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May the LORD Jesus Christ be praised, receive all the glory for the members of His beloved body whom He is using to comfort and encourage His body. Recently, a dear brother in Christ, reached out to edify, to comfort, to exhort, and to give thanks for the work of our LORD Jesus that is transpiring. The following response was given to him….

“May the LORD bless you richly in Christ today in all He’s called you to do and you are obediently carrying out and may He especially bestow a marked blessing on your life for your love for His beloved body and how you comfort, edify, and exhort His children. Hebrews 6:10.”

“For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.” Hebrews 6:10

In the onset of this chapter, we have the record of when Jesus sent His disciples out to do His work. Taking care of Christ’s laborers:

“He that receiveth you receiveth me, and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me. 41 He that receiveth a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward; and he that receiveth a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man’s reward. 42 And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward.” Matthew 10:40-42

Going through difficulties only enhances our ability to enjoy God and experience His comfort and blessing (James 1:2-4; Romans 8:18).

“Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; 4 Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God. 5 For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ.” 2 Corinthians 1:3-5 

The comfort of God’s love is never more realized than when His people endure suffering in this life.

Soon, “we shall ever be with the LORD” with no discomfort forever (1 Thessalonians 4:17; Revelation 21:4; 1 Corinthians 2:9).

“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

—-  There are many, many gems to be discovered in this following treasure-rich passage. I love that here the LORD reveals to us that according in proportion with our “sufferings,” so He will be our “consolation” in that hour – that season of testing (see also 1 Peter 1:5-7). And, as we are blessed by Him during our times of trial, He will use us to comfort others of His body – encouraging and ministering to them about our God who is “the Father of mercies” and “the God of all comfort”! Beloved, if you are truly His, He is really going to be there in your hour of need so just call upon Him!

Comfort Comes in the Mourning

So many clueless parents today are destroying their own children by filling them with dessert when the child hasn’t even eaten the meat and vegetables. In the same way, false leaders today are spiritually, eternally assassinating their gullible, biblically illiterate audiences by feeding them the cotton candy “best life now” gospel instead of teaching them the cross at the center of the original Gospel of Jesus (Luke 9:23-24; 2 Timothy 4:2-4).

Many who aren’t mourning (death, burial) are seeking comfort (resurrection). Not going to happen. No cross = No resurrection.

MANY WANT THE COMFORT YET REFUSE THE CROSS.

Comfort (resurrection) Comes in the Mourning (dying, death, burial).

“Blessed are they that mourn (death, the cross): for they shall be comforted (raised up).” Matthew 5:4

Those who mourn in this life are already experiencing a foretaste of glory divine – comfort from the “God of all comfort” (2 Corinthians 1:2-5).

Many selfishly seek comfort and yet, it’s only those who find comfort in obeying Christ’s teachings who will be filled with His perpetual comfort. The quick fix is a band aid while the cross life assures a life of deep divine peace and comfort (Psalms 119:165; Matthew 5:4; Philippians 4:7).

Dare we conclude, as so many of God’s children have throughout the ages, that we never experience the LORD’s blessed love so much as when we are in the greatest times of trial?

Beloved of God, What ales you? Are you grieving? Struggling with sinfulness? Wounded? Tempted? In a fiery trial? Brokenhearted?

Who made us (spirit, heart, soul, body) from the dust of the earth and breathed into us His breath of life? (See Genesis 1:26-28.) Can He heal and comfort us? What does His Word say?

THE LORD PERSONALLY COMFORTS US IN ALL OUR AFFLICTIONS

Let’s take a look at a larger portion of this:

“Grace be to you and peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God. For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ. 6 And whether we be afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effectual in the enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer: or whether we be comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation. 7 And our hope of you is stedfast, knowing, that as ye are partakers of the sufferings, so shall ye be also of the consolation. 8 For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life: 9 But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead: 10 Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver: in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us;” 2 Corinthians 1:2-5

“Everlasting Consolation”

“Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle (Holy Scriptures). Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace, Comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work.” 2 Thessalonians 2:14-17

The cross is essential to experiencing divine “comfort” and “consolation.” That resurrection divine life fueling upward His people during their times of suffering, brings the greatest times/seasons of His blessed fruitfulness. Our beloved brother Joseph experienced something of that closeness to the LORD, didn’t he? – “For God hath caused me to be fruitful in the land of my affliction” (Genesis 41:52).

“Fruitful in the land of my affliction” is going to be our own testimony as we, like Joseph, cling and draw ever nearer to our LORD in that hour of affliction.

The reality of the comfort of His love is perhaps only a truth in our minds until we are truly tested. Then, that truth becomes a reality in our own personal lives that forges intimacy with Him such as we have never previously experienced. Then, we speak out of personal revelation to others to help them.

The story of Joseph is itself a monumental masterpiece of the comforting love of our heavenly Father (Genesis 37-50).

Of this treasured passage in 2 Corinthians 1, one believer notes:

“Notice how the consolation and comfort flows within the community of believers, stemming from affliction and suffering that flows amongst them. This is the reciprocal participation or “fellowship” in the death and resurrection of Christ (2 Corinthians 1:9).  Death equals suffering. Resurrection equals comfort.”

HE GAVE US HIS WORD TO COMFORT US

“For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.” Romans 15:4

HIS EMINENT RETURN COMFORTS US

“For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words.” 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18

Jesus told us that the Holy Ghost is our “Comforter”:

“And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever.” John 14:16 

“But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.” John 14:26

“But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:” John 15:26

“Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.” John 16:7

GOOD NEWS: The “so great salvation” accomplished for us by Christ’s one sacrifice and continual intercession (John 19:30; Hebrews 2:3; 7:25; 10:12), is all the believer ever needs to appropriate for all desired comfort, healing, deliverance from addiction, sins, etc. Let no one deceive you friend, Jesus Christ, the eternal God, did a complete work. He failed in no way in His mission to redeem mankind, spirit, soul, and body (Luke 4:18; 1 John 3:8; Acts 10:38). Christ crushed the head of the serpent (Genesis 3:15) and frees His children of every affliction as they call upon Him in truth (Galatians 5:1; Psalms 34:17,19; 97:10; Acts 26:18; Luke 10:17-20, etc.). He is our “very present help in trouble”!

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” Psalms 46:1

The righteous cry, and the LORD heareth, and delivereth them out of ALL their troubles.” Psalms 34:17

“MANY are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them ALL.” Psalms 34:19

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 (John 5:39; 1 Timothy 4:6, 16; Hebrews 5:11-14; 1 Peter 2:2). Sign up here.

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Abiding

Fruitfulness is Found in Abiding in Christ [podcast]


“A faithful man shall abound with blessings: but he that maketh haste to be rich shall not be innocent.” Proverbs 28:20

Jesus is the True Vine

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. 2 Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. 3 Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. 4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. 5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. 6 If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. 7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.” John 15:1-7

“The understanding is, if I am truly abiding in Christ (the Vine, my first love) then the fruit will come from Him, and not from me — of my own making– but through me. Again, it’s relationship with Christ that is the root of the matter, and not just outwardly keeping a list of rules (living under the law).

‘Abiding fruitfulness’ –so loaded with meaning!

    1. for your own state of abiding in Christ
    2. for the fruit that is brought forth because you are abiding in Christ (the Vine) Who gives life to and bears the fruit
    3. that the fruit itself (fruit of the Spirit, souls of men and all good works that are born of the Spirit) will abide (remain) and flourish in God’s kingdom on earth and in eternity.” Debbie L.

IF JESUS is purging you, rejoice – because that means He’s born good fruit in your life and wants to bring forth more!!! Boom.

“Every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.” John 15:2

*Read that again.

IF you are not a DOER of God’s Word, it proves you are not saved – and are a lukewarm hell bound rebel. Repent now and bring forth fruit to prove it (Matthew 3:7-10; 7:21; Titus 1:16; 1 John 2:4; Revelation 2:26, etc.).

“But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.” James 1:22

HOW DID JESUS tell us to know/discern ourselves and others?

The FRUIT of our lives (Matt 7:16,20).

The root determines the fruit.

Are you rooted in Christ?

Our works are the good fruit born out of Christ’s salvation and present work in our lives. Those good works do not save us but are a mere outworking of His great salvation in us.

FRUIT vs GIFTS

There are lots of people bragging about their GIFTS which alone tells you they are not in Christ who taught that the greatest among us will be the SERVANT of all – the FRUIT of God’s love in the true remnant disciple (Matthew 20:24-28; 23:8-12).

Gospel Hint: God is interested in a real relationship with those who choose Him. That relationship will always bear good fruit. FRUIT is the crop of an abiding relationship with Jesus which is the stated reason that God the Father sent His only begotten Son (John 15:1-16; 17:3). Anyone can operate in or even fake gifts. Gifts are glitter. Fruit is foundation! The root determines the fruit. What fruit is being born, produced in your life? Are you asking God to make you one with Him? (John 17)

In the divine economy, FRUIT is much more important than GIFT because good FRUIT can only come out of relationship.

GOD is interested in FRUIT that only comes from a ROOTED abiding relationship! (Matthew 3:7-10; John 15, etc.) Jesus foretold that on Judgment Day “MANY” will call out to Him with “Lord, Lord” as they boast of the GIFTS they operated in. “And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” (Matthew 7:19-23)

Taking up the cross, suffering the death of self, is not earning us salvation… it’s simply rendering worship-filled “obedience to the faith” (Romans 1:5) – faith in the ONE who bled on that cross to earn salvation for us, all by Himself!

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The Only Way Up is Down [podcast]


Chapter 8 from the book Raised Up (narration)

“Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.” Proverbs 16:18

The Down and Up Principle of God’s Kingdom

“And the remnant that is escaped of the house of Judah shall again take root DOWNWARD, and bear fruit UPWARD.” Isaiah 37:31

The Scriptures follow a pattern of death and resurrection, a downward death and upward life. See if you can observe such a truth in the following verses:

“The LORD upholdeth all that fall, and raiseth UP all those that be bowed DOWN.” Psalms 145:14

Do you possess the blessed desire to be raised up by the Almighty? According to His divine wisdom given us in His precious Precepts, in order to be “raised up” we must first be “bowed down.” The LORD will not raise up any person who is still alive in his own power – He only raises up “those that be bowed down” in sincere humility before His majesty (Ps. 145:14; Jn. 12:23-25; Rom. 8:11).

“Those that be bowed down” will “take root downward” and be raised up in blessed fruitfulness (Isa. 37:31).

In order to “bear fruit upward,” one must first be planted in the house (kingdom) of the LORD and “take root downward” in the rich soil of His truth. The resurrection life of Jesus and ample fruitfulness will be the result.

Going deeper in God necessitates going down deeper into death and burial with Christ! Read Romans 6. There are no shortcuts (Galatians 5:24). Christ’s kingdom is a cross economy – one of utter humility and death to self that He might reign (John 12:23-25; 2 Corinthians 4:10-12; Galatians 2:20; Colossians 3:3, etc.).

“And whosoever shall exalt himself (upward) shall be abased (humbled); and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.” Matthew 23:12

“He must INCREASE, but I must DECREASE.” John 3:30

“And Jesus answered them, saying, The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat FALL INTO THE GROUND (downward) and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit (upward). He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life (downward) in this world shall keep it unto life eternal (upward).” John 12:23-25

“Humble yourselves (downward heart posture) in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.” James 4:10

The life of Christ will raise a man upward and this is after that man bows down his life or humbles himself under the mighty hand of God – first at initial salvation then in the consecrated life that brings God glory. Blessed resurrection life is the upward result of the life planted downward and this is the place from which ministry springs. Look at what the apostle Paul wrote in this regard:

“Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body. For we which live are always delivered unto death for Jesus’ sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh. So then death worketh in us, but life in you.” 2 Corinthians 4:10-12

Jesus declared to us that He came to make captives free from sin and Satan – “If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed” (Lk. 4:18; Jn. 8:31-32, 36).There is chain-shattering, freeing power (liberty) in the redeeming blood of Christ and by the power of the Holy Ghost (Lk. 4:18; Jn. 8:36; Acts 26:18; Col. 1:12-14; 1 Pet. 1:18-19; Rev. 12:11). The divine promise is that when one bows down before the LORD, every yoke shall be broken by Him who is above all (Isa. 58). No stronghold or bond of Satan has power when Christ’s blood is applied in sincere repentance and by the power of the Holy Ghost! The saint who is raised up after being bowed down, will glorify God in rich fruitfulness being “changed into the same image (Christ’s) from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.”

“Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.” 2 Corinthians 3:17-18

It is the divine Person of the Holy Ghost who raised up the LORD who was bowed down before His Father in death in order to purchase His Church with His own sinless blood (Acts 20:28). In like manner, it is the Holy Spirit with His resurrection power who raises up those who be bowed down before His throne of grace.

“And he (Jesus) was teaching in one of the synagogues on the sabbath. And, behold, there was a woman which had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bowed together, and could in no wise lift up herself. And when Jesus saw her, he called her to him, and said unto her, Woman, thou art loosed from thine infirmity. And he laid his hands on her: and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God… And ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan hath bound, lo, these eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the sabbath day? And when he had said these things, all his adversaries were ashamed: and all the people rejoiced for all the glorious things that were done by him.” Luke 13:10-13, 16-17

There can be no resurrection until there is first a death. A seed is dead or dormant then is planted and then germinates and brings forth bud, then a stalk and ultimately fruit – but first it must be buried downward in order to bear life-giving fruit upward. The life buried with Christ will be lifted up by divine power and bear much fruit to God’s glory (Jn. 15:8).

“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 (make alive upward) your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.” Romans 8:11

Our LORD had to first die and be buried “downward” in order to be raised “upward” by the Father in resurrection life to raise up and justify all those who would call upon Him in repentance (Rom. 1:4; 8:11; 10:13). In order for fruit to be borne “upward,” the disciple must first be planted “downward” in “the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death” (Isa. 37:31; Phil. 3:10).

“Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? 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. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection.” Romans 6:3-5

“Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.” Colossians 2:12

He created man with a choice (Josh. 24:15). In the end there will be “the resurrection of life” and also “the resurrection of damnation” (Jn. 5:28-29). Each of us will be in one of these resurrections – either everlasting life or eternal death (conscience separation from God in hell). The entrance into Heaven or termination into hell will hinge upon whom we served – God or self (Rom. 6:16).

Real promotion comes only from the Giver and Sustainer of all life – from the north (Heaven).

“For promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south. But God is the judge: he putteth down one, and setteth up another.” Psalms 75:6-7

That person who freely chooses to believe God, taking Christ at His Word, bowing under His infinite Majestic glory, will be raised up both now and forever and eternally glorified with the Alpha and Omega (Phil. 2:5-11; 2 Thess. 2:13-14).

“The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree: he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon. Those that be planted in the house of the LORD shall flourish in the courts of our God. They shall still bring forth fruit in old age; they shall be fat and flourishing.” Psalms 92:12-14

PRAYER: Please draw me deeper into You LORD Jesus. Father in Heaven, You sent Your only begotten Son to die for me in order that I might be raised up in new life in this brief life and eternally. I love You Jesus and ask You to lead me to that crucified life that you lived when here on earth and as You gave Your life blood on the cross to save Your people. Please quicken me by Your Holy Spirit and fill me afresh O LORD, that this life You gave might be fully one with You and fruitful and pleasing to Thee. Lord, I am watching and praying in light of Your soon return. In the name of Jesus, Amen.

If you truly desire to know more about how to really know the LORD, go here okay: Born Again: What is It?

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PEACE with GOD

Feedback:

“Awesome message. Thank you for sharing it. I would like to encourage everyone to read this and to look at the scriptures in their own Bibles! Wonderful message.” Linda C.

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Mother Sings to her Baby [video]

Dare you to try to stop this from playing continually….

If we’ve given our children everything in this world and not JESUS, we’ve failed miserable and clearly prove to be lost souls ourselves.


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