Hello out there in blogland. Todays feeble attempt is yet another sojourn into the realms of literary achievement.
I would like to comment on the amazing complexity and confused interactions of modern life. It seems that the high tech world of personal communication devices, is morphing into yet more overload for the already half fried cerebral circuits of us poor 21st century children.
I pity the underprivileged technophobes, who still have not yet even learned to monitor voice mail on their dinosaur flip phones of the 1990s era.
For these prehistoric ones it is too late to even think about catching the iphone/android/galaxy/5G wave of this scifi like era. They have missed the boat and all they can hope for is that phone landlines, regular TV and snail mail will not go the way of the telegram before they depart this terrestrial ball of technological torture.
At this rate we will all become Dr Who timelords, with our very own tardis devices at our command within another 15 years.
Of course we wont need a telephone box to fly through space and time. We will just peer into our MFDTB (Multi Function Device-Tardis Beamers) and dematerialize and timewarp back to the 1960s for a concert we always wanted to be part of.
Or maybe see how eschatological events transpired, by a quick peek into the 22nd century. (Hopefully we would make it back without radiation sickness or brain damage from the future shock.)
Of course many would probably type or think in the wrong codes and get lost in a time warp virus and never be able to return. They would forever careen through the time tunnel in their souped up tardis hoping to remember their User ID to get back to the mid 21st century and home.
Folks, dont expect me to back up the preceding ramblings with chapter or verse. It is merely my fanciful imaginings of where techno exploits may be heading if they proceed at their current rate of geometric progression.
In reality, technology can be a wonderful gift from God when used correctly in exalting the Gospel of Jesus and Love of God to the worlds population.
Never before in history, has so much access to the whole worlds populace been available to the average person at the touch of an iphone screen. We are all very influential world changers even if we perceive ourselves as obscure and unknown.
So in light of this, lets dedicate ourselves to use this opportunity to broadcast the stupendous message of Jesus and His Awesome work at the Cross of Calvary to the whole world lying at our fingertips. His Love is real towards every person,just like they are the only ones on the planet.
Lets put the foot to the floorboards and go for Godspeed until we finish the race and enter Eternity!
Matthew 24:13-14 (MESSAGE VERSION)
13-14 “Staying with it—that’s what God requires. Stay with it to the end. You won’t be sorry, and you’ll be saved. All during this time, the good news—the Message of the kingdom—will be preached all over the world, a witness staked out in every country. And then the end will come.
Monday, December 2, 2013
Thursday, September 26, 2013
Abundance of Grace
There is much talk about Grace and law in Christendom in the last year or so. Thankfully we have been in a new season of fresh Revelation by the Spirit of the Lord concerning Grace.
One of the greatest enemies of Christianity has been the mixing of the Old Covenant and the New into some sort of genetically altered hydrid.
Under the Old Testament God gave the Law by Moses, this occurred on Mt Sinai.
John1:16 Amplified
For out of His fullness (abundance) we have all received [all had a share and we were all supplied with] one grace after another and spiritual blessing upon spiritual blessing and even favor upon favor and gift [heaped] upon gift.
17 For while the Law was given through Moses, grace ([d]unearned, undeserved favor and spiritual blessing) and truth came through Jesus Christ.
The Old Testament law was written on tablets of stone by the laserlike fire of the finger of God on Sinai. Moses came down off the mountain with the tablets, only to find the children of Israel partying like rock stars. He was so disappointed he smashed the tablets in an anger of despair at what he saw. The law was given to show man his own inability to measure up to Gods perfection. If the law was all that we needed, there was no need for God to send the Messiah, his own son, Jesus Christ, to offer Forgiveness,Salvation and Redemption.
In the New Testament or Covenant we find that we are offered Grace and Mercy for our undone conditions, not based on our work or good deeds of righteousness but totally based on His finished work at Calvary, through His Death,Shed Blood, Burial,Resurrection and Ascension to the Father. This makes not just atonement but a full remission of our sins. Atonement is spoken of by theologians as a covering for our sins but remission is total erasure and newness.
It could be likened to:- not just sweeping the dirt under a carpet but removing the dirt completely from the picture.
Romans 7;4 NLT (St Paul to the Roman church)
So, my dear brothers and sisters, this is the point: You died to the power of the law when you died with Christ. And now you are united with the one who was raised from the dead. As a result, we can produce a harvest of good deeds for God. 5 When we were controlled by our old nature,[b] sinful desires were at work within us, and the law aroused these evil desires that produced a harvest of sinful deeds, resulting in death. 6 But now we have been released from the law, for we died to it and are no longer captive to its power. Now we can serve God, not in the old way of obeying the letter of the law, but in the new way of living in the Spirit.
The good News of Jesus Christ is that we dont have to establish our own rightness by doing good deeds by sheer grit and law keeping. In fact its like trying to pull ourselves up by our bootstraps, it just wont work.
His Righteousness or Rightness is a free gift of His Grace to all who believe and trust in Him. The Amazing thing about all this is it invokes the Power of a whole new Law, called the Law of the spirit of Life in Christ.
Romans 8:2 NKJV
For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.
This Divinely intrinsic principle is also called the perfect law of liberty or law of faith. This means that the Resurrected death defeating Life Of Jesus Christ actually is now living inside of us flowing like a mighty River of Glorious Love and Power. This is the difference between pushing a car along the highway and sitting back in a high powered luxury Porsche and letting the high performance engine drive the wheels.
John 7:38-39
Amplified Bible (AMP)
38 He who believes in Me [who cleaves to and trusts in and relies on Me] as the Scripture has said, From his innermost being shall flow [continuously] springs and rivers of living water.
39 But He was speaking here of the Spirit, Whom those who believed (trusted, had faith) in Him were afterward to receive.
This life giving Power and Love is so joyous and awesome that often believers are accused of drinking earthly wine because of the fun and exuberance sometimes manifested. Of course it is the wine of the Holy Spirit that infuses these disciples, not an alcoholic beverage.
Acts 2:14-21 Message version
That’s when Peter stood up and, backed by the other eleven, spoke out with bold urgency: “Fellow Jews, all of you who are visiting Jerusalem, listen carefully and get this story straight. These people aren’t drunk as some of you suspect. They haven’t had time to get drunk—it’s only nine o’clock in the morning. This is what the prophet Joel announced would happen:
“In the Last Days,” God says,
“I will pour out my Spirit
on every kind of people:
Hebrews 12 shows how Mt Sinai speaks of the Old Testament Mosaic Law and compares it to Mt Zion which speaks of the New Testament and the Law of Love and truthful Grace of Jesus.
Hebrews 12:18 Amplified
For you have not come [as did the Israelites in the wilderness] to a [material] mountain that can be touched, [a mountain] that is ablaze with fire, and to gloom and darkness and a raging storm,
19 And to the blast of a trumpet and a voice whose words make the listeners beg that nothing more be said to them.
20 For they could not bear the command that was given: If even a wild animal touches the mountain, it shall be stoned to death.
21 In fact, so awful and terrifying was the [phenomenal] sight that Moses said, I am terrified (aghast and trembling with fear).
NOW HERES THE GOOD NEWS
22 But rather, you have come to Mount Zion, even to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to countless multitudes of angels in festal gathering,
23 And to the church (assembly) of the Firstborn who are registered [as citizens] in heaven, and to the God Who is Judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous (the redeemed in heaven) who have been made perfect,
24 And to Jesus, the Mediator (Go-between, Agent) of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood which speaks [of mercy],
Today many try to preach a half hearted Grace that ends up reverting to the Mosaic Law and paralyzing the Power of Love and Grace from working in peoples heart like Rivers of Living Water. Its either Sinai or Zion, self effort or Divine Impetus. Its an easy choice if you use common sense. Who wants to push the car up the hill when you can jump in and drive in airconditioned comfort?
One of the greatest enemies of Christianity has been the mixing of the Old Covenant and the New into some sort of genetically altered hydrid.
Under the Old Testament God gave the Law by Moses, this occurred on Mt Sinai.
John1:16 Amplified
For out of His fullness (abundance) we have all received [all had a share and we were all supplied with] one grace after another and spiritual blessing upon spiritual blessing and even favor upon favor and gift [heaped] upon gift.
17 For while the Law was given through Moses, grace ([d]unearned, undeserved favor and spiritual blessing) and truth came through Jesus Christ.
The Old Testament law was written on tablets of stone by the laserlike fire of the finger of God on Sinai. Moses came down off the mountain with the tablets, only to find the children of Israel partying like rock stars. He was so disappointed he smashed the tablets in an anger of despair at what he saw. The law was given to show man his own inability to measure up to Gods perfection. If the law was all that we needed, there was no need for God to send the Messiah, his own son, Jesus Christ, to offer Forgiveness,Salvation and Redemption.
In the New Testament or Covenant we find that we are offered Grace and Mercy for our undone conditions, not based on our work or good deeds of righteousness but totally based on His finished work at Calvary, through His Death,Shed Blood, Burial,Resurrection and Ascension to the Father. This makes not just atonement but a full remission of our sins. Atonement is spoken of by theologians as a covering for our sins but remission is total erasure and newness.
It could be likened to:- not just sweeping the dirt under a carpet but removing the dirt completely from the picture.
Romans 7;4 NLT (St Paul to the Roman church)
So, my dear brothers and sisters, this is the point: You died to the power of the law when you died with Christ. And now you are united with the one who was raised from the dead. As a result, we can produce a harvest of good deeds for God. 5 When we were controlled by our old nature,[b] sinful desires were at work within us, and the law aroused these evil desires that produced a harvest of sinful deeds, resulting in death. 6 But now we have been released from the law, for we died to it and are no longer captive to its power. Now we can serve God, not in the old way of obeying the letter of the law, but in the new way of living in the Spirit.
The good News of Jesus Christ is that we dont have to establish our own rightness by doing good deeds by sheer grit and law keeping. In fact its like trying to pull ourselves up by our bootstraps, it just wont work.
His Righteousness or Rightness is a free gift of His Grace to all who believe and trust in Him. The Amazing thing about all this is it invokes the Power of a whole new Law, called the Law of the spirit of Life in Christ.
Romans 8:2 NKJV
For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.
This Divinely intrinsic principle is also called the perfect law of liberty or law of faith. This means that the Resurrected death defeating Life Of Jesus Christ actually is now living inside of us flowing like a mighty River of Glorious Love and Power. This is the difference between pushing a car along the highway and sitting back in a high powered luxury Porsche and letting the high performance engine drive the wheels.
John 7:38-39
Amplified Bible (AMP)
38 He who believes in Me [who cleaves to and trusts in and relies on Me] as the Scripture has said, From his innermost being shall flow [continuously] springs and rivers of living water.
39 But He was speaking here of the Spirit, Whom those who believed (trusted, had faith) in Him were afterward to receive.
This life giving Power and Love is so joyous and awesome that often believers are accused of drinking earthly wine because of the fun and exuberance sometimes manifested. Of course it is the wine of the Holy Spirit that infuses these disciples, not an alcoholic beverage.
Acts 2:14-21 Message version
That’s when Peter stood up and, backed by the other eleven, spoke out with bold urgency: “Fellow Jews, all of you who are visiting Jerusalem, listen carefully and get this story straight. These people aren’t drunk as some of you suspect. They haven’t had time to get drunk—it’s only nine o’clock in the morning. This is what the prophet Joel announced would happen:
“In the Last Days,” God says,
“I will pour out my Spirit
on every kind of people:
Hebrews 12 shows how Mt Sinai speaks of the Old Testament Mosaic Law and compares it to Mt Zion which speaks of the New Testament and the Law of Love and truthful Grace of Jesus.
Hebrews 12:18 Amplified
For you have not come [as did the Israelites in the wilderness] to a [material] mountain that can be touched, [a mountain] that is ablaze with fire, and to gloom and darkness and a raging storm,
19 And to the blast of a trumpet and a voice whose words make the listeners beg that nothing more be said to them.
20 For they could not bear the command that was given: If even a wild animal touches the mountain, it shall be stoned to death.
21 In fact, so awful and terrifying was the [phenomenal] sight that Moses said, I am terrified (aghast and trembling with fear).
NOW HERES THE GOOD NEWS
22 But rather, you have come to Mount Zion, even to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to countless multitudes of angels in festal gathering,
23 And to the church (assembly) of the Firstborn who are registered [as citizens] in heaven, and to the God Who is Judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous (the redeemed in heaven) who have been made perfect,
24 And to Jesus, the Mediator (Go-between, Agent) of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood which speaks [of mercy],
Today many try to preach a half hearted Grace that ends up reverting to the Mosaic Law and paralyzing the Power of Love and Grace from working in peoples heart like Rivers of Living Water. Its either Sinai or Zion, self effort or Divine Impetus. Its an easy choice if you use common sense. Who wants to push the car up the hill when you can jump in and drive in airconditioned comfort?
Monday, June 10, 2013
LIFE, LOVE, LIBERTY, FAITH AND GRACE =YESHUA
There is only One Lord of Life and He is the only One who gives abundance of Grace and Life. This Life is absolute Love; the Life of Love is the Life of God. Love is stronger than death. The only Law we are now under is the Law of Love, the Law of Liberty, the Law of Faith, and The Law of the Spirit of Life. All these different terms for Grace mean the same thing. Its not our law keeping that gives us righteousness with God, it’s our faith and trust in the finished work of Love that Jesus completed at the Cross.
God found a way to treat us based on what He had accomplished for us rather than expecting us to pull ourselves up by our own bootstraps AND TREATING US ACCORDING TO OUR OWN ACCOMPLISHMENTS. Try bootstrap pulling one day, it won’t even get you one millimetre off the floor. In spite of our best efforts, our own weight will displace any attempt at our best bootstrap pulling.
John 2:16 Out of his fullness we have all received grace in place of grace already given. 17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
Titus 3:5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
Of course we are still called to be diligent and fervent but this comes from rest in Him, it is the work of Grace that stems from His already completed covenant with man.
I often say that the best hurdle jumper can’t jump over Everest or any other hill or mountain either. Yet we can be totally physically inept and go and relax in a jetliner and we can soar over the highest mountains with ease, why, because we have placed ourself inside a higher power than our own leg jumps. We have seated ourselves inside a container of aerodynamic lift and overcoming mountains is no longer our job, it’s the jet liners job.
Ephesians 2:6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
Why do we imagine we can achieve righteousness by our own efforts, it’s about as likely as being the cow that jumped over the moon. That’s a nursery rhyme; it can’t actually happen in real life.
Ephesians 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:
Jesus can be compared to an elevator that goes to the 100th floor of a skyscraper. The Father is saying “ Get in, it’s a free ride, the fire escape has been destroyed by a terrorist gang but this elevator is lightning fast and guaranteed to get you all the way to the luxury penthouse, where five star accommodation and dining is waiting. There is nothing for you to do but just have the faith to get onboard and believe I’m telling you the truth.” Sadly many today, won’t get on Gods One Guaranteed Express Elevator. Instead many insist on trying to invent another way based on their own efforts. This often because of human pride, we want to be able to take the credit for our own salvation. Tragically all our own efforts end in failure, we can’t do it by our efforts. Read about Gods elevator to Heaven below :
EPH 2:6 AMPAnd He raised us up together with Him and made us sit down together [giving us [a]joint seating with Him] in the heavenly sphere [by virtue of our being] in Christ Jesus (the Messiah, the Anointed One).
Ephesians 1:10 That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:
I recall an old Christian song from the 1970s, the lyric went something like this, “I was trying to get through to Love but the devil blocked all the roads.” Gods Word talks about paths that seem right, but the end is death. Jesus said He was the Only Way. This sounds ludicrous to the natural mind of man, as we would all like to believe that all paths and religions are one. We reason by saying, “Why would God have only One Way, which seems unfair.” When we want to get to a certain geographical location, we know that we must receive clear and accurate directions as all roads don’t lead the same place.
If we are in Florida we know we must travel North on the Interstate system to get to New York. It would be very silly to suppose that we can travel West and say that all roads are one and it all gets to New York, as long as we really believe New York is out west and sincerely desire to get there. Sorry, NY is north, west will land you in LA.
Acts 4:12 (AMP) 12 And there is salvation in and through no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by and in which we must be saved.
John 14:6-7 (PHILLIPS) | 6 “I myself am the road,” replied Jesus, “and the truth and the life. No one approaches the Father except through me.
In The natural world there are clear and concise directions needed to achieve success in reaching a destination. The same is true in the spiritual world. This is why God says it’s impossible to get results without Faith in Him and His Work.
Proverbs 16:25 (VOICE)25 Before every person lies a road that seems to be right but at the end of that road death and destruction wait.
If we can’t trust God, then who can we trust? He is the Biggest, the Best, the Most Awesome and He loves us with an Everlasting Love. Best of all he picked up all the costs of making an Express Way when there was no other Way.
PSALM 37: 3 Trust (lean on, rely on, and be confident) in the Lord and do good; so shall you dwell in the land and feed surely on His faithfulness, and truly you shall be fed.
4 Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He will give you the desires and secret petitions of your heart.
5 Commit your way to the Lord [roll and repose each care of your load on Him]; trust (lean on, rely on, and be confident) also in Him and He will bring it to pass.
Longsuffering Joyfulness---Divine Paradox
Today I wish to talk about the reality of having joy in the midst of pain and suffering. Of course, no one in their right mind would pray for an additional load of suffering in this life.
We would all rather float downstream on flowery beds of ease if given a choice of lifestyles.
We would all prefer to be at a 5 star spa resort having aromatherapy and massages than have to labor on a hot roof in the tropical sun. Of course, the easy way is not always the fruitful way that brings development.
There is a lot of truth to the saying "No pain no gain" or the more Biblical admonition of "No crowns without crosses" We live in a world and culture that idolizes the painless path of the "quick fix”, easy way out, shortcut to Nirvana.
This is one of the reasons that most modern cultures today are experiencing an epidemic of overprescibed narcotic painkillers. ( not to mention the old standbys of the illicit drugs)
Dentists and doctors think nothing (to be fair though some are changing now) of dispensing powerful narcotic analgesics lest,God forbid, their patients might have to endure a few twinges of pain.
I n the United States last year overdoses of prescribed narcotic painkillers, usually washed down with alcoholic beverages, which contraindicated and caused death, tallied up to approx 39,000.
Former Pres Clinton speaking about this issue said that this was the first time that the death rate of prescribed narcotics had exceeded the deaths of the national road toll. Another alarming statistic he mentioned was that these prescribed pills had caused more overdoses than all the illegal drugs like heroin, cocaine and methamphetamine combined.
I am not just picking on America here either, many of the other western countries have equally horrific stats.
There is a mass of addiction to drugs and alcohol because people are afraid of pain or boredom and demand an instant feel good lifestyle. Of course there is an equal dependence on other sensual pleasures such as dangerous promiscuous sex and also dysfunctional, gluttonous eating habits etc. There are many other less spectacular examples of this syndrome also which I wont list now.
Jesus Christ said “ I am the Bread of Life, he which eats this bread will never hunger again” “I am the Living Water he who drinks shall never thirst”
Also God says that at His Right Hand there are Pleasures forevermore (He is speaking of Eternal spiritual fulfillment –not sensual pleasure)
We would all rather float downstream on flowery beds of ease if given a choice of lifestyles.
We would all prefer to be at a 5 star spa resort having aromatherapy and massages than have to labor on a hot roof in the tropical sun. Of course, the easy way is not always the fruitful way that brings development.
There is a lot of truth to the saying "No pain no gain" or the more Biblical admonition of "No crowns without crosses" We live in a world and culture that idolizes the painless path of the "quick fix”, easy way out, shortcut to Nirvana.
This is one of the reasons that most modern cultures today are experiencing an epidemic of overprescibed narcotic painkillers. ( not to mention the old standbys of the illicit drugs)
Dentists and doctors think nothing (to be fair though some are changing now) of dispensing powerful narcotic analgesics lest,God forbid, their patients might have to endure a few twinges of pain.
I n the United States last year overdoses of prescribed narcotic painkillers, usually washed down with alcoholic beverages, which contraindicated and caused death, tallied up to approx 39,000.
Former Pres Clinton speaking about this issue said that this was the first time that the death rate of prescribed narcotics had exceeded the deaths of the national road toll. Another alarming statistic he mentioned was that these prescribed pills had caused more overdoses than all the illegal drugs like heroin, cocaine and methamphetamine combined.
I am not just picking on America here either, many of the other western countries have equally horrific stats.
There is a mass of addiction to drugs and alcohol because people are afraid of pain or boredom and demand an instant feel good lifestyle. Of course there is an equal dependence on other sensual pleasures such as dangerous promiscuous sex and also dysfunctional, gluttonous eating habits etc. There are many other less spectacular examples of this syndrome also which I wont list now.
Jesus Christ said “ I am the Bread of Life, he which eats this bread will never hunger again” “I am the Living Water he who drinks shall never thirst”
Also God says that at His Right Hand there are Pleasures forevermore (He is speaking of Eternal spiritual fulfillment –not sensual pleasure)
“ANOTHER DAY IN PARADISE”?
For those of us privileged to live in a lovely secure area, life is often a joy to experience. It is wonderful to appreciate and be thankful for our bounty. Remember “Attitude determines Altitude” so let’s have an “Attitude of Gratitude”.
Yet, even in a lovely setting, we are still not exempt from the woes and suffering of this mortal life on planet earth. Even with the wonderful buffer zone that great food, home, environment and family and friends bring, we are still reminded regularly of life’s trials and struggles.
Someone once said that “wealth cannot bring happiness but it can make being miserable comfortable” There is a certain degree of truth to this statement, but the concept that wealth brings peace and happiness is really a myth.
Phil Collins, the well known musician had a popular song called “Another day in Paradise:” In this song he brings attention to the fact of poverty, hunger, homelessness, addiction, and life on the streets for millions around the world. In the song he likens his own life and those of many of his listeners and contemporaries to daily paradise. This is a powerful song and it always touches my heart whenever I hear it. It is so important to be deeply grateful, if we have provision to live comfortably. Millions worldwide live in famine, war zones, and homelessness, or other deep crisis.
Yet, we only have to look at the media reports about many of the movie and musical stars to see that problems affect the “up and outs” as well as the “down and outs.”
Of course, those of us in the socio economic temperate zone, i.e. the middle class between the extremes of wealth and poverty are also not exempt from life’s difficulties.
Oftentimes, as I have conversed with residents of lovely areas, the catch cry of, “another day in paradise” is voiced, with a mixture of residential pride and gratefulness for such a lifestyle. I agree, the opportunity to enjoy this lifestyle sure beats living in third world poverty, or some other trouble spot. Yet, we must be on guard about placing our faith in externals to provide true peace, love and fulfillment,
The fact is, many wealthy folks live lives of quiet desperation and pain. Many go through the motions of having it all together, but inwardly are aching for inner relief and more meaning and fulfillment. Many, (even the world’s richest man) have started finding joy in using their wealth to help eradicate poverty and solve the world’s problems. This is awesome, and deserves admiration. I once heard a person of mega wealth say, “helping others is the greatest joy I have ever discovered”. He was sincere too.
Often the less economically endowed idolize the more wealthy amongst us and aspire to achieve similar positions, believing it will be their answer to life’s problems. They too, will find inner emptiness, unless, they use their position to be “part of the answer”
Man is a spiritual being, this spiritual side is the eternal being, the intellectual and physical being of man is of lesser importance to the spiritual being (though still extremely important) We all need to discover how this spirit man or woman on our inside can be made alive and nourished and then we can be “TRULY A PART OF THE ANSWER, INSTEAD OF PART OF THE PROBLEM” (regardless of our current socio economic status)
Paul Sames—
Monday, March 25, 2013
ONE WORLD ---dream or impending nightmare?
We live in an ever increasing era of combined world globalism and polytheistic/interfaithist worldviews. It seems the era of nations, religions and cultures living within separate and defined geographical boundaries has come to and end.
On the surface this may appear to be a positive development, it may give the impression that it is all One World, One Love, One God and all separates melt into the other like different vegetables and fruits put into blender and whisked into a smoothie of one consistency.
Religion has long been criticized as one of the great instigators of the world’s wars and conflicts and in many ways this is true. Also racial supremacists, be they white, black, brown, red or yellow have long claimed superiority because of their racial lineage. This has resulted in many horrific genocides, apartheids, slavery and hatred on all sides.
Of course it is wonderful that God has blessed the wonderful interracial marriage and multicultural church with love in Jesus in the Body of Christ worldwide, there are really only 2 racial groups in Gods eyes ie Adamic and Christian, the colour of our skin or nationality and language is irrelevant. Its knowing him that makes the difference.
1 CORINTHIANS 15:21-28 There is a nice symmetry in this: Death initially came by a man, and resurrection from death came by a man. Everybody dies in Adam; everybody comes alive in Christ.
Politics also have been a huge source of friction, antagonism and war. Polar opposites create the potential for conflict.
So as previously noted, this One World Government Interfaithism, Spiritual, Political, unity seems like a good thing for everbody.
What must be always remembered though, is that the Creator God of the Universe actually created the nations and confused the tongues of humanity at the Tower of Babel.
He realized that man in his fallen condition if achieving unity of faith, politics and internationalism could create a false Union that no longer needs God as its foundation.
The problem with an international unity without God is that it invokes a default deity called satan, or the prince of the power of the air, beelzebub, belial, or lucifer. It is interesting to note that Lucifer means “shining one”. Lucifer was originally the most powerful angel and chief worship leader before the Throne of God. After God Himself he held the most powerful position in Heaven. After his banishment and fall to the earth because he tried to exalt himself above God, he was renamed satan or accuser.
The New Testament teaches that satan can still transform himself into a beautiful angel and deceive people into believing he is God.
1. 2 Corinthians 11:14
But I am not surprised! Even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.
2. 2 Corinthians 4:4
Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News. They don’t understand this message about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God.
Satan is called the god of this world because Adam gave him legal authority to operate here as ruler when he abdicated his God given authority in the garden of Eden by eating the fruit of the knowledge of good and evil.
When Adam and Eve sinned or fell and surrendered their authority, the whole world was overtaken by a dark lord of evil power, because of this death, sickness, war, crime and suffering overtook the entire human race. The death of Jesus on the Cross paid the price for Adams sin and all mankind’s subsequent sin. This was where satan had the keys of hell and death taken from him and all men who believe are given Christ’s Righteousness as a free gift.
One day we will have a genuine One World Government under God and Jesus will be the King of the whole Earth and universe ruling from His Throne in the Heavenly Jerusalem.
Any attempt at world government prior to that time will be a counterfeit One World Unity that is destined to fail and usher in the greatest war in world history, Armageddon. This war will culminate in the second coming of Jesus Christ to destroy satans rule and establish True Peace and Heaven on Earth.
ISAIAH 9:2-7 MESSAGE VERSION
For a child has been born—for us!
the gift of a son—for us!
He’ll take over
the running of the world.
His names will be: Amazing Counselor,
Strong God,
Eternal Father,
Prince of Wholeness.
His ruling authority will grow,
and there’ll be no limits to the wholeness he brings.
He’ll rule from the historic David throne
over that promised kingdom.
He’ll put that kingdom on a firm footing
and keep it going
With fair dealing and right living,
beginning now and lasting always.
The zeal of GOD-of-the-Angel-Armies
will do all this.
Isaiah 9:6
21st Century King James Version (KJ21)
6 For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government shall be upon His shoulder. And His name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace
So if we receive Gods Word we can see that all of mans attempt to bring One World Govt, One World Interfaithism etc as a foundation of peace will fail.
Only God Himself can establish a government without war and death and lack and pain.
Sunday, March 24, 2013
Tranquility from Heaven
Today I wish to talk about the reality of having joy and tranquility in the midst of pain and suffering. Of course, no one in their right mind would pray for an additional load of suffering in this life.
We would all rather float downstream on flowery beds of ease if given a choice of lifestyles.
We would all prefer to be at a 5 star spa resort having aromatherapy and massages than have to labor on a hot roof in the tropical sun. Of course, the easy way is not always the fruitful way that brings development.
There is a lot of truth to the saying "No pain no gain" or the more Biblical admonition of "No crowns without crosses" We live in a world and culture that idolizes the painless path of the "quick fix”, easy way out, shortcut to Nirvana.
This is one of the reasons that most modern cultures today are experiencing an epidemic of overprescibed narcotic painkillers. (Not to mention the old boatloads of the illicit drugs)
Many doctors think nothing (to be fair though, some are changing now) of dispensing powerful narcotic analgesics lest, God forbid, their patients might have to endure a few twinges of pain.
In the United States last year overdoses of prescribed narcotic painkillers, usually washed down with alcoholic beverages, which contraindicated and caused death, tallied up to approx 39,000.
Former Pres Clinton speaking about this issue, said that this was the first time that the death rate of prescribed narcotics, had exceeded the deaths of the national road toll. Another alarming statistic he mentioned was that these prescribed pills had caused more overdoses than all the illegal drugs like heroin, cocaine and methamphetamine combined.
This is a total outrage that these drugs—which are very similar to heroin when abused, are so widely and massively prescribed.
I am not just picking on America here either; many of the other western countries have equally horrific stats.
There is a mass of addiction to drugs and alcohol because people are afraid of pain or boredom and demand an instant feel good lifestyle. Of course there is an equal dependence on other sensual pleasures such as dangerous promiscuous sex and also dysfunctional, gluttonous eating habits etc. There are many other less spectacular examples of this syndrome also which I won’t list now.
When we yield our life to Christ we experience a tangible means of invisible Support, Peace, Pleasure, Fulfillment and Comfort. This comfort comes directly through the ministry of the Holy Spirit in our lives.
And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst. John 6:35
Also God says that at His Right Hand there are Pleasures forevermore (He is speaking of Eternal spiritual fulfillment –not sensual pleasures
Thou wilt show me the path of life: in thy presence is fullness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore. Psalm 16:11
Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness; Collosians1:11 KJV
Being a believer doesn’t mean we don’t experience the pains of life anymore but now we have something that enables us to “Mount up on Wings of Eagles.” We find we have a supernatural ability and patience to endure and be steadfast and immoveable, even though we are encountering powerful and even adverse headwinds.
I read in an encyclopedia that the big eagles get their best rides in a storm; they set their wings and let the windstorm push them to even greater heights where they sing cries of joy and victory in the mist of the mayhem. One book said they have been clocked at altitudes of over 20,000 feet where they circled far above the same storms that were wreaking havoc on the chook sheds (chicken coops) below them.
The old chicken gets blown and flaps all over the coop in a storm and does not have the capacity of an eagle to set his wings and not even flap to reach mega altitude.
God gives each one of us the ability to become a spiritual eagle if we allow Him. We may feel like the biggest chickens and even flap and cluck all over and be nervous wrecks but the Good News God will show us how to have Peace and even Joy in the Hurricanes of Life if we Yield to Him and Cast our cares on Him---Let GO and Let God!
ISAIAH 40:29 He gives power to the faint and weary, and to him who has no might He increases strength [causing it to multiply and making it to abound].
30 Even youths shall faint and be weary, and [selected] young men shall feebly stumble and fall exhausted;
31 But those who wait for the Lord [who expect, look for, and hope in Him] shall change and renew their strength and power; they shall lift their wings and mount up [close to God] as eagles [mount up to the sun]; they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint or become tired.
We would all rather float downstream on flowery beds of ease if given a choice of lifestyles.
We would all prefer to be at a 5 star spa resort having aromatherapy and massages than have to labor on a hot roof in the tropical sun. Of course, the easy way is not always the fruitful way that brings development.
There is a lot of truth to the saying "No pain no gain" or the more Biblical admonition of "No crowns without crosses" We live in a world and culture that idolizes the painless path of the "quick fix”, easy way out, shortcut to Nirvana.
This is one of the reasons that most modern cultures today are experiencing an epidemic of overprescibed narcotic painkillers. (Not to mention the old boatloads of the illicit drugs)
Many doctors think nothing (to be fair though, some are changing now) of dispensing powerful narcotic analgesics lest, God forbid, their patients might have to endure a few twinges of pain.
In the United States last year overdoses of prescribed narcotic painkillers, usually washed down with alcoholic beverages, which contraindicated and caused death, tallied up to approx 39,000.
Former Pres Clinton speaking about this issue, said that this was the first time that the death rate of prescribed narcotics, had exceeded the deaths of the national road toll. Another alarming statistic he mentioned was that these prescribed pills had caused more overdoses than all the illegal drugs like heroin, cocaine and methamphetamine combined.
This is a total outrage that these drugs—which are very similar to heroin when abused, are so widely and massively prescribed.
I am not just picking on America here either; many of the other western countries have equally horrific stats.
There is a mass of addiction to drugs and alcohol because people are afraid of pain or boredom and demand an instant feel good lifestyle. Of course there is an equal dependence on other sensual pleasures such as dangerous promiscuous sex and also dysfunctional, gluttonous eating habits etc. There are many other less spectacular examples of this syndrome also which I won’t list now.
When we yield our life to Christ we experience a tangible means of invisible Support, Peace, Pleasure, Fulfillment and Comfort. This comfort comes directly through the ministry of the Holy Spirit in our lives.
And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst. John 6:35
Also God says that at His Right Hand there are Pleasures forevermore (He is speaking of Eternal spiritual fulfillment –not sensual pleasures
Thou wilt show me the path of life: in thy presence is fullness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore. Psalm 16:11
Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness; Collosians1:11 KJV
Being a believer doesn’t mean we don’t experience the pains of life anymore but now we have something that enables us to “Mount up on Wings of Eagles.” We find we have a supernatural ability and patience to endure and be steadfast and immoveable, even though we are encountering powerful and even adverse headwinds.
I read in an encyclopedia that the big eagles get their best rides in a storm; they set their wings and let the windstorm push them to even greater heights where they sing cries of joy and victory in the mist of the mayhem. One book said they have been clocked at altitudes of over 20,000 feet where they circled far above the same storms that were wreaking havoc on the chook sheds (chicken coops) below them.
The old chicken gets blown and flaps all over the coop in a storm and does not have the capacity of an eagle to set his wings and not even flap to reach mega altitude.
God gives each one of us the ability to become a spiritual eagle if we allow Him. We may feel like the biggest chickens and even flap and cluck all over and be nervous wrecks but the Good News God will show us how to have Peace and even Joy in the Hurricanes of Life if we Yield to Him and Cast our cares on Him---Let GO and Let God!
ISAIAH 40:29 He gives power to the faint and weary, and to him who has no might He increases strength [causing it to multiply and making it to abound].
30 Even youths shall faint and be weary, and [selected] young men shall feebly stumble and fall exhausted;
31 But those who wait for the Lord [who expect, look for, and hope in Him] shall change and renew their strength and power; they shall lift their wings and mount up [close to God] as eagles [mount up to the sun]; they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint or become tired.
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