Rev.1: 17. And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last:

What a comfort it is to know that Our Jesus is God. His job description as God cannot be limited. The more we inspect His attributes and capabilities, the more we are amazed as the scope of His powers unfold before us in a never ending cascade.

Who is the First and the Last?

• He is the Creator of all--- time, space, matter, the universe in total!! He spoke it all into existence form nothing. Only God could accomplish this feat. Yet the ability to speak and make things materialize is almost child's play next to Jesus being
• the One who has infinite knowledge of all things in eternity-- as well as in this bubble called time. He knew exactly what would take place during every nanosecond of time, in every atom and molecule of every inch of the universe. Beyond that the Almighty Father is
• in control of everything We have no worries, no need for concern. Nothing escapes His knowledge and power. Even the most horrendous events that mankind's sin hurls in His face cannot take place without His pre-knowledge of the event and Him already making a contingency to turn it to good in His timing. As if this wasn't enough Jesus is the Infinite
• Author of salvation and redemption. Every tiny detail was planned and finished before creation began. He was slain from the foundation of the world...the Author and Finisher of our faith.

Every additional fact about Jesus just exponentially compounds the magnitude of Who our Savior is! He is competent and capable to handle all eternity. He can take care of little old us. So take comfort today and always. He is on the throne! What have I to dread? What have I to fear? Leaning on the everlasting arms!

references:

Leaning on the Everlasting Arms
Text: Elisha A. Hoffman
Music: Anthony J. Showalter

What a fellowship, what a joy divine,
Leaning on the everlasting arms;
What a blessedness, what a peace is mine,
Leaning on the everlasting arms. Refrain

Leaning, leaning, safe and secure from all alarms;
Leaning, leaning, leaning on the everlasting arms.

O how sweet to walk in this pilgrim way,
Leaning on the everlasting arms;
O how bright the path grows from day to day,
Leaning on the everlasting arms. Refrain

What have I to dread, what have I to fear,
Leaning on the everlasting arms;
I have blessed peace with my Lord so near,
Leaning on the everlasting arms. Refrain

Rev.13: 8. And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.

Heb.12: 2. Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Romans 8: 28. And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

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2nd

I am the root and the offspring of David

Rev.22: 16. I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.

Here is another wonderful mystery of the person of Jesus. He is both the root of David and David's offspring. Again we see the picture of Jesus being everything to and for us! He's the Alpha/Omega, Alef/Tav, Beginning/End, Author/Finisher. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty. Revelation 1:8.

• Jesus is the I Am who created all things, and promised Adam a Saviour. That promised was refined in Abraham and his descendants. This promised Savior/King was further narrowed down to be placed into the line of David.
• Jesus called David, won his heart, calling him a man after my own heart.
• From his youth David trusted his God, and loved and worshiped Him, writing the psalms as praise to his Lord.
• God promised David that There shall not fail thee a man upon the throne of Israel. Although the kings of Israel did not stick to obeying God, Jesus did! He has purified the line of David! (see I Kings 9: 4-9 below).
• God then removed Saul from being king and set David up as the head of the kingly line in Israel.
• Jesus came to earth 28 generations after David, born in his line. So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations; and from David until the carrying away into Babylon are fourteen generations; and from the carrying away into Babylon unto Christ are fourteen generations. Matthew 1:17.

It is because of these events, set up and completed from the foundation of the world, that Jesus was able to confound his Pharisee detractors with the question, as recorded in three of the gospels:

Matt.22:45. If David then call him Lord, how is he his son? Mark.12: 37. David therefore himself calleth him Lord; and whence is he then his son? And the common people heard him gladly. Luke.20: 44. David therefore calleth him Lord, how is he then his son?

I Kings 9: 4-9. And if thou wilt walk before me, as David thy father walked, in integrity of heart, and in uprightness, to do according to all that I have commanded thee, and wilt keep my statutes and my judgments:
[5] Then I will establish the throne of thy kingdom upon Israel for ever, as I promised to David thy father, saying, There shall not fail thee a man upon the throne of Israel.
[6] But if ye shall at all turn from following me, ye or your children, and will not keep my commandments and my statutes which I have set before you, but go and serve other gods, and worship them:
[7] Then will I cut off Israel out of the land which I have given them; and this house, which I have hallowed for my name, will I cast out of my sight; and Israel shall be a proverb and a byword among all people:
[8] And at this house, which is high, every one that passeth by it shall be astonished, and shall hiss; and they shall say, Why hath the LORD done thus unto this land, and to this house?
[9] And they shall answer, Because they forsook the LORD their God, who brought forth their fathers out of the land of Egypt, and have taken hold upon other gods, and have worshipped them, and served them: therefore hath the LORD brought upon them all this evil.

Hallelujah! What a Savior!

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3rd

I am ...the bright and morning star

Rev.22: 16. I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star .

Jesus identifies Himself as the bright and morning star. This is a fulfillment of the prophecy: I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not nigh: there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel... Numbers 24:17. And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways;
To give knowledge of salvation unto his people by the remission of their sins, Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us, Luke 1:76-78.

The Morning Star is the Light of the world, come to bring redemption to all who are willing to trust Him. Arise and shine, for thy light is come, the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee. The Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising" Isa. 60:1-3.

There is a promise of our heavenly/ eternal relationship with the Savior that is yet to come to pass:

...And I will give him the morning star. Revelation 2: 28. And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever. Revelation 22:5.

Once again, Jesus is All, Everything Come Full Circle.

He created all things. It is interesting that He did not record His spoken words for the creation of the heavens and the earth in Genesis 1:1. It is not insignificant that the first Words spoken by Him that are recorded in the Bible are Let there be light, in Genesis 1:3. Perhaps the reason God did not record the words that He used to create the heavens and the earth is because there was a dual meaning in the creation of light, which made these words more significant to us.

1. He created the electromagnetic spectrum in the physical universe (which contains visible light). The Morning Star is called the star of the first Magnitude with respect to its brightness. Only God is the First Magnitude. He also continues as the ongoing Source of the light in the universe. He holds everything together! Billions $ are spent on Supercolliders et al-- in an attempt to find the theorized 'God particle' (Higgs boson) that holds everything together--when it is God Himself who holds all things together! Who being the brightness of his glory, upholds all thing by word of his Power. Heb.1:3.
2. He wanted us to to see that He is the Light of eternity come to earth to save us!: Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. John 8:12. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world. John 9:5. To give knowledge of salvation unto his people by the remission of their sins, Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us, Luke 1:78.

Heb.1
[1] God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,
[2] Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;
[3] Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;...

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4th

It is Finished

John.19: 30. When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.

Question: What exactly is Finished?

Answer: Everything that was done and done in eternity, before God made the little bubble containing time, space, and matter! To God the whole scenario always was, as He is outside of time! It was just a formality to put it into a temporal setting, only because He designed it that we all begin our lives as temporal beings. Everything began and was finished at the foundation of the world. God does tell us a few things about what happened from that foundation.

1. As beings trapped in time for now, we only know the secret things of eternity on a "need to know" basis, as determined by God; That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things which have been kept secret from the foundation of the world. Matt.13: 35.

2. The plan of salvation was established and completed before creation began--from the foundation. Jesus' participation in the temporal completion of this is what He spoke of as being finished at Calvary before He bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.

For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world. Heb.4: 3.

Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;
But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:
Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, 1 Peter 1: 18-20

3. All of history was known by God before the foundation.

• All the lost, all the horror that is humanity was well known. That the blood of all the prophets, which was shed from the foundation of the world, may be required of this generation; Luke 11:50.
• Those who would come to the Savior were also known. Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world. John 17:24. According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: Ephesians 1:4.

4. Events that are yet to take place in time, are established and complete in eternity.

• The lost will acknowledge that Jesus is God. And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. Rev.13: 8.
• Satan will receive his eternal banishment from God. The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition: and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is. Rev. 17:8.
• The saved will receive a new home, and a new body. Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: Matt.25: 34.

Be encouraged that "It's all about Jesus!" He is the Finisher!

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5th

I Pray For YOU

• He is Love! In His love He created us.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. Rev. 4:11. But God giveth it (mankind)a body as it hath pleased him, and to every seed his own body. 1 Cor. 15:3;8.
• He knows our weaknesses. For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Heb 4:15.
• He knows that in our weakness we need His example! And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me. And I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the people which stand by I said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent me. John 11: 41-42.
• He knows that without His strength we will fall in our weakness. Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. Matt.26:41. Watch ye and pray, lest ye enter into temptation. The spirit truly is ready, but the flesh is weak. Mark 14: 38.
• Jesus wanted to give us a model so that we can pray effectively! (More about this tomorrow). After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name... Matthew 6:9.

When you are discouraged remember that Our Jesus-- Who suffered more than all of combined mankind put together-- took the time to pray for us!

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6th

We Can Pray Like Jesus!

Part 1: How NOT to pray.

Matthew 6: 5-13

Jesus encourages us by teaching us how to pray! Prayer is communication with God. Jesus was in full communication with the Father and revealed to us how we can also enter that prayer relationship! In Matthew chapter six He gives us all we need to know! Any prayer that is prayed from the natural man--from self and Me, me, me--will not be heard by God. If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me: Psalm 66: 18.

Jesus explains the scenarios where our prayers are strictly self centered and useless:

1. Our sin nature (Me, me, Me!) wants the glory. Many pray to be seen by others--as well as our own puffed up self--as holy and spiritual. God doesn't even hear that prayer. And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. Matt. 6:5.

2. Sometimes less is more. We get tremendously annoyed by a child's repeated "Can I have a toy? Can I have a toy? Can I have a toy?", or "Are we there yet? Are we there yet? Are we there yet?..." God already knows our every thought and need. He wants us to draw near Him in a unique closeness. A broken record of repetition does not impress Him. He does not hear it. We are only impressing ourselves with how long a prayer we are praying. But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him. v. 7-8.

Jesus also explains HOW to pray to get that intimate closeness with the Father. More on this tomorrow.

Matthew 6: 5-13. And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
[6] But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.
[7] But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.
[8] Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.
[9] After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
[10] Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
[11] Give us this day our daily bread.
[12] And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
[13] And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. Matthew 6: 5-13.

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7th

We Can Pray Like Jesus!

Part 2: How we should pray.

Luke 11: 1-13.

Jesus encourages us by teaching us how to pray! Prayer is communication with God. It is a communication from the heart, not the head. Jesus was in full communication with the Father and revealed to us how we can also enter a close prayer relationship with Him! God wants us close enough to Him that we become at one with Him through His Son. This is a mystery how, because of Jesus, we can be one with Him, because we will never be equal to Him. We give ourselves to Him and He shares with us what we need as we need it. And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: John 17: 22.

Jesus' instructions on how to pray are in His model prayer. We do not need to repeat it verbatim, but if we do we need to stop at each phrase to explain to ourselves, and God, what we are praying. Every prayer we have should have all the elements given by Jesus included within it whether expressed by heart or mouth:

1. Acknowledgment of the Father, to Whom we are praying. He is not our Father if we have never been adopted into His family via the atoning sacrifice of His Son, Jesus, at Calvary. (The first true heart-prayer God ever hears from us is "SAVE ME!" ). After that we can truthfully call Him "Abba, Father! or Daddy).

2. Acknowledgment of the Father in heaven. This means we are to pray to Him alone, with no intermediary person, living or dead, angelic or sainted. Our Father which art in heaven,. Luke 11:2. Again, we need to be sure we are praying to the One God. This leaves out the polytheistic "god/fathers", dead ancestors, and ascendant beings to whom many direct their prayers.

3. We need to be aware of the Holiness of God; Hallowed be thy name. Remember, If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me: Psalm 66: 18. We need to be aware of the fact that He is bigger than we are, and Perfect in every way. Our attitude should immediately become one of humility.

4. We need to agree to His Sovereignty and kingdom. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth. Luke 11:2. This is a literal coming reign of Jesus. But it is also an choice that God will be the Boss of our lives--our little kingdom. He is God, not we. We should be happy and comforted with that concept. Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you. Luke 17:22.

Part 3: Steps 5-9-- Tomorrow.

Luke 11: 1-13. And it came to pass, that, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.
[2] And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth.
[3] Give us day by day our daily bread.
[4] And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil.
[5] And he said unto them, Which of you shall have a friend, and shall go unto him at midnight, and say unto him, Friend, lend me three loaves;
[6] For a friend of mine in his journey is come to me, and I have nothing to set before him?
[7] And he from within shall answer and say, Trouble me not: the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give thee.
[8] I say unto you, Though he will not rise and give him, because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity he will rise and give him as many as he needeth.
[9] And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.
[10] For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.
[11] If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent?
[12] Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion?
[13] If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him? Luke 11: 1-13.

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8th

We Can Pray Like Jesus!

Part 3: How we should pray.

Luke 11: 1-13.

Jesus has encouraged us by showing us how to pray. We can have a close relationship with the Father. We should all aspire to be a friend of God, like Abraham. And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. James 2: 23. Or like Moses: And the LORD spake unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend. Exodus 33:11.

The first four elements of prayer were in yesterday's devotional. That can be found here if you do not have it. These give us the preliminary attitude that we need to enter within the veil of the throneroom of heaven. Although these don't need to be expressed verbally each time we pray, these are the things that should be a part of our heart's attitude as we enter into a talk with our Father:

****

5. We are not to come with a "God is Santa Claus" mentality holding a big list of "I wants". Even as the King's children we need to approach him as a loving Daddy and Father, with respect and love for Him. He is not to be looked at as my "gimme, gimme" source of stuff. Let us be happy to receive our needs from the hand of our Loving Father. Give us day by day our daily bread. v3.

6. We need to confess sin. And forgive us our sins; By now our "properly attituded prayer" should have revealed to us some more of our failure to be conformed to the image of Jesus.

7. We are then in an attitude of forgiveness to others. ...for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. Our petty hurts and complaints suddenly fall into a proper perspective. Others are just like us. They are flawed, they need Jesus, salvation, love and encouragement.

8. We realize we need God to help us to stay out of trouble. We come to Him for His protection from evil. When "flight" is not an option, we know we need His strength to "fight". And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil.

9. Self is now out of the way. We can now place others, their needs, and other legitimate needs (for ourselves) in a proper place where we can talk about them to our Father. Jesus goes on to explain how the Father is willing to give His children good things. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. James 1:17.

Jesus finishes His lesson by telling us that our first priority for a gift from God should be our desire to Walk with Him with the Holy Spirit in control of our lives. If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him? Luke 11: 13.

Luke 11: 1-13. And it came to pass, that, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.
[2] And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth.
[3] Give us day by day our daily bread.
[4] And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil.
[5] And he said unto them, Which of you shall have a friend, and shall go unto him at midnight, and say unto him, Friend, lend me three loaves;
[6] For a friend of mine in his journey is come to me, and I have nothing to set before him?
[7] And he from within shall answer and say, Trouble me not: the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give thee.
[8] I say unto you, Though he will not rise and give him, because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity he will rise and give him as many as he needeth.
[9] And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.
[10] For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.
[11] If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent?
[12] Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion?
[13] If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him? Luke 11: 1-13.

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9th

I am the way, the truth, and the life...

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.

Now, just think about it: Isn't it a comfort and an encouragement to know that there is ONE way, and only One! I don't know about you, but I really enjoy the idea of not having the responsibility of having to choose which way out of many possibilities, is the best.

Salvation is by grace through faith in Jesus, Who is the way the truth and the life. Period. The end.

When we try to add anything else to the ONE Way, we just add confusion. 1Cor.14: 33. For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints. All the religions who preach Works, or Grace + Works in any combination just give us an exercise in futility.

And since this confusion is not of God, it comes from the father of lies, who first successfully confused Eve in the garden. He got her questioning God's Words, just as religion, philosophy, and our other human disciplines give more confusing questions than answers:

• How many good deeds?, What's the proper proportion of grace and works? Which church gets the best score in their "holiness quotient"? On which behaviors do I base their worth--sincerity, or results? Which leader has more charisma, holiness, good looks or other appealing quality? What's the best list of rules? If I give up such and such can I then DO my favorite no-no? Can I have a sliding scale of sins where some are better quality? Does money count, and for how much?
• Maybe there is no God at all? I can devise my own rules. No one has the right to tell me what's right. Everything is relative?

I won't even go on. It makes my head spin, and my brain wants to explode! Pass the duct tape to hold it all in!

Thank you Jesus for being my One and Only way! Thank you that you are Truth Incarnate! Thank you that You alone are the giver of Life, and the Author and Finisher of eternal life. Thank you that You have perfect control over all things! Thank you, Father for Your Son!

What an encouragement our One Way, Truth and Life Savior is!

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10th

You are Mine

John 17: 9-10. I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine.
And all mine are thine, and thine are mine; and I am glorified in them.

We are Jesus' people! How wonderful is that! And it is all by design.

God wants all mankind to belong to Him. He waits and patiently pleads with unrepentant hearts. He suffers the pain of our sins in patience and love, waiting for us to see Him. He waits for us to believe Him. The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. 2 Peter 3:9

From the foundation of the world He knew who would be His, who would accept His sacrifice for their sins. He took our filth and replaces it with His clean righteousness. According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: Ephesians 1:4.

He knew who would reject Him and keep themselves as their own god. 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. John 3:18.

We have an innate need to belong, to be loved. How much better to belong to the One Who loves us and will never ever hurt us than to substitute any other crutch. People spend time affiliating themselves in surface relationships, gangs, organizations, meaningless hookups, philosophies, and other diversions in an attempt to find some peace and satisfaction.

We hear Him call. We trust Him. We then become His forever. No one, nothing can get to us--no way, no how. We are safe and secure forever! What an encouragement. It can all be found in One place: the loving arms of our Jesus! John 10: 27-30. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.
My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand. I and my Father are one.

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11th

What is Jesus talking about when He uses the example of bread to speak of Himself?

The Bible always explains itself--if one takes the opportunity to Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. John 5:39.

This is all about Jesus giving us another picture of Him taking on a fleshly existence to save us from our sins! The gospel message is so simple, yet we miss it: misinterpret it, mistake it, misrepresent it, mistrust it's simplicity, --every "miss" of the mark possible--we do! Jesus gives us picture after picture of Himself, just as a Loving Father reads picture books to his toddler child, and we just don't get it!

It's a wonderful encouragement to us to know that once we understand salvation--by believing the gospel, we can clearly see that every word of the Holy Scriptures is a picture of our Infinite God and Savior, Jesus, Who created us and came to save us.

Those who understand this, CANNOT misinterpret what Jesus was saying when He promised to be our bread of Life!

Jesus made the message SIMPLE! What an encouragement that we do not need to find some hidden meaning to what is simple salvation by grace through faith in JESUS! It's ALL about Jesus!

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12th

...I am the bread of life---, part 2

(It's all about Salvation via Jesus!)

Many people misunderstand what Jesus was talking about with these words. When they remove the gospel from this message and , replace it with the ordinance of remembrance of Him, they completely twist the meaning into something not intended in the the context of the Bible message. When you remember that everything in the Bible pictures Jesus' sacrifice for us you must look through that filter to interpret any of His parables, metaphors or examples.

By removing the gospel from the Last Supper, the meaning of what Jesus was picturing has been twisted and confused to include bizarre elements. In order to understand why they are bizarre, one needs to know the elements of true gospel. These are concisely explained by Paul in ICor. 15: 1-6.

The Message

• Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; v3.
• And that he was buried, v4.
• and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures. v4.
• After that, he was seen.. .v6

Delivering the message

• Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God.Romans 10:17 message delivered....the gospel which I preached unto you..v1.

Receiving the message

• Received and Believed! which also ye have received. v1.
• Eternal standing in Jesus' family! and wherein ye stand; v1.
• Done deal! You are saved! you are His! By which also ye are saved, v.2.

When this overriding gospel message that filters through Scripture is misapplied the lost make mis-conclusions about that message:

• They end up bestowing upon Christianity the name "cannibal religion" because of misconceptions that arose when people began taking Jesus' statement "this is my body" literally. Why would Jesus turn bread into Himself and then eat it? Did He need salvation? Obviously not.( That same faulty logic led many to believe that since Jesus told us He was the living water that there had to be some holy magic spring somewhere--a fountain of youth. To date quests to find this water have failed).
• Modern clerics take on the Old Testament priestly role of daily sacrifice--only they use Jesus via bread and wine. The OT priesthood is finished, the veil has been torn, and we have complete access to the Only High Priest--JESUS! Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. Hebrews 4: 14-16.
• Those who partake unworthily get caught in an endless time loop of sacrifice. A literal Jesus present within the elements means He is literally being kept up on the cross in sacrifice over and over and over day in and day out. (Jesus died once). Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people's: for this he did once, when he offered up himself. Hebrews 7:27.

1Cor.15
[1] Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;
[2] By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.
[3] For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
[4] And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
[5] And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve:
[6] After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep.

1Cor.11: 27. Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.

What an encouragement that we can do away with all the confusion and complications by sticking with the Simple Gospel! It's all about Jesus!

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13th

• Jesus, the Creator who made us.
• Jesus, Who took upon Him our fleshly body.
• Jesus, Who died to save us from our sins.
• Jesus, Who arose and is our King.

An ordinance pictures Jesus and what He did for us.

• Baptism is an ordinance that pictures the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus. When we believe and receive His new life we show allegiance to Him by using the public picture that we are now a part of His death, burial and resurrection. Just as Jesus did this once, we also should be baptized once after coming to faith in Him. When we are are submerged and then come out of the water this pictures Jesus' death (by entering the water), burial (by being submerged), and resurrection (by coming up out of the water). When we willingly participate in that picture we show that we are no longer watchers or outsiders to Jesus' gospel--we have believed and become part of it. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: 1 Cor.15:3-4.
• The Lord's Table, or communion, pictures Jesus, God and Creator, taking on the insignificant flesh of mankind. His love caused Him to leave Heaven and become as the worms that we are just to save us. Jesus did not give a picture of what WE truly are; He used good taste and great kindness not to equate us with what we were before faith in Him: dreadfully slimy wicked creatures of sin. Instead, He used a more apt picture of HIS role in salvation. He used bread and wine to picture that He was the source of all our life, all our strength, all our everything necessary for eternity. It would be, and always was: His body, His blood, His life given for us. He wants us to remember that! This ordinance is to be repeated often enough to not be forgotten, yet not so often that it just becomes a ritual.

What an encouragement that both our ordinances picture Jesus and what He did on our behalf. What a Savior!

1Cor.15
[1] Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;
[2] By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.
[3] For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
[4] And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
[5] And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve:
[6] After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep.

14th

• The first person recognized in the Bible as pleasing God is Enoch. What did he do? He had faith. He believed God. 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. Hebrews 11:5. Enoch became the picture of God's protection and care for His children. When you are saved you will belong to God, and be with Him, either via natural death or the rapture. And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him. Genesis 5: 24.
• Paul testified that it pleased God when He received Jesus as his Lord while on the Damascus Road: But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb, and called me by his grace,... Gal. 1:15.

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15th

I am the resurrection, and the life

John.11: 25. Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:

Jesus encourages us with the promise that through Him we can have LIFE. Eternal life with the fellowship of God was what He planned. However, He knew from all eternity that He would be unable to fellowship with any creature of free will without them choosing to do wrong. You cannot have free will and be perfect unless you are God. Perfection is God. That is the definition.

To choose anything above God is to knock Him out of His space and replace Him. He, then, is no longer God in your eyes--You are. God gave Adam the opportunity to keep God as God, or put something else there. Adam chose to place his own desires above his Creator and Friend. God had told Adam that ... Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die. Genesis 2: 16-17.

Adam ignored God, and chose death--for himself and all his descendants. For the wages of sin is death;... Romans 6:23.

Yet, the same Creator Who had just been spurned came to the rescue. He promised to fix everything. He promised to send a seed of the woman to save mankind. He became that seed. ...but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Rom. 6:23.

When Jesus died and rose again He became the new Adam of a race of saved people who have chosen to follow Him. Our faith in Christ is the opposite of the rebellion of Adam (and each of us individually ever since).

Be encouraged! He arose!

Up from the Grave He Arose (Low in the Grave He Lay)
Text: Robert Lowry, 1826-1899

1. Low in the grave he lay, Jesus my Savior,
waiting the coming day, Jesus my Lord!
Refrain:
Up from the grave he arose;
with a mighty triumph o'er his foes;
he arose a victor from the dark domain,
and he lives forever, with his saints to reign.
He arose! He arose! Hallelujah! Christ arose!

2. Vainly they watch his bed, Jesus my Savior,
vainly they seal the dead, Jesus my Lord!
(Refrain)

3. Death cannot keep its prey, Jesus my Savior;
he tore the bars away, Jesus my Lord!
(Refrain)

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16th

Freedom, part 1

...I have set you free...from bondage

Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. Romans 8:21.

Jesus has set us free from bondage of corruption. The meaning of this that is most obvious to us is the freedom Jesus gives us from our bondage to sin and death. When Adam sinned he brought death to every one of his descendants. We all became sinners deserving an eternal spiritual death in hell. Jesus freed us from this inevitable end. For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Romans 6:23.

There is a second bondage we are under from which Jesus frees us when we believe. This bondage is the bondage we had to the keeping of the law. The law was a cruel taskmaster who insisted upon perfection or nothing. None of us could be perfect. There was no hope. The priests sacrificed, made offerings,and performed the tabernacle and temple tasks. The people performed all the traditions and rituals. The attempt was made to keep the laws; all this was in vain. It was an endless treadmill with no destination. Jesus freed us from the law. Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified...I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain. Galatians 2:16, 21.

The third bondage that Jesus wants to keep us from the the bondage of the heresies that add things to our freely given gift. Just as the Judaizers pulled the new Hebrew Christians back into the trappings of keeping the law, modern legalists add rules and standards as conditions for attaining or maintaining salvation. Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh? Galatians 3:3. Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. Galatians 5:1.

Be encouraged that Jesus has freed us from all the chains that once did-- or would now-- entangle us! Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. 2Cor 3:17.

Gal.3
[[22] But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.
[23] But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed.
[24] Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
[25] But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.
[26] For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.

(More about our liberty tomorrow.)

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17th

Freedom, part 2

...I have set you free...to follow the law of liberty!

Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. Romans 8:21.

Jesus has set us free from the slave status we had to sin and the law. He has also set us free to follow the law of liberty! What exactly does this mean?

We are free from the letter of the law to follow the Spirit of Christ. Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. 2Cor. 3:17. God has principles behind each law and commandment. We must be guided by Jesus to follow these principles. Suppose you had a rule in your household not to stand on the dining room chairs. For a small child this makes much safety sense--for the child, the chair and anything else breakable nearby. However, to an adult, the guiding principle is that we are taking care of ourselves and the chairs so neither gets broken. If it becomes necessary to use a chair to change a light bulb, there is no transgression of the rule for the chair to be used for this purpose.

Likewise, we are free to be practical and reasonable about other things. All things are lawful for me, ...1 Corinthians 10:23. This teaching was a major theme for the apostles: Paul, Peter, James. In the epistles, specifically mentioned examples include:

• interaction with the Gentile merchants and "unclean" food: Whatsoever is sold in the shambles, that eat, asking no question for conscience sake:. 1 Cor. 10:25. And I heard a voice saying unto me, Arise, Peter; slay and eat. But the voice answered me again from heaven, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common. Acts 11:7-9.
• religious rituals, standards, and dietary laws: Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances, (Touch not; taste not; handle not; Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men? Col. 2: 20-22.

Sin is whatever we put between us and God! When we walk WITH Jesus-- our hand in His-- nothing comes between us. So, as long as we walk with Jesus, we are free to do what is reasonable. 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. James 1:25.

Jesus showed us that the traditions and cultural customs were often more of a burden than a help. As a perfect person-- both God and man, at one with the Father-- He knew what things were appropriate at what times. He had the authority to live in any way that would shed light on the gospel and meet people's needs. He gave examples in His ministry of the freedom He has that we now share in Him:

• He healed people on the Sabbath. And it was the sabbath day when Jesus made the clay, and opened his eyes. John.9 :14....And they watched him, whether he would heal him on the sabbath day; that they might accuse him. And he saith unto them, Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath days, or to do evil? to save life, or to kill? But they held their peace. Mark 3:2-4.
• He allowed His disciples to live life without adhering to rituals. And when they saw some of his disciples eat bread with defiled, that is to say, with unwashen, hands, they found fault. For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, except they wash their hands oft, eat not, holding the tradition of the elders. And when they come from the market, except they wash, they eat not. And many other things there be, which they have received to hold, as the washing of cups, and pots, brasen vessels, and of tables. Mark 7:2-4.
• He and His disciples traveled on the Sabbath and ate from the food that grew along the way. At that time Jesus went on the sabbath day through the corn; and his disciples were an hungred, and began to pluck the ears of corn, and to eat. Matt 12:1.
• He cleansed the Temple, and healed people within its walls. And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves,
  And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves. And the blind and the lame came to him in the temple; and he healed them...But I say unto you, That in this place is one greater than the temple. Matt 21:12-14, 12:6.
• He associated with the "unclean" lepers, publicans, Samaritans and others. And when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto his disciples, Why eateth your Master with publicans and sinners? ... The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, Behold a man gluttonous, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners. But wisdom is justified of her children. Matt. 9:11, 11:19.

Be encouraged that Jesus has set us free!

(More about our liberty tomorrow.)

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We are to use our liberty to serve God, seeking the lost and edifying (encouraging and building up) the saved. As free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God. 1Peter 2:16.

We are also admonished to not get carried away with our liberty, causing personal stumbling and sin. For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another. Galatians 5:13.

In Hebrews chapter 11 Paul uses the whole chapter to describe those who walked in faith, and were able to accomplish certain things for God. He then says to be like them, and be comforted by them. Some of them only did what they did because of being under persecution. We may also have to face that at some point, although so far Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin. Heb.12:4. The next verse says that if we do not listen, understand and obey-- persecution and chastening will come! And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him:...v5.

Jesus came to seek and to save those who are lost. Once we have been found that is also our task. This can only be done truly effectively as we walk in faith, in freedom and liberty. We can proclaim the gospel, and God's word will not come back void, but history shows that the church does not seem to grow well until persecution arises. It is at these times that Christians let go of their scripts, rules, standards, petty comparisons, and just walk by faith. There's no other choice.

Be encouraged! As we walk with our Savior, we are no longer under condemnation from sin and the law! We are "judged" as FREE, under the law of liberty! So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty. James 2:12.

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Freedom, part 4

...I have set you free...To serve God...

As free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God. 1Peter 2:16.

Our most important role as God's children is to have the same heart that Jesus, our new Adam and Father has, that of a servant. Our desire should be to serve Him, and do His work just as He said, For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day. John 6:38-40.

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Every Christian uses the liberty that Jesus gave them whether they know it or not! That liberty is expressed in the choices we make about the direction of our pathway. However, some use their "liberty" to choose maliciousness. This is when our behavior thwarts God's purpose!

There's the story about the woman putting a roast into the oven as her daughter watched. She cut off one end, and then placed the meat in the pan. Sissy then asked her Mom why she did this. "Well, my Mom did this, and so did Great Grammy! We always have done it this way!" Later, Great Grammy was asked about the procedure. "It's because my roasting pan was rather small, and the roasts were too large to fit without cutting off the end of the roast!"

Our churches are full of "roasting pan" traditions and practices. We do things because they are accepted and expected behaviors. We need to be like the Bereans and search the scriptures daily, whether those things were so. Acts 17:11.

Once you quit walking with Jesus in faith, and wander away from Him under other guidelines, you have chosen to enter the "maliciousness zone". It's inevitable-- that's just the way our sin nature works. Paul and Peter were heartbroken as they witnessed the churches in Asia lapse back into the Jewish legalism of works. "Christian" churches today are fully infected with that same disease. There are a few types of malicious Christians:

• The clearly more spiritual--by word, deeds, and appearance. I have been in a mixed group that included legalistic Christians and the unsaved. In a conversation some reference to a cultural thing is brought up, perhaps about a TV show or popular book. It is the immature legalistic Christian who becomes offended and then makes the unsaved person turn away. The opportunity to give the gospel gets shot down because of the "I don't participate in this culture--I am much more spiritual!" attitude.
• The hypocritical legalists. These are the more subtle legalistic Christians who will insist that they are not such. But they are legalists-- and hypocrites-- because they just modify their behavior to hide the legalism. Suppose a visitor comes into the church who is "Clearly not up to our standards!" "For the sake of the lost one be kind. Once they are saved, invested and involved we will teach them what they need to wear, do and say to measure up". Yet Jesus never altered His behavior. He treated the prostitutes and the Pharisees with the same honesty and love! He met the need of each heart. He never added additional requirements except to go and sin no more. He did not tell Mary Magdalene what clothes to wear, or tell Zacchaeus to quit his job. He behaved no differently when He was with the lost as when He was with His own!
• The third group of malicious Christians are those who are willfully using their liberty to choose to engage in sin, because they have been forgiven. They participate with the unsaved and other carnal saved in evil or immoral activities. This behavior will also thwart the cause of Christ, and the gospel. They risk severe chastisement from their Father.

Because of the liberty we have in our hearts if we do not walk closely with Jesus any one of us can drift into and out of any of these groups and mindsets.

Be encouraged that we have liberty to use whatever roasting pan we have been blessed with! We must see ourselves as children, and walk with the Savior in liberty and faith. What an encouragement that this simplicity is what God wants of us! His yoke is light! He loves us! For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous. 1 John 5: 3.

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19th

I am the light of the world

And God said, Let there be light: and there was light. Genesis 1:3.

As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world. John.9:5....(p.s.: I will never leave you!)

You can't walk in darkness without some light to see where you are going. Be encouraged that as you walk with Jesus! He lights the path for you! Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. John.8: 12.

But the Light that Jesus has is much greater than just lighting our path. He invented light. It is no coincidence that the first words of creation recorded in the Bible are And God said, Let there be light: and there was light. Genesis 1:3. He was not only introducing His creation, but introducing to us the first picture of Himself to help us learn about Him; I am the light of the world.

The whole electromagnetic spectrum created by Jesus is... light! Only a small part of it is visible to the human eye. We don't know much about light yet, but we have been able to utilize it for our benefit. Some of light's many applications include that:

• Light is the source of energy for life on earth. Without the sun's light nothing could live.
• Light reveals structural damage. Cracks in concrete or steel can be revealed.
• Light can show the truth in a crime scene. Latent blood splatters are discovered under ultraviolet light. Many other minerals, insects, chemicals etc. glow under ultraviolet light.
• Light disinfects. Light can kill germs.
• Light destroys. Concentrated light (laser) can be a weapon. Bright sunlight can blind. Sunlight in excess kills.
• Light cooks through microwaves.
• Light allows communication. All the TV, radio, phone, satellite, GPS etc. use bandwidth from the electromagnetic spectrum.
• Light helps medically. X-rays, and other medical scanners help in treatment of disease.
• Infrared light can help us see in the dark.

If it seems that light is involved in everything we know about--you're right! And because everything is ALL about Jesus, Who is our eternal light, and the creator of temporal light, it just shows us how big our God is! What a Savior!

Jesus IS EVERYTHING to us!

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• If you close your eyes, listening to the music alone, do you picture yourself before God's throne among the angelic host and all the redeemed singing and playing praises on their instruments? OK. So nobody this side of heaven can do that well, except for the sounds God hears coming from the heart.
• Better, if you close your eyes can you picture your particular group of pilgrims walking with Jesus towards heaven, and singing gloriously to Him about how wonderful He is?
• Or does the music sound more like it belongs in a typical worldly social hangout? If your non-English speaking friend were to visit your church, and then accompany you to one of the secular concerts would he be able to distinguish the difference? With your eyes closed in your church you may even be able to picture yourself at your favorite pop star's concert, with your cell phone or cigarette lighter held high in the air! Sadly, this is the draw for many churches. With the typical secular concert ticket costing well over $100-- they sponsor a free concert every week! These productions definitely honor the genres of our favorite American idols, but do not necessarily honor God.

• God's power, might and strength: Be thou exalted, LORD, in thine own strength: so will we sing and praise thy power. Psalm 21:13.
• God's works from all eternity, creation and onward: And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvelous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints. Revelation 15:3.
• The name of Jesus: I will be glad and rejoice in thee: I will sing praise to thy name, O thou most High. Psalm 9:2. Therefore will I give thanks unto thee, O LORD, among the heathen, and sing praises unto thy name. Psalm 18:49.

"I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved." John 10:9.

Jesus has a lot to say about doors. Most of us are familiar with the picture of Him being our door to life, the door to salvation. He is the door that opened when His death tore the veil between mankind and the Father. Hallelujah, what a Savior!

The fulfillment of Jesus being the door to life was preceded in scripture by His warning to Cain about sin. Cain had just given an offering of his crops, which did not please the Lord. Cain had chosen to ignore God's picture of humanity's need for a blood atonement, instead choosing to make the sacrifice the way that pleased him. He judged that his magnificent grains and veggies were far superior to a messy lamb sacrifice. Our sin nature always wants to do what pleases us, with no thought of God.

The Lord speaks to Cain, warning him that his choice to reject the blood atonement was not good. He further tells Cain that he is flirting with the sin that lies at the door. This warning to Cain is reminiscent of Jesus' later warning to Peter that Satan was wanting to sift him like wheat-- your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walks about, seeking whom he may devour:. 1Peter 5:8.

God warns Cain that sin was waiting for him, desiring to ensnare him. But Cain had the ability to "rule" sin with his choices. He could make the new choice to do well, and to accept the concept of the blood atonement. And the LORD said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen? If thou does well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou does not well, sin lies at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him. Genesis 4: 6-7.

Unfortunately, Cain did not take the second chance to do well, and not long after that, sin did devour him. He ended up murdering his brother. It is noted that first Cain talked with Abel his brother: v8. Perhaps Abel also tried to make him understand that he must submit to God's plan for a Messiah, and abandon his own. If that was what they discussed, it didn't work, and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him.

*******

The next illustration is the Lord asking Job, Have the gates of death been opened unto thee? or hast thou seen the doors of the shadow of death? Job 38:17. There are entry doors that lead to the shadow of death. Saved people enter these doors--doors that only allow passage through the shadow of death. As our corporal body breathes its last breath we do not die-- for Jesus is that door that keeps us from passing into death itself. Our dead body is a shadow of what could have been had we rejected our Jesus!

Psalm 23 explains this, and gives even more information on the subject: Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. v4.

Which brings us full circle! For the rod and the staff belong to Jesus, the Good Shepherd of Psalm 23. He is the door of life that saves us from the death that is an eternity in hell. Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep.... I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. John.10: 7, 9.

It's ALL about Jesus! He's the door! He's the Shepherd! He's the Life! He's everything to us!

Pss.23
[1] The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
[2] He makes me to lie down in green pastures: he leads me beside the still waters.
[3] He restoreth my soul: he leads me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
[4] Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
[5] Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
[6] Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.

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John 10: 27. Part 2

...And I give unto them eternal life...

John 10: 27. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand."

I would be flabbergasted if one of the world's richest people-- someone I'd seen in the media, but never personally met before-- came up to me out of the blue and gave me a large stack of money. What an exciting shocking event!

Yet God has offered us a Gift that cannot be purchased at any price! It's worth more than the universe and all it contains! It's worth more than an infinite number of universes. For it is the sacrifice of the life and blood of the Creator of all things! It is the gift of eternity, and not just eternity, but eternity in a closeness with HIM! --Because He not only is giving us the opportunity to accept eternal life, but He wants to adopt us into His family!!

...Jesus approaches each of us, offering us this Gift....and many have the gall to say "no". Especially when you consider that the alternative is an eternity of ...spiritual death.

All of us were given eternity as some part of our being created in the image of God... So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. Genesis 1:27.

Scripture sometimes uses the word knowledge to show an intimate relationship, such as in marital relations. God told Adam that if he became intimate with sin he would initiate death upon creation. But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die. Genesis 2:17 He would knock over the first domino that would continue a cascade that only God could stop. Jesus would be that One Man Who would not fall over to sin's push! He would stop the cascade failure!

This death sequence began with Adam's choice to reject God's authority through willful disobedience. He began a physical death for creation. Science recognizes this tendency for the energy of the universe to disperse and calls it entropy. We are in a breaky universe. Things don't fix themselves--they fall apart. If they have life, the life runs out and they die. It took awhile, but Adam's body died. But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die. Genesis 2:17.

More horrendous, Adam began a spiritual eternal death for mankind because there is no spiritual life apart from God. Adam gave us the curse of being eternally separated from the Loving Creator, Who had been kicked out of our hearts. Adam's spiritual death began the instant he chose to become intimate with the knowledge of evil. He metaphorically signed the "Curse of Death" warrant. Each one of his descendants has signed onto that curse contract with our own rebellion. But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die. Genesis 2:17.

Please, whatever you do--do not reject God's gift of eternal life! If you possess that gift be encouraged that it is ETERNAL! And it is LIFE!

For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Romans 6:23.

Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life. John 6:68.

For questions about salvation, click.

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John 10: 27. Part 3

...and they shall never perish...

John 10: 27. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand."

NEVER PERISH! What a promise held in two words! What an encouragement!

• Never...Our temporal minds can't even wrap around the concept of eternity--never, ever, ever, ever...ever.
• But to never perish. What does that entail?

This involves the concept of hell. People scoff at this, mostly because the secular world associates hell with the bizarre artwork of Heironymus Bosch, or the Hollywood stereotype of the red devil and pitchfork. Another idea is that hell is a party place, ruled by Satan. All are wrong.

What does God tell us about hell?

• Hell is a necessary place of quarantine. Adam's first sin caused universal entropy to begin in this universe. Therefore the new heavens and new earth must be protected, and cannot be contaminated by sin. Those who chose in this life to remain in an eternal state of sin did so willingly by rejecting Jesus' atonement for them. As eternal sin-generators they must be kept out of the perfected new universe. Even one instant of being set loose would result in disaster. They would be the only sources of sin in the new universe; so they must be cast out into outer darkness: Matt 8:12.... For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loves and makes a lie. Rev 22:14-15.
• Hell's sin-quarantine means that never again will creation have a sin-curse upon it. And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him: Rev 22:3.... And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away;...and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. Rev 21:1,4,5..
• Hell is the place for the dead. Those who died before Redemption was accomplished in time-- when Jesus died --were in a separate place than those who died in rebellion. When Jesus finished His task He took these children of promise with Him from their spot. They no longer held any status as being dead. Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. Eph. 4:8. They now await us in heaven. The children of rebellion still await judgment. After the final judgment they will be cast into
• The Lake of Fire-- a place of cleansing fire. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. Revelation 20:14. Whether you are cleaning the grease off the barbecue grate, superheating the oven on "clean cycle", burning contaminated medical waste, or refining metals, fire is used for cleansing. God has a dark, cleansing fire that must burn eternally to cleanse sinners from their sin. Because they had rejected Jesus' cleansing sacrifice, they chose to undergo their own cleansing. The attitude of rejecting God..."I don't need you, I can manage by myself", was their own choice to undergo an eternal cleansing process. They will be cast into hell fire: Where their worm dies not, and the fire is not quenched. Mark 9:47-48. The original rejection and rebellion never ceases, therefore
• Hell is a place of eternal judgment. The Christ-rejecting heart has an eternal existence. It is 100% sin, and that sin remains forever; so judgment remains as well. Of the doctrine ... of eternal judgment. Hebrews 6:2. This is necessary because
• The heart of a sinner stays that way always, and never has its sins cleansed. The sin never fully can be burned away. When people reject Jesus here in their temporal bodies it is an eternal decision. Only a live flesh and bones person has the ability to be saved. A zombie-soul can't be saved because we are saved with a heart decision to accept Christ. A dead heart has no choosing power anymore. It chose death, and remains what it is--dead forever. He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still:...And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be. Revelations 22:11-12.
• Hell is a place of weeping, wailing, and pain. ...And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. Matthew 13:42&50. ...And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments..., Luke 16:23.
• Hell is a place of darkness and loneliness. The lost ...shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Matthew 8:12....delivered them into chains of darkness...2Peter 2:4.
• Everything about hell for humans applies to the fallen angels, especially Satan. For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment; 2Peter 2:4. And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever. Rev 20:10.
• Hell could not hold Jesus! When Jesus died and descended into hell on our behalf it busted wide open because He could not be contained! He had none of the requirements necessary for Him to be in hell. There was no need to quarantine Him; He did not have the rebellion and sin in His heart that we have. His soul "DNA" was spotless divine DNA. As a man He went for judgment and punishment in hell; as God He was found innocent and pure --He was set free! This is propitiation. The Father was satisfied that Jesus had met the requirements to atone for our sins. He possesses the Keys to death and hell and we are set free through faith in His shed blood! I am he that lives, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death. Rev. 1:18.

Those who believe what He accomplished become His blood relatives. With His new pure "soul DNA" we receive the same "innocent" verdict that He did. Hallelujah! What a Saviour!

Be encouraged! Simple belief in Salvation-- finalized by Jesus-- is all it takes to escape!

That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. John 3:15.

For questions about salvation, click.

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• First, notice that Christ is the door. Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep....I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. John 10: 7,9. When the sheep were corralled the shepherd would lay across the opening so that no one would leave or enter without his permission. If Jesus isn't powerful enough to protect His sheep--you are not believing the real Jesus. You have an imposter.
• Jesus is all powerful. He spoke creation into being. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. John 1:3.
• Jesus adopts us into His family. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself bears witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.Romans 8: 15-17.
• God's decrees and adoption papers are irrevocable. No loopholes! We are joint-heirs with Christ. It's been decided at the highest level. And there is no higher power that can overturn His judgments! And He never changes! Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. James 1:17.
• Jesus had power to save us. If He can lose us, then He has no power, and died in vain. Therefore does my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. No man takes it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. John 10:17-18.
• The Father backs up Jesus! My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand. I and my Father are one. John 10: 29-30.
• No one, no way, no how-- can pull us from Jesus! For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Rom. 8:38-9.

• The reason why so many of us have a hard time witnessing for the Lord is that we are trying to do it on our own strength. It is like a branch trying to survive without the vine. We love our Lord, but are not trusting Him. We are separating ourselves from the Vine and will wither away unless we get grafted into the vine and roots. Grapes are not like other plants that will form roots if you take a cutting and put it in water. Grapes are just about impossible to propagate via cuttings. They must be "air-layered" where they are slightly separated from the main plant with a small cut. This area is carefully wrapped with moss, then wrapped in cloth or plastic, and must be kept moist. Sometimes it takes a year before enough roots will form--if nothing goes wrong. Jesus gave us this example to show us that we just cannot fly solo. We need Him, and shouldn't try to separate ourselves from Him for we need our Vine!
• In many churches "soul winning" is a requirement of membership, so the motivation is fear of not performing the "works" deemed as necessary. While the Word of God will not come back empty--for it is God's Word that saves-- the process is a "wood, hay or stubble" event of 1Cor.3: 12 that is not of faith.

Be encouraged that our Vine keeps us from drying up and withering! Jesus is everything to us!

31st

I Go To Prepare a Place for You

John.14: 2-3. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

Be encouraged! This world is not our final home! There are no words to describe heaven. It is as if one of us was trying to describe modern electronic technology to anyone who lived more than about century ago. It just don't compute.

Ezekiel, Daniel, John... saw glimpses of things to come...but were unable to even scratch the surface in a description. But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. 1 Cor.2:9.

It is sad that there are many who are so wrapped up in the seeking the pleasures of the flesh, that they see heaven as a place of boredom. "God is boring, Jesus is boring. Who would want to spend eternity in heaven?"
These people just don't KNOW the real God of the Bible. This wonderful earth, whose ingredients provide us with everything we need: everything that pleases us, amuses us, sustains our life--was invented by Jesus! Like a toddler on a "Daddy-baby" outing, you could follow Jesus around for eternity, flabbergasted at each new and wonderful thing He does, and says. Traveling around heaven and the new universe in His presence for eternity, will certainly keep me going! Everything we do will be done without the possibility of injury or death! At least 99.999999.....% of what Jesus knows we will never comprehend, and the other small bit is iffy. But we'll keep learning and love the journey! Knowing I shall waken never more to roam, Anywhere with Jesus will be home, sweet home. (from the hymn Anywhere with Jesus I can Safely Go!, Daniel B. Towner)

There's a bumper sticker that reads, "The Joy is in the Journey". Actually, this statement is true, but ONLY if the journey is one where you are walking with Jesus! He is everything!

Until Then (Until the day God calls me home)
(Stuart Hamblen, 1958)

My heart can sing when I pause to remember
A heartache here is but a stepping stone
Along a path that's winding always upward
This troubled world is not my final home.
But until then my heart will go on singing
Until then with joy I'll carry on
Until the day my eyes behold my Saviour
Until the day God calls me home.

The things of earth will dim and lose their value
If we recall they're borrowed for a while
And things of earth that cause this heart to tremble
Remember there will only bring a smile.
But until then my heart will go on singing
Until then with joy I'll carry on
Until the day my eyes behold my Saviour
Until the day God calls me home...

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