Israel's Spiritual Adultery
Hosea 2:1 Say ye unto your brethren, Ammi; and to your sisters, Ruhamah.
Ammi means "my people", say unto my people: and to your sisters, Ruhamah, meaning "mercy". Say to my people to show mercy.
Hosea 2:2 Plead with your mother, plead: for she is not my wife, neither am I her husband: let her therefore put away her whoredoms out of her sight, and her adulteries from between her breasts;
Plead with your mother, who was my wife, but her heart is elsewhere, neither am I her husband: literally; bring charges against or confront her with her sins. Let her repent of her whoredoms and return to her spiritual marriage. Referring to Israel and her loving other idols, leaving her covenant God and spiritual husband. Let me add, that we are not to be looking to accuse people of wrongs, but we do have the responsibility to try to restore those we see falling into sin.
1 Cor 4:2 Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.
1 Cor 4:3 But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged of you, or of man's judgment: yea, I judge not mine own self.
1 Cor 4:4 For I know nothing by myself; yet am I not hereby justified: but he that judgeth me is the Lord.
1 Cor 4:5 Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God.
The LORD is speaking. When he speaks we had better hear and obey him.
Hosea 2:3 Lest I strip her naked, and set her as in the day that she was born, and make her as a wilderness, and set her like a dry land, and slay her with thirst.
God who blessed her, is bound by the old covenant of the law to curse her if she leaves him and does evil in his sight. Strip her naked, revealing her sins, make her as a wilderness, alone in a dry place and slay her with thirst. There are some would be Christians who enjoy cursing others, accusing and seeing faults, as if they were without sin. Do not abuse the grace of God, by acting as a judge of others. Judgement begins in us first. There is plenty to clean up in our own hearts and our own clouded vision. Show grace and seek to restore the lost and do not be quick to judge others. God is our judge and only God can bless or curse. Nothing can satisfy like fellowship with our LORD.
We are supposed to be spirit filled with living water coming out of our innermost being. He spoke that the adulterous woman will be dry and that thirst will overcome her. Remember what Jesus said to the Samaritan woman at the well.
John 4:13 Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again:
John 4:14 But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.
John 4:15 The woman saith unto him, Sir, give me this water, that I thirst not, neither come hither to draw.
Jesus offered this spiritual water to a woman of whoredoms, as were his people Israel, spiritually unfaithful and promiscuous. He did not come to condemn her. He cares for lost souls. He desired for her to repent and come to God and Jesus and be given the living waters of his spiritual presence. He knew her need by the Holy Spirit. Some quote the word, but use it to condemn and accuse, these are not of God's Spirit. Jesus came to restore that which was lost. He is gentle and kind.
1 Pet 5:6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:
1 Pet 5:7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
Those of us who like to condemn sinners, had better repent and be like Jesus who showed mercy and grace to the woman caught in adultery.
John 8:5 Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou?
John 8:6 This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not.
John 8:7 So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.
John 8:8 And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground.
John 8:9 And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst.
John 8:10 When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee?
John 8:11 She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.
Apart from grace, they were under the law. Every sin under the law had a judgement.
Hosea 2:4 And I will not have mercy upon her children; for they be the children of whoredoms.
The word "bastard" refers to a child of adultery or fornication. It was a word of shame, but because this sin is so wide spread today, we do not use this term, except as a curse word. Now we are to be "tolerant", but we see God's view of this in Hosea. Are you a Christian? Are you under his grace? Then your soul is saved, but God is not pleased with adulterous behavior. Are children born of fornication or adultery cursed now? If one parent in a marriage is a Christian, then the children are holy to the LORD.
1 Cor 7:14 For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband: else were your children unclean; but now are they holy.
If the children continue in the sins of the adulterous parent, they will be judged by God.
Hosea 2:5 For their mother hath played the harlot: she that conceived them hath done shamefully: for she said, I will go after my lovers, that give me my bread and my water, my wool and my flax, mine oil and my drink.
The spirit of whoredom seeks after material things, flesh things above relationships of honor and trust. The mother in this verse is Israel the nation and the children are the individuals who live there. A nation may be judged by God, which affects all the children. Some may be children of faith. If so, God will be their strength. We of faith are to pray for our nation.
Hosea 2:6 Therefore, behold, I will hedge up thy way with thorns, and make a wall, that she shall not find her paths.
Woe to a people apart from God. They sin for a season and prosper, but the time of God's withdrawing will come and their blessings will no longer be there. God places a curse on the disobedient apart from him. Moses however, chose to be with his people above the riches and power of Egypt.
Heb 11:25 Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;
Hosea 2:7 And she shall follow after her lovers, but she shall not overtake them; and she shall seek them, but shall not find them: then shall she say, I will go and return to my first husband; for then was it better with me than now.
Again, God is the husband and adulterous Israel is the woman. This is as the story of the prodigal son. He had squandered his inheritance, ran out of friends, even ate the pig slop until he repented.
Luke 15:17 And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!
Luke 15:18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee,
Luke 15:19 And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.
Luke 15:20 And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.
Luke 15:21 And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.
Luke 15:22 But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet:
Luke 15:23 And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry:
Luke 15:24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.
His older brother was not pleased that he returned. This is as the vengeful church member who knows of someones past sin, and will not forgive them. We have been forgiven much and are to seek to restore and forgive the sinner. We are not to get in the way of their restoration by our foolish actions. Love suffers long. Forgiveness may require suffering in order to restore the wayward one.
Mat 7:3 And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?
Mat 7:4 Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye?
Mat 7:5 Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye.
We must be directed by the Holy Spirit, not by our flesh minds.
Saturday, August 22, 2009
Saturday, August 15, 2009
Hosea 1
Rebellious Israel
Hosea 1:1 The word of the LORD that came unto Hosea, the son of Beeri, in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah, and in the days of Jeroboam the son of Joash, king of Israel.
Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah were kings of the southern kingdom of Judah. Jeraboam and Joash were the kings of the northern kingdom of Israel. The prophet Hosea lived in the northern kingdom from 755-715 B.C. His ministry was for 40 years. Forty is a number of testing and trials. Moses was in the desert forty years, the children of Israel wandered in the desert forty years because of unbelief. The ministry of Hosea was to an adulterous people who left their God for other things. Hosea, is the same name for Joshua or Jesus. It means "salvation."
Hosea 1:2 The beginning of the word of the LORD by Hosea. And the LORD said to Hosea, Go, take unto thee a wife of whoredoms and children of whoredoms: for the land hath committed great whoredom, departing from the LORD.
Israel here is as the covenant wife of God. The LORD wanted to use the life of Hosea as an illustration of His love for His adulterous people. Hosea was to take a wife of whoredoms. Not a wife who had been saved from a life of whoredom and redeemed and made new, but a wife who was a whore, unchanged. He was to have children from this confused and unfaithful woman. By this relationship of Hosea and his unfaithful wife, it is an illustrated message of God's love for his unfaithful people. God's love is true and faithful, in spite of the moral weakness his covenant people. In Exodus, the LORD calls his covenant people, his firstborn son. Jesus is the only begotten son, from heaven.
Exo 4:22 And thou shalt say unto Pharaoh, Thus saith the LORD, Israel is my son, even my firstborn:
In Hosea, the unfaithful covenant people were described as an unfaithful wife. The land had committed great whoredoms, departing from the LORD.
"If Hosea's story cannot be real (because 'God could not ask a man to marry an unfaithful woman'), then neither is the story of salvation real, because that is precisely what Christ has done for us." (Boice)
Jesus did not choose a perfect bride, the church. We were all lost and unclean, but we are bring made into His image, holy and unblamable, covered by his blood: redeemed, justified and made his righteousness, by our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
Israel is not the only nation who left God for idols. America has turned away from God in the pursuit of other things. Any nation that leaves God out of their land, has committed whoredoms. This is the adulterous spirit of Babylon.
Rev 14:8 And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.
Thank God that we are saved, the saved remnant of a once great Christian nation. Our kingdom is the kingdom of God, He is our master.
Hosea 1:3 So he went and took Gomer the daughter of Diblaim; which conceived, and bare him a son.
His wife was named Gomer, which means complete. He had a son by her. You know we can love someone with all of our heart, but that person may not be able to respond, because of a life of whoredom or fornication. So many casual relationships so that the ability to make a covenant relationship with one, is difficult for them. With God all things are possible. If he changes you, you are made new. We once were fornicators or adulterers, but he has taken us out of that and we are being made faithful, as He is faithful.
Hosea 1:4 And the LORD said unto him, Call his name Jezreel; for yet a little while, and I will avenge the blood of Jezreel upon the house of Jehu, and will cause to cease the kingdom of the house of Israel.
Jezreel means: "God scatters or God sows". Jezreel was the name of the place where Jehu had killed the seventy sons of wicked king Ahab.
2 Ki 10:11 So Jehu slew all that remained of the house of Ahab in Jezreel, and all his great men, and his kinsfolks, and his priests, until he left him none remaining.
As God brought an end to the line of Ahab, so He would cause to cease the nation of Israel. By 722 B.C. the northern kingdom of Israel and it's capital, Samaria, would fall.
Hosea 1:5 And it shall come to pass at that day, that I will break the bow of Israel in the valley of Jezreel.
Israels miltary power would be broken in the valley of Jezreel.
Hosea 1:6 And she conceived again, and bare a daughter. And God said unto him, Call her name Loruhamah: for I will no more have mercy upon the house of Israel; but I will utterly take them away.
Loruhamah, meaning "no mercy." God would not show mercy to the rebellious nation of Israel. They would cease to be a people until 1948, when Israel again became a nation. That was a period of time of about 2670 years. With the rebirth of Israel we are truly living in the last days.
Hosea 1:7 But I will have mercy upon the house of Judah, and will save them by the LORD their God, and will not save them by bow, nor by sword, nor by battle, by horses, nor by horsemen.
Judah and Jerusalem still worshipped the LORD and he showed mercy upon them. They were not saved by their own military might or the warriors of another land; God sent angels to protect them. How awesome is that?
Heb 1:14 Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?
2 Ki 19:34 For I will defend this city, to save it, for mine own sake, and for my servant David's sake.
2 Ki 19:35 And it came to pass that night, that the angel of the LORD went out, and smote in the camp of the Assyrians an hundred fourscore and five thousand: and when they arose early in the morning, behold, they were all dead corpses.
Hosea 1:8 Now when she had weaned Loruhamah, she conceived, and bare a son.
Hosea 1:9 Then said God, Call his name Loammi: for ye are not my people, and I will not be your God.
Loammi means: "not my people." That is a terrible judgement to be rejected by God, but they had rejected Him. They had no use for him, so he had no use for them. Israel had seen better days. Woe to a people who no longer wants God. We do not realize that all we have comes from Him. Our gifts and abilities he gives to us. They had rejected him and God said, that's all for now. The baby was called "not my people", what a sad name.
The names tell a story. Jezreel, "God scatters." Woe to those separated from God our help. Loruhamah, "no mercy" to a adulterous and rebellious people. We are so fortunate to be under the blood of Jesus. In him we are one with God and one another. He gives us mercy and grace. The final name of the children of Hosea was Loammi: "not my people." We are the people of God. If one in our midst falls away and is scattered, we are to leave the 99 sheep and go find him.
Mat 18:12 How think ye? if a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray?
We may say we no longer want God, but that is foolishness. He keeps us in His hand, we need to repent from our sinful thoughts, words and actions. Let us restore the wayward brothers and sisters; not act as their judges. They may be being sifted by satan.
Luke 22:31 And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat:Luke 22:32 But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.
If we fall away, maybe we are living on yesterdays faith. It is time to be revived, to find God afresh. Pastors may fail you, people may fail you, we may fail all and give up. Do not give up, the saints are praying for you. You are not as Israel of old a rebellious and disobedient people, without His Spirit. If we are in Christ, His Spirit dwells in us, to show us truth and to comfort us; we are never alone.
Hosea 1:10 Yet the number of the children of Israel shall be as the sand of the sea, which cannot be measured nor numbered; and it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people, there it shall be said unto them, Ye are the sons of the living God.
The prophet speaks the mercy of God to the covenant people of God through Messiah, Jesus Christ. They will not be forgotten forever.
Rom 11:25 For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.
Rom 11:26 And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:
Rom 11:27 For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.
Rom 11:28 As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers' sakes.
Rom 11:29 For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.
I always saw this verse as referring to a backslidden Christian. It primarily is referring to Israel. The gifts, plural, and the calling. God called them unto himself and finally when Jesus comes in the end times, they will hear his calling to them and be saved. When saved then they will receive the gifts for ministry. Some people on their death bed have said, "I know I was to teach", but I ran from God. What a sad thing to miss God. Be strong in him, he is our refuge and strength and our gift giver.
Rom 11:30 For as ye in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief:
Rom 11:31 Even so have these also now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy.
Rom 11:32 For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all.
Rom 11:33 O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!
Rom 11:34 For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor?
Rom 11:35 Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again?
Rom 11:36 For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.
Hosea 1:11 Then shall the children of Judah and the children of Israel be gathered together, and appoint themselves one head, and they shall come up out of the land: for great shall be the day of Jezreel.
In the day of Messiah as king. No longer will Jezreel mean "to be scattered," but it is a time "to sow" and be planted. The good seed of God's word is scattered on good soil and hearts receive Jesus, son of David, the everlasting King.
Isa 11:12 And he shall set up an ensign for the nations, and shall assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth.
Ezek 34:23 And I will set up one shepherd over them, and he shall feed them, even my servant David; he shall feed them, and he shall be their shepherd.
Jesus is coming again, very soon. Let us be waiting revived and excited to meet him. Do not lose faith now as we are being tempted and attacked. Realize this and stay faithful, so that you will be commended at his coming.
Hosea 1:1 The word of the LORD that came unto Hosea, the son of Beeri, in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah, and in the days of Jeroboam the son of Joash, king of Israel.
Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah were kings of the southern kingdom of Judah. Jeraboam and Joash were the kings of the northern kingdom of Israel. The prophet Hosea lived in the northern kingdom from 755-715 B.C. His ministry was for 40 years. Forty is a number of testing and trials. Moses was in the desert forty years, the children of Israel wandered in the desert forty years because of unbelief. The ministry of Hosea was to an adulterous people who left their God for other things. Hosea, is the same name for Joshua or Jesus. It means "salvation."
Hosea 1:2 The beginning of the word of the LORD by Hosea. And the LORD said to Hosea, Go, take unto thee a wife of whoredoms and children of whoredoms: for the land hath committed great whoredom, departing from the LORD.
Israel here is as the covenant wife of God. The LORD wanted to use the life of Hosea as an illustration of His love for His adulterous people. Hosea was to take a wife of whoredoms. Not a wife who had been saved from a life of whoredom and redeemed and made new, but a wife who was a whore, unchanged. He was to have children from this confused and unfaithful woman. By this relationship of Hosea and his unfaithful wife, it is an illustrated message of God's love for his unfaithful people. God's love is true and faithful, in spite of the moral weakness his covenant people. In Exodus, the LORD calls his covenant people, his firstborn son. Jesus is the only begotten son, from heaven.
Exo 4:22 And thou shalt say unto Pharaoh, Thus saith the LORD, Israel is my son, even my firstborn:
In Hosea, the unfaithful covenant people were described as an unfaithful wife. The land had committed great whoredoms, departing from the LORD.
"If Hosea's story cannot be real (because 'God could not ask a man to marry an unfaithful woman'), then neither is the story of salvation real, because that is precisely what Christ has done for us." (Boice)
Jesus did not choose a perfect bride, the church. We were all lost and unclean, but we are bring made into His image, holy and unblamable, covered by his blood: redeemed, justified and made his righteousness, by our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
Israel is not the only nation who left God for idols. America has turned away from God in the pursuit of other things. Any nation that leaves God out of their land, has committed whoredoms. This is the adulterous spirit of Babylon.
Rev 14:8 And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.
Thank God that we are saved, the saved remnant of a once great Christian nation. Our kingdom is the kingdom of God, He is our master.
Hosea 1:3 So he went and took Gomer the daughter of Diblaim; which conceived, and bare him a son.
His wife was named Gomer, which means complete. He had a son by her. You know we can love someone with all of our heart, but that person may not be able to respond, because of a life of whoredom or fornication. So many casual relationships so that the ability to make a covenant relationship with one, is difficult for them. With God all things are possible. If he changes you, you are made new. We once were fornicators or adulterers, but he has taken us out of that and we are being made faithful, as He is faithful.
Hosea 1:4 And the LORD said unto him, Call his name Jezreel; for yet a little while, and I will avenge the blood of Jezreel upon the house of Jehu, and will cause to cease the kingdom of the house of Israel.
Jezreel means: "God scatters or God sows". Jezreel was the name of the place where Jehu had killed the seventy sons of wicked king Ahab.
2 Ki 10:11 So Jehu slew all that remained of the house of Ahab in Jezreel, and all his great men, and his kinsfolks, and his priests, until he left him none remaining.
As God brought an end to the line of Ahab, so He would cause to cease the nation of Israel. By 722 B.C. the northern kingdom of Israel and it's capital, Samaria, would fall.
Hosea 1:5 And it shall come to pass at that day, that I will break the bow of Israel in the valley of Jezreel.
Israels miltary power would be broken in the valley of Jezreel.
Hosea 1:6 And she conceived again, and bare a daughter. And God said unto him, Call her name Loruhamah: for I will no more have mercy upon the house of Israel; but I will utterly take them away.
Loruhamah, meaning "no mercy." God would not show mercy to the rebellious nation of Israel. They would cease to be a people until 1948, when Israel again became a nation. That was a period of time of about 2670 years. With the rebirth of Israel we are truly living in the last days.
Hosea 1:7 But I will have mercy upon the house of Judah, and will save them by the LORD their God, and will not save them by bow, nor by sword, nor by battle, by horses, nor by horsemen.
Judah and Jerusalem still worshipped the LORD and he showed mercy upon them. They were not saved by their own military might or the warriors of another land; God sent angels to protect them. How awesome is that?
Heb 1:14 Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?
2 Ki 19:34 For I will defend this city, to save it, for mine own sake, and for my servant David's sake.
2 Ki 19:35 And it came to pass that night, that the angel of the LORD went out, and smote in the camp of the Assyrians an hundred fourscore and five thousand: and when they arose early in the morning, behold, they were all dead corpses.
Hosea 1:8 Now when she had weaned Loruhamah, she conceived, and bare a son.
Hosea 1:9 Then said God, Call his name Loammi: for ye are not my people, and I will not be your God.
Loammi means: "not my people." That is a terrible judgement to be rejected by God, but they had rejected Him. They had no use for him, so he had no use for them. Israel had seen better days. Woe to a people who no longer wants God. We do not realize that all we have comes from Him. Our gifts and abilities he gives to us. They had rejected him and God said, that's all for now. The baby was called "not my people", what a sad name.
The names tell a story. Jezreel, "God scatters." Woe to those separated from God our help. Loruhamah, "no mercy" to a adulterous and rebellious people. We are so fortunate to be under the blood of Jesus. In him we are one with God and one another. He gives us mercy and grace. The final name of the children of Hosea was Loammi: "not my people." We are the people of God. If one in our midst falls away and is scattered, we are to leave the 99 sheep and go find him.
Mat 18:12 How think ye? if a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray?
We may say we no longer want God, but that is foolishness. He keeps us in His hand, we need to repent from our sinful thoughts, words and actions. Let us restore the wayward brothers and sisters; not act as their judges. They may be being sifted by satan.
Luke 22:31 And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat:Luke 22:32 But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.
If we fall away, maybe we are living on yesterdays faith. It is time to be revived, to find God afresh. Pastors may fail you, people may fail you, we may fail all and give up. Do not give up, the saints are praying for you. You are not as Israel of old a rebellious and disobedient people, without His Spirit. If we are in Christ, His Spirit dwells in us, to show us truth and to comfort us; we are never alone.
Hosea 1:10 Yet the number of the children of Israel shall be as the sand of the sea, which cannot be measured nor numbered; and it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people, there it shall be said unto them, Ye are the sons of the living God.
The prophet speaks the mercy of God to the covenant people of God through Messiah, Jesus Christ. They will not be forgotten forever.
Rom 11:25 For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.
Rom 11:26 And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:
Rom 11:27 For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.
Rom 11:28 As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers' sakes.
Rom 11:29 For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.
I always saw this verse as referring to a backslidden Christian. It primarily is referring to Israel. The gifts, plural, and the calling. God called them unto himself and finally when Jesus comes in the end times, they will hear his calling to them and be saved. When saved then they will receive the gifts for ministry. Some people on their death bed have said, "I know I was to teach", but I ran from God. What a sad thing to miss God. Be strong in him, he is our refuge and strength and our gift giver.
Rom 11:30 For as ye in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief:
Rom 11:31 Even so have these also now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy.
Rom 11:32 For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all.
Rom 11:33 O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!
Rom 11:34 For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor?
Rom 11:35 Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again?
Rom 11:36 For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.
Hosea 1:11 Then shall the children of Judah and the children of Israel be gathered together, and appoint themselves one head, and they shall come up out of the land: for great shall be the day of Jezreel.
In the day of Messiah as king. No longer will Jezreel mean "to be scattered," but it is a time "to sow" and be planted. The good seed of God's word is scattered on good soil and hearts receive Jesus, son of David, the everlasting King.
Isa 11:12 And he shall set up an ensign for the nations, and shall assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth.
Ezek 34:23 And I will set up one shepherd over them, and he shall feed them, even my servant David; he shall feed them, and he shall be their shepherd.
Jesus is coming again, very soon. Let us be waiting revived and excited to meet him. Do not lose faith now as we are being tempted and attacked. Realize this and stay faithful, so that you will be commended at his coming.
Monday, August 3, 2009
Spiritual Testimony
Rev 19:10 And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.
The testimony of Jesus is the Spirit of prophecy. Prophecy is speaking the word of God; the word of truth. To testify we must speak truth by the Spirit of God. I have heard too many testimonies of dark things of the past, while seeming to glory in the telling of these things. We are not to glory in past sins, but we are to glorify God with our Spiritual testimonies.
John 16:13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will show you things to come.
John 16:14 He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall show it unto you.
God is not interested in a man's testimony. The world receives the testimonies and thoughts of men, this is humanism. John the Baptist testified of Jesus, by the Holy Spirit. We are men and women who testify of God, through His Spirit.
John 5:30 I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.
John 5:31 If I bear witness of myself, my witness is not true.
John 5:32 There is another that beareth witness of me; and I know that the witness which he witnesseth of me is true.
John 5:33 Ye sent unto John, and he bare witness unto the truth.
John 5:34 But I receive not testimony from man: but these things I say, that ye might be saved.
John 5:35 He was a burning and a shining light: and ye were willing for a season to rejoice in his light.
John 5:36 But I have greater witness than that of John: for the works which the Father hath given me to finish, the same works that I do, bear witness of me, that the Father hath sent me.
John 5:37 And the Father himself, which hath sent me, hath borne witness of me. Ye have neither heard his voice at any time, nor seen his shape.
John 5:38 And ye have not his word abiding in you: for whom he hath sent, him ye believe not.
John 5:39 Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.
John 5:40 And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.
John 5:41 I receive not honour from men.John 5:42 But I know you, that ye have not the love of God in you.John 5:43 I am come in my Father's name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive.
The Holy Spirit witnesses the Word of God through us. The works that we do are to be in obedience to God and to glorify him. Someone said that our witness is without words. Yes, but also with the words of God, the Spirit speaking through us. We are witnesses and ambassadors of our Lord.
2 Cor 5:20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God.
2 Cor 5:21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
People need our witness of Jesus. Mormons do good works and Buddhists do good works, it is the Spiritual testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ that glorifies God and He is the power to change a heart. Our good behavior must be accompanied by the word of truth. I have heard witnesses of the word who had a wrong spirit, who used the word to condemn, this is not the spirit of Christ. Condemnation comes from rejecting the witness of the Holy Spirit. An accusing spirit, anyone will reject. Be careful of what spirit speaks through you.
Isa 8:13 Sanctify the LORD of hosts himself; and let him be your fear, and let him be your dread.
Isa 8:14 And he shall be for a sanctuary; but for a stone of stumbling and for a rock of offence to both the houses of Israel, for a gin and for a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem.
Isa 8:15 And many among them shall stumble, and fall, and be broken, and be snared, and be taken.
Isa 8:16 Bind up the testimony, seal the law among my disciples.
Isa 8:17 And I will wait upon the LORD, that hideth his face from the house of Jacob, and I will look for him.
Isa 8:18 Behold, I and the children whom the LORD hath given me are for signs and for wonders in Israel from the LORD of hosts, which dwelleth in mount Zion.
Isa 8:19 And when they shall say unto you, Seek unto them that have familiar spirits, and unto wizards that peep, and that mutter: should not a people seek unto their God? for the living to the dead?
Isa 8:20 To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.
The people of God are a peculiar people, chosen to allow the flow of God's Spirit of truth. We are sanctified unto Him as his beloved servants. The word of our testimony shall be accompanied with signs and wonders. The greatest sign is a new life in Christ. What a wonder to see a person changed. Healings and miracles are also confirmations of the power and presence of God. The weak and the lost seek magic from wizards, Wicca, the occultic practices of witches and familiar spirits. We are not to seek magic and the works of darkness, this is an abomination to the Spirit of God. We are chosen and sent forth as witnesses of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Mat 10:16 Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.
Mat 10:17 But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues;
Mat 10:18 And ye shall be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles.
Mat 10:19 But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak.
Mat 10:20 For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you.
Mat 10:21 And the brother shall deliver up the brother to death, and the father the child: and the children shall rise up against their parents, and cause them to be put to death.
Mat 10:22 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.
Mat 10:23 But when they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another: for verily I say unto you, Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel, till the Son of man be come.
Expect opposition, even from your close friends and family. We are servants of God and not all are of his Spirit, nor do they want us to interfere with their sin filled lives. We are sent by God and His Spirit speaks through us the gospel power of God.
Mark 6:7 And he called unto him the twelve, and began to send them forth by two and two; and gave them power over unclean spirits;
Mark 6:8 And commanded them that they should take nothing for their journey, save a staff only; no scrip, no bread, no money in their purse:
Mark 6:9 But be shod with sandals; and not put on two coats.
Mark 6:10 And he said unto them, In what place soever ye enter into an house, there abide till ye depart from that place.
Mark 6:11 And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear you, when ye depart thence, shake off the dust under your feet for a testimony against them. Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city.
Mark 6:12 And they went out, and preached that men should repent.
Mark 6:13 And they cast out many devils, and anointed with oil many that were sick, and healed them.
They were sent only with the staff, a symbol of the Holy Spirit; He is enough. If people refuse your testimony then you have permission to shake off the dust of their city, as a testimony against him. I have heard people in the chats speak of God's love while being trampled by ungodly people. We are not to continue to cast pearl's to swine. Pray for them, but move on so that others may hear the gospel message. If the antichrist spirit continues to speak against the gospel message, remove them so that others may find the way of truth. This is a common practice in witnessing on the Internet chats.
John as a human witness must decrease, as we decrease, so that He (Jesus) may increase.
John 3:30 He must increase, but I must decrease.
John 3:31 He that cometh from above is above all: he that is of the earth is earthly, and speaketh of the earth: he that cometh from heaven is above all.
John 3:32 And what he hath seen and heard, that he testifieth; and no man receiveth his testimony.
John 3:33 He that hath received his testimony hath set to his seal that God is true.
John 3:34 For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him.
John 3:35 The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand.
John 3:36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.
The testimony of two
John 8:15 Ye judge after the flesh; I judge no man.
John 8:16 And yet if I judge, my judgment is true: for I am not alone, but I and the Father that sent me.
John 8:17 It is also written in your law, that the testimony of two men is true.
John 8:18 I am one that bear witness of myself, and the Father that sent me beareth witness of me.
John 8:19 Then said they unto him, Where is thy Father? Jesus answered, Ye neither know me, nor my Father: if ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also.
John 8:20 These words spake Jesus in the treasury, as he taught in the temple: and no man laid hands on him; for his hour was not yet come.
John 8:21 Then said Jesus again unto them, I go my way, and ye shall seek me, and shall die in your sins: whither I go, ye cannot come.
John 8:22 Then said the Jews, Will he kill himself? because he saith, Whither I go, ye cannot come.
John 8:23 And he said unto them, Ye are from beneath; I am from above: ye are of this world; I am not of this world.
John 8:24 I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.
It is a simple truth; only through Jesus are we forgiven. He alone has paid the price for sin by going to the cross: the just for the unjust. Our message is Jesus, the cross and his resurrection to eternal life.
1 Cor 1:3 Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
1 Cor 1:4 I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ;
1 Cor 1:5 That in every thing ye are enriched by him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge;
1 Cor 1:6 Even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you:
1 Cor 1:7 So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ:
1 Cor 1:8 Who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.
1 Cor 1:9 God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.
The testimony of Christ is confirmed in you by the Spiritual gifts you receive. At Pentecost it was speaking in tongues. There are many gifts of the Spirit to be the evidence of His ownership and our service to him. The testimony of Jesus is the Spirit of prophecy. We should be speaking his message as a confirmation of his gifts. We cannot speak what we do not know. He will reward our faithfulness at his coming.
1 Cor 2:1 And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God.
1 Cor 2:2 For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.
1 Cor 2:3 And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling.
1 Cor 2:4 And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:
1 Cor 2:5 That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.
We cannot fake the power of God's Spirit. You may try to fake a gift, but those of His Spirit know if it is of God, or just the words of a man.
2 Tim 1:8 Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God;
2 Tim 1:9 Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,
2 Tim 1:10 But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel:
2 Tim 1:11 Whereunto I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles.
We are to endure through sufferings and afflictions. We are soldiers in the Lord's army and we must be faithful to our calling.
Rev 12:10 And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.
Rev 12:11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.
Christ Jesus has overcome for us, by shedding his blood on the cross. We speak the word by His Spirit, not loving our lives in this world, but as living sacrifices and willing bond slaves we obey Him even as we are the adopted children of the most high God. Thank you Jesus. Use us as your Spiritual witnesses. Not my words, but yours, so that your power will be shown.
The testimony of Jesus is the Spirit of prophecy. Prophecy is speaking the word of God; the word of truth. To testify we must speak truth by the Spirit of God. I have heard too many testimonies of dark things of the past, while seeming to glory in the telling of these things. We are not to glory in past sins, but we are to glorify God with our Spiritual testimonies.
John 16:13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will show you things to come.
John 16:14 He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall show it unto you.
God is not interested in a man's testimony. The world receives the testimonies and thoughts of men, this is humanism. John the Baptist testified of Jesus, by the Holy Spirit. We are men and women who testify of God, through His Spirit.
John 5:30 I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.
John 5:31 If I bear witness of myself, my witness is not true.
John 5:32 There is another that beareth witness of me; and I know that the witness which he witnesseth of me is true.
John 5:33 Ye sent unto John, and he bare witness unto the truth.
John 5:34 But I receive not testimony from man: but these things I say, that ye might be saved.
John 5:35 He was a burning and a shining light: and ye were willing for a season to rejoice in his light.
John 5:36 But I have greater witness than that of John: for the works which the Father hath given me to finish, the same works that I do, bear witness of me, that the Father hath sent me.
John 5:37 And the Father himself, which hath sent me, hath borne witness of me. Ye have neither heard his voice at any time, nor seen his shape.
John 5:38 And ye have not his word abiding in you: for whom he hath sent, him ye believe not.
John 5:39 Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.
John 5:40 And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.
John 5:41 I receive not honour from men.John 5:42 But I know you, that ye have not the love of God in you.John 5:43 I am come in my Father's name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive.
The Holy Spirit witnesses the Word of God through us. The works that we do are to be in obedience to God and to glorify him. Someone said that our witness is without words. Yes, but also with the words of God, the Spirit speaking through us. We are witnesses and ambassadors of our Lord.
2 Cor 5:20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God.
2 Cor 5:21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
People need our witness of Jesus. Mormons do good works and Buddhists do good works, it is the Spiritual testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ that glorifies God and He is the power to change a heart. Our good behavior must be accompanied by the word of truth. I have heard witnesses of the word who had a wrong spirit, who used the word to condemn, this is not the spirit of Christ. Condemnation comes from rejecting the witness of the Holy Spirit. An accusing spirit, anyone will reject. Be careful of what spirit speaks through you.
Isa 8:13 Sanctify the LORD of hosts himself; and let him be your fear, and let him be your dread.
Isa 8:14 And he shall be for a sanctuary; but for a stone of stumbling and for a rock of offence to both the houses of Israel, for a gin and for a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem.
Isa 8:15 And many among them shall stumble, and fall, and be broken, and be snared, and be taken.
Isa 8:16 Bind up the testimony, seal the law among my disciples.
Isa 8:17 And I will wait upon the LORD, that hideth his face from the house of Jacob, and I will look for him.
Isa 8:18 Behold, I and the children whom the LORD hath given me are for signs and for wonders in Israel from the LORD of hosts, which dwelleth in mount Zion.
Isa 8:19 And when they shall say unto you, Seek unto them that have familiar spirits, and unto wizards that peep, and that mutter: should not a people seek unto their God? for the living to the dead?
Isa 8:20 To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.
The people of God are a peculiar people, chosen to allow the flow of God's Spirit of truth. We are sanctified unto Him as his beloved servants. The word of our testimony shall be accompanied with signs and wonders. The greatest sign is a new life in Christ. What a wonder to see a person changed. Healings and miracles are also confirmations of the power and presence of God. The weak and the lost seek magic from wizards, Wicca, the occultic practices of witches and familiar spirits. We are not to seek magic and the works of darkness, this is an abomination to the Spirit of God. We are chosen and sent forth as witnesses of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Mat 10:16 Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.
Mat 10:17 But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues;
Mat 10:18 And ye shall be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles.
Mat 10:19 But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak.
Mat 10:20 For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you.
Mat 10:21 And the brother shall deliver up the brother to death, and the father the child: and the children shall rise up against their parents, and cause them to be put to death.
Mat 10:22 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.
Mat 10:23 But when they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another: for verily I say unto you, Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel, till the Son of man be come.
Expect opposition, even from your close friends and family. We are servants of God and not all are of his Spirit, nor do they want us to interfere with their sin filled lives. We are sent by God and His Spirit speaks through us the gospel power of God.
Mark 6:7 And he called unto him the twelve, and began to send them forth by two and two; and gave them power over unclean spirits;
Mark 6:8 And commanded them that they should take nothing for their journey, save a staff only; no scrip, no bread, no money in their purse:
Mark 6:9 But be shod with sandals; and not put on two coats.
Mark 6:10 And he said unto them, In what place soever ye enter into an house, there abide till ye depart from that place.
Mark 6:11 And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear you, when ye depart thence, shake off the dust under your feet for a testimony against them. Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city.
Mark 6:12 And they went out, and preached that men should repent.
Mark 6:13 And they cast out many devils, and anointed with oil many that were sick, and healed them.
They were sent only with the staff, a symbol of the Holy Spirit; He is enough. If people refuse your testimony then you have permission to shake off the dust of their city, as a testimony against him. I have heard people in the chats speak of God's love while being trampled by ungodly people. We are not to continue to cast pearl's to swine. Pray for them, but move on so that others may hear the gospel message. If the antichrist spirit continues to speak against the gospel message, remove them so that others may find the way of truth. This is a common practice in witnessing on the Internet chats.
John as a human witness must decrease, as we decrease, so that He (Jesus) may increase.
John 3:30 He must increase, but I must decrease.
John 3:31 He that cometh from above is above all: he that is of the earth is earthly, and speaketh of the earth: he that cometh from heaven is above all.
John 3:32 And what he hath seen and heard, that he testifieth; and no man receiveth his testimony.
John 3:33 He that hath received his testimony hath set to his seal that God is true.
John 3:34 For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him.
John 3:35 The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand.
John 3:36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.
The testimony of two
John 8:15 Ye judge after the flesh; I judge no man.
John 8:16 And yet if I judge, my judgment is true: for I am not alone, but I and the Father that sent me.
John 8:17 It is also written in your law, that the testimony of two men is true.
John 8:18 I am one that bear witness of myself, and the Father that sent me beareth witness of me.
John 8:19 Then said they unto him, Where is thy Father? Jesus answered, Ye neither know me, nor my Father: if ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also.
John 8:20 These words spake Jesus in the treasury, as he taught in the temple: and no man laid hands on him; for his hour was not yet come.
John 8:21 Then said Jesus again unto them, I go my way, and ye shall seek me, and shall die in your sins: whither I go, ye cannot come.
John 8:22 Then said the Jews, Will he kill himself? because he saith, Whither I go, ye cannot come.
John 8:23 And he said unto them, Ye are from beneath; I am from above: ye are of this world; I am not of this world.
John 8:24 I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.
It is a simple truth; only through Jesus are we forgiven. He alone has paid the price for sin by going to the cross: the just for the unjust. Our message is Jesus, the cross and his resurrection to eternal life.
1 Cor 1:3 Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
1 Cor 1:4 I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ;
1 Cor 1:5 That in every thing ye are enriched by him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge;
1 Cor 1:6 Even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you:
1 Cor 1:7 So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ:
1 Cor 1:8 Who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.
1 Cor 1:9 God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.
The testimony of Christ is confirmed in you by the Spiritual gifts you receive. At Pentecost it was speaking in tongues. There are many gifts of the Spirit to be the evidence of His ownership and our service to him. The testimony of Jesus is the Spirit of prophecy. We should be speaking his message as a confirmation of his gifts. We cannot speak what we do not know. He will reward our faithfulness at his coming.
1 Cor 2:1 And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God.
1 Cor 2:2 For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.
1 Cor 2:3 And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling.
1 Cor 2:4 And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:
1 Cor 2:5 That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.
We cannot fake the power of God's Spirit. You may try to fake a gift, but those of His Spirit know if it is of God, or just the words of a man.
2 Tim 1:8 Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God;
2 Tim 1:9 Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,
2 Tim 1:10 But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel:
2 Tim 1:11 Whereunto I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles.
We are to endure through sufferings and afflictions. We are soldiers in the Lord's army and we must be faithful to our calling.
Rev 12:10 And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.
Rev 12:11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.
Christ Jesus has overcome for us, by shedding his blood on the cross. We speak the word by His Spirit, not loving our lives in this world, but as living sacrifices and willing bond slaves we obey Him even as we are the adopted children of the most high God. Thank you Jesus. Use us as your Spiritual witnesses. Not my words, but yours, so that your power will be shown.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
