I believe that many people don't forgive because they are afraid that it means that the other person will get off scott free. This might be true, but not always. In fact, many times just forgiving makes the other person feel convicted of his/her wrong.
Anyways, forgiveness isn't for the other person. Forgivness is for you. That is right, you. You see, forgivness takes the binds that are around you and removes them. Forgivness frees you. In fact, if you don't forgive, you aren't harming the other person. The other person probally doesn't even care if s/he is forgiven. The person you are mostly harming by not forgiving is yourself.
Thursday, July 5, 2007
Sunday, May 27, 2007
Who are you?
We have all heard it time and time again. Someone feeling like a second class citizen because that is what others act like. Sometimes it has been us being the second class citizen, other times we have been the accusers.
Now, does the negative others say about you or what you think of yourself determine who you really are? I say no. For circumstances, the opinion of others and ourselves don't determine who we are. They are only a mere cog in the cycle of life.
You see, who we are has been determined long ago. Before we were even born. For Christ showed a love for us and cared deeply for us. Christ Yeshua said that He came to this Earth to seek and save the lost, to make the blind(physically and spiritually)see and the lame walk. All we have to do is accept Him.
Christ also said that we are wonderfully made in His image and very much loved. He wants the best for us. He doesn't want us to allow others to determine who we are. He wants us to allow His Word and His love to determine who we are. For if we have accepted Christ in our hearts we are now adopted sons and daughters of the King of Kings. And if we are adopted sons and daughters of the King of Kings, that makes us princes and princesses. And through Yeshua, we can accomplish anything that is in His will.
Now, does the negative others say about you or what you think of yourself determine who you really are? I say no. For circumstances, the opinion of others and ourselves don't determine who we are. They are only a mere cog in the cycle of life.
You see, who we are has been determined long ago. Before we were even born. For Christ showed a love for us and cared deeply for us. Christ Yeshua said that He came to this Earth to seek and save the lost, to make the blind(physically and spiritually)see and the lame walk. All we have to do is accept Him.
Christ also said that we are wonderfully made in His image and very much loved. He wants the best for us. He doesn't want us to allow others to determine who we are. He wants us to allow His Word and His love to determine who we are. For if we have accepted Christ in our hearts we are now adopted sons and daughters of the King of Kings. And if we are adopted sons and daughters of the King of Kings, that makes us princes and princesses. And through Yeshua, we can accomplish anything that is in His will.
Monday, May 21, 2007
Ahavah Olam-everlasting love
Ahavah Olam. This is a very powerful word. This word means 'ever lasting love'. It is a word that the Lord uses a lot with us.
Yeshua loved you and me when we still hated Him. He loves everyone despite their attitude toward Him. It was His Ahavah Olam that turned us toward the Light of the World.
In scripture it is written that we are to be like Yeshua and love one another. We are to have a Ahavah Olam type of love toward one another. We are to humble ourselves for the sake of others. This does not mean being a doormat, but being a stepping stone. In turn, you will find that you will need a stepping stone from time to time.
Never let Ahavah Olam pass you by. Never allow Ahavah Olam to be replaced by a substitute. For like there is no true substitute for Yeshua, there is no substitute for Ahavah Olam. For as Yeshua is eternal and the only way for salvation, Ahavah Olam is eternal and the only love that truly heals.
Yeshua loved you and me when we still hated Him. He loves everyone despite their attitude toward Him. It was His Ahavah Olam that turned us toward the Light of the World.
In scripture it is written that we are to be like Yeshua and love one another. We are to have a Ahavah Olam type of love toward one another. We are to humble ourselves for the sake of others. This does not mean being a doormat, but being a stepping stone. In turn, you will find that you will need a stepping stone from time to time.
Never let Ahavah Olam pass you by. Never allow Ahavah Olam to be replaced by a substitute. For like there is no true substitute for Yeshua, there is no substitute for Ahavah Olam. For as Yeshua is eternal and the only way for salvation, Ahavah Olam is eternal and the only love that truly heals.
Thursday, May 3, 2007
Our stronghold.
Nah 1:7 Jehovah is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; and He knows those who trust in Him.
the definition of stronghold is: a strongly fortified structure that is used for protection and defense. What great news to know that our Lord is our stronghold!!! He will protect us and keep us safe. He is like a shield that protects us even when we have to go into battle. He is also the foxhole that hides us when the enemy seems strong.
When we are in the stronghold of the Lord Jesus, we are not to cower. We are to become strong. We are to use this time to strengthen ourselves for the fight. We are to learn about the enemy and what his tactics and weapons are. We are to learn how to defend against them and when to attack. We are to make a wise strategy against the enemy for a foolish strategy will play into the hands of the enemy.
There will be times where it looks like the enemy is going to win. This is the time to press on. For our protector and defender is the Lord Jesus Himself. He will lead us into battle. Not to defeat the devil, for the devil has already been defeated. No, Jesus will lead us into battle to show us that we have already defeated the devil and his demons. We will be going to take back what is already ours!!! For the Lord said that the victory is ours!!!
All that the Lord Jesus ever asks is that we have a heart trust in Him. He knows us because we trust in Him. Remember Jesus tells those who doesn't have a heart trust in Him that He never knew them even though they preformed miracles and did good in His name. This is because they trusted in the works instead of Christ.
So do you trust the Lord Jesus to be your stronghold?
the definition of stronghold is: a strongly fortified structure that is used for protection and defense. What great news to know that our Lord is our stronghold!!! He will protect us and keep us safe. He is like a shield that protects us even when we have to go into battle. He is also the foxhole that hides us when the enemy seems strong.
When we are in the stronghold of the Lord Jesus, we are not to cower. We are to become strong. We are to use this time to strengthen ourselves for the fight. We are to learn about the enemy and what his tactics and weapons are. We are to learn how to defend against them and when to attack. We are to make a wise strategy against the enemy for a foolish strategy will play into the hands of the enemy.
There will be times where it looks like the enemy is going to win. This is the time to press on. For our protector and defender is the Lord Jesus Himself. He will lead us into battle. Not to defeat the devil, for the devil has already been defeated. No, Jesus will lead us into battle to show us that we have already defeated the devil and his demons. We will be going to take back what is already ours!!! For the Lord said that the victory is ours!!!
All that the Lord Jesus ever asks is that we have a heart trust in Him. He knows us because we trust in Him. Remember Jesus tells those who doesn't have a heart trust in Him that He never knew them even though they preformed miracles and did good in His name. This is because they trusted in the works instead of Christ.
So do you trust the Lord Jesus to be your stronghold?
Friday, April 27, 2007
Zep 1:7
Zep 1:7 Be silent before the face of the Lord Jehovah, for the day of Jehovah is at hand. For Jehovah has appointed a sacrifice; He has consecrated His called ones.
The appointed sacrifice died a sinner's death on the cross. Even though He died a sinner's death, He committed no sin. He was and is the fulfillment of the Scriptures. He is the Truth, Way, Life, Bread, Light. This man born of a virgin and named Jesus was the appointed sacrifice.
It is our heart belief in who Jesus is and what He did that makes us one of His own. We have been called into His family to be adopted sons and daughters. It is our faith that consecrates us to Him. Nothing of works can ever consecrate us. However, works are the offspring of faith in the Lord Jesus. For faith with out works is dead.
The appointed sacrifice died a sinner's death on the cross. Even though He died a sinner's death, He committed no sin. He was and is the fulfillment of the Scriptures. He is the Truth, Way, Life, Bread, Light. This man born of a virgin and named Jesus was the appointed sacrifice.
It is our heart belief in who Jesus is and what He did that makes us one of His own. We have been called into His family to be adopted sons and daughters. It is our faith that consecrates us to Him. Nothing of works can ever consecrate us. However, works are the offspring of faith in the Lord Jesus. For faith with out works is dead.
the disembodied Church
The bible states in 1Cor 12:12-27
(1Co 12:12) For as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body; so also is Christ.
(1Co 12:13) For also by one Spirit we are all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether bond or free, even all were made to drink into one Spirit.
(1Co 12:14) For the body is not one member, but many.
(1Co 12:15) If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?
(1Co 12:16) And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?
(1Co 12:17) If all the body were an eye, where would be the hearing? If all hearing, where would be the smelling?
(1Co 12:18) But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body as it has pleased Him.
(1Co 12:19) And if they were all one member, where would be the body?
(1Co 12:20) But now indeed many are the members, yet only one body.
(1Co 12:21) And the eye cannot say to the hand, I have no need of you; nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you.
(1Co 12:22) But much rather the members of the body seeming to be weaker are necessary.
(1Co 12:23) And those members of the body which we think to be less honorable, on these we put more abundant honor around them. And our unpresentable members have more abundant propriety.
(1Co 12:24) For our presentable members have no need, but God tempered the body together, giving more abundant honor to the member having need;
(1Co 12:25) that there not be division in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another.
(1Co 12:26) And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; if one member is glorified, all the members rejoice with it.
(1Co 12:27) And you are the body of Christ, and members in part.
and also in Romans 12:4-5
Rom 12:4 For even as we have many members in one body, and all members do not have the same function,
Rom 12:5 so we the many are one body in Christ, and each one members of one another.
The first thing you notice when reading these scriptures is that the Chruch is not a building or a place, but the Church are the people who have dedicated their hearts to the Lord Jesus. You will also notice that the Lord created the Church to be diverse(1Cor12:14 and Rom12:4) yet one. (1Cor12:20 and Rom12:5) Another thing you will notice is that what we do affects the body of Christ either for the good or bad.(1Cor12:26)
Yet, it seems that today the Body of Christ is in pieces. It's like the parts of the body decided that if they can't be like the others or the others can't/won't be like them that it is best to leave. They ignor the 'useless parts' and discard them as waste. In return, the 'useless parts' feel as if they never were a part. In fact the division is so bad that there is even division within the division.
Do you know that the Devil loves the fact that the body is in pieces? That is correct. He is loving it. This is because it is much easier for the Devil and his demons to penetrate when the Body is in pieces and in discontent with each other.
Is there a way back? There is. The problem is that we need to stop thinking 'denominations' and thinking 'One body, one mind'. That mind is the mind of Christ. We must also stop all of these petty fighting with in the body. Some of these are about what kind of bible to read and what kind of baptism is real. All these arguments do is further tear the body apart. This is not what the Lord wants for His elect.
We must understand that we are all at different levels in our walk with the Lord. This doesn't mean that one part is better than another. It just means that the Lord instills different gifts to different parts. We must use our different levels and gifts to enhance the body. We must never complain because we aren't like other Christians. For remember if we all had the gift of healing, who would teach? If all taught, then who would preach and so on.
So celebrate your differences and know that you are one in Christ.
(1Co 12:12) For as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body; so also is Christ.
(1Co 12:13) For also by one Spirit we are all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether bond or free, even all were made to drink into one Spirit.
(1Co 12:14) For the body is not one member, but many.
(1Co 12:15) If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?
(1Co 12:16) And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?
(1Co 12:17) If all the body were an eye, where would be the hearing? If all hearing, where would be the smelling?
(1Co 12:18) But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body as it has pleased Him.
(1Co 12:19) And if they were all one member, where would be the body?
(1Co 12:20) But now indeed many are the members, yet only one body.
(1Co 12:21) And the eye cannot say to the hand, I have no need of you; nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you.
(1Co 12:22) But much rather the members of the body seeming to be weaker are necessary.
(1Co 12:23) And those members of the body which we think to be less honorable, on these we put more abundant honor around them. And our unpresentable members have more abundant propriety.
(1Co 12:24) For our presentable members have no need, but God tempered the body together, giving more abundant honor to the member having need;
(1Co 12:25) that there not be division in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another.
(1Co 12:26) And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; if one member is glorified, all the members rejoice with it.
(1Co 12:27) And you are the body of Christ, and members in part.
and also in Romans 12:4-5
Rom 12:4 For even as we have many members in one body, and all members do not have the same function,
Rom 12:5 so we the many are one body in Christ, and each one members of one another.
The first thing you notice when reading these scriptures is that the Chruch is not a building or a place, but the Church are the people who have dedicated their hearts to the Lord Jesus. You will also notice that the Lord created the Church to be diverse(1Cor12:14 and Rom12:4) yet one. (1Cor12:20 and Rom12:5) Another thing you will notice is that what we do affects the body of Christ either for the good or bad.(1Cor12:26)
Yet, it seems that today the Body of Christ is in pieces. It's like the parts of the body decided that if they can't be like the others or the others can't/won't be like them that it is best to leave. They ignor the 'useless parts' and discard them as waste. In return, the 'useless parts' feel as if they never were a part. In fact the division is so bad that there is even division within the division.
Do you know that the Devil loves the fact that the body is in pieces? That is correct. He is loving it. This is because it is much easier for the Devil and his demons to penetrate when the Body is in pieces and in discontent with each other.
Is there a way back? There is. The problem is that we need to stop thinking 'denominations' and thinking 'One body, one mind'. That mind is the mind of Christ. We must also stop all of these petty fighting with in the body. Some of these are about what kind of bible to read and what kind of baptism is real. All these arguments do is further tear the body apart. This is not what the Lord wants for His elect.
We must understand that we are all at different levels in our walk with the Lord. This doesn't mean that one part is better than another. It just means that the Lord instills different gifts to different parts. We must use our different levels and gifts to enhance the body. We must never complain because we aren't like other Christians. For remember if we all had the gift of healing, who would teach? If all taught, then who would preach and so on.
So celebrate your differences and know that you are one in Christ.
Saturday, April 14, 2007
Honoring the Lord through food and holidays part 2
Well, as I was saying, I celebrate the Lord's holidays instead of traditional Christian ones. This is because the Lord has laid it on my heart for me to do so. What I have to remember is that just because He laid this on my heart, it doesn't mean I should tell others they must celebrate like I do. You see, this is not a salvational issue and doing so could cause a fellow believer to lose faith.
Rom 14:16 Then do not let your good be spoken evil of,
Rom 14:17 for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. I think that many Christians either never knew about these versus, or never paid any mind to them. For I have seen many 'fights' and arguments about what to eat, kind of bible to read, songs to sing in church, etc... This is just silly and not very Christian like. If you are kosher and do so to please the Lord, then keep being kosher. If you are not kosher, and the Lord has not convicted you to become kosher, then don't become kosher.
Rom 14:23 But the one doubting, if he eats, he has been condemned, because it is not of faith; and whatever is not of faith is sin. That is right, if you do anything not of faith it is sin. So, making a person conform to your standards of what a Christian is to eat, read, celebrate, etc... is causing them to sin. For example, my church did a 'Resurrection Egg Hunt' at the local park. They were doing it in their hearts to honor the Lord. I didn't get involved, because in my heart doing so would have been sin. I didn't tell my pastor he was wrong, and he didn't tell me I was wrong(and neither did anyone involved). Btw, no one was in the wrong. This is because it was a faith issue.
Rom 14:16 Then do not let your good be spoken evil of,
Rom 14:17 for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. I think that many Christians either never knew about these versus, or never paid any mind to them. For I have seen many 'fights' and arguments about what to eat, kind of bible to read, songs to sing in church, etc... This is just silly and not very Christian like. If you are kosher and do so to please the Lord, then keep being kosher. If you are not kosher, and the Lord has not convicted you to become kosher, then don't become kosher.
Rom 14:23 But the one doubting, if he eats, he has been condemned, because it is not of faith; and whatever is not of faith is sin. That is right, if you do anything not of faith it is sin. So, making a person conform to your standards of what a Christian is to eat, read, celebrate, etc... is causing them to sin. For example, my church did a 'Resurrection Egg Hunt' at the local park. They were doing it in their hearts to honor the Lord. I didn't get involved, because in my heart doing so would have been sin. I didn't tell my pastor he was wrong, and he didn't tell me I was wrong(and neither did anyone involved). Btw, no one was in the wrong. This is because it was a faith issue.
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