Whatcha been watching and listening to. Who are your closest friends and what have they been influenced by?
Many say that those who are heavenly-minded are of no earthly good, but I find that those real Christians who are most heavenly-minded, they are of most early good. So I dare ya if I may to.. think and pray about the things of heaven, and not the things of this world. Think and pray about how God wants to use you to get people up there. He can communicate with you in His word and use you.
The Bible says, "Set your mind and keep focused habitually on the things above [the heavenly things], not on things that are on the earth [which have only temporal value]. 3 For you died [to this world], and your [new, real] life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is our life, [a]appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory." Colossians 3:2-4 amp
Have you been aiming higher?
Aim higher Buckeroo, move slower around people, especially among friends, enjoying every step of the the way. It is all those little steps of obedience (that blind obedience) that make the journey complete.
In relationship building.. fast is slow and slow is fast. If I go to fast around people the trust and relationship might get built slowly at best. I'm not really a person who was born liking slow, or being patient anywhere. The Lord has to help me because He loves all people.
Do not aim so low, Sport. Be a sharp-shooter instead of a shotgunner so to speak. A person has to learn to aim a little higher to hit the intended target, because of the way the projectile projects. Pray and trust the Lord. Aim high, because there is something way-better. The Bible says, “Without a vision, the people perish.” (Proverbs 29:18.) People without hope or confidence in the Lord are often miserable.
God, I ask for a great awakening--open the floodgates of Heaven. We want torrents and raging rivers of living water flowing here. Let it rain. Please, use me to win someone to Jesus today. God, I want to win more than one today really; help me live as Your witness for dozens, or maybe hundreds, or far more. Praise you Lord--it's all about you and not me. Whatever you want to do. I'll be happy ministering to even one.
“Study to shew thyself approved unto God.” 11 Timothy 2:15
"The devil is not fighting religion (cuz unlike Jesus he is religious). He's too smart for that. He is (busy) producing a counterfeit Christianity, so much like the real one that good Christians are afraid to speak out against it." ~ Vance Havner
Inner motives matter. What are some of the things that motivate you in this life? What do you think about and talk about the most? What, day by day, are some of the things that motivate you to do what you have been doing? What are some of the things that motivate you to be a spiritual Christian instead of a carnal or worldly saint? There are many Christians who are not yet motivated. There are mugwups too, with their mug hanging on one side of the fence and their wump on the other. Many people sadly are not motivated, inspired or equipped to do anything to glorify Jesus today. They just want to sit there and do nothing or fill their minds with the world's rubbish. A born again Christian who is spiritual (see Romans 8:6-8) will be a very motivated individual. If we are not motivated, someone (like me) needs to encourage us to become prayerfully motivated in the Bible, and in fellowship.
The Bible says, "For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God."
Let not your old sinful nature control your mind, your motives, your words, or your actions, believer. Why? It's because that sinful nature is still hostile to God (and always will be until the time of the Rapture). You have a new nature now, so allow the Holy Spirit control all of you daily.. step by step as you follow the living Word (Jesus).
If a well-church is working effectively, the devil and his gang will be present to try and disrupt it. Where there is unity, he will seek to cause disunity. He will use whatever means he can to upset the members or turn them on each other. He will use even little things if he can, little differences of opinion that, I say, do not amount to a hill of beans. He will lie and seek to work among those of whom he is most afraid, those who have determined to follow close in rightly representing Jesus Christ, not just in word but in good deeds.
"Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God." Hebrews 12:2 kjv
To honestly be what we are and become what and who we are called to be, is the only end we believers really want. He who makes us capable of becoming more real and of finishing the race.. remains the primary focus.
It's been said, we all worship someone or something and many simply worship themselves. I say.. let's opt to worship and follow the only One worthy of our worship, Jesus Christ.
We choose and keep on choosing huh. I recommend Jesus. Come closer to Christ and His Church and bring a friend. Facebook.com/shareJesus
We praise and worship God to give and bless Him, but it's still beneficial.
We've been studying this in Exodus lately.
"And we all, with unveiled face, continually seeing as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are progressively being transformed into His image from one degree of glory to even more glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit." 2 Cor. 3:18 amp
Acceptable Worship -- We are Changed In This Discipline Of Joy. Let's keep it biblical and from the heart. It's about maintaining our primary focus and not getting distracted away from the Lord in a distracting kind of world.
It's not about me or us, it's not about what we feel (we don't always feel like praising the Lord so we offer the sacrifice of praise and worship to Him). It's all about Him to whom worship is due. Yes, its about giving to the Lord -- your first love, yes starting with giving yourself away is a living sacrifice, but there are benefits in worship.
Vertical worship can also be an edifying blessing and mystery to those onlookers horizontally.
You remember the Westminster Shorter Catechism of Faith states, "Man's chief end is to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever." To glorify God-that's worship! To enjoy Him forever-that's the all-encompassing reward that includes these specific benefits:
Forgiveness. True worshipers recognize God's holiness and accept His forgiveness (Romans 5:1; 1 John 1:9). A forgiven people are to be a forgiving people and through biblical worship with Christ's body they are purified. We gaze upon Jesus and He pours in His love even for the lost and those who have done us wrong. He transforms us.
Guidance step by step from the Lord. He's our Chief Shepherd who guides us daily. Those who honor God will be given wisdom and will His guidance day by day (Psalm 25:4-12; Proverbs 1:7; 3:5-6).
Provision, our daily bread (kind of like the Israelites recieved daily in their desert wanderings for 40 years). Jesus said that God will meet our material needs if we give Him first place in our lives (Matthew 6:33; see also Psalm 23; 37:3-6). God meets all our needs not our greeds.
Love, God's agape in and through us to others. The love of God is experienced in the hearts of all those who are true worshipers (Psalm 63:3; John 14:21, 23; Romans 5:5).
Power to live the life -- to be and give a good witness to this watching world. To all who give God the glory He deserves, He gives the enablement to do the things He requires of them (2 Corinthians 12:7-10; Ephesians 3:14-21; Philippians 4:13).
Protection. He faithfully watches over all who acknowledge Him, and He keeps them in all of life's changing circumstances (Psalm 5:11-12; 1 Peter 1:5).
Glory -- we give all the glory to God, but you will be glorified. All true worshipers will one day be glorified. They'll inherit a new heaven and a new earth and join a company of believers and angels in perfect, uninterrupted worship (2 Peter 3:13; 1 John 3:2; Revelation 19:1-10).
Our word worship comes from the old English word “worth ship” -- the state of worth of an object or being. This remains our top priority ministry.
Is it multifaceted? Do they interlink somehow.. the vertical singing, the character, the integrity, the Message, the positive horizontal impact?
We stay connected to Jesus. The branch abides in the Vine and then the fruit easily arrives without any striving.
I challenge you to ask “why”.. more often? What’s the motive? Find out okay. Are you doing it (whatever you’re doing) as pure worship unto the Lord?
Why not? Believer, is the rejoicing with real JOY in Jesus happening? Is your daily decision-making that is adding to your character development done as unto the Lord in worship ..for His glory? Why not? It can!
Ask “why”.. more.. pray about it. And remember to say thank you to the Lord. Yes, thanks for the blessings too. Remember to sing in your heart His praises and out loud in worship to God as well. He’ll change your character by the Living Word!
"Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.." Ephesians 5:19-20
God some spiritual convictions, believer? Working, witnessing, serving, waiting can be as unto the Lord in worship. Decision-making which can lead to a believer's personal Christ-like character coupled with godly integrity (keeping that good code)
The Ammonites and Moabites came from the incestuous relationship that Lot had with his two daughters after fleeing their town that was under God’s judgment for wickedness. One of his daughter’s kids (from this strange incest) was named Ammon and the other Moab.
It was about a faulty decision that Sarah and Abraham made. Remember when they went down to Egypt? Well, that's where they obviously found and came back with Sarah's servant who later became a concubine when there was no offspring. Sarah told her husband Abraham to go into her to produce a child for them. Parents would do that and then call their child their own as a couple. This was Sarah and Abraham's attempt to help out God to fulfill His promise.
Abe and Hagar produced a son named Ishmael and now from him we have the Arab nations that want to destroy the Jews and throw them off into the sea until they are no more a people or nation.
You remember the Edomites came from Rebecca together and Isaac when they had the twins Jacob. And Esau. Christ like character and godly integrity being faithful to.
That code is all about decisions And decision making can be a form of worship. Witnessing and preaching and serving can all be as unto the Lord in worship. Though those activities never replace the need for a quiet time. Or your worship at church, they can nonetheless be worship as unto the Lord.
The goal of redemption.. the goal of evangelism Is acceptable worship unto God?
"But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him." John 4:23 nkjv
True worshipers will worship the Father with truth, not a mixture of truth and error. Father is seeking for such to worship him and what a blessing that is for us, what a privilege too. And His seeking is efficacious, like Christ’s seeking is. It's been that way.
“..for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.”
Luke 19:10 nkjv
The Son of Man came for that purpose, to seek and to save those who are lost in their sin.
They have a people now worshiping them. They have a people evangelizing in the Spirit for their glory. Jesus is forgiving and saving people through his witnessing people that worship.. as He guides them in the witnessing. And the goal of redemption and the goal of evangelism is pure acceptable worship of God.
The the goal of Christ-like character coupled with godly integrity is shining your light (reflecting His light out) in this dark world. God, let the people see the character of Jesus in us. Let them hear His words from us.
It's about being a sound (empowered by the Spirit kind of) witness which can be done as worship unto the Lord. Yes, we live as witnesses daily and verbally give witness.. as unto the Lord in pure worship! Sure, even though the activities can never replace your church worship, or your private quiet time devotional worship. We want to worship all the time!
For many years from age 18, my top priority ministry was involved with being a good witness for Jesus, and I was trusting him to empower me in that way. But those were That was a focus was being and giving verbal witness to wings of a bi-play which ones more important both.
It can't fly. Without The plane can't fly without being a good witness with your character and godly integrity. And it can't be, you can't be a good witness without your verbal. You got to give verbal witness and share the gospel but evangelism church planting missions. So in seeds, watering seeds, tending them, reaping the harvest.
That was what I thought needed to be on top the number one priority ministry. When actually the Bible clearly bears out that worship of God is priority one ministry for you and me. Yes, acceptable worship of God, not of false gods cuz that wouldn’t be acceptable. Not with a bad attitude, cuz that wouldn’t either be.
Biblical worship is the top priority ministry of every Christian for you were made and the praise of his glory And other places you see it, too. We can worship 24/7/365.. every day, not just on Sundays in a church house, that that is important too.
Worship is so important -- it affects your life, your character, your choices, your witness. It's imperative for four reasons to believers.
Reason number one: Scripture demands it, Scripture calls for it by the very volume of Scripture. You might even use the phrase Scripture is filled with it. Worship is important because Scripture is filled with it. Secondly, all of life is affected by it. All of life is affected by it. Thirdly, it is the major theme of redemptive history. It is the major theme of redemptive history. And fourthly, it is commanded. Yep, it is commanded. And that’s a more explicit way of saying number one.
The first reason that we say that worship is important is because Scripture speaks so frequently of it. The Word of God literally repeats, hundreds and hundreds of times, the emphasis on worship. And we can pick out a few select portions, and these are simply selections out of a mass of biblical material. Now, the entire book of the Psalms would be a good starting place.
The second reason that it’s important to worship is because all of life both now and forever depends on it. Worship is not an addendum to life; worship is at the core of life. You see, the people who worship God acceptably enter into eternal life. The people who do not worship God acceptably enter into eternal death. So, worship then becomes the crux. Worship then becomes the core. Time and eternity are determined by the nature of a person’s worship. How you worship is reflective and determinative in your destiny. Now, there are only two kinds of worship you can offer, really. You can either offer acceptable worship or what? Unacceptable worship. And the mass of the world offers unacceptable worship. God will not accept it. The Bible is explicit on this. And there are people today who want to tell us that ultimately everybody is going to get saved. Ultimately everybody is going to be acceptable to God. That is not true. That is not true. The Bible does not say that. The Bible says there is acceptable worship and there is unacceptable worship.
Sup with unacceptable worship? There are four kinds of that. One, the unacceptable worship is the worship of false gods. The second kind of unacceptable worship is the worship of the true God in a wrong way. The third kind of unacceptable worship. The first one is worshipping a false god, the second one is worshipping the true God in an unacceptable manner, and the third one is worship of the true God in a self-styled manner. Not just reducing Him to an idol, not just reducing Him to an image, but reducing His worship or the activity of His worship to some personal definition.
Now, what do I mean by that? Check out in your Bible Leviticus chapter 10. Aaron was the high priest and Aaron had two sons. And they, of course, would be entering into the priesthood. It was a great and wonderful day because this was their ordination day. They had been allowed to accompany Moses to the holy mountain. They had been prepared to be ordained, to function as those who represented God. They had been part of that ordination of the priesthood. This was their first day, really, to be considered as those who would lead in the worship of God. And it says in verse 1: “Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took either of them his censer.” And the censer was that which was filled with incense which was emblematic and symbolic of worship as it rose in its fragrance, as it were, to the nostrils of God it was like their worship pleasing to Him. “They took their censers and put fire therein and put incense thereon and offered strange fire before the Lord which He commanded them not.” Strange fire. Believe it or not, it may well be true that they were drunk.
The fourth and last element of unacceptable worship: do you have the right attitude in this? Because if you don’t, God will find that as unacceptable worship as well.
Listen, turn in your Bible to the book of Malachi, the last book in the Old Testament, and we’ll work our way from there back deeper into the Old Testament to see this truth. And I really believe this provides a death blow to all legalism and all ritualism, all formalism. Malachi the prophet indicting the people of God, indicting them because of their sin, and he does so in many ways in this marvelous prophecy, he points up at least seven sins which are monumental sins of which they’re guilty. But one that stands out and dominates all is that they were involved in worshipping God with the wrong attitude. They were going through it as a functionary, they were just going through the motions and their hearts weren’t in it. They were just like the Pharisees, really, whose heart was far from God.
But just watch. Begin in verse 6 of chapter 1 and Malachi speaks to Israel. “A son honors his father, and a servant his master.” Now, that’s a truism, isn’t it? That’s an established fact. Nobody is going to argue with that. A son normally honors his father, a servant honors his master. That’s the basic principle. “If then I be a father,” and they couldn’t argue with that either, he was their father. “Where is my honor? And if I be a master, where is my reverence? Saith the Lord of hosts unto you, O priests that despise my name.” Now, wait a minute. The priests despised His name? Where is My honor? Where is My worship? And what do the priest’s say? “In what way have we despised Thy name?” What are you saying? How did we do that? We’ve been carrying out our function. We’ve been doing it all just the way the prescription says.
The prophet takes it a step further in verse 7. “Ye offer polluted flesh upon Mine altar, and ye say, ‘In what way have we polluted Thee?’” You know how? Listen to this, “In that ye say, ‘The altar of the Lord,’” that’s what it means. The table of the Lord refers to that altar. “The altar of the Lord is contemptible.” What in the world were they doing? They were treating their worship with contempt. It was strictly a function. It was strictly a routine. It was strictly a ritual. There was no heart. And they were actually bringing to God that which was the least rather than that which was the best. They had contempt for worship.
basically there are four reasons why worship is important. First of all, because Scripture is literally filled with the truth about worship. Secondly, because destiny is marked by worship. Thirdly, because the major theme of eternity and redemptive history included is worship. And fourthly, because Christ commanded us to worship. Scripture, destiny, eternity, and the very command of Christ tell us the importance of worship.
And in order to try to sum up our thinking and draw what we have said together before we go on to the next major point in the text, I would again have you note verse 23. That God seeks true worshippers. That’s the thrust of that most important verse. And what it tells us is the very important truth that the goal of salvation is worship. You need to write that down somewhere. The goal of salvation is worship. The reason God redeems people is so that they may be worshippers. In 2 Corinthians chapter 4 and verse 15 Paul says: “All things are for your sakes,” that is all the things that he goes through to get the gospel out. “That through the abundant grace might, through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God.” In other words, everything we do we do that you might receive the grace of God so that in response you might give thanks and glory to God. Everything ultimately is geared to produce worship. Such does the Father seek, according to verse 23. And just as a note for you theologians, I believe that the Father’s seeking is efficacious and indicates His sovereign eternal purpose to save people.
Now, acceptable worship is a VERY important theme for us. It is the essential and direct result of Christ’s saving work. And if you remember that the Lord said He had come into the world to seek and to save that which was lost, and you tie it in with verse 23, you get the whole picture of Christ’s coming. The Father seeks true worshippers; the Son comes to seek and to salve. The seeking of the Father for true worshippers, and the seeking of the Son to save brings the two together. God seeks true worshippers and the only way they can become that is through salvation. Failure to worship God is the violation of Romans 1 that designates the whole world of Christ rejecters. See Psalm 22.
Jesus said, "Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, and you Jews say that in Jerusalem is the place where one ought to worship.” Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe Me, the hour is coming when you will neither on this mountain, nor in Jerusalem, worship the Father. You worship what you do not know; we know what we worship, for salvation is of the Jews. But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” John 4:20-24 nkjv
Back in the decade of the 90's when I pastored in the city of Augsburg we worshipped a lot with our dear German friends. Sometimes our corporate worship in the different nations of the EU was seen by a passersby or two, and then by a group and then by a crowd gathering. Outside in the square, or inside through the windows.
They would stop, and ask, and be lookin in or upon it happening. Christians going vertical in love cuz Jesus is our first-love.
They were curious and kind of spied it all out... like in Germany downtown in a square on the cobblestones. And then we turn towards them too, and would just give simple testimonies, personal stories how how we came to faith in Jesus. We’d share some Scriptures with the gathering crowd, and many people came to Christ, then joined out church. God had used the vertical worship for Him to put out a horizontal witness to others who were lost. He prepared their hearts individually and the people wanted what we had in relationship with God. They’d been yearning for this beautiful relationship we each had with the Lord (many explained this later on with us).
Evangelism is still really important to me on the horizontal. Yes, but my most important ministry of all is upward to God Himself. The vertical worship that is acceptable ..in spirit and in truth.. comes before all horizontal ministry that is also acceptable.. in spirit and in truth. How we live and speak and sing can be as worship unto the Lord today!
You and I don't need a locale, a verbiage, or certain place or position, or posture. Worship can be from anywhere or any position or place when my heart is turned towards God in pure adoration.
For several years, my California. Pastor Chuck really wanted to be like Billy Graham and see similar evangelistic results. And he really concentrated on the altar calls and the winning people to Christ and he even by his own admission put a lot of pressure on the believers in that church for years, but saw few people come to Jesus.
He said he had laid the lash (verbally) across the back of the sheep to get them to fill up the church, to go out and bring the sinners in, to rescue the perishing. But then he realized that it was the well-fed sheep (from the Word of God), that naturally reproduce. They are healthy, they're happy, they're joyous, they’re building relationships, they're blessed and they are the ones that naturally reproduce. Not those who are mistreated, malnourished, underfed, not-yet-healthy-spiritually, and under-cared-for who do the reproducing. They don’t.. don’t even feel like it.
So, Chuck started to teach the whole Bible, to sing, to preach and evangelize.. things changed for him and many people repented and believed until that church in Costa Mesa So Cal had 30,000 people regularly coming to be fed. How Chuck lived, cared for the people, and taught changed and it was all as unto the Lord in worship. God changed his Character and decisions -- it was acceptable worship now. And he didn’t become too busy for time with Jesus alone. He didn’t scrap his quiet time of devotional worship either. Worship comes before the work. Remember Mary and her sister Martha.
Chuck desired to give out all the counsels of God and did at least eight times teaching through the whole Bible for decisions.
Is the lawn greening evenly, or are there burn marks in the grass, are there pattern stripes or neglected areas in the lawn? No, for Chuck Smith Sr. it was even because he prayerfullly taught the next chapter and verse all the way through for God’s glory! Pastor, as you worship, as you lovingly, passionately zealously preach and wisely teach through all the councils of God for decisions, the people will see Christ in you and they will come to Christ. The singing, the witnessing, the preaching, the serving can become acceptable worship--it’ll change your character so it’s godly. The teaching of the Word is directed towards saints, and the preaching of the Word (the Gospel message) is directed towards lost sinners for a decision by each of them. It all can be worship with godly integrity.
Is God perfect? He is flawless. God the living Son probably still has some scars from your sins and mine -- yes, from the Cross where He died for us.
"He who walks with integrity walks securely, but he who perverts his ways will become known." Proverbs 10:9 (all vss nkjv)
"The integrity of the upright will guide them, But the perversity of the unfaithful will destroy them." Proverbs 11:3
"He who walks in his uprightness fears the Lord, but he who is perverse in his ways despises Him. In the mouth of a fool is a rod of pride, but the lips of the wise will preserve them." Proverbs 14:2-3
"The righteous man walks in his integrity; His children are blessed after him." Proverbs 20:7
"Whoever walks blamelessly will be [a]saved, but he who is perverse in his ways will suddenly fall." Proverbs 28:18
6 For the Lord gives wisdom; From His mouth come knowledge and understanding; 7 He stores up sound wisdom for the upright; He is a shield to those who walk uprightly; 8 He guards the paths of justice, And preserves the way of His saints. 9 Then you will understand righteousness and justice, Equity and every good path.
10 When wisdom enters your heart, And knowledge is pleasant to your soul, 11 Discretion will preserve you; Understanding will keep you, 12 To deliver you from the way of evil, From the man who speaks perverse things, 13 From those who leave the paths of uprightness To walk in the ways of darkness; 14 Who rejoice in doing evil, And delight in the perversity of the wicked; 15 Whose ways are crooked, And who are devious in their paths..” Proverbs 2:6-15 nkjv
"For the upright will dwell in the land, and the blameless will remain in it; but the wicked will be cut off from the [b]earth, and the unfaithful will be uprooted from it." Proverbs 2:21-22
"When I was my father’s son, tender and the only one in the sight of my mother, He also taught me, and said to me: “Let your heart retain my words; Keep my commands, and live. Get wisdom! Get understanding! Do not forget, nor turn away from the words of my mouth. Do not forsake her, and she will preserve you; Love her, and she will keep you." Proverbs 3:4-6
“Exalt her, and she will promote you; She will bring you honor, when you embrace her. She will place on your head an ornament of grace; A crown of glory she will deliver to you.” Hear, my son, and receive my sayings, And the years of your life will be many. I have taught you in the way of wisdom; I have led you in right paths. When you walk, your steps will not be hindered, And when you run, you will not stumble. Take firm hold of instruction, do not let go; Keep her, for she is your life. Do not enter the path of the wicked, And do not walk in the way of evil.” Proverbs 4:8-14
"Righteousness guards him whose way is blameless, but wickedness overthrows the sinner." Proverbs 13:6
"Better is a little with righteousness, than vast revenues without justice." Proverbs 16:8
“Better is the poor who walks in his integrity than one who is perverse in his lips, and is a fool.” Proverbs 19:1
"A wicked man hardens his face, but as for the upright, he establishes his way." Proverbs 21:29
"A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, Loving favor rather than silver and gold." Proverbs 22:1
Let's all celebrate, and fight on. Yep, on our knees! (Okay, so this is a different but sound take on Christmas.)
The Bible tells us believers to, “Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.” 1 Tim. 6:12
Let’s pray and praise and worship the Lord our commander. Let's talk about that war declared in the heavens. It was before Adam and Eve. A great resistance to direct Authority there. You remember...
“And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, And you shall bruise His heel." Gen. 3:15
Puffed up, rebellious Lucifer and a third of the angels really lost out. They got booted out of heaven. We’re still seeing a heated cultural battle here that’s been getting worse.
Now we spiritually reborn believers live in the target zone.. in the war zone but the weapons of our warfare are not carnal.
“For though we live in the flesh, we do not wage war according to the flesh. Theweaponsofourwarfareare not the weapons of the world. Instead,they havedivinepowertodemolish strongholds. We tear down arguments and every presumption set up against the knowledge of God; and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ..”
2 Corinthians 10:3-5
“I’m not afraid of the devil. The devil can handle me—he’s got judo I never heard of. But he can’t handle the One to whom I’m joined; he can’t handle the One to whom I’m united; he can’t handle the One whose nature dwells in my nature.” ~ A.W. Tozer
So what verses go along with these words? Kind of a unique Christmas passage does. The Bible says...
“Now a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a garland of twelve stars. Then being with child, she cried out in labor and in pain to give birth. And another sign appeared in heaven: behold, a great, fiery red dragon having seven heads and ten horns, and seven diadems on his heads. His tail drew a third of the stars of heaven and threw them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was ready to give birth, to devour her Child as soon as it was born. She bore a male Child who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron. And her Child was caught up to God and His throne. Then the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, that they should feed her there one thousand two hundred and sixty days.” Rev 12:1-6 nkjv
What do we see? The incarnation (of Jesus), the exaltation and the coronation.
* Who is the Murderer (verses 1–6). The Child here is Jesus Christ, and the radiant woman here is NOT Mary nor is it the Church. The radiant woman in this passage actually represents Israel who brought the Savior into the world (See ”..on her head a garland of twelve stars” representing the 12 tribes of Israel.
Genesis 37). Sure, think about it. Christ is the one who gave us the Church, and not visa-versa. The dragon here is Satan who tried to keep Jesus from being born and attempted to kill Him after He was born. Remember that happening? Satan still wants to rule this world and receive worship, and he will not submit to the King of kings (verse 5; Ps. 2:9).
Historians tells us that King Herod (or Herod the Great, as he liked to be called) was a cruel, power-hungry ruler who destroyed anyone he feared was trying to topple him from his throne. He even killed several members of his own family because he thought they were plotting against him. When a group of wise men (or scholars) came to Jerusalem shortly after Jesus was born they asked one question: Where could they find the newly-born king of the Jews? They added, “We have seen His star in the east and have come to worship him” (Matthew 2:2, NKJV). When word of this reached King Herod, he sent for them and urged them to find the child, so he could worship him, too. But Herod was lying. His real goal was to destroy the child, fearing (illogically) that in time Jesus would take over his throne. God warned the wise men of Herod’s plot in a dream, and after Herod realized they had evaded him, he ordered the death of every child in Bethlehem below the age of two. Herod wasn’t the last to try to destroy Christ and His people; even in our own day evil men and women rise up against God’s work. But God’s Word is true: “I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it” Matthew 16:18 kjv
* Who is the
Deceiver (7–9). Warren Wiersbe here says this is a picture of the fall of Satan (Isa. 14:12–17). Sure, he was able to deceive one-third of the angels into following him (v. 4), and now he deceives the world into worshiping him.
* Who is the
Accuser (verses 10–12). Satan has access to God’s throne where he accuses God’s people (Job 1–2; Zech. 3). The Lamb overcomes him because of His victory on that Cross at Calvary (Rom. 8:31–34; 1 John 2:1–2) and because of the power of the Word (Eph. 6:17). The cross put and end to the war. Yes, the devil is a defeated foe, but is ticked off and dangerous still. The devil is not in the lake yet, nor is he in hell today making sinners shovel coal. Nope, but he’s a lot like a wounded animal about to be no more.
”The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.” - Rev 20:10
* Who is the
Persecutor (verses 13–17). The war may be over in heaven, but it is just getting more intense here on earth. Satan knows his time is very limited. And he is really angry -- he seeks to destroy the Jews and make war with anyone who trusts in the Lord Jesus. But God is able to shelter His people in spite of Satan’s cruel attacks, but be sure you wear the full armor (Eph. 6:10–18) and trust your heavenly Father because. Trust Him because of blood of the cross of Christ. And keep on obeyin’, prayin’, fightin', praisin’, and worshipin’ Him!
“I heard the bells on Christmas Day Their old, familiar carols play, And wild and sweet The words repeat Of peace on earth, good-will to men!
And thought how, as the day had come, The belfries of all Christendom Had rolled along The unbroken song Of peace on earth, good-will to men!
Till ringing, singing on its way, The world revolved from night to day, A voice, a chime, A chant sublime Of peace on earth, good-will to men!
Then from each black, accursed mouth The cannon thundered in the South, And with the sound The carols drowned Of peace on earth, good-will to men!
It was as if an earthquake rent The hearth-stones of a continent, And made forlorn The households born Of peace on earth, good-will to men!
And in despair I bowed my head; "There is no peace on earth," I said; "For hate is strong, And mocks the song Of peace on earth, good-will to men!"
Then pealed the bells more loud and deep: "God is not dead, nor doth He sleep; The Wrong shall fail, The Right prevail, With peace on earth, good-will to men." ~ Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
“Happy Christmas, Kyoko. Happy Christmas, Julian
So this is Christmas
And what have you done
Another year over
And a new one just begun
And so this is Christmas
I hope you have fun
The near and the dear one
The old and the young
A very Merry Christmas
And a happy New Year
Let's hope it's a good one
Without any fear
And so this is Christmas (war is over)
For weak and for strong (if you want it)
For rich and the poor ones (war is over)
The road is so long (now)
And so happy Christmas (war is over)
For black and for white (if you want it)
For yellow and red ones (war is over)
Let's stop all the fight (now)
A very Merry Christmas
And a happy New Year
Let's hope it's a good one
Without any fear...
A very Merry Christmas
And a happy New Year
Let's hope it's a good one
Without any fear
War is over, if you want it
War is over now
Happy Christmas!”~ Beatle John Lennon
..J.L. was a seeker, who some in his later days say he professed a faith in Christ. He even went to a church. Me, not sure. None of us like a stupid world war -- such a waste!
Happy Christmas! Rejoice and fight on, believers, but not with each other or in the flesh. Who needs that? Nobody! (Blog)
Photos by Carla Dyck, Mr. De Predicated and World's best Hotels 2014.
He it is who makes the clouds rise at the end of the earth,
who makes lightnings for the rain
and brings forth the wind from his storehouses.” Psalm 135:3–7
What can you do that’s better than simply connecting with, wholeheartedly praising, wisely obeying, and simply worshipping the Lord? Just think ‘bout it a minute.
Nothin’. You and I have no greater ministry than biblically worshipping Jesus (we never will) ..I mean with daily life stemming from a pure thought-life, with kind words, and selfless deeds as He moment by moment empowers and leads you. Live a Spirit controlled life instead of a selfish one.
Flesh backwards... and do cross out that "H".. spell it:
Hey, we're in it for Him, to praise and glorify the Lord, not for self or for what others might think of us. Remember why you started following Jesus -- love for God. We are grateful for all He's done for us.
Be guided by the wisest One -- He is more than willing to help and guide you. He's never been religious.
"And the Lord will guide you continually and satisfy your desire in scorched places and make your bones strong; and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail." —Isaiah 58:11
Sure, church-hurt runs exceedingly deep, but chin-up, Sport, you can receive grace from the living Word to be healed, to be restored, and to be strengthened by Christ who also had some very harsh dealings with the worldly-religious, the self-satisfied fools, the self-made leaders. Jesus had the harsh treatment all the way to a lonely cross at Calvary.
Choose a healthy Bible teaching church that loves to worship Him, one led by the Chief Shepherd and healthy born again under-shepherds and a spiritual pastor. One who lovingly leads and feeds, rather than selfishly uses and fleeces the flock.
