Tag Archives: Holy Spirit

Matthew 6: 24 (The God and Money Passage)

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A Master Lock brand padlock.

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“You cannot serve two masters”, the Lord said.  In this passage He spoke of the comparison between God and money.  But isn’t it true that it’s not money who sat and listened as He poured out this truth?  Wasn’t it people who had the ears to hear?

So the people, being the ones to whom He spoke were to consider their allegiance to God.  When you strive to have something of this world you are striving in the wrong direction.  That’s the point.  Money just happens to be the primary tool men use to grasp at what they want in this world.

We will become a slave to that which has mastered us.  Much like this pad lock bears the name of its maker.  How appropriate.  I could say that the point is, don’t be locked down by a desire for anything in this world.

Frankly, money is not the object of the passage.  God is the focus of Jesus’ words.  As it was with all His ministry, God the Father was the singular reason He appeared before us.  And God will be the focus of Jesus for eternity.  In that focus He was showing us to abandon all ties to this world and seek after His Father’s will.  If money is something the Father decides you need to have to accomplish His will, you will receive it.  But above all seek His will first!

By His Grace.

Understand What God’s Will is.

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Copperplate by B. Kilian, from: Thomé de Jesus...

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The target of this blog is God the Father through the sacrifice of Jesus.   And often I will write things which bite at the pride of man.   I do not apologize for anything I’ve posted.  Yet it is important to note that I do not hate anyone. 

The Lord teaches His people to hate what is evil and to cling to whatever knowledge of His ways we can accumulate in our soul.  So if you are offended by what I write, what am I supposed to say?  The Lord is Righteous and Pure.  There is nothing on earth with which we can compare His completeness.  And anyone who speaks of the Lord with a focused eye to what is True is going to grate against the pride of man.

On the other hand, I too am a man.  And you can be sure that the turmoil between the pride of man and the Glory that is God resides in my heart too.  It is impossible for me to say I love the Lord in the same way He loves us.  But with all that I can muster I return to Him the measure of love He has been successful to teach me.

This brings me to the following scripture as an aid to explaining what has just been written:

“1Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, 2make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. 3Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; 4do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. 5Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, 6who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. 8Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, 10so that at the name of Jesus EVERY KNEE WILL BOW, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2)

May the Lord give eyes to see for all who desire His will.  Regardless where you find yourself today, the Lord can lead you into far more.  Only turn from the ways of the world and seek His ways.

By His grace.

Creation to Now and Beyond

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The Garden of Eden from the Très Riches Heures...

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Creation to Now and Beyond.

 

Millions have questioned the statements regarding the time it took God to create the universe and the earth.  They suppose that God is limited to our time and resources.  He made the stars.  He made the earth.  He made the sun and moon.  He made the water, clouds, and land.  And He made all the plants, animals, and even man.  He has done this and He did it according to His powerful hand.

Shall you continue to speak of God as though He were limited as we?  Do you know or remember the story we are told of how Jesus calmed the storm?  He spoke to the sea and the wind and immediately there was calm.  He did not let the storm die down while he held on frantically to His people in the boat.  He did not allow the little boat to float in the air while the sea tossed.  And He did not create a bubble of protection around the boat from the wind.  He spoke to the wind and seas and they simply stopped their thrashing about.

The clouds were not permitted to float on in their course as is the nature of things.  And the waves were not allowed to slowly cease their tossing.  When He spoke they simply obeyed.  Shouldn’t this tell us something about the Lord’s power? 

And why did He provide the proof of His Majesty like this?  Was it so those men wouldn’t die?   No!  He is the Lord of Life.  What is it to Him if men die?  They come to Him.  And did we forget that He raises the dead any time He desires?  He did this to prove to them that the Father of all life was within Him, testifying to the Glory that is Jesus.

What do you say concerning Jesus?  What do you say concerning righteousness, holiness, and sin and death?  He was.  He is.  And He will come.  There is life in your hands right now.  And He is demanding that you accept this word of truth: 

He has made you that you might worship Him in Spirit and in Truth.  He has provided proof of His Glory all about you.  His demand will remain upon you all the days you live here.  And the demand will be sealed at the moment of your death.  Jesus has come to testify regarding the Father’s will for man.  And this testimony was supported by various signs and wonders, which came from the Father of Life.  For those who believe, Jesus is God.  And He is God regardless of your willingness to believe. 

So why focus on the things unknown or debatable?  Why not focus on what is currently both in your hand to do and that which is demanded of you?

May You bless these words Father.  In the name and power of Your Holy Son Jesus, Your Christ.  Amen.

 

By His Grace.

Mush to Man

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A chimpanzee brain at the Science Museum London

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It’s been said that children are little adults with their heads full of mush.  But I remember when my head was nothing but mush.  I thought I had a brain.  But I didn’t.   It was just a container of giggly mush.  And I ran around in this world thinking so very highly of myself.  What a fool!  And certainly someone to laugh at if I hadn’t been so angry and antagonistic all the time.  I guess that’s why most of us laugh at men like I used to be behind their backs. 

Life has a way of slapping us around a bit.  In general, the process causes that mush to cook, stew, and bake.  The hopeful end of man is that he will eventually get a real brain out of the process.  And left to his own devices, man will likely gain something positive out of his experiences of life.  Yet I know a way to quick bake a brain.

It seems our head is microwaveable.  I mean, we can endure specific beams of truth that will cause us to mature a whole lot faster.  This is the work of God through the Holy Spirit within us.  He points out the truth in our experiences and causes our conscience to come to boil.  Wanna grow up a lot faster than most?  Allow Jesus to take charge of your life.  Listen to what you hear in regard to what is true.  Do what you know you must.  And just sit in front of His Holy Fire and bake a while.

by His Grace.

In Charge of a Star

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The oldest star of our Galaxy: HE 1523-0901

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It would be to our advantage to make sure that our religion causes us to do what is right before the Father’s eyes.  It is not possible that religion can suffice in itself. 

Suppose an Angel was told to take charge of a star and make sure it burned with the certain intensity that God ordained it should.  It would be good for that Angel if he monitored the star and feed it according to the will of God.  But suppose that Angel said to himself, “The star is mine to watch over.  God has considered me a great Angel because I am in charge of a star.  And suppose that thought became the singular reason the Angel remained near the star.  In time he did not feed the star the proper amount of energy sustaining elements.  Instead, he simply maintained it as he desired or remembered.  Either the star would burn too brightly or begin to dim.  What do you think the Lord will say concerning that Angel’s work? 

To bring this thought down to earth consider that the star the Angel is placed in charge of is a star not visible to earth.  Much like this blog.  I write as I feel led.  And I write that anyone reading might be compelled to consider the Lord.  What does it matter to me if no one reads it?  I am given this task of building a resource for the Lord.  Regardless the popularity or visibility.  And if I fail to continue to build it, I alone will answer to Him.  It is not my responsibility to provide the eyes of those who might benefit from this blog.  It is only my responsibility to continue to build it.

I could stop building posts here.  But wouldn’t that become a thing of the past?  Something I rely on to have done.  Perhaps some would read what was written and walk away with a renewed spirit for what they gained.  But would I be able to tell the Lord that I kept my place?  Or would I have to confess that I built for a while but no one came to visit.  So I stopped building.  That’s not what I want to be telling the Lord who made His way all the way to the cross and allowed the third nail to penetrate His body.  It would be better for me to be able to say “It is finished”, when I can no longer add to what He has allowed me to watch over.

Isn’t that what religion can become?  We begin to attend the needs of our religion as we see fit.  We no longer desire that it should match the Lord’s desire and demands; which are in place due to His wisdom.  It is wise for us to consider the Holiness and Purity of the Lord as we attend our religion.  We are the ones who will be held responsible for what we know to do.  Whether we succeed or fail to deliver our full attention to what we know is right, we will be held responsible.  Be careful that you do not fall into disrepair for lack of understanding.  You alone are the one who will answer for what you do with what you have been given.

By His Grace.

Stay or Leave, He is Glorified.

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Photo taken by Graham Kingsley

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My eyes have seen another morning. 

Precious will it be.

To speak of things eternal,

To lift up One called “He”.

I crave a day when eyes will open.

And never more will shut.

To speak a praise eternal,

To lift up One called “He”.

 “23But I am hard-pressed from both directions, having the desire to depart and be with Christ, for that is very much better; 24yet to remain on in the flesh is more necessary for your sake. 25Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all for your progress and joy in the faith, 26so that your proud confidence in me may abound in Christ Jesus through my coming to you again. ”  (Phillipians)

By His Grace.