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.” 1 Peter 5:10-11
Final Greetings
“By Silvanus, a faithful brother unto you, as I suppose, I have written briefly, exhorting, and testifying that this is the true grace of God wherein ye stand.” 1 Peter 5:12
Knowing it’s God’s stated will for us to worship, love, and trust Him at all times—and in particular in the midst of that which He sees fit to allow us to go through….. is vital. Personally I chose initially to do laps in the desert and so such delayed getting to His promised land of peace. God is able beloved.
The LORD is “a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons” of His kingdom.
“And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the LORD an offering in righteousness.” Malachi 3:3
“When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.” Isaiah 43:2
“But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.” Job 23:10
“That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:” 1 Peter 1:7
“Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him.” Job 13:15
Are we worshiping our LORD in the midst of our seasons of suffering? Have we of late looked up and said, “Jesus, I love You“?
What’s God worth to me? How much does He matter? Is Jesus truly my very “first love”? See Revelation 2:4-5.
Worshiping God in this presently dark world will bring sufferings and ultimately eternal glory with Him and the true body of Christ.
What would we think of the man, the husband who didn’t defend his wife? He’s a self-serving coward, who loves himself more than his wife, right? What if we refuse to suffer for Heaven’s King that we claim to love? Wouldn’t this prove that we love self more than the Savior?
“But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you. 11 To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.” 1 Peter 5:10-11
It’s in our sufferings that we discover, we find out, we come to understand about God’s sufficiency. See James 1:2-4; 1 Peter 5:10.
“For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.” Colossians 3:3
Being “hid with Christ in God” is how the LORD powers us through, past the many afflictions to be suffered by Christ’s saints.
“There is a beauty in being rejected, misunderstood, unseen, and unsupported by people. It teaches you to rely on God for everything.” unknown
“the fiery trial which is to try you”
“Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: 13 But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. 14 If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.” 1 Peter 4:12-14
“Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.” 6 Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: 7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: 8 Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: 9 Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.” 1 Peter 1:5-9
“Weeping (death and burial—suffering the death of self) may last through the night, but joy (resurrection) comes with the morning.” Psalm 30:5
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The Book of Titus Overview [podcast]
“Loved this podcast. Thank you. One word that stuck out to me was pattern! Titus 2:7. I missed that word in that verse. The Holy Spirit is aways teaching us. Since this word was new to me I went to King James Dictionary: ‘Anything cut of formed into shape of something to be made after it. Pattern to imitate or follow.’ I think I now understand. Let Him shape and mold you. Pattern your life after Christ. Jesus was our perfect pattern!” Karen Cochran
“Though the Old Testament never directly mentions Crete (shown in inset), this island had a significant impact on the history of Israel. Crete was home to the ancient city of Knossos and the great Minoan civilization, the first advanced society in Europe, which flourished from before the time of Abraham until around the time of Moses. As this civilization declined, many people from Crete and mainland Greece began to migrate in vast numbers to new lands further east, including Israel. This is likely how the Philistines came to inhabit the Mediterranean coast of southern Israel. In the centuries that followed, various world powers gained control over Crete until finally it came under the rule of Rome, which grouped it together with the area around Cyrene on the North African coast to form a single province. (Cyrene was the home of a man named Simon, who carried Jesus’ cross for him after Jesus was no longer able to carry it.) As Paul was on his way to stand trial in Rome (Acts 27), he sailed along the southern coast of Crete, and there the captain lost control of the ship in a storm while attempting to reach safe harbor at Phoenix. The sailors became terrified that they would run aground on the sandbars of Syrtis, but instead they were driven by the storm to the island of Malta much further west, and the crew was saved.”
Abraham was born around 2166 BC
Moses – between 1391–1271 BCE.
Acts 27 and the Journey to Rome:
“The Apostle Paul was shipwrecked on Crete while on his way to Rome. His ship took shelter at a harbor on the southern coast called Fair Havens, near the city of Lasea.”
Of the book of Titus, one source notes the following:
“The Book of Titus is a letter from Apostle Paul to his protégé Titus, who was tasked with establishing order and appointing leaders in the churches on the island of Crete. The letter contains guidance on selecting qualified elders, combating false teachings, and instructing believers to live godly, grace-empowered lives that demonstrate the gospel’s transforming power through good works and upright conduct.”
The Holy Ghost led Paul to set up God-fearing “elders in every city” to rebuke and to stop the deceivers and their lies and to establish the truth “sound doctrine.”
“For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee: … 9 Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers. 10 For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision: 11 Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre’s sake.” Titus 1:5,9-10
To the “young men” and every disciple of Jesus (Titus 2:6).
“In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity, 8 Sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you.” Titus 2:7-8
“Good works” or “Good work” appear 6 times in Titus.
“They profess that they know God; but in WORKS they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every GOOD WORK reprobate.” Titus 1:16
“In all things shewing thyself a pattern of GOOD WORKS: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity.” Titus 2:7
“Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of GOOD WORKS.” Titus 2:14
“This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain GOOD WORKS. These things are good and profitable unto men.” Titus 3:8
“And let ours also learn to maintain GOOD WORKS for necessary uses, that they be not unfruitful.” Titus 3:14
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