"Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you..." (James 4:8)
What is it that God values most in His Children? Is it church attendance? Reading the Bible? How about charity towards others? All of these things provide us with great benefits in our Christian walk, but they do not constitute what God desires most. His deepest longing, is personal relationship - for us to truly know Him and experience Him on an intimate level - to pass from the mundane and into the supernatural. The definition of a Christian is he who 'knows' God, but it is something that goes beyond merely knowing 'of' Him - we must actually know Him. Let us look at an example of what it means to 'know' God:
"Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity" (Matthew 7:22-23).
Clearly, the focus of this passage are those who believed they knew Jesus, but did not. The word used in the Greek for 'knew' is the past tense of the Greek verb gynoskeow which often carries connotations of deep intimacy - in fact, it is the same root verb used in Matthew 1:25, with reference to sexual intercourse. There is a difference between knowing Him shallowly, and really knowing Him. To truly love someone, it is necessary to truly know them. We are told that the greatest command is to love Him with every part of our being (Matthew 22:37), and to love Him, we must truly know Him. We cannot fully love a shadow of God, we must experience Him intimately. But how is it possible to know God in this way? How can we know God when He is so far above us, so beyond our comprehension?
James gives us the answer. If we draw near to Him, He will draw near to us. We so often focus on God's Love for us, but forget that a relationship is a two-way street. God desires a reciprocal relationship with us - for us to desire Him as much as He desires us. A.W. Tozer states that "God wills that we should push on into His Presence and live our whole life there. This is to be known to us in conscious experience. It is more than a doctrine to be held; it is a life to be enjoyed every moment of the day..." - we serve a LIVING GOD who wants relationship, not a stale devotion.
God brought the Israelites out of egyptian captivity, and preserved them in the wildreness. He desired that they would be His people, they would seek Him. But what do we see happen? God bids them near, and they removed themselves, they "stood afar off" (Exodus 20:18, 21). They did this because they did not want to have their sinful shame uncovered in the light of God's countenance - His Holiness illuminates the true conditions of a man's heart. Having such things uncovered, they would have been forced to make a decision as to their desires - God or sin. The Exodus story is spotted with examples of Israel praising God when things go right, but grumbling when things don't live up to their expectations. They are a brilliant example of pursuing God for His Blessings, but wanting to stick with their old habits...a conditional love.
But James 4:8 tells us that we must draw near to Him, and cleanse our hands and purify our hearts - then He will come to us. We cannot live in self-deception, but come to God openly - believing that our desire for Him will result in Him drawing near to transform us. We cannot expect this to happen without our drawing near to Him first. Our faith is not a matter of God forcing Himself upon us. We must KNOW Him and desire above all else, to be like Him. His sanctifying work in us will only occur in willing vessels, those who seek his face continually (1 Chronicles 16:11). But we have that promise - If we draw near to Him, He will draw near to us.
"Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you" (Matthew 6:33).
Barukh atah Adonai Elohaynu Melekh haOlam
(Blessed be the L-rd our G-d, King of the Universe)
In Christs Love and Service,
Sister Rebecca, OIC
Friday, October 2, 2009
True Faith is Unwaveringly Trusting Gods Promises
(READ Hebrews 11:1-40)
11:1 Now faith is the substance F36 of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
Faith filled Obedience can only exist in our lives if we are walking toward the Promises of God. Every great person of True Faith fully trusted God and was moved in Faith because of that trust. And in Trusting we must believe He has given to us the Promises which He has stated, which when unwaveringly trusted gives to us everything that is needed in this life and an entry into His Eternal Kingdom.
While the world whose time is nearing the end looks toward mans accomplishments, inventions and medicines for its solutions; God has called the worlds wisdom foolishness. He has delivered to His Saints all we need through His Promises to become partakers of His Divine Nature thus having escaped the Corruption that's in the world through lusts
2Pe 1:4 - Show Context
Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
It is written in Proverbs that "There is a way which seems right to man the end of which is death.". It's through this self emulating deception many are blinded to the Truth. Therefore in their error they call evil good and good evil trying to attribute to God the worlds and satans false solutions.
To say we trust God and rely on our medicine cabinets full of sorcery products, pills or potions or patches for our healing we are deceiving ourselves. To say we trust God and trust in psychologies, philosophies and worldly wisdom we are in self deception and worse still is saying its God that's working through those things. Its no wonder God says:
1Co 1:20 - Show Context
Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?
1Co 1:27 - Show Context
But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;
Now Faith is given to take care of any immediate situation in our lives IF we know and trust the Truth that makes us free. And this faith only works in power IF His Fruit of Love is present in our lives.
Ga 5:6 - Show Context
For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.
Gods desire is for you to have the kind of faith to move the mountains in your life. And that comes through study and rightly dividing the Truth of Gods Word.
2Ti 2:15 - Show Context
Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
So then our:
(Romans 10:17) "Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the Word of God"
In Christs Love and Service,
Brother James, OIC
11:1 Now faith is the substance F36 of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
Faith filled Obedience can only exist in our lives if we are walking toward the Promises of God. Every great person of True Faith fully trusted God and was moved in Faith because of that trust. And in Trusting we must believe He has given to us the Promises which He has stated, which when unwaveringly trusted gives to us everything that is needed in this life and an entry into His Eternal Kingdom.
While the world whose time is nearing the end looks toward mans accomplishments, inventions and medicines for its solutions; God has called the worlds wisdom foolishness. He has delivered to His Saints all we need through His Promises to become partakers of His Divine Nature thus having escaped the Corruption that's in the world through lusts
2Pe 1:4 - Show Context
Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
It is written in Proverbs that "There is a way which seems right to man the end of which is death.". It's through this self emulating deception many are blinded to the Truth. Therefore in their error they call evil good and good evil trying to attribute to God the worlds and satans false solutions.
To say we trust God and rely on our medicine cabinets full of sorcery products, pills or potions or patches for our healing we are deceiving ourselves. To say we trust God and trust in psychologies, philosophies and worldly wisdom we are in self deception and worse still is saying its God that's working through those things. Its no wonder God says:
1Co 1:20 - Show Context
Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?
1Co 1:27 - Show Context
But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;
Now Faith is given to take care of any immediate situation in our lives IF we know and trust the Truth that makes us free. And this faith only works in power IF His Fruit of Love is present in our lives.
Ga 5:6 - Show Context
For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.
Gods desire is for you to have the kind of faith to move the mountains in your life. And that comes through study and rightly dividing the Truth of Gods Word.
2Ti 2:15 - Show Context
Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
So then our:
(Romans 10:17) "Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the Word of God"
In Christs Love and Service,
Brother James, OIC
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Overcoming Loneliness
Ps 38:11 - Show Context
My lovers and my friends stand aloof from my sore; and my kinsmen stand afar off.
If you ever been bound by loneliness due to separation by divorce, death, or desertion. If you've ever been ostracized by family and friends due to struggles, bondage's or poverty that's come upon you. If you have reached a point in your life you have isolated yourself, have turned to what Gods Word says are the beggarly elements (Drugs, Alcohol, Immoralities, Wicked Imaginations, etc). If you've ever suffered the consequences wrong choices produce; consequences like prison, disease, negative addictions. If you are wondering if True Love really exists, if there is anyone you can trust that cares about you and can return the love that you know you yourself desires to give and have given in the past and are willing to give again...THERE IS.
It would seem right at this time to talk about God and the fact that God is Love. It would only be spiritually correct to tell you the Eternal Truth that Jesus Never Leaves You Nor Forsakes You ! And you and I both need to be reminded of this often. More so we all need to be shown this love and show this love one to another as The Body Of Christ.
In addition we need to remind ourselves that GOD WILL supply ALL OUR needs according to His riches and glory in Christ Jesus. Yet these Good Fruits should be found working in and through Gods People, Christs Body The Church. And it is this relationship in fellowship we need to overcome the adversaries weapon of loneliness. Sadly many await Divine Intervention on behalf those in need instead of being that vessel of Promise that delivers Gods Love to others.;
2nd Corinthians 1:20
For all the Promise of God in Him are yea and in Him amen to the glory of God through us! ..
.. May 19th, 2008 I was released from Prison. An accumulative 12 years had left me FEELING (feelings are satans playground) ALONE. Divorced (again), avoided, considered hopeless, a failure. I knew I was loved but had caused a distancing wherein I was rarely told, no longer made a part of family events, having to start over with nothing, with no one to give the help (POOR POOR PITIFUL ME)..When in actuality.I was bound by self deception fueled by satans tool of loneliness. ALL OF THIS WAS A LIE! Fact is I wasn't alone, I did have help and if I needed to talk to someone in my family or a friend all I had to do was call...and most of them didn't have my number (which always was changing) so how could they call. And even if I had no family I knew there were support groups out there a phone call away. No one has to be alone.
Yet I knew Gods Word and I knew in order to receive I needed to get out of myself and give the very thing I hoped to receive. Isn't Gods Love is to be given through us as Christs Body? Don't we reap what we sow? Then I realized that most in todays church do not have this knowledge nor desire to love as Christ loved; many do not know that delivering Gods Promises to others is their responsibility. And I had to realize it is more so my responsibility since I was given knowledge of this:
Mt 25:33 - 45 - Show Context 33
"And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. 34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: 35 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: 36 Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. 37 Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? 38 When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? 39 Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? 40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. 41 Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: 42 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink: 43 I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not. 44 Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? 45 Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me."
Loneliness had begun turning my heart to self pity, self absorption became the slave master then old sin crept in. I began looking at the false solutions the world offers. I was in depression being oppressed by the spiritual enemy. No transportation, no money, no one who loves me (there's that lie again....poor, poor pitiful me. Then someone said I need to count my blessings:.......HUH WHAT? LIGHTS, ACTION! GOD BEGAN GRANTING ME REPENTANCE TO THE ACKNOWLEDGING OF TRUTH! I am physically able to walk where I need to go, I have a good job, a great boss, Church van picks me up on Sundays to go to a great Church. And it was the Human Vessel that said to count my blessings that's caused me to refocus on Gods Call For Me To Love Others As Christ Loved Me!
Loneliness is just a snare the enemy uses. As you & I become vessels of Gods Promises to others, God Says:
Isa 54:17 - Show Context
No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD.
Nor will the enemies weapons of loneliness prosper against you! Help someone today through the Love of God and disarm satans weapon of loneliness against you.
In Christs Love And Service
Brother James, OIC
My lovers and my friends stand aloof from my sore; and my kinsmen stand afar off.
If you ever been bound by loneliness due to separation by divorce, death, or desertion. If you've ever been ostracized by family and friends due to struggles, bondage's or poverty that's come upon you. If you have reached a point in your life you have isolated yourself, have turned to what Gods Word says are the beggarly elements (Drugs, Alcohol, Immoralities, Wicked Imaginations, etc). If you've ever suffered the consequences wrong choices produce; consequences like prison, disease, negative addictions. If you are wondering if True Love really exists, if there is anyone you can trust that cares about you and can return the love that you know you yourself desires to give and have given in the past and are willing to give again...THERE IS.
It would seem right at this time to talk about God and the fact that God is Love. It would only be spiritually correct to tell you the Eternal Truth that Jesus Never Leaves You Nor Forsakes You ! And you and I both need to be reminded of this often. More so we all need to be shown this love and show this love one to another as The Body Of Christ.
In addition we need to remind ourselves that GOD WILL supply ALL OUR needs according to His riches and glory in Christ Jesus. Yet these Good Fruits should be found working in and through Gods People, Christs Body The Church. And it is this relationship in fellowship we need to overcome the adversaries weapon of loneliness. Sadly many await Divine Intervention on behalf those in need instead of being that vessel of Promise that delivers Gods Love to others.;
2nd Corinthians 1:20
For all the Promise of God in Him are yea and in Him amen to the glory of God through us! ..
.. May 19th, 2008 I was released from Prison. An accumulative 12 years had left me FEELING (feelings are satans playground) ALONE. Divorced (again), avoided, considered hopeless, a failure. I knew I was loved but had caused a distancing wherein I was rarely told, no longer made a part of family events, having to start over with nothing, with no one to give the help (POOR POOR PITIFUL ME)..When in actuality.I was bound by self deception fueled by satans tool of loneliness. ALL OF THIS WAS A LIE! Fact is I wasn't alone, I did have help and if I needed to talk to someone in my family or a friend all I had to do was call...and most of them didn't have my number (which always was changing) so how could they call. And even if I had no family I knew there were support groups out there a phone call away. No one has to be alone.
Yet I knew Gods Word and I knew in order to receive I needed to get out of myself and give the very thing I hoped to receive. Isn't Gods Love is to be given through us as Christs Body? Don't we reap what we sow? Then I realized that most in todays church do not have this knowledge nor desire to love as Christ loved; many do not know that delivering Gods Promises to others is their responsibility. And I had to realize it is more so my responsibility since I was given knowledge of this:
Mt 25:33 - 45 - Show Context 33
"And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. 34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: 35 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: 36 Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. 37 Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? 38 When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? 39 Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? 40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. 41 Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: 42 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink: 43 I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not. 44 Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? 45 Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me."
Loneliness had begun turning my heart to self pity, self absorption became the slave master then old sin crept in. I began looking at the false solutions the world offers. I was in depression being oppressed by the spiritual enemy. No transportation, no money, no one who loves me (there's that lie again....poor, poor pitiful me. Then someone said I need to count my blessings:.......HUH WHAT? LIGHTS, ACTION! GOD BEGAN GRANTING ME REPENTANCE TO THE ACKNOWLEDGING OF TRUTH! I am physically able to walk where I need to go, I have a good job, a great boss, Church van picks me up on Sundays to go to a great Church. And it was the Human Vessel that said to count my blessings that's caused me to refocus on Gods Call For Me To Love Others As Christ Loved Me!
Loneliness is just a snare the enemy uses. As you & I become vessels of Gods Promises to others, God Says:
Isa 54:17 - Show Context
No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD.
Nor will the enemies weapons of loneliness prosper against you! Help someone today through the Love of God and disarm satans weapon of loneliness against you.
In Christs Love And Service
Brother James, OIC
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