Tag Archives: Salvation

Rise up and consider

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He stands enthroned beautiful and lifted up.  Holy and true, the singular word of God.  Tested, he is approved.  He has loved righteousness and hated wickedness therefore God the Father has made him first of all.

Meek and humble, he works, diligently and without ceasing, for the sake of those who call on his name; that they may learn to love him and do the will of his Father. Trustworthy is one of his names.  Anointed with the oil of joy he rules with righteousness, wisdom, compassion, truth and justice.

He is forever standing ready to do the will of the Father.  In the twinkling of an eye his obedience is absolute.  Perfect!  And at the appointed time he will receive the command of his Father to put an end to this place.  He will not delay.

He alone has walked this place in which we live and succeeded in obeying every command of the Sovereign God.  He is, therefore, to be called Faithful.  In every way he is the perfect representation of the Most High God.

What then is to be said of how the world treats this magnificent Lord?  They give him no praise or Glory.  Instead they use his name in jokes, wicked exclamations and derision of one another.  They create their own religions for the exclusive purpose of blotting out His Majesty.  Though many adore the celebrations of his name they give him no honor, for their lives are a reflection of his enemy.

He will judge his people.  He will purify and teach.  No one will come to the Father but by him.  His people are taught to obey his every command. While the world treats him as the worst of possible men.

What has he done that you hate him so deeply?  Have you even asked that question?  Why do you use his name as an expression of disbelief?  Why do you dishonor God by dishonoring the Son?  All the while you think you are a good man.

Where is holiness?  You say you love him.  Where is the proof in your heart that you have had communion with this Son of Heavenly Royalty?  You will think that I judge you simply because I asked.  But examine yourself and give answer to He who lives forever.

Where is the deep and abiding  desire to do what is right and holy and pure and true?  Examine yourself.  For you will surely be examined.   And the examiner will examine you with absolute truth.

Do you retain the right to be a minister of your life?  Are you your own judge?  Are you satisfied with the perfection you have attained?  Will the Most High God be satisfied with your compromise?  Is your temple of holy service constructed of rotten cardboard?  Will such a structure stand the torrent of Holy Fire on that fearful and terrible day?

Cease your heckling.  Clamp shut your lips lest you are called before God.  Put your pride to death by the power of Jesus the Son of God.  Submit to his rule and learn what is true.

Consider the majesty of Christ Jesus.  This day, and what days you may have left in this place of testing, are the only moments you will be given to come to terms with God’s chosen salvation.  Before you accept the Lord Jesus you are already condemned to death.  The choice belongs to you. 

Rise up and consider.

Arrant Chads of Wicked Men.

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“He rebukes them in his anger
    and terrifies them in his wrath, saying,
6 ‘I have installed my king
    on Zion, my holy mountain.’” (Psalm 2)

They hate the Lord and perceive Him as a wicked task master because their ways are wicked and arrant.  They are blown about by every wind of desire that enters their wicked mind.  They do not know His Holy commands.  They do not know His salvation in Jesus.  Therefore they cannot obey.

God dresses the humble in righteous desire.  But His opposition is forward at the proud.  He steadfastly denies hope to all who lift their chin in rebellion.

Let them humble their hearts.  Let them consider their sins. Let then admit that they have not known the Path of God in this “Place of Testing”.   Let them come to know that the Lord is Good, by fear of God.  Let the terror of punishment fill their hearts to over flowing.

Then the Lord will show kindness.  Then, and only then, will they perceive rightly the beauty that is God the Father.  And if they continue in that manner, perhaps the Father will draw them to His Holy Son.  By continuance in the humble posture of heart the wicked learn that loving God is proper.  And their continuance provokes the Mercy of the Most High God.

Adorable Dispair, Abject Fear

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I’ve observed that the world adores despair.  They would certainly tell you differently.  But nearly everything created by man is in response to despair.  We live in a defensive mode all our lives.   Thus the reason for all man’s “advancements”.

I don’t think they would know what to do with true freedom from fear.  I saw a woman sitting in a small restaurant by herself this morning.  All the while she sat there she was absorbed in her cell phone.  In days past she would have been seen sitting there with nothing to do.  Perhaps she would read a book.  Maybe, just maybe, she would interact with others who were sitting there.  But our need for freedom from despair and fear has brought us to a place where we strive with all our being to escape.  Horror fills every moment we live without God.

God offers escape from fear.  But they won’t take that because they don’t respect God’s Holy Son.  And you can’t have God by rejecting His Son.   Even if they consider Jesus, the Son of God, they might end up dismissing God because of the heavy load of eternal law.  But full freedom embraces the reality of God’s eternal law and the offer of “learning” which comes from Jesus.

God the Father is perfect eternal law.  He must be pure of anything else in order to keep eternity intact.  That’s why nothing wicked or evil will ever enter the presence of the Most High God.  The laws of God are not done away with in Christianity.  We are instead entered into a friendship because of the Work of God the Father in His Holy Son.  He is our “go-between” or buffer between God the Father and our wicked up bringing.  It’s the Father’s will that we should learn the eternal laws of God.

Nothing I’ve said here will help the world cope with despair.  They’re doing pretty good in that realm anyway.  But these things are posted in the hope that some will filter into those who need to find release from fear.  I encourage those folk to look into these things.  You’ll find all this and plenty more in the Bible.  (I know, its been a very long time since you opened one.)

May the Lord open your eyes and draw you to His Holy Son.  May you find the release you aren’t seeking now.

 

Whack a mole!

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A dear brother from soulsupply.com, has brought to the surface a very useful topic that is often overlooked.  He rightly points out that a Christian may be diligent in all things of Christ yet fall short because of pride.

Though he may not lose a place in eternity for his shortcomings, he will likely lose some measure of reward. Not desiring that any of my brothers should lose. And since it is our duty to sharpen one another, for the sake of our service to our Lord Jesus. I thought it might be useful to post a little more information in regard to what brother Taylor has exposed.

I will start by confessing that there are two games I really don’t mind losing.  One is called “Whack a Mole”.  It is impossible for a man to win at that game.  But there’s a good deal of joy to be had in losing.

If you’ve never played the game, you stand in front of a bench with holes in it. In your hand is a soft mallet. Little mole heads pop up one at a time in one or another hole. It would be amusing enough just to watch it played.

One by one little mole heads pop up.  And it is your delightful duty to smash them back down with the hammer.  As you get better it gets faster.  At some point you get the joy of hearing the mole say, “Now I’m really angry!”

I don’t get much fun at wack’n the mole heads.  If that were all there is to the game I wouldn’t play it.  That’s too much work for too little gain.  But to hear the defenseless little mole get angry, is a belly full of laughs. The imagination sets fire to wonder what he will do while he’s angry.

The other game I enjoy losing is the fight with besetting sin.  I know that sounds really odd for a Christian to say. But we must remember that to lose in this world is to gain Christ. So I would rather lose then lose.

I had a besetting sin that would not leave me alone. Just like the little mole, I would no sooner pop my head up and the hammer would come and smash me back down. Yes, there was even a place where I am got really angry.

I tried everything. I tried prayer. I tried filling my days with Scripture. I confessed until I was hoarse. I tried restraint. I tried counseling from a respected fellow Christian. I tried everything I could possibly think of, but to no avail.

The harder I tried the quicker the sin would knock me down. Having no recourse, I struggled as far as I could then relied purely on Grace. It was not the solution I was trying to find. But I had exhausted all other possibilities.

Realizing utter failure, brings an ocean of tears and shame. Then, just when I was contemplating giving up entirely, the Lord came near me. I thought sure I would die the eternal death.

It was about the time for me to pop my head up again. I had walked some distance successfully. He gently put his hand on my shoulder and said, “It’s my turn. Just step back and watch.”

I heard the player say, Now I’m really angry!” the Lord raised his beautiful head up for me. I heard the familiar whistle of the Hammer head as it closed in on its target. But then I heard two sounds I have never heard before.

There was a mighty noise as hardened steel met the immovable. Then the smaller sounds of tingling metal pieces as they scattered on the floor. The player had met his match.

The Lord turned to me, completely unscathed by the impact. “You’ll be fine now son.” I closed my eyes while he kissed my forehead. When I open them again he was gone.

I cautiously poked my head up to see what had happened. I was startled at first to see the player standing with an angry face. But then I took note that he was restrained at arms length. The steel of his hammer covered the floor. I heard him threaten. With spit coming from his mouth he cursed at me. But his restraint would no longer let him attack.

I was free! No more fear. No more shame. No more tears associated with failure! In the place of groveling came a worship of praise and thanks.

I present this story for the sake of my brothers and sisters who suffer so intensely. I encourage you to suffer with diligence! Add to your attempts, standing on your head for three weeks, eat a big whopper from the inside out, count backwards from 10 million, or hold your breath for one hour. Whatever you do keep striving till you are sure you have exhausted all possibilities. The Lord will appear before you are allowed to give up all hope! He will not let you die.

I will add the following to uphold my brother’s message. In his message he warns against pride. Failure to heed his timely and well worded message has consequences.

When the Lord appears to take your place against a hidden or besetting sin, you may well suffer loss. Though at that point you likely won’t care.

If a sheep cannot behave itself in open pasture, surely the Lord will move it to a confined space. His love for his dear one will not change. But the place in which the dear one serves, will. You will find your besetting sin restrained. But you may also find restraints placed upon you.

Consider this as you struggle. Perhaps the love of freedom will give you strength. Or perhaps the thought of losing reward will stir you to more action. Regardless, Christ Jesus is Lord and Master! And he is fully willing and able to save.

I have written this story in first person. I am not ashamed that I have been released. And it gives me great pleasure to glorify our Lord. He will always be our head.

May God bless this post to those who need it most.

You will find the fullness of our brother’s text at this link, http://www.soulsupply.com/blog/n/faith-falling-140318?t=3382

By His Grace

The necessity of the Gospel

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It is comparatively easy to convince a man of his sin.  It travels with us moment by moment.  Guilt is a majority of our spiritual make up.  And it is the substance that leaks out into our fleshly day.  And by that “awakening” a man becomes aware of a need to cleanse himself.  So, by that means, it is also comparatively easy to convince a man that Jesus is a necessary aspect of this cleansing.

We read and hear of people saying that they need the Lord all day long.  Just a cursory look into the Christian announcement by His people will provide a rather overwhelming view of our sense of need.  And how can that be a fault?  All men know of their guilt.  It is a natural outcome that others should hear us speaking of our need for the Lord’s blood in decimating our sins.

But something less vocal comes up from the horizon of the Christian experience.  We strive all day long to convince ourselves and others that this “something more” is just as essential as the preliminary acknowledgement of our need for salvation.

It is essential that we recognize that we are not just saved to make us  happy folk.   We are saved that we might enter into His suffering.    We are saved that we might become brothers in the Lord’s testing.  We live in the same place He was tested.  He was found to be without sin.  He was found agreeing with His Father in Heaven.  And He was rewarded because of His faithful heart.

We too are living in that same place of testing.  And when we are set free of that pernicious guilt, we are then called to walk as He did.  We have become bonded to His character.  This seems to be a very difficult matter to convey to all who are learning to love the Lord of Love.

As we walk in this place we learn to carry our soul to Him at every turn.  It is in this learning that we recognize that we are far more than just man.  Here we learn that we are to share in His duties here.  Not only do we learn to speak His language.  We also learn to mimic His activity.  Prayer, a certain striving against sin toward holiness, and service to every creature.  These things are far more important than that initial saving knowledge.  Yet few are willing to enter in.

It seems enough for most that they accept the Lord as their Master so that their sins are forgiven.  But to serve that Master seems a bit of a

English: Baptism of Christ

English: Baptism of Christ (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

stretch to them.  Yet it is the essential part of our walk.  To begin to walk in the matter of salvation is not the entirety of the message.  To walk and suffer as He walked and suffered is the predominant theme of Christianity.

And so, I wrote this post with the matter that matters most.  I can’t make anyone come to grips with this concept.  Preaching is done across the entire world, every day and night regarding this subject.  So few hear it.  So few accept it.  So few do it.   Why?  Because salvation from guilt and sin is a natural desire of the human mind.  But the walk of Jesus comes from the Holy Spirit.  As we learn to listen to the Holy Spirit, we find ourselves compelled to agree with the Father in Heaven.  Thus we begin to understand the necessity to live as the Lord Jesus lived.  He became a servant, though He is the Son of God.  We too are called to become servants, though we are sons of the same God.

By His Grace.

Mission impossible

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10 Glasses of Water a Day

10 Glasses of Water a Day (Photo credit: vanhookc)

Trying to stamp out sin in this world is like trying to lower the tide using a water glass.  But does that mean we shouldn’t try?

And what should we say if we find it we ourselves are sinners?  Does that mean we have no right to speak?

We strive with all our might that we may save even one.  Even if the one we save is us.