We hear God

Some prefer a list of do's and don'ts and someone giving them rules to live by, instead of walking in the liberty given in  Jesus Christ. It takes hearing and responding to the Holy Spirit to be in perfect liberty and to keep from sin. Our liberty should not cause a weaker brother to stumble.

Jas 1:23  For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass:
Jas 1:24  For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.
Jas 1:25  But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.

A minister on the radio was saying that God speaks to us all the time. Are we too busy to hear or do we think it is our voice we hear? People like to say that "God told me" when it comes to giving someone else advice, but how about our own actions? Are we obeying the voice of God?  Are we willing to do things that are too hard for us to do? The LORD can work through us if we trust him. He will not go against his word, so most of our hearing should come from reading his word. Maybe he is telling us when we are doing our own thing, that we need to read his word? 

1Ki 19:12  And after the earthquake a fire; but the LORD was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice.

After so much happens, the still small voice is heard. I suppose the LORD must do some things to get our attention? Often we hear his voice telling us to do what he has already told us to do. We are to respond to what we already know to do for he loves us. Do you feel his love?

Edom Indicted

The LORD's indictment against Edom, the land of Esau, a brother of Jacob in the flesh, but also an enemy. When Israel and Judah were invaded and exported to Babylon and other lands, Edom joined with the invaders to afflict them. Israel is still surrounded by enemies. Are they any different today? God watches Israel, His covenant people,  and their enemies will be punished.

 

Obadiah 1:10“Because of the violence you did
to your close relatives in Israel,
you will be filled with shame
and destroyed forever.
11When they were invaded,
you stood aloof, refusing to help them.
Foreign invaders carried off their wealth
and cast lots to divide up Jerusalem,
but you acted like one of Israel’s enemies.
12“You should not have gloated
when they exiled your relatives to distant lands.
You should not have rejoiced
when the people of Judah suffered such misfortune.
You should not have spoken arrogantly
in that terrible time of trouble.
13You should not have plundered the land of Israel
when they were suffering such calamity.
You should not have gloated over their destruction
when they were suffering such calamity.
You should not have seized their wealth
when they were suffering such calamity.
14You should not have stood at the crossroads,
killing those who tried to escape.
You should not have captured the survivors
and handed them over in their terrible time of trouble. (NLT)

 

Do we take advantage of a brother in need? How can we not be like Esau? How can we bless God's covenant people?

Translated

Heb 11:5  By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.
Heb 11:6  But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

Enoch was translated by faith. The word translate means to change, remove, to put.

 

Col 1:12  Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:
Col 1:13  Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:
Col 1:14  In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:
Col 1:15  Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:

We have read that to worship God we must worship him in Spirit and in truth.

 

Joh 4:23  But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.
Joh 4:24  God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

 

Our faith must rest on the true God and Jesus his son. The LORD requires faith to move in his people.

 

Rom 10:17  So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

 

What else is needed besides faith and true worship? It is a continual walk in the presence of God.

 

Gen 5:24  And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him. 

It's all about me?

Last night I was at a rehearsal of the college symphonic band. The conductor is a high spirited man who has led the band with enthusiasm for over thirty years. In recent years he married a younger woman from England who was a music major at the college. She is gifted to play several instruments and sits next to me in the trombone section. She stood up, leaving her horn on the chair and walked over to the conductor's podium and with baton in hand she directed the band with precision as the conductor was out in the theater seating area. She conducted two of our selections for next week's concert and then returned to her seat. I am not sure if this was planned, but when he returned he commented on how wonderful the band sounded and how blessed he was to have such a talented wife. Now, he could have been jealous when the band clapped enthusiastically, but he was gracious and humble. Truth is, he has never been angry or judgmental in all the years I have known him. The point is that we each are gifted in some way. Some have been at it longer than others, built up a ministry, kept the faith. Yet, others may step in to move things along and each brings something different to the fullness of the body of Christ. We are not to be jealous , envious, competitive or spiteful, for the ministry is the Lord's and he moves through his yielded vessels as he wills. Rather than complain about a lack of a gift in a person, perhaps you are meant to fill the missing gift? One person may be gifted in one area, but others are stronger in other areas of need in the body of Christ. We come together in unity and love in one spirit, we are one in Christ.

Rom 12:3  For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. 
Rom 12:4  For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: 
Rom 12:5  So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.

Saint Andrew

In an earlier post of leaves on my car, I could not get this image in the set of pictures. Repeated attempts and my writing would appear blocked and off to one side. I took this as a "no" and left it out of the set. The X of the leaf stems reminded me of the Rebel flag, but it also could be another flag, the flag of Scotland, that is called the Saltire, or St. Andrews cross. It depicts the crucifixion of St. Andrew, Scotland's patron Saint, who reportedly asked to be crucified in a different way from Christ, so they crucified him on an X shaped cross. It was St. Andrew that brought Christian Religion to Scotland. St. Andrew never went to Scotland to preach but after his death pieces of his bones were sent to various places. These the Catholic Church calls relics. Relics were worshiped and eventually a cathedral built in honor of St. Andrew. The flag was made from a battle story where prayers were made and an X shaped white cloud appeared in the blue sky.

This is a lot of religious tradition. If a relic reminds someone of Jesus Christ as the Saviour, then so be it, but we do not worship a relic. Jesus is the Saviour, not religious traditions.

History and lore are interesting and I deeply respect Scotland and her people. But to put our faith in a saint is a Catholic practice. There was little said about Andrew in the Bible, but he was the first Disciple of Christ.

John 1:35  Again the next day after John stood, and two of his disciples; 

John 1:36  And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God! 

John 1:37  And the two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus. 

John 1:38  Then Jesus turned, and saw them following, and saith unto them, What seek ye? They said unto him, Rabbi, (which is to say, being interpreted, Master,) where dwellest thou? 

John 1:39  He saith unto them, Come and see. They came and saw where he dwelt, and abode with him that day: for it was about the tenth hour. 

John 1:40  One of the two which heard John speak, and followed him, was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother. 

John 1:41  He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ. 

John 1:42  And he brought him to Jesus. And when Jesus beheld him, he said, Thou art Simon the son of Jona: thou shalt be called Cephas, which is by interpretation, A stone. 

There are other places where Andrew is mentioned in the Bible. God bless his part in the Biblical account of the Messiah. Jesus Christ is the Chief Cornerstone of the church. He is the head of the Church and he is the only begotten Son of God. Let us not worship relics or idols or make a man to take the place of Jesus Christ.

Salvation

I thank God for these particular scriptures. They are his promises and show us the steps to salvation from our sins. These scriptures are referred to often in leading many to Christ and a new life in His Spirit.

Rom 10:8 But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;

Preaching the word of faith

Rom 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

Rom 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
Rom 1:17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.

What is the way?

Rom 10:9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

Confess with your mouth, or write it on the screen, that Jesus has risen from the grave. He is the only one who said he was of God who has risen from the grave, proving that he is of God. He is God the Son as this other powerful witnessing verse says:

John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Confession of Jesus, believing and trusting in him with all your heart, will save you from your sins.

Rom 10:10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

It is God who chooses you and then we respond with confession of faith and with  believing in our hearts that he has risen from the grave. Confess their sins to God, he knows them, and to give all to him. For Jesus has died for all your sins.

Psa 32:5 I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the LORD; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah.

After this ask for the Holy Spirit to come in you and teach you all truth. By the spirit comes power to repent, to turn from the old ways, and to seek Gods direction and will. Finally we make Jesus Lord and master of our life.

1 Pet 1:23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.

Behold all things have become new, I am a child of God. I have everlasting life with Jesus and he holds me in his hand . I am an adopted child of the king, forever. If you think Jesus cannot forgive you, you are mistaken. No one is beyond the cleansing blood of Jesus, as long as they are able to respond to his love. After death it is too late.Yes, he loves you, now is the time of salvation. Come to Jesus.

Autumn leaves of red and gold

The Crape Myrtle leaves fall on my car. A
closer look proves that they are quite beautiful.
These are simple blessings of God's design.

Nearer Lord to thee..

Psa 119:63  I am a companion of all them that fear thee,
 and of them that keep thy precepts. 

Asking for directions?
One group is open sided, the other closed.

John 14:6  Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. 

Beware of false prophets.

1Jn 4:1  Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. 

Just out of seminary,
but will they teach the whole word of truth?

Act 20:28  Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.
Act 20:29  For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.

Some come to church seeking healing.

Luke 4:40  Now when the sun was setting, all they that had any sick with divers diseases brought them unto him; and he laid his hands on every one of them, and healed them. 

Nothing like close fellowship.

1Jn 1:7  But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. 

The leaves are packed like sardines,
but are we not one body in the Lord?

Rom 12:5  So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. 

All bow at the feet of Jesus.

Rev 4:10  The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, 

Rev 4:11  Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.