Tag Archives: Christianity

All things Christ

got Good?

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fresco at the Karlskirche in vienna (by Johann...

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The Lord has said,and it remains spoken as a reliable truth, “Without Me you can do nothing”.  What good can a man do that will bring him honor from the Lord on the day of His appearing?  Man can do nothing good without the power of the Holy Spirit from the Father and by the sacrifice of Jesus.  There is a power of accomplishment behind all good things.  And this power resides in the hand of the Lord of Life alone.

You may think you do good things without Him.  But you only receive the lie of man to think that way.  And if, after reading this, you remain confident that you are able to accomplish any good thing without the Lord, you remain locked under the seal of selfishness, rebellion, and pride. 

What I have said here is true.  And it will not be taken out of the way; neither in this life or the life to come.  God alone is good.  And nothing good will ever be accomplished without Him.  So we humble ourselves before Him and ask for wisdom, knowledge of His ways, and the power promised in the Holy Spirit.  In this way we accomplish His Holy Will among the sea of rebellious people. 

If you would testify with your lips and the actions of your body for the sake of the Lord, you must recognize that such good things are not from you or your imagination.  They are only found at the feet of He who never lies, and who is the Life, Truth, and The Way.  We bear the fruit of God’s Perfect Will as we humble ourselves before Him. 

By His Grace.

It bears saying the following:

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A cropped version of Ecce homo (Behold the Man...

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I know that the wicked are blind to the Lord’s commands.  Though they hear them, they cannot do them.  Where is the power to overcome the one who now lords over them?  They have not known the power of Jesus’ sacrifice.  So they give up and return to their sin.  Yet the Lord will judge them rightly.  Though they deny what is rightfully God’s, He alone is their judge. 

But do they not know?  Surely the Lord has left His mark in their soul.  They know that they are not clean before a Holy God.  How do I know this?  Because I am from that stock of wicked men.  I once walked in the shoes of blind obedience to every pleasure I could lay my hands on.  I once spurned wisdom and righteousness as if it were a lie.  Self was my god.  And, oh how I served him with vigor!

He has entered in and caused me to bow low before Him.  Even these words were spoken to me on a night when He came to visit a fool: “Go ahead and kill yourself and come to my Throne.  For I have much to say concerning you.”  What a GREAT fool I was!  To think that the grave could shield me from the One who made me.  Now that I begin to understand the Holiness of God I gladly receive His teaching.  Though I stumble before His commands, I find my every rebellion exposed.  And this exposing is now the breath of life He gives me.  The wicked will deny Him His rightful due, only to find His judgment before their very eyes.  Life without God is unspeakably futile.  But life with His teaching is joyous and rich; for we dance with joy at the mention of His Holy Name.  And His rebuke is like cool water to a parched throat.  The wicked would not like to abandon their ways.  On the other hand, because of His Glory, I will never leave the blessing of His presence!  Hear what has been said here.  Fear God and live!

 

Questoned Upon Arrival

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Ermitage throne room 1

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A man appeared before the Lord, having passed from death to life.

“I’m here, my Lord! And I give you the thanks of perfect lips!

You have redeemed me from certain death and dressed me in radiant clothes!

I will live with you forever and praise You for the Might of Your Holy Hand!”

 

The Lord looked at the man and a curious look washed over His Holy Face.

The Lord bent His Beautiful head to the left, then to the right.

He rose from His Throne a bit to peer behind the man.

And His Consuming Gaze slowly followed the man’s frame to his feet.

 

“You are appeared before Me by the strength of My Hand”, said the Lord.

“And you rightly give Me Glory for this work within you.”

“Your thanks is received as your heart has intended.”

“But I will present you a question, and you shall answer Me.”

 

“Where are those you invited? Why have you entered My Throne Room alone?”

 

By His Grace.

“Come on in! The Water’s Fine”

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Swimming

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I send this message out to every man.  I send this to those who hate the Lord of Life, as well as those who are entering that Love. 

God is true.  God is merciful.  He knows our state of affairs.  And He is willing to accept any attempt you make toward allowing Him to give you The Life.  What He has spoken to the wicked hearts of man remains.  But so does the Hope He offers remain. 

I speak as one who has tasted His Love.  And everyone who He has embraced can testify that the life led under the Lordship of God is worth living.  It is better, by a measure not known to man, to live with the Lord of Life as my master than to spend a million years locked in the futility of my wicked heart.

The hope that grows within me is wordless.  I cannot speak the joy He gives.  With Him I find endurance in the face of any trial.  And all the trials His people endure are the same as those who infect the days of the wicked.  Why would you continue to live without Him?  If you inspect the answer to that you will find your pride.  If you will but lower your pride and seek His face you too can know this joy.

We laugh as children when we enter the water to swim.  And we tell those on the shore to jump in with us, “The water’s fine!”  And we swim and frolic in our joy born of water.  To those on the shore we appear foolish.  For they know the water is cold.  But as we endure the beating against our bodies we begin to warm and learn to have joy in what they consider too cold.

The same is true with the Love of God.  For those who remain outside, this love appears as a judgment against them.  But if you will just enter you will find it more beautiful a life than anything on this earth can give. 

What I am saying is clear.  But let me state it clearly, lest anyone mistake my words.  To be a servant of Jesus, the Christ of God, has no comparison to being a servant of our wicked hearts.   Come!  Enter in.  Abandon your pride and humble yourselves before the Most High God.  Call on the name of Jesus and expect.  Believe His message to man and live.  I tell you a truth, God is able to transform every aspect of your fears into a glorious freedom and confidence.  You do not need to die alone, as you are currently destined to do.  His hand is extended in this time of trouble.  Reach out and take it!

By His Grace.

The Two Fold Message

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The Gospel is a two fold message of promises from God, through Christ Jesus, to all men.  On one hand, and first, is the message of sure death.  This is to be delivered to the world with all wisdom and courage.  It is the message of God to those who are already judged because they have not believed in the One and Only True God through Jesus’ sacrifice.  They will hate this message.  And they will desire to destroy anyone who brings it to their ears.

The other side of the message of God is that of mercy and tenderness.  And this is to be delivered to everyone who humbles themselves under the Mighty hand of God.  In this message are rebukes, for the heart of man is desperately wicked and must be caused to submit to the Holy Will of God.  But even in the rebukes we find the Mercy that flows from the Throne of He who is forever.

Do not listen to those who say God is love and He will accept every man.  Only that which is God will enter eternal life.  And to the measure that you have accepted God’s rule in your life, that measure of you will be allowed to enter His presence.  Nothing unholy will ever stand before the Lord of Life.  Only what God has built will last.  Submit yourselves to God and learn from Him.  The more you delay the less time you have left. 

Jesus Christ is the exact representation of the Holy Father.  And He is the same yesterday, today, and forever.  What was expected of the servants of God from the beginning still remains as an expectation of His servants today.  Man has watered down this message.  But God remains the same. 

By His Grace.

“Ah Hah! A Battle!”

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Florida Water Moccasin Agkistrodon piscivorus ...

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“Be wise as serpents and harmless as doves.” 

There is something wonderous I have seen within those who carry the testimony of Jesus.  I saw it, myself, in a quarry in Arkansas years ago.  I can tell you I didn’t understand the significance of it then.  But I surely do now!

We went there to go swimming.  The water below was clear and clean.  And the cliffs around were steep and high.  A Marine who went with us decided to jump in.  Leave valor to the Marines! 

As he entered the water the splash captured the attention of one who was not with us.  And as he swam to the other side we watched with fear as a water moccasin followed his wake.  I threw a stone to frighten the snake away from the Marine.  But instead of being startled and moving away from the attack, the snake sped up toward where the stone had splashed in.  There was no fear in that snake.  His response was immediate and forceful.  When threatened, as I perceived the rock would convey, the snake laughed in his mind and thought: “Ah hah!  A battle!”

We who contain the testimony of Jesus will certainly feel the same way.  Who will threaten and with what?  He is our Lord.  In His hand is life!  Who shall we fear?

By His Grace.