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Rev 2:1 Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks;
Rev 2:2 I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars:
Rev 2:3 And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name's sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted.
Rev 2:4 Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.
Rev 2:5 Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.
Rev 2:6 But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.
Rev 2:7 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.
I am not sure I understand the full meaning of these verses, but one section seems to be the most important.
Rev 2:4 Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.
Rev 2:5 Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; ...
More love for the Lord; our first love. We loved God more than anyone for he gave us of his love to share with others. Anything that we love more than God may be taken from us. Walk in truth and above all in the love of God through Christ Jesus who gave his life so that we may live more abundantly and forever in his joy and peace.
1Co 13:12 For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.
1Co 13:13 So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.
MORE LOVE TO THEE
Last night we came half way through the book of Isaiah in our Bible chat room and I see it as a word for our times.
Isa 33:7 Behold, their valiant ones shall cry without: the ambassadors of peace shall weep bitterly.
Isa 33:8 The highways lie waste, the wayfaring man ceaseth: he hath broken the covenant, he hath despised the cities, he regardeth no man.
"If this is the end times, the time of the man of peace who sets himself up in Jerusalem, who all the world looks to for peace, the Antichrist shall make war on the people of God. those who preach the good news of the kingdom of God through Jesus Christ, shall be silenced and martyrd. These are the valiant ones; those who deliver the gospel of peace.
What causes the valiant of God to weep? Being prevented from preaching the gospel publicly could be a reason for sorrows. I see the time approaching when we will not be able to speak openly the gospel of Jesus Christ. By exposing sin we will be called haters. Peter and John were told not to speak of Jesus and they responded :
Act 4:19 ... Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye.
Act 4:20 For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.
The valiant men may be weeping for the lost souls who could not hear the gospel. In many churches today the focus is on personal prosperity. Preachers that tickle ears have quit speaking of heaven and hell. They do not preach that Jesus has come to die for our sins and that he is risen again to eternal life. How many in these mega churches will end up in hell, because no one warned them?
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.
John 3:17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
John 3:18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
We must fulfill the calling of Jesus by seeking to save the lost through faith in Jesus Christ. Have we tears for lost souls headed for hell? Let's get our minds free of impure thoughts, of negative words and then may we hear what God is saying to us. By his power and in the Holy Spirit we are to be the light of truth and to keep going until he returns.
I went to church last night instead of to band practice. At church there was a teaching from James, with a summary of the highlights with more attention focused on James 1:1-4.
Jas 1:1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting.
Jas 1:2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;
Jas 1:3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.
Jas 1:4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
Jas 1:5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
I understood from the teaching that we all have fallen into divers temptations. Temptations often can be avoided or we can flee from them. I also see the word temptations as trials , diversions, something bad falling to you. An illness could be an example or as last night when my bathroom was overflowing water. My daughter was doing laundry and when we looked in the bathroom water was all over the floor. Our attention shifted to a need of wisdom. Past knowledge was applied to the problem and after some effort the blockage was opened up. Often in life we face problems. We learn to go through them finding solutions and by asking God for wisdom, we apply faith and hope until they are over. Count it all joy, because when it is over it is joy from the Lord, a fruit of the spirit.
The biopsy went well yesterday. I awoke with great joy realizing that it was over and I had no pain. I spoke to the male nurse, thanking him for his service. Service is one of the great spiritual gifts. Jesus commamded his disiples to be servants, as was his example.
Mar 10:42 But Jesus called them to him, and saith unto them, Ye know that they which are accounted to rule over the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and their great ones exercise authority upon them.
Mar 10:43 But so shall it not be among you: but whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister:
Mar 10:44 And whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all.
Mar 10:45 For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.
It is a great honor to be a servant of Jesus Christ, for we are more than servants.
John 15:15 Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.
A friend of Christ comes from serving Jesus, but there is more.
Gal 3:13 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:
Gal 3:14 That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
Gal 4:1 Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all;
Gal 4:2 But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father.
Gal 4:3 Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world:
Gal 4:4 But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,
Gal 4:5 To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.
Gal 4:6 And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.
Gal 4:7 Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.
Disciples are servants; servant disciples are friends of Jesus, more than this we are adopted sons of God and joint heirs with Jesus. A lot comes from being a servant of Christ. Thank you my Lord and savior and my dearest friend. May I serve you with Joy forever.
1Ti 1:8 Now we know that the law is good, if one uses it lawfully,
1Ti 1:9 understanding this, that the law is not laid down for the just but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who strike their fathers and mothers, for murderers,
1Ti 1:10 the sexually immoral, men who practice homosexuality, enslavers, liars, perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound doctrine,
The only way to escape the condemation of the law is to be forgiven through Jesus who took our sins away.
John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
John 3:17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.
John 3:18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.
John 3:19 And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil.
John 3:20 For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed.
John 3:21 But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.”
No one can by their own efforts keep the law, but those who wish to be cleansed of sin and to receive eternal life with God's people; they come to Jesus. In Jesus we are become the people of truth and light.
Lord move on hearts to receive Jesus as both Master and Savior. I am so glad that Jesus saved me.
This fourth of July morning our MPJ prayer breakfast met as usual at eight thirty in the morning. When I arrived The twelve people greeted me with "Happy Birthday." My birthday was earlier in the week, but this was to be a special 80th birthday celebration for me.
I was asked to choose our songs to sing from our song list. We sang God Bless America because it was made famous in 1939 sung by Kate Smith. As usual one of the special ladies was moved to tears. We know when the Spirit is moving by seeing her deep feelings and tears expressed in her face. I chose another hymn, Great is thy Faithfulness, because it is by the grace of God that I have lived to this young age. Lastly, we sang America the Beautiful. We all spontaneously stood for this beautiful song sung from our hearts. God will bless America that blesses Him.
Pastor Paul spoke of service and how we must be broken of self will and be servants of the Lord. He said some nice things about me...I thanked him and in my usual attempt at humor said, "now I want be rewarded in heaven, I got all my rewards today." Haha...Truly to be in the presence of our Lord is the greatest reward ever.
I had asked a friend to bring a recording of I'm a Yankee Doodle Dandy, with James Cagney. He played this at the end of the meeting. We were fired up with patriotism and thankfulness; especially me. A friend commented to me in the parking lot that you should be experiencing a glow. Yes, it was a beautiful gathering, all in unity. We all should glow for the freedoms we have in our nation and give God thanks for keeping us all these years. May you be blessed as well.
1Ki 11:9 And the LORD was angry with Solomon, because his heart had turned away from the LORD, the God of Israel, who had appeared to him twice
1Ki 11:10 and had commanded him concerning this thing, that he should not go after other gods. But he did not keep what the LORD commanded.
1Ki 11:11 Therefore the LORD said to Solomon, “Since this has been your practice and you have not kept my covenant and my statutes that I have commanded you, I will surely tear the kingdom from you and will give it to your servant.
1Ki 11:12 Yet for the sake of David your father I will not do it in your days, but I will tear it out of the hand of your son.
To practice something is to learn to do something better. It is something we do consistantly. A Physician practices medicine. When I practice music, it is to become familiar with it, so that it comes from my heart.
Solomon had turned his heart away from serving the one true God. His wives had other gods and he became obsessed with them. It would be better to have one wife who served the one true God, being united in faith. Solomon asked for wisdom and then he left wisdom to be tempted by women and their false gods. Perhaps he was only trying to please his many wives? Maybe Adam was only trying to please his wife, Eve when he followed her in partaking of the forbidden fruit?
We claim to be Christians and that is good. What do we practice? What takes most of our attention and time?
1Co 9:22 To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some.
1Co 9:23 I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings.
1Co 9:24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it.
1Co 9:25 Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable.
1Co 9:26 So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air.
1Co 9:27 But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.
I do not want to be disqualified as a servant of Christ. We must practice His presence in our life and be obedient adopted sons of God. If you are a woman you can be a daughter of God. We all will be the bride of Christ. Let's not get caught up in gender identity. Being identified as a Christian is good, so we are to practice reading his word and prayer. Our actions are to please our LORD.
