Sin Entered In
When sin entered in, death and decay began. When God made the world it was perfect. The bite of the forbidden fruit was the pathway to altering the very genes that we were created with.
Romans 5
King James Version (KJV)
12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:
13 (For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law.
14 Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam’s transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come.
Science has shown that abuse, both physical and mental can change the way our DNA works, with permanent changes to both us and to our children.
Child Abuse Causes Lifelong Changes To DNA Expression And Brain
Our environment can cause changes as well:
“Environmental factors such as food, drugs, or exposure to toxins can cause epigenetic changes by altering the way molecules bind to DNA or changing the structure of proteins that DNA wraps around. These structural changes can result in slight changes in gene activity; they also can produce more dramatic changes by switching genes on when they should be off or vice versa.
These changes are heritable, meaning they can be passed on from parent cell to daughter cell within the body, and from parent to child. An extraordinary study of survivors of the Dutch famine during World War II, for example, has shown that the effect of epigenetic changes caused by hunger don’t show up in the survivors’ children, but they do in their children’s children. This perhaps suggests the adage should not merely be, “You are what you eat,” but also, “You are what your grandparents ate. Duke Magazine
Sin is the change in the DNA, all else are by products of the change. It is the product of rebellion against God and the curse that we live with until the return of His Son.
Romans 5
King James Version (KJV)
5 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;
4 And patience, experience; and experience, hope:
5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
6 For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.
7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die.
8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.
10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.
11 And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.
The return which is the promise that those who have faith and accept our Lord Jesus Christ as our Savior. A possibility of redemption and an eternal life of perfection. Without sin, there could be no disease, no death, no decay, no mind capable of harming others.
Genesis 3
King James Version (KJV)
7 And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons.
8 And they heard the voice of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God amongst the trees of the garden.
9 And the Lord God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou?
10 And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself.
11 And he said, Who told thee that thou wast naked? Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat?
12 And the man said, The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat.
13 And the Lord God said unto the woman, What is this that thou hast done? And the woman said, The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat.
14 And the Lord God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life:
15 And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.
16 Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee.
17 And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life;
18 Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field;
19 In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.
With the sacrifice that Jesus made, we have another change possible within our DNA, we accept the blood that He shed, we have the opportunity to be saved and changed forever. To once again enter into that state of perfection. Without it we have no hope. Science has also shown how prayer changes us, in our DNA, our prayers are able to make physical changes.
By transforming root issues recorded in our DNA we will be free to walk in joy and wholeness.
By Dr. Jim Richards
After 35 years of studying health and medicine, I have discovered that nothing affects our health more than our feelings and emotions. We often don’t notice these negative feelings until they are triggered by circumstances. But did you ever consider that the feelings and bad reactions were trapped inside your body before the bad circumstance occurred?
These negative emotions are like the thorns that choke out the good seed in the Parable of the Sower. In order to see healing and breakthrough in every area of our lives, our hearts need to be transformed to believe God. We are double-minded in our heart because of these trapped emotions. Once we are single-minded, we will have faith for the impossible.
I have seen more people healed by praying the “prayer of transformation” included in this article and replacing negative thoughts and emotions with the truth of God’s Word than anything else in 40 years of walking in the miraculous. Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians 10:4-5 how to deal with the destructive thoughts and feelings that come to us as a result of hearing or believing things that are not true. In verse 4 he says “the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds.” The word “weapons” could just as well have been translated as “tools.” Paul says these “tools” are not based on the flesh, but they are mighty for the pulling down of strongholds.Read the rest at Sid Roth It’s Supernatural:
Like the blood that was upon the doors: Exodus 12:7 And they shall take of the blood, and strike it on the two side posts and on the upper door post of the houses, wherein they shall eat it.
44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.
45 It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me.
46 Not that any man hath seen the Father, save he which is of God, he hath seen the Father.
47 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.
48 I am that bread of life.
49 Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead.
50 This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die.
51 I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.
52 The Jews therefore strove among themselves, saying, How can this man give us his flesh to eat?
53 Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you.
54 Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.
55 For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed.
56 He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him.
57 As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me.
58 This is that bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eateth of this bread shall live for ever.
59 These things said he in the synagogue, as he taught in Capernaum.
60 Many therefore of his disciples, when they had heard this, said, This is an hard saying; who can hear it?
61 When Jesus knew in himself that his disciples murmured at it, he said unto them, Doth this offend you?
62 What and if ye shall see the Son of man ascend up where he was before?
63 It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.
64 But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray him.
65 And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father.
People who don’t believe in God have no trouble accepting as fact that DNA is being changed by everything around us, and yet they would have us believe that there is no God and these changes are happening randomly and by accident. It is no wonder that there is so much insanity in this world, a leap of faith to accept the randomness that intelligence happened by accident and that the physical blueprint of our construction was a random act. To view the the construction to the smallest scale and see what it entails to construct something as complex as the blood which is the fluid without which we could not exist, is awesome in it’s beauty.
Without Jesus we are doomed eteranally but with Him we have hope:
Romans 5
15 But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many.
16 And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification.
17 For if by one man’s offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.)
18 Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.
19 For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.
20 Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:
21 That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.
Source: psmicrographs.co.uk via Le on Pinterest
Victory over the World and Assurance of Salvation
Source: gregolsen.com via Patricia on Pinterest
1 John 5:4-13
4 For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—- our faith.
5 Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?
6 And this He who came by water and blood—- Jesus Christ; not only by water, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who bears witness, because the Spirit is truth.
7 For there are three who bear witness in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one.
8 And there are three who bear witness on earth: the Spirit, the water, and the blood; and these three agree as one.
9 If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater; for this is the witness of God which He has testified of His Son.
10 He who believes in the Son of God has witness in himself; he who does not believe God has made Him a liar, because he has not believed the testimony that God has given of His Son.
11 And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.
12 He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.
13 These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.
Thought for the Day
Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Savior. Titus 1:4
Source: lostseed.com via Annette on Pinterest
The Preeminent Redeemer
Colossians 1:12-20
King James Version (KJV)
12 Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:
13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:
14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:
15 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:
16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:
17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.
18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.
19 For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;
20 And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.
Put on the New Man
English: Baptism of Christ (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Colossians 3:12-17
New International Version (NIV)
12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love,which binds them all together in perfect unity.
15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. 16 Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdomthrough psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. 17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
To Live is Christ
Philippians 1:19-26
Good News Translation (GNT)
Filling With the Holy Spirit
The Pentecost Mosaic, in the center is the dove of the Holy Spirit with the twelve apostles below. This is one of the oldest mosaics in the church dating from 1125 AD. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Acts 2:1-4
Now when the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.
And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting.
Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them.
And they were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
Related articles
- Holy Spirit coming down to empower him. (uphans7.wordpress.com)
- The Day of Pentecost, Year B: May 27, 2012 (prayerbookguide.wordpress.com)
“I Am the Bread of Life”
Christ in Gethsemane (Christus in Gethsemane), oil painting by Heinrich Ferdinand Hofmann (Heinrich Hofmann). The original is at the Riverside Church (Riverside Church, New York City). (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
“I Am the Bread of Life“
John 6:22-59
On the following day, when the people who were standing on the other side of the sea saw that there was no other boat there, except that one which His disciples had entered, and that Jesus had not entered the boat with His disciples, but His disciples had gone away alone–
however, other boats came from Tiberias, near the place where they ate bread after the Lord had given thanks–
when the people therefore saw that Jesus was ot there, nor His disciples, they also got into boats and came to Capernaum, seeking Jesus.
And when they found Him on the other side of the sea, they said to Him, “Rabbi, when did You come here?”
Jesus answered them and said, “Most assuredly, I say to you, you seek Me, not because you saw the signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled.
“Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set His seal on Him.”
Then they said to Him, “What shall we do, that we may work the works of God“
Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent.”
Therefore they said to Him, “What sign will You perform then, that we may see it and believe You? What work will You do?
“Our fathers ate the manna in the desert; as it is written, ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’”
Then Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, Moses did not give you the bread from heaven, but My father gives you the true bread from heaven.
“For the bread of God is He who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”
Then they said to Him, “Lord, give us this bread always.”
And Jesus sait to them, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.
“But I said to you that you have seen Me and yet do not believe.
“All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out.
“For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me.
“This is the will of the Father who sent Me, that of all He has given Me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up at the last day.
“And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day.”
The Jews then murmured against Him, because He said, “I am the bread which came down from heaven.”
And they said, “Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How is it then that He says, ‘I have come down from heaven’?”
Jesus therefore answered and said to them, “Do not murmur among yourselves.
“No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day.
“It is written in the prophets, ‘And they shall all be taught by God.’ Therefore everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to Me.
“Not that anyone has seen the Father, except He who is from God; He has seen the Father.
“Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me has everlasting life.
“I am the bread of life.
“Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and are dead.
“This is the bread which came down from heaven, that one may eat of it and not die.
“I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread that I shall give is My flesh, which I shall give for the life of this world.”
The Jews therefore quarreled among themselves, saying, “How can this Man give us His flesh to eat?”
The Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you.
“Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.
“For My flesh is food indeed, and My blood is drink indeed.
“He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him.
“As the living Father sent Me, and I live because of the Father, so he who feeds on Me will live because of Me.
“Thsi is the bread which came down from heaven– not as your fathers ate the manna, and are dead. He who eats this bread will live forever.”
These things He said in the synagogue as He taught in Capernaum.
Equality With God in Authority
Icon of Jesus Christ (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Equality With God in Authority
John 5:22-30
“For the Father judges no one, but has committed all judgment to the Son,
“that all should honor the Son just as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him.
“Morst assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life.
“Most assuredly, I say to you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God; and those who hear will live.
“For as the Father has life in Himself, so He has granted the Son to have life in Himself,
“and has given Him authority to execute judgment also, because He is the Son of Man.
“Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice
“and come forth– those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation.
“I can of Myself do nothing. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is righteous, because I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father who sent Me.
Loss Of Grace
Stained glass windows at Notre-Dame, Geneva, Switzerland. Top: God the Father; middle: Dove of Holy Spirit in trefoil; lower: Annunciation scene. Français : Vitraux de la basilique Notre-Dame, Genève, Suisse. Deutsch: Fenster in der Liebfrauenbasilika, Genf, Schweiz. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
What can cause a church to lose the grace of the Holy Spirit? I was reminded of one of those very things when augustinehippo1 commented on my post Doctrine of False Teachers in part, with Galatians 1:6-9 I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from heaven preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed.
This is a very stern warning on what happens if a false gospel is taught, it is a serious departure from grace.
Read on a little further Galatians 1:10 For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a servant of Christ.
Unfortunately this is exactly what is happening in many churches today, they have forgotten their reason for existence. They spend their time trying to please man instead of God. In doing this they are bringing damnation on the very souls that they are professing to save.
Luke 16:13 “No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.
And yet that is what churches that are attempting to please man are doing isn’t it? In trying not to offend those of earth, instead they are offending the Holy Father and His Anointed Son Jesus.
Matthew 7:15-20 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.
“You will know them by their fruits.
Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles?
“Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit.
“Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown in the fire.
“Therefore by their fruits you will know them.”
A church that is teaching the true gospel and doctrine of Christ will have good fruit. It’s people will have changed their lives and put on the new man and the old man will have died.
Ephesians 2:1-3 And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.
The evidence as to whether a church is teaching the gospel, the doctrine of Christ, is in it’s people. I am not telling you to judge, that is up the Jesus when He returns and there are many that He has already told us that when they knock He will tell them He doesn’t know them.
What I am telling you to do is use your eyes. If you believe in God the Father and accept His Son, Jesus as your Savior, He will open your eyes to the false teachings and you can move on to a church that does preach the gospel. If any church were acceptable to Him, He would not have given us the Word to teach from and He would not have sent the Holy Spirit in order that we might have the grace to see what the truth is.
Description of False Teachers
God, the Father watches us all everywhere. (Photo credit: angelofsweetbitter2009)
Description of False Teachers
1Timothy 4:1-5
Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from thee daith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines and demons,
speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron,
forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from foods which God create to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth.
For every creature of God is good, and noting is to be refused if it is received with thanksgiving;
for it is santified by the word of God and prayer.
Do Not Worry
Matthew 6:25-34
“Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?
“Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you no of more value than they?
“Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?
“So why do your worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin;
“and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
“Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?
“Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’
“For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.
“But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.
“Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.
Debate Over Tradition Matthew 15:1-20
Christ and The Pharisees (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Then the scribes and Pharisees who were from Jerusalem came to Jesus, saying,
“Why do Your disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat the bread.”
But He answered and said to them, “Why do you also transgress the commandment of God because of your tradition?
“For God commanded, saying, ‘Honor your father and your mother‘; and, ‘He who curses father or mother, let him be put to death.’
“But you say, ‘Whoever says to his father or mother, “Whatever profit you might have received from me has been dedicated to the temple”—
‘is released from honoring his father or mother.’ Thus you have made the commandment of God of no effect by your tradition.
Hypocrite! Well did Isaiah prophesy about you, saying:
‘These people draw near to Me with their mouth,
And honor Me with their lips,
But their heart is far from Me.
And in vain the worship Me,
Teaching as doctrines the
commandments of men.’ “
Then He called the multitude and said to them, “Hear and understand:
“Not what goes into the mouth defiles a man; but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man.”
Then His disciples came and said to Him, “Do You know the Pharisees were offended when they heard this saying?”
But He answered and said, “Ever plant which My heavenly Father has not planted will be uprooted.
“Let them alone. They are blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind leads the blind, both will fall into a ditch.”
The Peter answered and said to Him, “Explain this parable to us.”
So Jesus said, “Are you also still without understanding?
“Do you not yet understand that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and is eliminated?
“But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man.
“For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies.
“These are the things which defile a man, but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile a man.”
Ephesians 1
Salutations from Paul
Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God,
To the saints who are in Ephesus, and faithful in Christ Jesus:
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Chosen by the Father
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ,
just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love,
having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will,
to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He has made us accepted in the Beloved.
Redeemed by the Son
In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace
which He made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence,
having made know to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself,
that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth—in Him,
in whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will,
that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory.
Sealed by the Spirit
In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise,
who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possesion to the praise of His glory.
Prayer for Revelation
Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints,
do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers:
that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him,
the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints,
and what is the esceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His might power
which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places,
far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come.
And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church,
which is His body, the fullness of Him who fill all in all.
1John 1
Stained glass window of the sacred Heart of Jesus Christ in the former Mosque (Cathedral) of Cordoba, Spain (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life—
the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us—
that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ.
And these things we write to you that your joy may be full.
This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all.
If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.
But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.
If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.
John 5
After this there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.
Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, which is called in Hebrew, Bethesda, having five porches.
In these lay a great multitude of sick people, blind, lame, paralyzed, waiting for the moving of the water.
For an angel went down at a certain time into the pool and stirred up the water; then whoever stepped in first, after the stirring of the water, was made well of whatever disease he had.
Now a certain man was there who had and infirmity thirty-eight years.
When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he already had been in that condition a long time, He said to him, “Do you want to be made well?”
The sick man answered Him, “Sir I have no man to put me into the pool when is water is stirred up; but while I am coming, another steps down before me.”
Jesus said to him, “Rise, take up your bed and walk.”
And immediately the man was made well, took up his bed, and walked. And that day was the Sabbath.
The Jews therefore said to him who was cured, “It is the Sabbath; it is not lawful for you to carry your bed.”
He answered them, “He who made me well said to me, ‘Take up your bed and walk.’ ”
Then they asked him, “Who is the Man who said to you, ‘Take up your bed and walk’?”
But the one who was healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had withdrawn, a multitude being in that place.
Afterward Jesus found him in the temple, and said to him, “See, you have been made well. Sin no more, lest a worse thing come upon you.”
The man departed and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had made him well.
For this reason the Jews persecuted Jesus, and sought to kill Him, because He had done these things on the Sabbath.
But Jesus answered them, “My Father has been working until now, and I have been working.”
Therefore the Jews sought all the more to kill Him, because He not only broke the Sabbath, but also said that God was His Father, making Himself equal with God.
Then Jesus answered and said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner.
“For the Father loves the Son, and shows Him all things that He Himself does; and He will show Him greater works than these, that you may marvel.
“For as the Father raises the dead and gives life to them, even so the Son gives life to whom He will.
“For the Father judges no one, but has committed all judgment to the Son, “That all should honor the Son just as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him.
“Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life.
“Most assuredly, I say to you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God; and those who hear will live.
“For as the Father has life in Himself, so He has granted the Son to have life in Himself,
“and has given Him authority to execute judgment also, because He is the Son of Man.
“Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice
“and come forth—those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation.
“I can of Myself do nothing. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is righteous, because I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father who sent Me.
“If I bear witness of Myself, My witness is not true.
“There is another who bears witness of Me, and I know that the witness which he witnesses of Me is true.
“You have sent to John, and he has borne witness to the truth.
“Yet I do not receive testimony from man, but I say these things that yo may be saved.
“He was the burning and shining lamp, and you were willing for a time to rejoice in his light.
“But I have a greater witness than John’s; for the works which the Father has given Me to finish— the very works that I do— bear witness of Me, that the Father has sent Me.
“And the Father Himself, who sent Me, has testified of Me. You have neither heard His voice at any time, nor seen His form. “But you do not have His word abiding in you, because whom He sent, Him you do not believe.
“You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me.
“But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life.
“I do not receive honor from men.
“But I know you, that you do not have the love of God in you.
” I have come in My Father’s name, and you do not receive Me; if another comes in his own name, him you will receive.
“How can you believe, who receive honor from one another, and do not seek the honor that comes from the only God?
“Do not think that I shall accuse you to the Father; there is one who accuses you– Moses, in whom you trust.
“For if you believed Moses, you would believe Me; for he wrote about Me.
“But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe My words?”
Prayer Matthew 6:5-15
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“And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their own reward.
“But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.
“But when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words.
“Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him.
“In this manner, therefore, pray:
Our Father in heaven,
Hallowed be Your name.
Your kingdom come.
Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts,
As we forgive our debtors.
And do not lead us into temptation,
But deliver us from the evil one.
For Yours is the kingdom and the
power and the glory forever. Amen.
“For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.
“But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
Thank You Jesus – Terry Clark – Worship Video with lyrics
I am also including a prayer request with this post. We will be attending the funeral of the fourth family member in less than a year tomorrow. Thank you friends and God bless you all.
American Minute Crosswalk@crosswalkmail.com
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American Minute
On OCTOBER 25, 1887, President Grover Cleveland proclaimed a National Day of Thanksgiving and Prayer: “The goodness and the mercy of God, which have followed the American people during all the days of the past year, claim their grateful recognition and humble acknowledgment.” Grover Cleveland continued: “By His omnipotent power He has protected us from war and pestilence and from every national calamity; by His gracious favor the earth has yielded a generous return…by His loving kindness the hearts of our people have been replenished… and by His unerring guidance we have been directed in the way of national prosperity. To the end that we may with one accord testify our gratitude for all these blessings, I, Grover Cleveland, President of the United States, do hereby designate and set apart…a day of thanksgiving and prayer, to be observed by all the people of the land. On that day let all secular work and employment be suspended, and let our people assemble in their accustomed places of worship and with prayer and songs of praise give thanks to our Heavenly Father for all that He has done for us, while we humbly implore the forgiveness of our sins and a continuance of His mercy.”
Opening Pandora’s Box; The Road Ahead (via The Woman At The Well)
Opening Pandora’s Box; The Road Ahead
Father,
In Matthew 6:4 Your word says not to worry about tomorrow for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s worries are enough for today. So I will not dwell on the road ahead. Your word says Do Not Fear. So, I will not operate in fear. Instead, I hope. I know that you are my source of strength and that when I am weak then you are strong.
I know that I am hidden in you; the one coming to kill my soul will never find me. When I feel afflicted I can be still and know that you are God. You are bigger than my feelings. Even when the storm feels overwhelming and the waves are higher than my head and all I can seem to see is danger, the truth is, You protect me and I will find no safer place than in your embrace. Though the waves seem as if they are going to pound the very air from my chest, I am sheltered in you. Read the rest at The Woman At The Well:
http://thewomanatthewell.wordpress.com/2011/08/21/opening-pandoras-box-the-road-ahead
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- Opening Pandora’s Box; The Road Ahead (thewomanatthewell.wordpress.com)
