Christ Jesus is our Salvation pt1

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Christ Jesus is our Salvation

Genesis 7: 1 “..The Lord then said to Noah, “Go into the ark, you and your whole family, because I have found you righteous in this generation..”

   Noah was truly a man of faith, because he did what the Lord told, not to mention building the ‘Ark’, in the first place. This in it’s self proved to God how much Noah was a man of faith.

   I’m sure Noah had to battle on despite his critic's and mockers. . .
Mockers … How are going to steer that thing without a rudder?
Noah … I don’t know but God does.
Mockers … Where are you going to go?
Noah … I don’t know never been on a cruise before.

   Noah’s wife is always over looked during this time in his life. As she is along with the whole family, has never been written about before. Think about it, a ship that has no rudder: sail or ships-wheel, would have no idea where they would be headed. How many of us as a child disagreed with their parent as they thought they knew it all when just 13 to 15? saying “I’m not a child anymore, declaring they are old enough and responsible enough.”

   You might think that ‘just’ praying for your parents, siblings, children, is all that needs to done. Or, you will never see them in the garden of Eden? (wrong). If they are not saved, or born again ,or have accepted Christ Jesus into their lives. Come see me and I’ll give the matches myself, to set them on fire. As this is what you are condemning them to, when they go to the ‘great-lake-of Fire’.

Rev 20: 15 “..Anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire..”

Math 24: 37 “..As it was in the days of Noah..” Today the excuse is ‘well he had it so damn easy’… WHAT … Noah had temptations excuses, same pressures, these are the same today. Just as today, it was easy to give in to wickedness. How many times did he miss his dinner because he working on the Ark? How many times was he late for special dates? It would have been easy for Noah’s wife to say had had enough. All these things happen today! I do wonder what must go through Gods mind when He see’s the mess the world and us are in?

   A large population that knows of the Bible says, NO to it’s ways as it is too restrictive. Instead they prefer to sit on the side lines to judge those who want to be a Christian, just waiting for you to slip up. To many times God sees those who would rather ‘all-mod-cons’, than help those who have nothing, and would rather be a Christian. Too many times Gods sees a ‘Me, Myself, Mine’. One that never stops to help those less fortunate.

   A mind set that always thinks ‘my money I earned it – I worked hard for it, so I can spend it how I want I have asked this question many times, you see a glass filled half way, now do you see a glass half fall or half empty? (my wife asks what is in the glass?)

   On social-media is a video was shared, a while ago now, Of a guy who would, out of his own pocket, went around Spring-Summer-Autumn-Winter, would hand out a bottle of water a packet of sandwiches and a new T shirt. In the Winter he would give a thermal T shirt. I’m not saying you need to do this, something is better that nothing.

   We have become a generation that would rather ‘lie’ than being honest….
2Timothy 3: 1 “..But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come..
V2 ..For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy..
V3 ..unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good ..”
   Try and get your head around the fact, these are just 14 behaviours of many more, we endure today. It would scare you witless if I listed them all, it would take too long to list.
V5 “..from such people turn away..”

   I have an exercise for to try, and please do. I want you to go to your front door step out side, looking up and down. You can’t save everyone, instead turn around and look at your home, win them for Jesus, forgive them of any wrong doings. Tell them that you love them even when they don’t won’t to hear it, if on the phone to relatives, tell them ‘God Bless’, at the end of each call. I did this with my parents, my late mother knew how much this meant to me and so accepted. Dad to accepted this and always ended our call with God Bless too. So never give up on your family it will never be too late. Mum in our last visit we had together in her Hospital bed accepted Christ, dad sadly not and breaks my heart, should have done more. Noah saved his household as well.

   Remember faith conquers all, we are so consumed with keeping up with the ‘Jones’, we end up missing what truly is important. They have more money than you, but that is not what is important, they value higher-education’ because they have a masters/PhD degree. With all their education, they missed the point, as education does not mean your intelligent. For all her education I had to show a mid 20’s student Nurse how to make a cup of coffee, scary or what?

#Faith will always make the difference# 

   Just because you come from a ‘privileged’ background, have loads of money in the bank, believe me when I tell you this will not save. Sooner or later your finances will run out, then where will you be? When all things fail you’ll have nothing, that is unless your faith in Gods divine purpose for your life is true.

   Noah had so much faith in God, so much so .. Genesis 6: 8 “..But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord..” .. I wonder how of you have had so called ‘friends’, mock your faith saying things like ...”Where is your God?” … When your going through hard times … “How come your god has not healed you yet?” … “How can you have faith in something you can’t ‘see’ or ‘touch?” I’m sure Noah must have got all these and many besides. Despite the barrage of these insults, Noah’s faith never once faltered, and so did all of his family.

I wonder how many of us have had so called ‘friends’, that mock your faith by saying things like …

• Where is your God? (When going through hard times)
• How come your God has not heard you yet?
• Why have faith in something you can’t see ‘or’ touch?

… many more hurtful comments besides. Noah got all these and many more besides and like you many more. Despite the barrage of abuse and insults, Noah’s faith never once faltered, and so did his family.

   Noah believed … Methuselah (all the days of Methuselah were nine hundred and sixty-nine years; and he died) … that it was god who built the Heavens and Earth.
Genesis 2: 7 .. “And the Lord God formed man of then dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being..”

   Due to Noah’s faith, unwavering, Noah stood out from the wicked and deceitful. He very quickly stood out because Noah believed was alive God, and sitting on His throne on high. Noah also believed if you did wrong, expect to be punished, and so god gave ‘Grace’ to Noah.

   For you to receive God’s grace, it’s not your works .. It’s not your education .. it’s about how much monetary wealth you have .. it’s not about how much sway you have in your community like on social media .. You need to have unwavering faith.
Hebrews 11: 6 “..without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him..”

   You win 12 Gold medals at 3 Olympics, win the F1 20yrs straight, be Knighted by the Queen, be as rich Bill Gates, from Microsoft, and give away 100’s of millions of pounds away every year. It all counts for nothing ~ nought ~ zip ~ nicht ~ ничего ~ rien, are you getting the idea?? I hope so, this is what you get for no faith in God.

   Except his family, despite all those Noah knew that had lost, or, tossed aside their faith in God, Noah stayed true to his faith. Thus in return find grace in the Lord. You see no matter who, or and for how long, Noah’s faith unshaken, some could have been an old friend whom he grew up with. Too undertake the building of such a ship to day with all the tools and cranes it would take us, by ourselves, around a life time, literally. So imagine Noah and his son’s, cutting down by hand, this using axes and nothing else, cutting joints by hand as the ship, yes lets call it’s what it is .. monster ship, became larger and larger, with out Gods help would be impossible to do this.

When your ‘friends’ mock you for becoming a Christian, constantly calling you and your family names. Can your faith with stand such a barrage of abuse? Sadly many of you will not ..  Mark 11: 22 “..Jesus said have faith in God..” … I have to talk to you about having faith in things that are NOT of God, like your cars. You have faith in them to get you to work, or on holiday. You have faith in the toaster to cook your bread just the way you like. We have faith in many more things than I have room to write, but just please before reading on have a 2min think.

   There will come a time when you metal (faith) will be tested to the limit and beyond. Make sure daily that your faith cannot be compromised. You faith in finances will fail, in natural strength will fail, you will recognise when other people are going to fail you, but...

You faith in God will never fail you 

...when at work someone will ask you, ‘why do you pray’? Do you stick your head in the sand, or, do you hold fast to your faith and answer them?

part 2 coming in a couple of days

Holiday

 

I hope in the name Christ Jesus 

our Lord, that you and families are in good health.

   I have reached a stage where I need to take some time off for health, and spend some time with the Almighty Father God and rest in His presence to recharge batteries. Whilst the will be no more ‘new’ sermons published I will re-publish some of my old ones. I will be back publishing new works from Gods Word.


   Please don’t forget your prayers as these are important part of our daily walk with Christ. Thank you for your understanding.

Novemeber

   Notice

 for November '21

   I have been typing out some 'New' sermons. My plan is that each FRIDAY, there will be a new sermon. So far in November the following will go live ...

5th   .. Girding the Mind part 2 of 2

12th  .. Holiday

19th  .. 7 Points of Moses

26th  .. Thirty days of Grace

If you have been blessed by any of my sermons please let me know how they have impacted your life.

Girding the Mind ( part 2 of 2)

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Girding the Mind

5) The Optimistic Mind .. “Hope to the end, or Hope perfectly”

Lamentations 3:24 “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, “Therefore I hope in Him!” 26 It is good that one should hope and wait quietly”
Psalms 71:14 “But I will hope continually, And will praise You yet more and more”
   From a very young age I tried to be positive in all I did, no matter what I was doing. I always thought of the glass half full. That was till once I was asked what was in the glass? Lol No matter what befalls me, I thank God and give Him the glory. The more your able to train your mind, and nurture Gods word in your heart, then no matter what comes your way you’ll handle the problem with Gods guidance.

I) The Object of the Christian

   And to hope the end for the grace that is brought unto you the revelation of Christ Jesus’. Meaning:- Christ Jesus is on His way, so to is the grace that will be revealed in it’s fullness of His coming.
Revelation 1:4 “Grace to you and peace from Him who is and who was and who is to come”
   Have no mistake He is on His way, when all will be weighed, let not you be found wanting, as the clock is counting down to when Jesus will be King over all. It’s not to late to sow, the question is ‘am I prepared to sow’? It’s not just helping old ladies across the street, it is far .. far .. far more than this. One of the object of being a Christian is to be fruitful. Not, to fear what other may think of us, bearing fruit is sharing Christ with friends co-workers, even strangers. These can be the easiest as they know you not, so you don’t have see them day to day. Unbeknown to me I had ones praying for me that I knew not. in a chance meeting at a bus stop on my way to work, a woman collapsed. I was nursing on a respiratory ward, together with another lady of around the same age, we looked after this poor woman till the ambulance came. After the lady and I chatted on the bus, at my bus stop we said our good byes. That was till one one day with Gods guidance I turned up at the Church. So you ask what is our 'Objective', well there is ytour answer, to be fruitful. Sow just because they don't come to your Church, we need to SOW.
Psalm 126:5 "Those who sow in tears Shall reap in joy. He who continually goes forth weeping, Bearing seed for sowing, Shall doubtless come again with rejoicing"
   Just as we sow to reap a harvest, we must be careful how we sow as well. You can sow sorrow just as you sow joy .. Proverbs 16:28  "A perverse man sows strife, And a whisperer separates the best of friends" .. So you can see we need be careful of what we sow.

11) The Quality of the Christian hope .. that is Hope Perfectly

   There are degrees in hope, which you’ll find them weak at first, but should always be developed and over time strengthen with much .. Job 17:7 “Where then is my hope? As for my hope, who can see it?” .. This has to be one of things, whilst unseen, is a maker or breaker of attitudes, that helps us get up in the morning to face the new day. We may not want to, you may have loved one . . pets to look after . . but the one that should always be our lips, is our Heavenly Father, for He alone can help you. Listen to how the Psalmist said it in 16:9 “Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoices; My flesh also will rest in hope”

   We always go to sleep at night hoping of a good nights sleep, hoping to awaken rested, with batteries fully charged, for the coming day. I have to say I get frustrated all the ‘flip-floppers’, these just can’t make up their minds or ..Psalms 119:113/114 “I hate the double-minded, But I love Your law. 114 You are my hiding place and my shield; I hope in Your word” . . Lamentations 3:24/6 “The Lord is my portion, says my soul, Therefore I hope in Him! 25 The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, To the soul who seeks Him. 26 It is good that one should hope and wait quietly For the salvation of the Lord” . . . no matter what life is throwing at you, gird-your-mind’ in Gods word of encouragement, always never loose hope. Remember these words .. Psalms 71:14 “But I will hope continually, And will praise You yet more and more” .. They start here telling us that “I ...[you] will” .. not a ‘I might think about this some time, may be never’ God can bring your life so much if only surrender to Him.

   In the midst of our life’s storm, our boats may rock back and forth, sway too and throw, till we feel there is no more hope, as it has been washed over board .. BUT . . . STOP . . .WAIT .. Hebrews 6:19 “This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil” .. did you hear that an anchor for our soul .. “both sure and steadfast” .. no matter what, His anchor won’t move, not even the devil can move it. Once surrendered to God through our Lord Jesus Christ we can hope eternal.

   For the first time here, let me ask you ‘what is hope to you’? Wishful thinking ~ ‘With out any form of foundation’ may be? ~’A sense of confident expectation’? .. The best thing about biblical Hope, is that all the promises come from God, his promises have substance. Listen it was when I was getting baptised, my bank was well over drawn. Yet I had a month of bills, I needed petrol to get to work, food for month, then over and above these I needed money so I could drive my car on a 600 mile round trip to pick up Mum & Dad, all so they could witness my Baptism. I was down to my last pound, so I prayed to our Heavenly Father .. “you know this is my last pound (£1.00). You know my coming month, I need help oh Father God”, and as the offering basket came by I emptied my wallet there in ..
Luke 6:38 “Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom” (Also Act 4:31)
.. that was in the first week of April 1997, I was baptised on the 1st of May 1997. God told me to go and talk with the bank manager, so I did. Now by this time I was over drawn by £200.00. Whilst speaking with him, he said look, as he wiped out my over draft. I had, from God, food for 2months, I had plenty of money to bring Mum & Dad down to the baptismal service, and beyond. Now before I give my full testimony, lets get back to the message.

   Hope is never inferior of faith, but it is an extension of faith. But faith is the possession of grace, though hope is confidence in grace’s of future accomplishments to come. Our hope is not just once in our tomorrows in Christ Jesus. Our hope in Christ is for all our tomorrows. Let this scripture help show you the .. WHAT .. WHERE .. WHEN .. HOWS ..hope should be in … 1 Thessalonians 1:2/3 “We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers, 3 remembering without ceasing your work of faith, labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the sight of our God and Father

 . . . When your ebb is low, and you think that there is NO hope left to speak of, well there is, read this again & again & again, even post of your fridge door, put it on you Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Instagram, you get the idea, so that it not only helps you but that you can help someone else whom might be struggling too.

Prayer ..
In the Name above every name , that is Christ Jesus, let us Gird our minds and thoughts so as to bring us peace with our soul, thank you Heavenly Father, we shall have peace in you.

Amen

Girding the Mind ( part 1 of 2)

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Girding the Mind

   The moment about, or, think of ‘Girding’, then our minds, as Christians should go straight to Ephesians 6:10-20, and this putting on the armour of God . . .Proverbs 31:17 “She girds herself with strength”

Ephesians 6:14 “Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth” . . . but the scripture I want to talk on is .. 1 Peter 1:13 “Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; 14 as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; 15 but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 16 because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.”

   In recent times, we have seen an increase of ‘Mental-Health’ awareness, especially because of living in these times of the global pandemic, with Coved19, and because the mutations thereof. The modern emphasis on the mind, upon the importance of the thoughts in the realm of good living, It is thought to be a new ‘Psychological’ discovery. As a matter of fact it is no new thing at all, that is as far as the Bible is concerned. . .
Genesis 6:5 “Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually”
Philippians 4:8 “Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things” . . . in Peter note the close connection there, that is in between the ‘Girding of the mind, and the Holy life. The last mediation was on the intense and reverent curiosity of the Prophets of old, and even the Angels too, in the wonderfully devised scheme of redemption. The word wherefore gathers up all the wealthy results of the previous study. What effect should the result of a ‘Girding mind’ leading to a Holy life.

I will be looking at the following … The Girded Mind … The Cool Mind … The Controlled Mind … The Obedient Mind … The Optimistic Mind .. i the Object of the Christian .. ii The quality of the Christian Hope

1) The Girded Mind … to Gird up ..
John 21:18 “Most assuredly, I say to you, when you were younger, you girded yourself and walked where you wished; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish”

   It seems likely, the figure of this passage is taken from the flowing garments of the Oriental dress. The flowing robes caught the wind and wrapping about the legs, become serious hindrances to easy and progressive movement. The wearer therefore, lays hold of the hindering garment, tucking them into the girdle, which discharges the ministry of a belt.

   With our lives as they are today, a similar disorder may prevail in the realm of thought and affection. Our lives may be characterised by mental slovenliness. Our thoughts may trail into loose disorder, now loose thinking is dangerous, just so dangerous, just like a loose fitting clothing, it will trip you up. In today’s society to verbalise some thoughts will either have arrested or very badly beaten up. I was talking that I believe God made ‘only’ a Man & a Woman. Where as on an employment details, now you have to include the alpha bet, or it could be seen as hate crime or ‘racist’. . . Genesis 1:26 “Let Us make man in Our image” .. Matthew 19:4 “Have you not read that He who made them at the beginning ‘made them male and female” . . . in today’s climate, I feel mat be more than any other time in history. So Gird up your minds or is you like ‘brace-up’ your minds. If you have a burning thought, and you have no-one to talk to openly with, take all your cares ~ thoughts ~ worries ~ fears, take them take them all to God.

Psalms 55:22 “Cast your burden on the Lord, And He shall sustain you”

2) The Cool Mind … be sober
   Put your hands up if you have ever lost your ‘Cool’ when discussing or debating a subject you feel strongly about? This is more than an injunction against intemperance, it is a serious call to thought. For when I see ‘Be-Sober’, I’m not necessarily talking about being sober, and not drunk when you have no control of what your saying or doing ... 1 Thessalonians 5:16 “Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober” . . . be honest now, how many times, when you were out with friends, been told to have a drink to loosen up little, I have? Being able to keep a cool mind at all times, means total self control. I’m not saying you have to like a hermit, I’m telling you it takes time & training, to not loose control. Yet do confuse gravity with gloom, we have to grave not sullen, just stay cool and in control. Let sufferers keep their heads when others loose theirs, and make NOT railing accusations against others, let them keep cool minds.

Psalms 140:3 “They sharpen their tongues like a serpent; The poison of asps is under their lips”
Romans 3:13 “Their throat is an open tomb; With their tongues they have practised deceit”, “The poison of asps is under their lips” 14 “Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness.”
   Don’t be a viper, love those who start to rant, or walk away saying ‘When we have cooled down then we can sit down and talk’.

3) The Controlled Mind ..‘Exercise the strictest of self Control’
   Control .. Control .. Control .. All to often when debating a subject close to your heart the ‘red-mist’ descends, and all rational goes out the window. When your Child is acting up and frustrating the life out of you, and you end up shouting at them , you have just lost, because ‘red-mist’ comes upon you. We just can’t control ourselves, and what would be easy is now unseen.
Psalms 32:9 “Do not be like the horse or like the mule, Which have no understanding, Which must be harnessed with bit and bridle”
1 Thessalonians 4:4 “that each of you should know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honour” [KJV]
1 Thessalonians 4:4 “that each of you should learn to control your own body in a way that is holy and honourable” [NIV]

   This to be the one thing we can’t seem to control, that is going to be our temper. You’ll find those who have a ‘Short-fuse’, Where as you’ll find others whom seem to have a ‘long-fuse’, and thus slower to anger. Why such a stark difference? Do they know how to be slower too anger through experience or some other reason. All I can tell you is that next time before raging back, count to 10, mentally take a step back, gain your self-control, thus being able to take hold of your response.

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4) The Obedient Mind .. ‘As Obedient children’
1 Peter 1:13 “Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming. 14 as obedient children”

   There it is again . . “alert and fully sober” . . we’re again being told to be free from all influences, NO drug, NO alcohol, I hope that this is sinking in, getting through. So why do we need to be as .. “as obedient children” .. because they are looking to us adults for direction, look for clarification, as from right & wrong. This is where our bias comes from, right back to being taught their adults bias, be it racial, how to behave. They don’t have as much going through their developing minds, so things are much simpler. Hence why your child will keep asking ‘WHY’, this is where they start developing what is expected of them and what is acceptable in their parents eyes.

Prayer .. 

Lord Jesus as we walk through your word, and learn how it profits you for us to be slow in anger, and learn how to Gird our mind from all that life has throw at us in our lives, thank you for your help and Word.

Amen

The Law

 

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The Law

   A long time before ‘Laws’ were recognised on an International scale, each tribe/area, were verbally handed down their own Laws. Thus punishment was severed out by the Tribal leaders, or Priests~Pharisees~Sadducees, etc.

   In the History of the Law, when you look back, it was Yahweh God, was the great initiator~creator of the Law. God made everything, in/on the World, in the Garden of Eden, and for Him it was good … Genesis 1:12 “And God saw that it was good” … to know the Law is to know what is good & bad, right from wrong, what you can & cannot do, so to do 80mph/kmh in the town centre is just wrong and dangerous, as you know the limit is you only 30mph/kmh.

   God made everything in ‘The Garden of Eden’ [see Genesis chapters 1 ~ 3]. The tree of Knowledge was the only one in the whole garden, that God told them they were NOT to touch, eat from.

Genesis 2:15/17 “The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it. 16 And the Lord God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; 17 but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die.”

   As Laws go, it could not have been any simpler, no wokeness, grey areas leading to misinterpretation. The Tree of Knowledge was good, the Law was good, but as it turned out it was not good for man, due to his inability to keep, abide by, one very simple Law. Some people think that live Holy, and we must teach people the knowledge of Good & Evil, it shows on so many levels how, because of Godless society we live in, in fact to are already heading to hell in a hand cart.

Genesis 3:7 “Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves“

   The day this happened, was when Adam & Eve ate from the Tree, their conscience was also opened. In just a moment, you’ll hear how that they sewed Fig leaves, this happened first, then God being frustrated with them sewed them, clothes from goat skins. . . [Genesis 3:20] “Also for Adam and his wife the Lord God made tunics of skin, and clothed them” . . . Before embarking on their sinful lives, because now they can see sin, know good from evil, so understanding right from wrong. They did not have all these ‘Worries’ before hand, due to being blind to these problems & sins. They were still able to, in spite of their disobedience, speak to and see God, How merciful a Heavenly Father we have.

Be Honest when answering the following…

Do you want your mind to be ruled by the Law ..

OR

Do you want your mind ruled by Jesus Christ?

   For me, to be ruled by Jesus Christ, is to gain far more than can ever be conceived. Surely a perfect conscience would know we have been delivered from ‘The Law’, this alone has to make us confident in our Lord God, especially when considering that there are over 1800 different Laws in Bible.

Matthew 5:17/19 “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfil them. 18 For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished”

   So having already said that Jesus came not to abolish, do away with the Law, but He only came to .. “full fill the Law”, for some had wanted away with the Law, surly then only anarchy & lawlessness would ensue. OK, coming back on topic before I go down a different rabbit hole, lol.

Hebrews 7:17 “For it is declared: You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek”

   Now speaking of Jesus being a ‘Royal Priest’ for ever and ever to come. Where there is no curses, only now just ‘Blessings’. V8 .. Tells us that the Law was no longer any good for man, and from hence faith is canceled. Once man has shown his total disregard to Gods Law for us, we have a fleshly weakness.

Hebrews 7:18 “The former regulation is set aside because it was weak and useless”

Hebrews 8:6 “But in fact the ministry Jesus has received is as superior to theirs as the covenant of which he is mediator is superior to the old one, since the new covenant is established on better promises”

We should be encouraged, that from this moment new and better promises on promises. But it took the old Covenant to be replaced, I wonder sometimes, how many times has God moved the goal posts to accommodate our ineptitude? In the time of Jesus there were those who were so called ‘Lawyers’. The were nothing like the ‘injury-lawyers-for-you’, as these ‘Lawyers’, studied nothing else but for the ‘Moses Laws’. So if you, in the eyes of the Pharisees were caught doing something they felt was wrong, you went before the ‘Lawyers’, and they judged you ...

Matthew 22:34/40 “But when the Pharisees heard that He had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together. 35 Then one of them, a lawyer, asked Him a question, testing Him, and saying, 36 “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?” 37 Jesus said to him, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and great commandment” Then Jesus finished by saying … “39 And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbour as yourself.’ 40 On these two commandments hang all the Law” … these two commandments alone should be pinned to your fridge door as you're reminded, of such simplicity. I’m sure the Sadducees must have had egg on their faces.

Hebrews 7:19/21 “for the law made nothing perfect; on the other hand, there is the bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to God. Greatness of the New Priest 20 And inasmuch as He was not made priest without an oath 21(for they have become priests without an oath, but He with an oath by Him who said to Him: “The Lord has sworn And will not relent, ‘You are a priest forever According to the order of Melchizedek”

V20 … Here we can see how God tells Christ Jesus that He (Jesus) made this Oath before Melchizedek, that from hence forth and foreever more, would be the High Priest. God has no need to swear on or about anything. Maybe God must have had conversations with them both and they were difference of opinions and Melchizedek was not happy with this, that’s why God swore. When God makes an oath/promise with you, it will come to pass. After Melchizedek there will be blessings after blessings, after blessings ... Hebrews 7:22 “by so much more Jesus has become a surety of a better covenant”… Now because of Jesus, we have been given an ultimate guarantor of this new and wonderful Covenant/Testament that is ‘fail-proof’, and as much ‘fool-proof’. The simplicity is such that a 5 year old child could not only grasp it, but follow it also.

   Such is the simplicity a fool could have all the blessings in Gods store. All God wants is for us to believe in Him, Then He sent Son to full fill the Laws. For you see God has guaranteed it. Now everything depends on God how great this is, it had been Gods guarantee, and not Man’, as we are too weak and feeble to guarantee such as an important thing as this.

   Under the old Law it was God’s reaction that was dependant on man’s actions, to the old Laws. Now everything has changed, it’s now in reverse ‘Man's-reactions’ are determined upon Gods Actions. As it is who you are. God say to us we not need bring anything, like the slaughtering of animals, instead just come as you are, just show up, no appointment needed, no fancy clothing, you can be an unemployed punk rocker, or the richest person in the World, the Queen of the UK or a beggar on the street. As in God’s eyes we are ALL, Equal. Come on in, it’s all good, redemption is free to everyone.

# It’s all on God #

In the New Covenant, all we need to do is believe & have faith in God, and to thank Him.

Hebrews 8:6 “But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, inasmuch as He is also Mediator of a better covenant, which was established on better promises”

   I’m sure there must been controversy over what they saw as the removal of the 10 Commandments. The Pharisees & Sadducee’s must have thought how can this man remove them? What they could not understand was that it was noi man, when in stead it was the Son of God. The things is the commandments are good and perfect, the only problem was, an age old one that went all the way back to Adam & Eve, the problem was and is us Humans.

Hebrews 8:8/12 “Because finding fault with them, He says: “Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah, 9 not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they did not continue in My covenant, and I disregarded them, says the Lord. 10 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put My laws in their mind and write them on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. 11 None of them shall teach his neighbour, and none his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for all shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them. 12 For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more”

   In these verses, especially V8 is where God talks of how the covenant will no longer be based upon anything from the houses of Judah & Israel. All because, although God did His part (kept His promises to us), Man being weak and easily tempted by the first thing ~ Woman ~ Man, all to easily failed God...

Hebrews:10

1. I will make with the house of Israel

2. I will put My laws in their mind and write them on their hearts

3. I will be their God, and they shall be My people

… how can God be more emphatic in one verse .. I Will .. I Will .. and again I Will. There will be no more having to try and show people that God is the best way to live your life. As God will, from that point hence forth as God said ‘I Will’, make His word known to every Man ~ Woman & Child. God is going to tell us only the things we need to do, as in Matthew 22:34/40.

   When it’s to do with the covenant, you need to find out what’s ‘entailed’, I.E. ~The terms ~ The Causes & The Agreements, to that covenant in order to benefit from it..

• The Garden of Eden was ‘Don’t eat from the tree, and blessings will flow
• With Moses, he was told to ‘Keep & Abide with the 10 Commandments. If not you’re to make a sacrifice, and I’ll keep the blessings coming.
• Because of man’s ineptitude under the new covenant all we have to do in order for God to ‘I Will ~ I Will ~ I Will’, is now simply to believe in the one true living God.

Hebrews 8:12 “For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more”

   What can change this Verse at the very start, In most translated versions like King James Version .. New Living Translation .. New International Version .. or even New King James, the verse starts with “For”. Translated back in to the original Greek version, the word “For” is actually “Because”. Now reading the Verse changing out the words, the verse starts with “Because I will forgive ..”. God is saying despite of their sinning I will forgive. How a gracious God we have. Just imagine a close best friend kept steeling from you, lying to you, deceiving you, saying he made me do it. How long , really how long would put up with it, telling them sure look it's’ OK? I guessing not very long?

   God needs for us to trust in Him, all be it in what we can’t see ~ smell ~ touch. When in actual fact, God wants us to trust in Him more than we could ever trust in ourselves, I know this is going to be the hardest thing you will ever do. Trust me, I know this from personal experience He will come through for you, Try Him.

My leaving thought for you is …

If your going to abide in the Law, you can’t cherry pick, you have to keep all of them.

The Influence of Companionship

 

56:230821

Influence of Companionship

   The power of life over life can be rather startling. There have been a single look of an eye which have changed a destiny. There have meetings of only a moment, which have a left an impression that has lasted a life time. No, one of us, understands the mysterious thing we call ‘influence’. Take how me and my wife met, well, we had gone separately, to a Christian gathering in North Wales. Where there were week long courses on several topics all week. Now I was a ‘green-horn’ (novice newly saved Christian). So attended one teaching you how to pray effectively on ‘Prayer’. On the Wednesday afternoon there was a prayer meeting for both the North of Ireland & the South. I went with a close friend who had come from the North of Ireland, well after the meeting Margaret saw an old friend, whom introduced us to my wife to be, at that moment the whole room went fuzzy except, like a romantic photograph, where I learned her name, but no matter how much I searched the camp I could not find her, that was till the Friday afternoon … One day I’ll share our testimony in fullness … We read that our blessed Lord that ‘virtue’ went out of Him and healed the timid woman who came behind Him in the crowd and touched the hem of His garment, again, when the throng surged about Him and sought to touch Him...

Matthew 9:20/1 “And suddenly, a woman who had a flow of blood for twelve years came from behind and touched the hem of His garment. 21 For she said to herself, “If only I may touch His garment, I shall be made well.”

Luke 8:46 “But Jesus said, “Somebody touched Me, for I perceived power going out from Me.” 47 Now when the woman saw that she was not hidden, she came trembling; and falling down before Him, she declared to Him in the presence of all the people the reason she had touched Him and how she was healed immediately”

Mark 5:30 “And Jesus, immediately knowing in Himself that power had gone out of Him, turned around in the crowd and said, “Who touched My clothes?”

… That ‘virtue’ went out of him and by pure faith all were healed. Yet out of everyone of us continually ‘Virtue’ flows, to either heal .. bless .. to leave marks of beauty, OR, to either .. hurt .. to poison .. to kill .. or stain others lives.

Which are you??

We are all adding to the Worlds health and happiness. Every moment true living .. every victory win over our self or sin or temptation, every fragment of sweet life we live, makes it easier for others to be brave .. true and sweet.

We are always giving out Influence

God must have looked at Adam and though he must be lonely so … Genesis 2:18 “And the Lord God said, “It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him.” .. with God say it is NOT good for us men to alone, .. so much so was God concerned that .. Genesis 2:22 “Then the rib which the Lord God had taken from the man He made into a woman, and He brought her to the man” .. God had already said that it was good for all the animals on the land and in the Sea’s to have mates so should have Adam a mate, After Adam [man kind] in His own image ..Genesis 1:25 “Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” So our almighty Lord God deemed that our companion should be Male or Female, and not non-binary.

“No stream from it’s flows sea ward, how lonely so over it’s 

course, but what some land is gladdened. No star ever rose

and set without influence somewhere. Who knows what 

Earth needs from Earths lowest creatures? No life can 

be pure in it’s purpose, and strong in it’s strife, and all not

be purer and stronger there by.”

   It is that companionships always leaves it’s impress [marks – impressions]. Often one eye cannot look into another’s eye, in one deep & and earnest gaze, but a touch has been left on the other soul. N was the last time you took more than a fleeting glance into your partners eyes?

   An impression can be made for life by a single image. My wife and I used play the PC game called ‘Call-of -Duty’, that was till they very graphic, so realistic almost. That was till we saw film footage of an actual war scene, that could have been from the program called ‘World at War’. Showing events from the second World War, there was some fighting, a man was trying frantically to get out of a tank, but the flames were too much, sadly they soldier only made it half way. This image has been burnt on to her soul, to the extent she refuses to play any game like since. Even now the memory of this image can never be washed away, now some years later the image breaks into amongst her most treasured memories.

   Some times we truly don’t know what we are letting into our life when entering into a companionship, even to the point of becoming intimate, eve for just an hour, with someone who is not good, not pure, not even truthful. Then comes the debasing influence, until intimacy comes, then friendship, when confidences are exchanged, when soul touches soul, when life flows into, and the blends life

2 Samuel 2:7 “Now then, be strong and brave” [NIV]

Deuteronomy 31:6 “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you” [NIV]

   A Rabbit had it’s foot caught in a hunters steel trap. The poor Rabbit seemed to know that unless it could get free, it’s life must soon be lost. With a bravery which we cannot admire, it gnawed off it’s leg with it’s own teeth, setting itself free, though leaving it’s foot in the trap. But, who will say that it was not a wiser to escape death, even with the loss of it’s foot, or died? If anyone discovers he is the snare of evil companionship of friendship, what ever it cost him, you should tear yourself away from it. For it’s better to enter into a more pure –noble-worthy life with one hand or foot than die. Young people should be weary of toxic companions, for they are like machinery in a Mill, which when you snag you clothing it can very quickly whined in the whole garment, and then pulls your body to a swift and tragic death. Why is it that we can see what’s happening to a friend or loved one being crushed mentally and spiritually, but yet they can’t see it or just refuse to?

There is an old wives tail that says: “That which does not kill you makes you stronger” There is an element of truth in it, may be just may be, they say could be birthed from the following veres ...

2 Corinthians 12:10 “That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. [NIV]

1 Corinthians 16:13 “Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong. 14 Do everything in love” [NIV]

   Always be of a good & true character that it’s influence of a good companionship that has only it’s blessing and benediction for life. We have had only a fleeting chance meetings, that for just a second, like when ships that speak at sea, but yet have fleeting blessings whose influence shall never perish. There is an old legend about the origin of the pearl. It was said that a Star dropped out of the sky into the sea, then being folded in the shell, it became a pearl.

The Legend

“There was a star, which out of the height,

out of Heaven fell, and was lost oh me.

The beautiful star fell into the sea,

and falling it was folded into a shell,

and the beautiful star became a pearl, in the sea.”

   So it was with influence of good lives, words, thoughts, kindly deeds, the power of example, the inspiration of noble things, drop out of Heaven of pure friendships, into the depth of the heart, and folded there and become beautiful gems and Holy adornments in life. Even the briefest moments of worthy companionships, leave their marks, good or bad blessings. Then who can tell the power of a close and long continued friendship, running through happy years sharing the deepest experience, two (2) hearts knit together, life’s woven as one, as it were in a web. There is a poem that asks ...

What is the best a friend can be??

What is the best a friend can be?

To any soul, to you or me?

Not only shelter, comfort , rest with

innermost refreshment unexpressed,

not only a beloved guide,

to thread life's’ labyrinth at our side,

or with loves torch lead on before,

though these be much, there yet is more.

The best friend is an atmosphere

warm with all inspirations dear

wherein we breath the large, free breath

of life that have instant of death.

Our friend is an unconscience port

of every true beat of our heart,

a strength, a growth, where we derive.

Can a friend loose friend, believe it or not,

The issue where of life is wrought,

weaving the separate into me,

nor end, nor beginning, spun,

from subtle threads of destiny,

finer than thought , of man can see.

God takes not back His gifts divine,

While thy soul lives, thy friend is thine”

   Our friends are our ideals. At least in every beautiful friends life we see some little glimpses of life ..”As it is in Heaven” .. a little fragment of the beauty of the Lord, which becomes part of the glory into which we should fashion our life. There is a wonderful restraining and constraining power over us in the life of the ones we love. We dare not to do wrong in the sacred presence of a pure gentle friend.

Proverbs 17:17 “A friend loves at all times“ [NIV]

18:24 “One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother” [NIV]

   Everyone knows hoe unworthy they feel when He comes, with unconsciousness and recollection of some sin or meanness, into companionship of one he honours as a friend. It is a kind of ‘Jesus-presence’ that our friend to us, which we dare not do wrong. George Elliot writes … There are natures in which, if they love us, we are conscious of a sort of baptism and consecration. They bind us over to rectitude, and purity by their belief about us and sins become the worst kind of sacrilege which tears down the invisible alter of trust.” .. He comes as the brightener into life, to double our joy and halves our grief. He comes as the counsellor to give wisdom to our plans, He comes as the strengthener to multiply our opportunities and be hands and feet for us in our absence.

   Above our Lord becomes our rebuker, to explain our failures and shame us from (our of) our lawlessness, as our purifier, our lifter, our ideal, whose life to us is a consistent challenger in our heart. ‘friend come up higher, higher along with me, that you and I may be those truest true lovers who are nearest to God when nearest to each other.

Exodus 33:11 “The Lord would speak to Moses face to face, as one speaks to a friend” [NIV]

   OK, if all these things are true, and no one can doubt their truth, this companionship is one of vital importance. Especially it is important for young people to give most watchful thought and care to the choosing of their associates and friends. Now of course they cannot chose those with whom they shall mingle in a more general way, for instance when at school, at work. One is compelled oftimes to sit or stand beside day after day, those who are not good or worthy. The Law of the Christians love requires that in all such cases the utmost courtesy and kindness shall be shown. It’s the companionship that leaves its mark on your life that is as Jesus Himself showed love to all men, but He took into companionship only a few chosen ones. We are to be like Him, seeking to be a blessing to all, but receiving into those who are worthy and those whose lives help in building up of our own lives.

Prayer

Lord god above, we come with humble hearts, and a thankful spirit. We thank you for your word to guide us through the mine field of relationships, finding those companionships that will last the tests of time. For it was you that guided our ships to be sailed next to each other no matter the weather, so we thank you Lord God for bring our companions into our lives, in Jesus Name we pray, Amen.