"Happy is that people...whose God is the Lord." (Psalm 144:15)
Happy [is that] people that is in such a case Whose families are in good order and behave well; who enjoy plenty of all good things; whose flocks and herds increase, and who live in peace and prosperity; these are temporal blessings highly valuable, and for which those who have them should be thankful, as being happy in comparison of others that are destitute of them, ( Deuteronomy 28:3-6 ) ; and especially who besides these are blessed with spiritual blessings, signified by them, and of which these were typical; [yea], happy [is that] people, whose God [is] the Lord;
whose God the Lord is, not only by creation, and as he is a common benefactor and preserver, but as their God in covenant, their covenant God and Father in Christ; whom he has loved, chosen, redeemed, adopted, justified, pardoned, regenerated, and sanctified; all which appears to them in effectual calling, is manifested by the application of covenant grace to them, and is witnessed to their spirits by the spirit of God, and which their faith claims an interest in: and these are happy, thrice happy persons; for all that God has are theirs; all his perfections are on their side and for their good; he is their portion, shield, reward, and their all in all; his covenant, its blessings and promises, are all theirs; they have enough, having all things, and can want no good thing; nor need they fear any enemy; the Lord takes care of them, sets a guard about them, resents all injuries done them, prevents the designs of their enemies, makes all things work together for their good, provides all things necessary for them for time and eternity, and will be their God and guide even unto death; covenant interest always continues, and therefore such must be ever happy.
"Happiness is neither within us nor without us, it is the union of ourselves with God." (Pasal)
Sowing in Abundance....Paying Forward
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Friday, May 17, 2013
Thursday, May 16, 2013
Pressing Towards The Goal
"I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 3:14)
We need to focus on our pursuit and follow Christ earnestly. That was what Paul did. He kept his eyes on the goal. He did not allow anything to distract or deter him from his goal. Like a marathon runner, he kept his eyes on the finishing line.
Similarly, we must pursue along the line; this is a reference line that marked the ground, from the starting place to the goal on which the runners were obliged to keep their eyes fixed. Those who transgressed or went beyond the line did not run lawfully and were not crowned,
We will get the prize when we rach the goal. The goal has not arrived yet. We look for our Savior's words: "Well done, good and faithful servant, you were faithful over a few things. I will make you ruler over many things" (Matt 24:21)
We need to focus on our pursuit and follow Christ earnestly. That was what Paul did. He kept his eyes on the goal. He did not allow anything to distract or deter him from his goal. Like a marathon runner, he kept his eyes on the finishing line.
Similarly, we must pursue along the line; this is a reference line that marked the ground, from the starting place to the goal on which the runners were obliged to keep their eyes fixed. Those who transgressed or went beyond the line did not run lawfully and were not crowned,
We will get the prize when we rach the goal. The goal has not arrived yet. We look for our Savior's words: "Well done, good and faithful servant, you were faithful over a few things. I will make you ruler over many things" (Matt 24:21)
Wednesday, May 15, 2013
Mind Governed By The Spirit Is Life
"The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is
life and peace." (Romans 8:6)
For to be carnally minded is death - To live under the influence of the carnal mind is to live in the state of condemnation, and consequently liable to death eternal: whereas, on the contrary, he who is spiritually minded has the life and peace of God in his soul, and is in full prospect of life eternal.
For to be carnally minded is death - To live under the influence of the carnal mind is to live in the state of condemnation, and consequently liable to death eternal: whereas, on the contrary, he who is spiritually minded has the life and peace of God in his soul, and is in full prospect of life eternal.
How can you tell if
you are carnally minded or spiritually minded? Romans 8:5 says, “For they
that are after the flesh (#4561 “sarx”) do mind the things of the flesh
(#4561 “sarx”); but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.”
The Amplified says, “For those who are according to the flesh and are controlled by its unholy desires; set their minds on and pursue those things which gratify the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit and are controlled by the desires of the Spirit set their minds on and seek those things which gratify the [Holy] Spirit.”
What are you pursuing and thinking about all day? What is your mind focused on? Because that is who you are.
If you think about food all day, you are going to eat too much. If you think about sex all day, you will have sex (in every way that you can, holy and unholy). If your mind is filled with hostility towards someone, you will have strife and bitterness all day. If your mind is filled with thoughts of unworthiness and how no good your are, you will live like and act like a failure that nobody loves.
But on the other hand, if you fill your mind with what is good and holy, you will walk in peace. If you fill your mind with how much God loves you and how He has blessed you, you will walk in the abundant life, feeling His presence and His love every place that you go.
Colossians 1:21 says that before you were born again you “...were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works...” Conybeare says, “...you were estranged from Him, with your mind at war with Him...” The Amplified says, “...you were of a hostile attitude of mind...”
You can’t follow the Lord if your mind is at war with Him. Being carnally minded is the reason why many christians feel cut off from God’s presence. They feel no intimacy, no relationship, no peace with God; because they allow their minds to dwell on anything and everything that the flesh desires.
You must become selective in your thought process. You must choose what thoughts and imaginations you allow to stay in your mind.
Possessing a Sound Mind -
II Timothy 1:7 says, “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” The Amplified says, “...a calm and well balanced mind and discipline and self-control.”
The Bible teaches that you can have a well-balanced mind that is filled with the things of God. You can renew your mind to the Word of God and think the thoughts of God. You can have everything that the Word of God says you can have. You can walk in love. You can live in peace. You can be a joyful, prosperous and blessed child of God.
I Peter 1:13 says that you must “...gird up the loins of your mind...” The word translated “mind” here is the Greek #1271 “dianoia” and literally refers to the imagination.
Gird up your imagination, the creative part of your mind. Become selective in your thought process. Don’t fasten your attention on the things of the flesh. Meditate on the Word of God. Find the scriptures that speak life to your spirit and write them down and think on them throughout the day. Make a decision to start renewing your mind today!
Your imagination can either aid you or defeat you, encourage you or discourage you, assist you or obstruct you, empower you or prevent you from being all that God wants you to be. It is your choice. What you give your mind to is what you will become. “For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he...” (Proverbs 23:7).
The Amplified says, “For those who are according to the flesh and are controlled by its unholy desires; set their minds on and pursue those things which gratify the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit and are controlled by the desires of the Spirit set their minds on and seek those things which gratify the [Holy] Spirit.”
What are you pursuing and thinking about all day? What is your mind focused on? Because that is who you are.
If you think about food all day, you are going to eat too much. If you think about sex all day, you will have sex (in every way that you can, holy and unholy). If your mind is filled with hostility towards someone, you will have strife and bitterness all day. If your mind is filled with thoughts of unworthiness and how no good your are, you will live like and act like a failure that nobody loves.
But on the other hand, if you fill your mind with what is good and holy, you will walk in peace. If you fill your mind with how much God loves you and how He has blessed you, you will walk in the abundant life, feeling His presence and His love every place that you go.
Colossians 1:21 says that before you were born again you “...were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works...” Conybeare says, “...you were estranged from Him, with your mind at war with Him...” The Amplified says, “...you were of a hostile attitude of mind...”
You can’t follow the Lord if your mind is at war with Him. Being carnally minded is the reason why many christians feel cut off from God’s presence. They feel no intimacy, no relationship, no peace with God; because they allow their minds to dwell on anything and everything that the flesh desires.
You must become selective in your thought process. You must choose what thoughts and imaginations you allow to stay in your mind.
Possessing a Sound Mind -
II Timothy 1:7 says, “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” The Amplified says, “...a calm and well balanced mind and discipline and self-control.”
The Bible teaches that you can have a well-balanced mind that is filled with the things of God. You can renew your mind to the Word of God and think the thoughts of God. You can have everything that the Word of God says you can have. You can walk in love. You can live in peace. You can be a joyful, prosperous and blessed child of God.
I Peter 1:13 says that you must “...gird up the loins of your mind...” The word translated “mind” here is the Greek #1271 “dianoia” and literally refers to the imagination.
Gird up your imagination, the creative part of your mind. Become selective in your thought process. Don’t fasten your attention on the things of the flesh. Meditate on the Word of God. Find the scriptures that speak life to your spirit and write them down and think on them throughout the day. Make a decision to start renewing your mind today!
Your imagination can either aid you or defeat you, encourage you or discourage you, assist you or obstruct you, empower you or prevent you from being all that God wants you to be. It is your choice. What you give your mind to is what you will become. “For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he...” (Proverbs 23:7).
Tuesday, May 14, 2013
Faith Comes From Hearing
"So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ." (Romans 10:17)
One thing that really makes hearing difficult is that what we already believe and feel affects what we hear.
The trouble with hearing is that often what we believe and feel comfortable with affects how we hear. We endeavor to interpret everything we hear in light of what we already know. This kind of hearing rejects what is not consistent with what I already believe. It is little wonder that Jesus warns us to take heed to how we hear. Think about the weakness of this kind of approach to hearing and knowing God. Only accepting what we hear, which confirms what we already believe, closes our minds and hearts to discovery. What scientist would go out and on a study in any field of science rejecting everything that didn't confirm what he already believed? The purpose of scientific discovery is to validate or invalidate what we know or think we know. There was a time when everyone believed the world was flat. What if no one ever challenged that belief? What if we were still walking around on what we believed was a flat earth? Too many are afraid to have what they believe and feel challenged. But challenging what we believe is never dangerous. It will only confirm or deny what we believe and feel. Faith in God is the only thing that will open our hearts to truth. When we hear something that conflicts with what we feel and believe in our hearts, it may be time to place our hand into the hand of God and allow him to lead us out of our darkness. It is faith in God that will take us beyond the limitations of sense and feeling. Faith will pick us up where sense and feeling will let us down. Faith in God is the only thing that will allow us to truly hear what he is saying. True faith continually leads us into the unknown but it always brings us into the presence of God. I am not talking about some kind of subjective revelation that has no basis in the revealed, objective, received, written Word. Too many rely on their own private revelations interpreting the Word as they please. It should be obvious that people like Jim Jones, David Koresh and the Hale Bob Comet folks have perverted the truth of God through their own private interpretations. Someone suggested that their private interpretations had more to do with indigestion than the leading of the Spirit. It is the Word of God that leads us safely through the unknown. Whatever we believe---must be consistent with God's written Word. If we believe and feel that something is so, but we cannot find support for it in the Word we must conclude that what we believe and feel isn't from God.
One thing that really makes hearing difficult is that what we already believe and feel affects what we hear.
The trouble with hearing is that often what we believe and feel comfortable with affects how we hear. We endeavor to interpret everything we hear in light of what we already know. This kind of hearing rejects what is not consistent with what I already believe. It is little wonder that Jesus warns us to take heed to how we hear. Think about the weakness of this kind of approach to hearing and knowing God. Only accepting what we hear, which confirms what we already believe, closes our minds and hearts to discovery. What scientist would go out and on a study in any field of science rejecting everything that didn't confirm what he already believed? The purpose of scientific discovery is to validate or invalidate what we know or think we know. There was a time when everyone believed the world was flat. What if no one ever challenged that belief? What if we were still walking around on what we believed was a flat earth? Too many are afraid to have what they believe and feel challenged. But challenging what we believe is never dangerous. It will only confirm or deny what we believe and feel. Faith in God is the only thing that will open our hearts to truth. When we hear something that conflicts with what we feel and believe in our hearts, it may be time to place our hand into the hand of God and allow him to lead us out of our darkness. It is faith in God that will take us beyond the limitations of sense and feeling. Faith will pick us up where sense and feeling will let us down. Faith in God is the only thing that will allow us to truly hear what he is saying. True faith continually leads us into the unknown but it always brings us into the presence of God. I am not talking about some kind of subjective revelation that has no basis in the revealed, objective, received, written Word. Too many rely on their own private revelations interpreting the Word as they please. It should be obvious that people like Jim Jones, David Koresh and the Hale Bob Comet folks have perverted the truth of God through their own private interpretations. Someone suggested that their private interpretations had more to do with indigestion than the leading of the Spirit. It is the Word of God that leads us safely through the unknown. Whatever we believe---must be consistent with God's written Word. If we believe and feel that something is so, but we cannot find support for it in the Word we must conclude that what we believe and feel isn't from God.
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