Tag Archives: Jesus

The Surpassing Great Advent of Wickedness

by

0


Christogram (labarum) with Jesus Prayer in Rom...

Christogram (labarum) with Jesus Prayer in Romanian. Jesus Prayer in Romanian Doamne Iisuse Hristoase, Fiul lui Dumnezeu, miluieste-ma pe mine pacatosul. English translation Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, the sinner. This image appears on the cover of all editions of Romanian translation of Philokalia Français : Christogramme entouré de la Prière de Jésus en roumain (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

When I was a child I was taught to respect my elders, be kind to everyone, and consider myself last in everything.  This teaching was taught to the extreme.  By the Grace of God, I have developed out of that harsh treatment (to a great extent).

Being taught by Jesus now, I am taught to respect my elders in the faith, be kind to all while keeping in mind that there is a “justice” in the world, and to consider myself the servant to all men.  This teaching is being taught gently with mercy for my ignorance.  By the Grace of God, I am developing into the kind of man we all aspire to become.  (This is not to my account a righteousness.  But it is a gift from God through Jesus.)  Understanding that none of us can fully attain to the Glory that is Christ Jesus, we are encouraged to emulate the truth He allows us to “hear”.

I am shocked, however, to be witness to a new breed of human emerging on the scene.  People I thought would be steady and mature are beginning to adopt lies to themselves.  They hear some accusation against the righteous and run as a herald.  Foaming at the mouth with hatred of all that is pure, they run head long as servants of demons.  This is not the kind of place I was raised in when I was a child.

The very fabric of the world has changed, as if a blanket has developed a mold.  Young people wear disrespect for truth just as the young of past ages wore truth for the simple reason that they were taught that truth endures.  Older people are the most surprising to me of all.  For after living their lives through experience of lies and truth, they now prefer to spout ungodly lies against everything associated with God.  And I am surprised at how willing they are to put on the clothing of liars and demons.

Though I speak of being surprised at these things, there is no reason for my astonishment at the increase of wickedness among men and women.  We have been warned that such things will take place.  And of “increase”, the wicked will continue to mold their souls till the Lord comes to war against them Himself.

“Let the one who does wrong, still do wrong; and the one who is filthy, still be filthy; and let the one who is righteous, still practice righteousness; and the one who is holy, still keep himself holy.

Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to render to every man according to what he has done.  I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.

Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter by the gates into the city. Outside are the dogs and the sorcerers and the immoral persons and the murderers and the idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices lying.” (Rev. 22: 11-15)

This warning remains for all men.  Regardless your background, the Lord does not lie.  If you want to be clean seek the Lord Jesus’ mercy.  If you find yourself unable to care, consider this:  The wicked will not find pity before the Holy Throne of the Most High God if they appear without the covering of Jesus’ sacrifice.

Amen!  Even so, Lord Jesus, come.

Welcome to My Home

by

0


Supper

Supper (Photo credit: psd)

You are invited to come to my door.  You need not knock.  For the door has been waiting for your approach.  I have stood watch for you all the day and as my strength would allow during the night.  And if I heard a noise during my sleep, as I slept at the very threshold of my door, I listened all the harder for your approach.

There is a meal prepared for you here.  The Lord encourages me to maintain a beautiful bounty for such as you.  I know what you seek.  I know your hunger, as it is my own also.

Take note that you knew the different scents of what is prepared long before your nostrils encountered the in the gentle breeze.  The scents of what is prepared is so foreign to this world.

Prepared is a bowl of forgiveness.  I will refresh your portion any time you ask for more.

I have been instructed to provide you the bread of life, lathered with the ointment of mercy.

The cup contains suffering.  But it is not bitter, as you may suspect.  Though it stings the lips, appears at first bitter to the tongue, you will find the contents utterly satisfying.

I have been instructed that your cup will never empty as long as you remain at the table.

The main plate you will find heavy, ornamented lavishly, and warm to the touch.  Upon it, when it is delivered to you, you will find delicacies beyond anything you have ever hear of.  Mercy will be delivered to your sitting.  And you will be encouraged to consume them endlessly.

Welcome, my friend.  Enter and consume the bounty of the Lord.

By His Grace.

Of Blessed Understanding We Join the Athletes of the Beginning.

by

0


Eusebius of Caesarea may have continued the Li...

Eusebius of Caesarea may have continued the Liber Pontificalis into the 4th century. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The Lord has blessed my heart by bringing an audio file to me.  He is more gracious than we can possibly know.  If all His people were to combine their testimony regarding the Glory of the Lord Jesus (and that to the Glory of the Father) all the melody of sound would still fall short of His eternal beauty.  So I thank you Lord Jesus for Your precious blessings that filter to us through our time in this place of testing.  May all Your people present great glories to You on the day You are revealed in Glory to all men!  Amen!

The audio file is that of Eusebius’ Church History.  The work spans the time from the beginning of the Church to about the year 350 or so.  Up to the end of his account the Church had weathered a few problems within.  But the account tells us that the Lord’s people were blessed to pretty much remain constant in their worship, brotherhood, and display of righteousness.

I suspect that as I finish this “listening” I will search out another work which deals with the subsequent years.  I fear those works that will follow, however.  For it isn’t long in Church history when we find compromise between Church and State.  The results of which attack the Lord’s people from a particularly tender perspective.

How my soul wants to encourage my brothers and sisters to regain, retain, and revitalize our purity and love for the Lord.  But I am at a loss this evening.  Perhaps the Lord will bless us all by words fitting to the surge of dedication this work of Eusebius has inspired.

Shades of persecution have come and gone.  Yet today seems the most hideous of all.  Silent compromise seeps into the very foundations of our identity as “sons of God”.  For the most part the Church has become useless and loved by the world, especially in America.  Each man and woman goes after their own tasks unscathed by physical or financial malnutrition.

One thought runs through my blood tonite, however.  A rather foreboding thought presses against my skin from the inside out.  Is the Church today ready if the impiant (as they were prone to refer to wicked men) one regains his footing against us as he did in the first 1000 years of the Church?  This question is not for me to either answer or speculate about.  It is, perhaps, for us to prove individually as what will be enters the calendar year of its own time.

One possible answer to that question is this:  Prepare in prayer, Truth, righteousness, purity, holiness, bodily control, and consumption of the Word, lest that day (if it indeed comes upon us) encamp around us from the very fringes of the woods which create our present clearing of “peace”.

Watch with all hope.  Hope with eyes that are not of man.  And stretch out the wings of “The Faith” as far as they will stretch.  Get ready to fly by the strength of the Holy Spirit, regardless the necessity.  Only then can we walk toward what comes with the great peace displayed by the millions who have worked in the heat of the day.

By His Grace.

Church History, a Reflection of Today?

by

2


Christian fis symbol

Christian fis symbol (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Blogs are a direct representation of each blogger’s personality, attitude, desires, past deeds, and who is their hero.  This blog is no different.

Listening to Eusibius’ Church History (listening while I drive for hours), I am struck by the quality of men, women and children of the early Church.  They did not have central heating, electricity, cars, planes and trains.  Yet the character of men was little different from today.

Perhaps the only difference that can be perceived is social law.  I live in America.  So the social law I perceive is a burning ember of hatred for God’s things.  There are other countries where hatred for God’s things is a raging bonfire.  Since America is on the decline from relaxation of its own laws (or a proliferation of nullifying laws and regulations), I can’t believe that it is far in the future when the physical violence we see against Christians disembarks onto our shores.

With this in mind I have been considering what I know about America’s dedication to the Holiness of God.  There are striking differences between now and the age of the early Christian Church.  There are many differences.  But one difference stands out quite starkly.

The Christian Church today (this includes Catholics) is rather inclusive.  All you have to do to be counted as a Christian within their walls is speak a few words and show up on time and often.  With that you are “automatically” considered one of them.  The early Church would have considered this level of commitment to Christianity as youthful, elementary, basic and catechismic (as if the person in question is just beginning to learn the basics of the Christian faith).

This was not the case in the early Church.  Each one was required to give all they had to the service of the Lord Jesus.  They were required to repent (stop doing) from sinful ways.  They were required to pray earnestly and often.  They were required to learn the Scriptures as if their life depended on it.  And I am struck with a certain awe when I listen to the members of the early Church beg for salvation from the Lord.  They did not consider salvation to be an automatic warm fuzzy.

The Church today opens its doors to all.  And it certainly should.  But it requires very little from those who begin to profess faith in Christ Jesus.  While there is teaching regarding the Gospel there is little display of The Faith even among the more senior members.

I’m not trying to tear at the fabric of the Church today.  I’m simply pointing out a drastic difference between what we were in the first 300 years, and what we have become today.  And I will take note that there is exceedingly little persecution pressing on the members of the Church in America today.   It is possible that this can change in the blink of an eye.  Especially with the current trends of compromise between the leaders of our country and the islamics.

We will see what happens.  But I urge my brothers and sisters to dig into the history of the Church and take a look at who we were from the beginning.  What we are not is like a man who never ventures into the sunshine; pale, listless, over weight, and sullen.  Please give this serious consideration.  The time to prepare for service is not at the moment of calling.  Practise brings the servant to his toes when called.

By His Grace.

Eternal Vote

by

0


English: Ballot Box showing preferential voting

English: Ballot Box showing preferential voting (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The call of the day is to abandon all the work of the liberals and support conservative ideals.  And millions are making plans, through educating themselves, to do just that come November 6th.  “Millions”, I say.  Millions!  People who have never voted before are now registered and prepared to take a stand for the sake of their freedom.  Wow!  The nation is divided as never before over the issues of the day.  I almost have to laugh at the response.  Threaten to take away freedom and the nation wakes up.  There will likely be more years of voting to come.  And we will see what happens this year.  But the rousing response to liberalism is impressive.

We get to vote our mind once, twice, three times and more.  It’s kind or like a restart when elections come along.  We get to keep chosing what kind of leadership we want.  But there is an election that many of those millions are missing.

Threaten America with a loss of freedom to do anything they want and they come out swinging.  Yet few pay attention to the on going, second by second election regarding the eternal freedom.  They select leaders over the “stuff” of life in the body.  But what about the election of who is Lord of their eternity?

What would America look like if the people were as worried about voting for satan or Jesus?  Satan (I had to capitalize the name cause it was the first word in the sentence, sorry)  is the king of lies, rebellion, corruption and eternal stupidity.  Jesus is King of eternal righteousness and life.  All men everywhere are required to vote for one or the other.  The voting booth is your  heart, all your soul, all your strength, and all your mind.

With so much at stake in this American election I can see why people are a bit concerned.  But with eternity at stake I would think people would be more concerned with the eternal election also.  The real question at hand is not liberal or conservative, democrat or republican.  The real question is Life or death.

Choose Jesus!

Application

by

0


ISKCON desire tree - Quote Struggle Poster 09

ISKCON desire tree – Quote Struggle Poster 09 (Photo credit: ISKCON desire tree)

Please understand I mean you no harm.

But as farmers divide the sheep on the farm.

I struggle to keep all that is good.

While tossing away the things that I should.

I hear what you say when you chide me to care.

And you hear from my mouth “I will let loose and dare”.

Contentious am I against all man’s restraints.

Yet I’m bound as all men with fleshly constraints.

What then shall this striving produce?

With what focus will the general be reduced?

Will I set forth a desire which celebrates my demise?

Or set forth horror by willingness to compromise.

There is turmoil in this debate within.

But there is no doubt the desire to win.

Jesus is among all men to raise “the few” up.

Raise up I will if He lets me drink the cup.

I’m sorry, for now, that I’m misunderstood.

My hope is, His Day will say “Yes he could.”