“So they came to Jerusalem. Then Jesus went into the temple and began to drive out those who bought and sold in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves. And He would not allow anyone to carry wares through the temple. Then He taught, saying to them, “Is it not written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations’? But YOU HAVE MADE IT a ‘den of thieves.’ "
"And the scribes and chief priests heard it and sought how THEY MIGHT DESTROY Him, for they FEARED Him, because all the people were astonished at His teaching." (Mark 11:15-18)
Clearly the scribes and chief priests feared Him, for He was overturning what they had made. Their response was to destroy Him.
"Now it came to pass, when Jesus finished commanding His twelve disciples, that He departed from there to teach and to preach in their cities. And when John (the Baptist) had heard in prison about the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples and said to Him, 'Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another? Jesus answered and said to them, 'Go and tell John the things which you hear and see: The blind see and the lame walk; the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear; the dead are raised up and the poor have the gospel preached to them. And blessed is he who is NOT OFFENDED BECAUSE OF ME."
(Matthew 11:1-6)
This is the same John who recognized Jesus, and said, "Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world!" Again the next day, "Behold the Lamb of God!"(John 1:27-37) What had happened? Even those closest followers of Jesus, when faced with questions regarding their fate, have to decide whether to turn from Him or continue with Him.
Jesus' answer? "Have faith in God. For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to THIS MOUNTAIN (that blocks or routes away from, rather than toward), 'Be removed and be cast into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them. And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses. But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses." (Mark 11:22-26)
Fear destroys the working of His message. Faith awakens, reminds and quickens His message in us.
Thursday, October 31, 2019
Saturday, October 26, 2019
Is this Your Confession of Faith?
Philippians 3:1-21
"Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. For me to write the same things to you is not tedious, but for you it is safe. Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the mutilation! For we are the circumcision, who worship God in the Spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh, though I also might have confidence in the flesh. If anyone else thinks he may have confidence in the flesh, I more so: circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews; concerning the law, a Pharisee; concerning zeal, persecuting the church; concerning the righteousness which is in the law, blameless."
"But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. Yet indeed I also count all loss things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; that I may KNOW Him and the power of His resurrection, and the FELLOWSHIP of His sufferings, being CONFORMED to His death, if, by any means, I may ATTAIN to the resurrection from the dead."
"Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus."
Paul understands that he has not yet been perfected nor that he apprehended this apart from that which "Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me." But, he knows the way and is sure of the path! He admonishes us to "join in following my example, and note those who so walk, as you have us for a pattern", because, "many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are enemies of the cross of Christ:... who set their mind on earthly things."
No matter what the carnal mind would suggest, the way to eternal life follows this example!
Confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus: the hope of His calling; the cross of Christ; and believe. The Spirit of Christ will show you how to fellowship, conform and attain.
"Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. For me to write the same things to you is not tedious, but for you it is safe. Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the mutilation! For we are the circumcision, who worship God in the Spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh, though I also might have confidence in the flesh. If anyone else thinks he may have confidence in the flesh, I more so: circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews; concerning the law, a Pharisee; concerning zeal, persecuting the church; concerning the righteousness which is in the law, blameless."
"But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. Yet indeed I also count all loss things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; that I may KNOW Him and the power of His resurrection, and the FELLOWSHIP of His sufferings, being CONFORMED to His death, if, by any means, I may ATTAIN to the resurrection from the dead."
"Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus."
Paul understands that he has not yet been perfected nor that he apprehended this apart from that which "Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me." But, he knows the way and is sure of the path! He admonishes us to "join in following my example, and note those who so walk, as you have us for a pattern", because, "many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are enemies of the cross of Christ:... who set their mind on earthly things."
No matter what the carnal mind would suggest, the way to eternal life follows this example!
Confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus: the hope of His calling; the cross of Christ; and believe. The Spirit of Christ will show you how to fellowship, conform and attain.
Saturday, October 19, 2019
By the Hearing of Faith
"I have been crucified with Christ: it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain. O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you that you should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed among you as crucified? This only I want to learn from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or BY THE HEARING OF FAITH? Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh? Have you suffered so many things in vain--if indeed it was in vain? Therefore He who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you, does He do it by the works of the law, or BY THE HEARING OF FAITH?---just as Abraham 'believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.' Therefore know that only those who are of faith are sons of Abraham. And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel to Abraham beforehand, saying, 'In you all the nations shall be blessed.' So then those who of faith are blessed with believing Abraham."
(Galatians 2:20,21-3:1-9)
The Old Testament is loaded with testimony of God's working of miracles for Abraham and the children of Israel. When Jesus Christ came, he preached the word of His Father AND He healed, delivered and produced provision: manifesting God's will to Israel (and others who pressed in to Him) supernaturally. He supplied the Spirit and worked miracles.
Paul writes the Galatians not to be deceived, but to understand that the Spirit of God in manifestation comes now through faith in Christ, and no other way. If you listen to the crowd of lawyers, who will be glad to say that God doesn't do that any more, you will have no manifestation of God's presence. They don't have it, have explained that absence away, and would be glad for you to join them--excluding you from God's complete, or perfect plan of salvation. Paul writes that 'the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God'-portraying Jesus Christ as crucified!
"By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh if of God" (1 John 4:2) You see that it is commanded that we confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh!
The Old Testament is loaded with testimony of God's working of miracles for Abraham and the children of Israel. When Jesus Christ came, he preached the word of His Father AND He healed, delivered and produced provision: manifesting God's will to Israel (and others who pressed in to Him) supernaturally. He supplied the Spirit and worked miracles.
Paul writes the Galatians not to be deceived, but to understand that the Spirit of God in manifestation comes now through faith in Christ, and no other way. If you listen to the crowd of lawyers, who will be glad to say that God doesn't do that any more, you will have no manifestation of God's presence. They don't have it, have explained that absence away, and would be glad for you to join them--excluding you from God's complete, or perfect plan of salvation. Paul writes that 'the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God'-portraying Jesus Christ as crucified!
"By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh if of God" (1 John 4:2) You see that it is commanded that we confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh!
Saturday, October 5, 2019
Show Them by Your Works
"Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works." (James 2:18)
"You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only." (James 2:24)
"When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, 'Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?' So they said, 'Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.' He said to them, 'But who do you say that I am?' Simon Peter answered and said, 'You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.' Jesus answered and said to him, 'Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not REVEALED this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will BUILD My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.' "
"Then He commanded His disciples that they should tell no one that He was Jesus the Christ. From that time Jesus began to SHOW to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day. Then Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, 'Far be it from You, Lord; this shall not happen to You!' But Jesus turned and said to Peter, "Get BEHIND Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men.' "
"Then Jesus said to His disciples, 'If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works.' "
(Matthew 16:13-27)
You will be able to find your testimony, to date, in these words of revelation and correction for righteousness.
"You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only." (James 2:24)
"When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, 'Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?' So they said, 'Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.' He said to them, 'But who do you say that I am?' Simon Peter answered and said, 'You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.' Jesus answered and said to him, 'Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not REVEALED this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will BUILD My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.' "
"Then He commanded His disciples that they should tell no one that He was Jesus the Christ. From that time Jesus began to SHOW to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day. Then Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, 'Far be it from You, Lord; this shall not happen to You!' But Jesus turned and said to Peter, "Get BEHIND Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men.' "
"Then Jesus said to His disciples, 'If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works.' "
(Matthew 16:13-27)
You will be able to find your testimony, to date, in these words of revelation and correction for righteousness.
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