“For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. 8 Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God;” 2 Timothy 1:7-8
Notice in the passage above how “power” and “love” and a “sound mind” are coupled with not slandering or receiving and joining in with the persecution of a brother or sister in Christ – no matter what they are going through at this time, no matter the season. In this season, the apostles penned these words while in prison.
“Three commands to Timothy:
1. Be not ashamed of the gospel (2Ti_1:8; 2Ti_2:15; 2 Tim. 15; Rom_1:16; Luk_9:26)
2. Be not ashamed of gospel preachers (2Ti_1:8, 2Ti_1:16; Luk_9:26)
3. Be a partaker of the afflictions of the gospel (2Ti_1:8; 2Ti_4:5; Col_1:24)” Dake
“Be thou partaker of the afflictions of the Gospel – No parent could love a child better than Paul loved Timothy; and, behold! he who could wish him nothing but what was great, honorable, and good, wishes him to be a partaker of the afflictions of the Gospel! Because, to suffer for Christ, and suffer with Christ, was the highest glory to which any human being in this state could arrive. The royal way to the crown of glory, is by the cross of Christ.” Adam Clarke
“1:8 Timothy is told that he should not be ashamed. In verse 12, Paul states that he is not ashamed. Finally, in verse 16, we read that Onesiphorus was not ashamed. It was a day when preaching the gospel was a crime. Those who sought to witness publicly for their Lord and Savior were persecuted. But this should not daunt Timothy. He should not be ashamed of the gospel, even though it involves suffering. Neither should he be ashamed of the Apostle Paul in prison. Already some of the Christians had turned their backs on him. Doubtless they feared that to identify themselves with him would invite persecution and possibly death. Timothy was exhorted to take his share of the sufferings that accompany the gospel and to bear it according to the power of God. He should not try to avoid any disgrace that might be connected with it, but rather join with Paul in enduring such disgrace.” Believer’s Bible Commentary
May God bless each of us to walk in the wisdom of the whole counsel of His Word (James 1:5; Proverbs 8; James 3:17-18, etc.).
“But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. 18 And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.” James 3:17-18
Here the great apostle of Christ is in jail where he wrote this from. And, obviously some were using his jail sentence against him. So, Paul tells his understudy Timothy, not to be ashamed of him because he’s being persecuted.
The Bible tells us that when we walk in God’s love through intimate union with Christ, even “a multitude” of the sins of others will be covered.
“But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer. 8 And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.” 1 Peter 4:7-8
Receiving and Showing His Bless-ed Mercy
“Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. 2 Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.” Galatians 6:1-2
Let’s Pray: Father, please make me whole from the inside out, as You alone can do, in Jesus’ name (1 Thessalonians 5:23). Please use me to restore instead of condemning those who fall, undergirding them in prayer and any aide You mercifully allow me to render to help them. Thank You Father that Your compassions fail not but rather are new every morning, and great in Thy faithfulness. Otherwise I’d be the one in the lowest of hell! I love You Jesus. In Jesus’ name, amen.
The iniquitous sinful nature in us, the “old man”, tends toward joining in on slander, projecting our own darkness on others, instead of coming to their aid, to their side, to help them, to lift them up as did our LORD when He left the glories of His Father to come and reach us in our low, sinful state (Philippians 2; Colossians 3:8-10).
“Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things. 2 But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things. 3 And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God?” Romans 2:1-3
Somehow we seem to forget that while Jesus was literally dying for OUR sins on that cross, He prayerfully cried to the Father “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.” (Luke 23:34)
God didn’t forgive us for any inherent goodness in us – because we have none (Isaiah 64:6; Romans 3:10; 7:18, 24). Solely on the basis of Christ’s perfect blood sacrifice and His sheer divine mercy has God forgiven us! – “even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.”
“Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. 30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. 31 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: 32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.” Ephesians 4:29-32
The most basic teaching of Christ, of Christianity, is to forgive others as God has forgiven us on the behalf of Christ, of His perfect merciful sacrifice for we ourselves – the most needy of all!
All who do not freely forgive others, do not get it – have no clue of the Gospel of our LORD Jesus Christ and why He came (Luke 9:56; 19:10; John 3:17). They are in darkness and cannot possibly see even a glimpse of just how wicked they are in the eyes of a holy God.
“And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. 26 But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.” Mark 11:25-26
All those in the light of Christ the Light of the world, freely, swiftly, quickly, eagerly forgive others. They hold no grudges, something that specifically prevent any rebel from entering glory (James 5:7-9).
Father, please tenderize our hardened hearts. Grant us to have all stony places removed and for our hearts to be hearts of flesh – soft, pliable, repentant, and worshipfully obedient to Your every desire and command. In Jesus’ name.
Case in Point
“Against an elder receive not an accusation, but before two or three witnesses.” 1 Timothy 5:19
Note closely in the above verse, that we are not to receive any accusation against one of Christ’s elders (or any believer for that matter) without at least two actual WITNESSES. Did you catch that? Not two spreaders of slander but two people who actually WITNESSED the supposed matter/violation. Do you see the difference?
You see, we all know that one person, one devil, can accuse a brother or sister of something and then other pawns can spread the mere fabricated lie. Those are not witnesses. Those are simply people who are spreading a lie.
A man who is an elder received vicious slanderous accusations about another brother (who is a preacher). When he in “concern” contacted me about that brother, I refused his cause against that brother and told him that I have no evidence or sense that such is true about that brother and outrightly stand with that brother and against this fabricated slander. And, I stated to him that I supposed that those slanderous things came from Satan’s very children (namely jezebels). My concern then became about this accusing “elder” who would dare buy into such fabricated slander. Red flags. Paul the apostle of Christ, who was persecuted unto prison (chained down behind bars), said to Timothy:
“Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God;” 2 Timothy 1:8
The next time we hear slander about a known brother or sister, like something that they did in the past (SUPPOSEDLY), let us remember the verse above and memorize it and the address of it. Let us also be filled with joy that the brother or sister being persecuted by slander must be making a great impact for Christ and against the kingdom of hell!!!!!
Now THAT’S how we need to field these things. Is this not the kingdom perspective?!
Our concern actually needs to be about ourselves if we are never slandered or maligned, lied about or persecuted in any way. According to Jesus, if we are not being assaulted, we are not “blessed” according to His divine definition and should be greatly concerned and driven to fall afresh on His mercy at the foot of the cross before it’s too late.
“Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you FALSELY, for my sake. 12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.” Matthew 5:10-12
Okay, someone may say, “WAIT, what if what people are saying about that person is TRUE?!??!!!”
Reply: DID God’s plan to crucify His only begotten Son not include forgiveness AT and AFTER He saved an individual?
If you for a moment believe a Christian can’t be forgiven of any and all sin, you have elevated sin above the blood of Christ’s cross and are in serious trouble spiritually.
If a man stands solid on both feet in divine truth and publicly declares it, you can know of a certainty that such a man of God WILL ABSOLUTELY WITHOUT FAIL be assaulted by “evil men” and jezebels. Remember God’s prophet Elijah and how jezebel fumed in hatred over him and swore to take his life? (1 Kings 18-19)
In fact, gentlemen, if we aren’t being lied about, assaulted, shunned, and horrifically slandered, we may wish to examine our own lives – their root in Christ and subsequent fruitfulness.
Question: Who needs to be worried?
Answer: NOT the fruitful, persecuted true disciples of Jesus but rather those who are not being fruitful and therefore attacked.
“Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets.” Luke 6:26
“And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.” Matthew 10:22
Of course, not all sinners will hate us. Yet, the point is, if we receive no persecution, including those which Jesus specifically cites, what does that tell us of our lack of union with He who was persecuted unto crucifixion?
The Revelation 12:10 phrase “accuser of the brethren (Satan)” fits well here and that’s because these are true disciples of Jesus being falsely accused, not the wolves of Satan. Usually that verse is taken out of context to cover for and defend absolute wolves who pose as Christ’s ministers while misleading and damning many (2 Corinthians 11:12-15). May we study God’s Word for ourselves and thereby gain a biblical clue!
Who did Jesus say is blessed? Listen to the Lamb:
“And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said, Blessed be ye poor: for yours is the kingdom of God. 21 Blessed are ye that hunger now: for ye shall be filled. Blessed are ye that weep now: for ye shall laugh. 22 Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man’s sake. 23 Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets. 24 But woe unto you that are rich! for ye have received your consolation. 25 Woe unto you that are full! for ye shall hunger. Woe unto you that laugh now! for ye shall mourn and weep. 26 Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets.” Luke 6:21-26
From our LORD’s teaching here and elsewhere, conversely those who should fear for their eternal souls: are not poor in spirit, are full and not charitable to others (givers), not hated, not separated by joined with apostates and sinners, not reproached, whose names aren’t ridiculed and mocked, laughing and having no troubles due to truly following Christ.
—– Prayer: Father, in the name of Jesus, grant my heart to be clean of all self-righteousness and an evil eye and that You would allow Your love in me to overlook the multitude of sins in others. Bless me to know that no one on this planet is less worthy of Your sheer mercy, saving than myself. Grant that my heart be broken, humble, and set upon serving You and others. You have not given Your people the spirit of fear but rather of power, love and a sound mind. Bless me to never be ashamed of your beloved saints as they suffer slanderous persecution and imprisonment in this brief journey leading up to our eternity with You! Instead, use me to pray for aid, and comfort them in any way possible! Thank You this moment LORD, for multiplying Your wisdom to my heart and life, in Jesus’ holy name, amen.
More on Persecution here. | More on Self-Righteousness Here.
LET’S LEARN GOD’S WORD TOGETHER – ONE TRUTH AT A TIME: This message was sent out to each person who is on the Moments for My Master e-mail devotional list. In supplementation to your personal daily study of God’s Word, we would love to add you and have the privilege of nourishing your heart with God’s Word (Jn. 5:39; 1 Tim. 4:6, 16; Heb. 5:11-14; 1 Pet. 2:2). Sign up here.
Articles
Faith in Resurrection [podcast]
When we die downward and are dead and buried with Christ, we can be assured that God is going to raise us upward.
“But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.” Romans 8:11
Romans 6:1-14
“1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?
2 God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?
3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:
6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed (brought to naught, nullified), that henceforth we should not serve sin.
7 For he that is dead is freed from sin.
8 Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him:
9 Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him.
10 For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God.
11 Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.
12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.
13 Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.
14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.”
The Crucified Life | Travis Bryan III
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Apostasy
“The Certainty of the Words of Truth” [podcast]
Nicholas, the Apostate Deceiver
Historians say that Nicholas (Acts 6:5), a deacon in the first century church, backslid, and led his followers to believe that living in sin would not affect one’s relationship with Christ. The term Nicolaitans is said to come from those who followed Nicholas. Nico-laitans is a compound Greek word. Nico means “to conquer,” and laitans means “the laity.” Satan used Nicholas to conquer his followers through the lie of lawlessness. The evil spirit of Nicholas lives on today through many lawless leaders who operate in the church world in this late hour.
Nicholas taught free love. He and his followers taught that the deeds of believers could not affect their relationship with God. This is antinomianism, which means lawlessness. The Bible clearly refutes such a lie as we will witness in our walk through the Holy Scriptures.
“Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.” 2 Timothy 2:19
“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
The Bible states here, that those who “profess that they know God” and yet “deny him…in works,” are “abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.”
By this lie of lawlessness, the enemy of souls conquered the people.
“But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitans (means “conquer the laity”), which I also hate…So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate.” Revelation 2:6, 15
Here is some modern terminology for this age-old doctrine:
- Once Saved, Always Saved
- Eternal security (unconditional)
- Calvinism, perseverance of the saints doctrine
In Revelation 2, Jesus Christ tells us that He “hates” two things — “the deeds” and “doctrine of the Nicolaitans.” The Son of God despises the doctrine that teaches that the deeds of men have no effect upon their relationship with Him.
The Scriptures continuously reveal the divine hatred for the acceptance, and even doctrinal authorization, for living in the sins which the LORD tells us violate His holiness, reveal a wicked heart, and will prevent one from entering into the kingdom of God (1 Corinthians 6:9-10; Galatians 5:19-21; Revelation 21:8, 27).
The word “lasciviousness” appears six times in the Bible and means “lack of restraint (from sinning); license for sin; licentiousness.”
To underscore the utter, divine hatred against this lie of lawlessness, it should be noted that this is the only place in Scripture where Jesus Christ, Himself, states that He hates something.
Though they may vary in packaging, these are all kin to the same lawless “ye shall not surely die” lie, which is the lie of the ages.
“Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the Lord your God which I command you.” Deuteronomy 4:2
“For ye have perverted the words of the living God, of the Lord of hosts our God.” Jeremiah 23:36b
“Thus saith the Lord; Stand in the court of the Lord’s house, and speak unto all the cities of Judah, which come to worship in the Lord’s house, all the words that I command thee to speak unto them; diminish not a word.” Jeremiah 26:2
“For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: 19 and if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.” Revelation 22:18-19
“Hath God said” ?
Always remember that whenever you have someone casting doubt on God’s Word, words, you are dealing with a person who is under Satan’s control, is a rejecter of the LORD, and therefore His truth, and is a child of the devil. Every time.
Notice what we see Satan doing in the Garden of Eden just before he changed, altered, added one word to God’s words:
“Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?” Genesis 3:1
Then, in verse 4 we read how Satan added just one three-letter word which changed the meaning of what God said and changed world history.
“And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:” Genesis 3:4
“But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.” Genesis 2:17
“Thou shalt surely die” from God was then changed by Satan to “Ye shall NOT surely die.”
This is the first time we see what’s known as the “eternal security” lie. It’s also known as “once saved always saved” or “perseverance of the saints” heresy. Any person teaching or believeing this lie has partnered with Satan himself.
Knowing “the certainty of the words of truth”
“Bow down thine ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply thine heart unto my knowledge.
18 For it is a pleasant thing if thou keep them within thee; they shall withal be fitted in thy lips.
19 That thy trust may be in the Lord, I have made known to thee this day, even to thee.
20 Have not I written to thee excellent things in counsels and knowledge,
21 that I might make thee know the certainty of the words of truth; that thou mightest answer the words of truth to them that send unto thee? Proverbs 22:17-21
“that I might make thee know the certainty of the words of truth” – and how can we “know the certainty of the words of truth” if we aren’t even reading them – if we are not reading the preserved Word of God but rather a cheap counterfeit?
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Abiding
Delighting in the LORD [podcast]
Many have set up their altar to the false gods of church, church attendance, mere men in ministry, etc., and not at the feet, the throne of Jesus Christ. These are examples of some of the most insidious, the most subtle forms of damnable idolatry.
“And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.” Revelation 22:1
Our lives in Christ must be built around His throne and not a certain church building or Sunday morning event (Jeremiah 17:12; Colossians 3:1-4; Hebrews 4:14-16; Revelation 22:1).
Memory truth:
“A glorious high throne from the beginning is the place of our sanctuary.” Jeremiah 17:12
Heaven is where God is and He’s your headquarters. The LORD Himself is “the place of our sanctuary.”
For many, going to “church” seems to take the place of diligently seeking and knowing, loving, and obeying the LORD. The foundation of such a person will not sustain them in this last hour (Matthew 7:19-29; 24; Luke 21; Hebrews 12:24-28).
The LORD speaks much of the importance of foundations (Psalms 11:3). Those who base their life in Christ on a certain ministry or church gathering or organization, do not have the sure, divine foundation to sustain them in this late hour. Everything is going to be shaken and only that which is truly and soundly grounded in Christ will be left standing.
Like Abel, who chose to do things God’s way and no other way, those who do the same, will be established in Christ the Rock and not be moved.
“And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel. 25 See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven: 26 Whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven. 27 And this word, Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain. 28 Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear: 29 For our God is a consuming fire.” Hebrews 12:24-29
Regrettably, so many, who have simply gotten lost in the church crowd, have not established that intimate, individual place in the sanctuary of the LORD. The coming storms will inevitably uproot them if there is no change, no repentance, and seeking the face of the LORD for themselves. Jesus saves us to establish us.
“As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: 7 Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving. 8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. 9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. 10 And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:” Colossians 2:6-10
False churches today seek to sell families on the need to join their country club where’s there’s fun for the whole family. These beguilers cater to the urban family to build their church business, with no intention of preaching the whole counsel of God’s Word, the cardinal doctrines of the original Gospel (Jude 3-4). Their goal is to entertain and to grow their church enterpri$e and not to ground their prey in Christ (Colossians, etc.). It’s all surface level, cosmetic. There is no blood of Jesus, no King James Bible, no cross – no crucified life, no Holy Ghost baptism, no repentance, no holiness, no Christology, no readiness for the soon return of Christ, etc.
If you memorize this Bible verse below and speak it, often, your heart, your direction, your life will be divinely moved upward to the LORD! Memorize 1 Chronicles 16:11 beginning now.
“Seek the LORD and his strength, seek his face continually.” 1 Chronicles 16:11
Those who delight in the LORD, delight to do His will.
“I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart.” Psalms 40:8
“STAY UPON THE LORD”
This is a Recurring Theme in Isaiah and Throughout Holy Writ
“And it shall come to pass in that day, that the remnant of Israel, and such as are escaped of the house of Jacob, shall no more again stay upon him that smote them; but shall STAY UPON the LORD, the Holy One of Israel, in truth.” Isaiah 10:20
“For they call themselves of the holy city, and STAY THEMSELVES UPON the God of Israel; The LORD of hosts is his name.” Isaiah 48:2
“Who is among you that feareth the LORD, that obeyeth the voice of his servant, that walketh in darkness, and hath no light? let him trust in the name of the LORD, and STAY UPON his God.” Isaiah 50:10
The LORD is NOT available to the casual seeker. Think about that.
“He is a rewarder of THEM THAT DILIGENTLY SEEK HIM.” Hebrews 11:6
Our LORD rewards those who “diligently seek him.”
“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. 12 Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. 13 And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart. 14 And I will be found of you, saith the LORD: and I will turn away your captivity, and I will gather you from all the nations, and from all the places whither I have driven you, saith the LORD; and I will bring you again into the place whence I caused you to be carried away captive.” Jeremiah 29:11-14
In the ensuing verses (Jeremiah 29:15-19), God pronounces a judgment on His people for following those false leaders who sit upon the seat of David yet didn’t have an obedient heart after the LORD. Today is no different where you have people following false leaders who pretend to be representing Christ and yet, are compromised with false doctrine and worldliness.
Shannon Cook writes:
“Delight yourself in the LORD (Jesus) and He will give you the desires of thine heart. Jesus Christ IS in fact, the greatest desire of the heart of man. ‘Delight yourself in Me (Jesus), and I will give Me to you.’ Makes perfect sense!”
May God bless us with a John 17 and John 15 oneness abiding relationship with Him, possessed with a poor in spirit disposition, and pure heart after the LORD (Matthew 5:3, 6, 8). In Jesus’ Name.
We have nothing outside of what we have in Christ! Read Colossians 1 and 2.
So love Jesus and aren’t seeking His holy face daily, diligently? Not. Turn back to God in repentance, now.
The bless-ed word “delight” appears several times in God’s Word.
“Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.” Psalms 37:4
Having a heart after God is something that is a daily, a moment to moment choice, a decision, which must be cultivated in us.
David, the man after the heart of the LORD, is a glorious example to us.
“I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will.” Acts 13:22
“One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple. … When thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, LORD, will I seek.” Psalms 27:4, 8
“My heart is fixed, O God, my heart is fixed: I will sing and give praise.” Psalms 57:7
“My soul followeth hard after thee: thy right hand upholdeth me.” Psalms 63:8
As can be seen in the following verse, legal or religious mindset causes obedience, serving God to the LORD to seem like drudgery.
“To whom shall I speak, and give warning, that they may hear? behold, their ear is uncircumcised, and they cannot hearken: behold, the word of the LORD is unto them a reproach; they have no delight in it.” Jeremiah 6:10
Those living under grace operate in grace, in their heart of hearts, delight to obey their Savior.
“For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.” 1 John 5:3
No matter what’s going on – good or bad – WE KNOW that the song is true …. that our “God is so good, God is soooo gooood, God is so good, He’s so good to me…..” … There’s NO way to sing this simple song of praise and not get happy in Jesus! Impossible.
The LORD our Maker alone can truly satisfy, all the way to the marrow of the bone, to the depth of the human heart!
“For I have satiated (fully satisfy) the weary soul, and I have replenished every sorrowful soul.” Jeremiah 31:25
All who are not full of Christ via knowing and seeking Him, delighting in and worshipping Him perpetually, are full of misery – from which they shall never escape, unless they repent and let Jesus be the King, the LORD, the Master of their lives.
The Bible is music to the ears of truth-seeking followers of Christ! They pour prayerfully of the words of Holy Scripture daily, as they seek the face of the LORD.
Times of fasting and prayer are doing yourself a favor and not God. Yes. You are crucifying self, getting self out of God’s way so that Christ is reigning in your life in place of sinful self! This should be viewed with absolute delight! (Psalms 37:4; Hosea 6:6; Matthew 9:13, etc.). You are crying, you are driving a stake in the ground and declaring: “LORD, You must increase but I must decrease! (John 3:30) That’s the “daily” operation of the cross God has ordained to be transpiring in our lives (Luke 9:23-24; 2 Corinthians 4:10-12; Galatians 2:20, etc.).
“We would worry less if we praised more. THANKSGIVING is the enemy of discontentment and dissatisfaction.” Harry Ironside
Powerful resurrection life teeming in and through our lives requires a going down deep into the death the resurrection of Christ (2 Corinthians 4:10-12). There is no shortcut.
“WE WOULD SEE JESUS.” John 12:20-21
Detox your inner man! Detox your spirit, soul, and body! How? Fasting and Prayer! Delighting in the LORD (Psalms 37:4). Fasting and prayer begins with being done, being fed up, being exhausted of the iniquitous nature that has driven us into darkness, into dismal ditches with guilt, shame, and forfeited blessings the result! Our desire now and henceforth is for Christ to reign supreme in our lives and not self! Self, sin must be dethroned. Serving self instead of the Savior has ushered in every single evil thing into our lives and we now stand forth and declare that Christ must increase but we must decrease! (John 3:30) We do this now with more than just words – also with a holy resolve, a driving of the stake deep into the ground, singly focused on the reign of Heaven’s coming KING, on the seat, the throne of our hearts. The reins of our lives are reserved for Him to reign, no longer us!
“Then shalt thou delight thyself in the LORD; and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth, and feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.” Isaiah 58:14
“It has been said that no great work in literature or in science was ever wrought by a man who did not love solitude. We may lay it down as an elemental principle of religion, that no large growth in holiness was ever gained by one who did not take time to be often long alone with God.” Austin Phelps
Anita Villarreal exhorts:
“‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart…..do this and you will live.’ Luke 10:27-28
The death of Jesus. Christ on the Cross is what has drawn men to Himself. Christ did this out of Divine Love for humanity, and LOVE ALWAYS DRAWS. It is the LOVE that men and women need, and wherever they find it they want to come and rest in it’s warmth and tenderness. God’s love is the purest form of true, sincere and unselfish love. Of you haven’t received or known this kind of love, ask Jesus to show you this love and by faith receive it. Let Him cleanse your soul of all impurities and forgive you of all your sins.”
We were created to know Him!
“And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.” John 17:3
“And let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them.” Exodus 25:8
Our union, our oneness with God is from which all else in His kingdom emanates….
“For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.” Romans 14:17
“We are truly living in a time of great apostasy and I would urge each person to seek to know the Lord for yourself as Jesus said in John 17:3 that this is life eternal that we know the only true God and His Son Jesus Christ. In the book of 1 John 5:20 John states that Christ came to give us understanding of the one true God and His son Jesus Christ. David said in Psalms 27:4 that one thing he desired of the Lord and that he would seek after that He could dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of life to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord. I urge people to examine the scriptures and stop trusting in flesh (mere men) for the scripture states that curse is the man that trust in man and makes flesh his arm whose heart has depart from the Lord (Jerm 17:5). Any real man that God has called will only point you to Lord not himself. Wake-up Church those who have an ear to hear what Lord is speaking to His true body.” Matthew Washington
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