… And what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead.
The resurrection of Christ, and our salvation, was brought about by nothing less than divine power. What will we say of those who think that conversion is accomplished by the free will of man and is due to his own kindly disposition? When we begin to see the dead rise from the grave by their own power, then may we expect to see ungodly sinners turning to Christ by their own endeavors. It is not the word preached, nor the word read in itself, all quickening power proceeds from the Holy Spirit.
This power was irresistible. All the soldiers and the high priests could not keep the body of Christ in the tomb; death itself could not hold Jesus in its grip: Just as irresistible is the power displayed in the believer when he is raised to newness of life. No sin, no corruption, no devils in hell nor sinners on earth can resist the hand of God’s grace when it intends to convert a man. If God omnipotently says, “You shall,” man will not say, “I shall not.” Notice that the power that raised Christ from the dead was glorious. It reflected honor upon God and caused dismay in the hosts of evil. So there is great glory to God in the conversion of every sinner.
It was everlasting power. “Christ being raised from the dead will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him.”1 So we, being raised from the dead, do not go back to our dead works or to our old corruptions, but we live to God. “Because I live, you also will live.”2“For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.“3“Just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.”4 Finally, in the text note the union of the new life to Jesus. The same power that raised the Head works life in the members. What a blessing to be quickened together with Christ!
P.S. (from bruce) When there is no other place to turn…turn to God !! If you’re not a “born again” Christian, is the Holy Spirit urging you to open this link ?? Here is the truth about how God’s grace is received to become a Christian in God’s eyes; through understanding and obeying the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ… https://godsmanforever.com
To my brothers and sisters in Christ, please feel free to share this message of the cross with those in need…
Since they hid their net for me without cause and without cause dug a pit for me, may ruin overtake them by surprise— may the net they hid entangle them, may they fall into the pit, to their ruin. Then my soul will rejoice in the LORD and delight in his salvation. My whole being will exclaim, “Who is like you, LORD? You rescue the poor from those too strong for them, the poor and needy from those who rob them” (NIV).
Reflection
Paul the apostle reminds us that as believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, we are engaged in spiritual warfare. “Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand”(Ephesians 6:11-13).
The conflicts that David experienced in the Old Testament, reflected in the words of this portion of Psalm 35, are mirrored in the spiritual warfare experienced by New Testament believers. Make no mistake—the devil and his cohorts have dug a pit to trap you; they spread their nets to ensnare you in sin and degradation. But as was true for David, the LORD has also provided a way of escape for you and me. Once again Paul reminds us of this: “No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it” (1 Corinthians 10:13).
The LORD has equipped us with the armor of God and He has provided a way of escape, so then with David we can rejoice in the victory the LORD will bring.
Then my soul will rejoice in the LORD and delight in his salvation. My whole being will exclaim, “Who is like you, LORD? You rescue the poor from those too strong for them, the poor and needy from those who rob them”(v. 9-10).
Satan is a thief and a robber, who robs us of victory, peace, and joy. But like David and Paul we can overcome. Victory is possible because the victory has already been won for us at the cross, and it was confirmed on resurrection morning at the empty tomb.“Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!” (Romans 7:25).
Response: Heavenly Father, I thank You that You have provided armor so I can stand against the wiles of the devil. I praise You for the power of Your Holy Word. I have victory through Your blood, Lord Jesus. Amen.
Your Turn: In your battle against sin are you using “the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God?”
P.S. (from bruce) When there is no other place to turn…turn to God !! If you’re not a “born again” Christian, is the Holy Spirit urging you to open this link ?? Here is the truth about how God’s grace is received to become a Christian in God’s eyes; through understanding and obeying the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ… https://godsmanforever.com
To my brothers and sisters in Christ, please feel free to share this message of the cross with those in need…
(Note: This is a guest post written by “Nina.” I am currently away and thank this sister for this guest post. If you have thoughts and questions, feel free to comment)
And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
Romans 5:3-5 (NKJV
Looking at these verses reminds me of how I can give glory to the Lord even in the midst of difficulties. I can know that God has a purpose for each trial that I face; even if He has not revealed what the reason is. He gives trials to believers to help us change and grow. As a believer, I need to be sanctified and turn to the Lord quickly when trouble comes my way. He is faithful and compassionate to give us what we need and to answer our prayers.
Perseverance is the product and result of spiritual trials. My desires need to be for holiness and growth in my understanding of God and His word. I need the Lord to continuously point out my sins and faults because of my own spiritual blindness. Only He can make me holy and to reflect Christ and His character. The Holy Spirit works in my heart to change my sinful and stubborn ways. Knowing His promises are true I can have confidence pray for holiness and cry out to God for help.
Our hope is in Christ and He can give us the love that we need to share the gospel with others. The gospel is our standard and our encouragement. Christ is our perfect example of how to respond during tribulations. He used Scripture, meditated on His Father’s promises, and prayed continuously, and His desires were to please God the Father in all things. May each new day we seek Him and be thankful for another chance to serve our Lord and King. May we begin each morning in prayer, meditation on Scripture, and in praise to the Lord for His goodness.
************************************
P.S. (from bruce) When there is no other place to turn…turn to God !! If you’re not a “born again” Christian, is the Holy Spirit urging you to open this link ?? Here is the truth about how God’s grace is received to become a Christian in God’s eyes; through understanding and obeying the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ… https://godsmanforever.com
To my brothers and sisters in Christ, please feel free to share this message of the cross with those in need…
TS Eliot said in part, “Half the harm that is done in this world is due to people who want to feel important.” I think that’s very true! It might even be more than half the harm.
Here’s what makes the whole thing so maddening. You already are important, but feeling that way is an inside job. People tend to look for a sense of significance or purpose through sources outside of themselves and it just can’t be found there. To make it worse, the world likes to tear people down because that tends to help them feel important, at least for a few seconds. So, the more you go looking for that feeling of importance and purpose externally, the more frustrated, depressed, and unimportant you are going to feel.
A lot of famous people, like those performing to adoring crowds and surrounded by people, actually paid to make them feel important, often become very depressed and start self-medicating with drugs. Something that frustrates me is how much good music we’ve lost over the years. When I look back at all the icons and superstars an astounding number of them died way too young and often from addiction. Here you got genuine talent, wealth, fame, and adoring crowds and yet it still did not satisfy the soul, it didn’t give them those feelings of importance.
Nobody who feels as if they are the apple of their Father’s eye, that they are a vessel for the Holy Spirit, that they are Divinely beloved and blessed, is going to be consuming large amounts of alcohol or injecting heroin. When you are in that state of grace, when you know deep within your soul that you matter and you are loved, there is nothing to try to escape from, no reason to try to numb yourself out.
Also, there is very little fear! It’s nearly impossible to feel afraid when you are feeling safe, loved, and significant, and you have placed your trust in Him.
Here’s the really frustrating part, all of our attempts to make other people feel important are just so woefully inadequate. We used to bake cookies, and it was like, may this little bit of flour, sugar, and chocolate serve to heal your soul and help to remind you that you matter. Trying to remind people that they matter is still a worthy goal and there should be a whole lot more of that kind of thing in the world, I’m just saying, it’s kind of like handing out one of those cardboard crowns they used to give away at Burger King.
People who actually FEEL important, do not walk about in the world trying to BE important. When people are trying to BE important, there is a hunger there, there is jockeying for power, competitiveness, injured pride, overcompensation, hurt feelings, rejection, envy, strife etc. etc.
I believe in the idea of “faking it until you make it.” I mean it feels kind if phony, corny, and silly at first. Some people think they’re going to get a big head or something. Some people feel as if they are lying. Most of us are kind of troubled creatures with a lot of guilt, trauma, and shame, but that is not really what God says about us. So, nobody is “lying” or “faking it”, you are simply learning to replace your own phony inner dialogue with God’s words.
Here’s what you have to do to feel important. Get together with Jesus every day. Read the Bible and highlight all those words He calls you, like beloved and blessed. Recently Russel Brand talked about 1 Corinthians 13:4-8, the love chapter. Every time you see the word “love,” put your own name in there. You are patient, you are kind. You do not envy, you do not boast, you are not proud…… That is your identity. Those are your real pronouns.
I’m laughing because I do sometimes say, “hey, I self-identify as His beloved, respect my pronouns, people.“
****************************
P.S. (from bruce) When there is no other place to turn…turn to God !! If you’re not a “born again” Christian, is the Holy Spirit urging you to open this link ?? Here is the truth about how God’s grace is received to become a Christian in God’s eyes; through understanding and obeying the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ… https://godsmanforever.com
To my brothers and sisters in Christ, please feel free to share this message of the cross with those in need…
Revelation 3:15-16… “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. 16 So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. (NKJV)
I have spent many hours the past few weeks, on exactly what Jesus means when He speaks about being “lukewarm” in the scripture above… Is Jesus speaking about truly “born again” Christians who have lost their fire for the Lord ?? Is Jesus speaking about people calling themselves Christians when they are not truly graced by God with salvation ?? Many people call themselves a Christian when they are NOT a Christian in the eyes of God… I was guilty myself for believing I was a Christian for almost 52 years before God graced me with salvation… Praise the Lord for His longsuffering and patience in my life !!
Or is it possible, that Jesus is speaking about anyone who calls themselves a Christian, whether they are saved by God’s grace or not ?? This would be anyone not “ON FIRE” for the Lord… At this point, I personally believe Revelation 3:15-16 could be used by God to open the eyes of either the non-believer who thinks they are a Christian…or the “born again” believer who has lost the fire they once had as a new redeemed child of God…
The Bible teaches us that God’s Word is living and powerful, in…Hebrews 4:12… For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. (NKJV)
This scripture is one of the reasons, that I believe Revelation 3:15-16 could be used by God to wake up anyone (a believer or not), who proclaims to be a Christian, but not “ON FIRE” for the Lord… I welcome the opinion of anyone with their personal thoughts on what Revelation 3:15-16 is all about !! They say there can be only one true meaning for any piece of scripture… And we are to rightly divide the word of truth, as we read in…
2 Timothy 2:15… Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. (NKJV)
I would never be dogmatic in believing Jesus is speaking about just believers or just non-believers in this scripture… This is why I present this view about both, as I have… But there are prominent men of God, who absolutely believe one way or the other – Jesus is speaking of believers…or Jesus is speaking about non-believers…
In my research, I found that the following men/links believed Jesus was speaking to non-believers… John MacArthur [See 1. below], John Piper [See 2. Below], Francis Chan [See 3. below], Billy Graham [See 4. below], and to me, the most surprising was www.gotquestions.org [See 5. below]
The only prominent man of God that I found, to believe Jesus was speaking to believers who were not on fire for the Lord, was REV. C.H. Spurgeon… [See 6. below] But after speaking with local pastors, including 3 that go to a small church I attend Sunday evenings…their belief is that Jesus was speaking to wayward Christians, not on fire for the Lord… They base this on the end of Revelation Chapter 3…
Revelation 3:19-20… As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent. 20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. (NKJV)
Notice, that Jesus is standing outside the door of the church of the Laodiceans… This to me seems to indicate that there were no believers inside the church… The Holy Spirit would indwell any believer in the church…hence Jesus standing outside the door !! This is why I believe many believe that Jesus was speaking to non-believers…
We should always be humble enough to change our views on any piece of scripture… I am open to any thoughts you may have on either side of this discussion…
Gracious God and heavenly Father, I come before You with a humble heart, that I pray will continue to be filled with the Love of Christ… I pray this thought-provoking post would be used by You, to get the attention of anyone not now “ON FIRE” for You… I pray You would urge anyone believing they are a Christian, when sadly they are not…to open an read the P.S. below, with a gospel of Christ presentation explaining the “good news” message that a lifetime of sins can be forgiven and forgotten by You…Hebrews 8:12… I pray lives will be changed by You to set all readers “ON FIRE” for Your Son Jesus Christ… And I pray for this life-changing position of all readers, in Jesus’ most precious name and for His sake…Amen…
P.S. When there is no other place to turn…turn to God !! If you’re not a “born again” Christian, is the Holy Spirit urging you to open this link ?? Here is the truth for this most important days writing, about how God’s grace is received to become a Christian in God’s eyes; through understanding and obeying the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ… https://godsmanforever.com
To my brothers and sisters in Christ, please feel free to share this message of the cross with those in need…
Pretend you’re on an ocean liner headed from New York City to England. You and several thousand other passengers enjoy your days at sea, free to choose from dozens of activities—games, shopping, shows, sports, crafts, and more.
You can eat anytime you like, sleep whenever you feel drowsy, make friends among the other passengers or remain solitary. In other words, you make many choices during the voyage, but all the while the ship is headed towards its predetermined destination.
A.W. Tozer gave us this ocean-voyage illustration in his classic, The Knowledge of the Holy, to help us understand God’s sovereignty:
Our all-powerful God wields total authority in the universe, just as the shipping authorities exercise sovereignty over the course of a ship.
We’ve been given much freedom within the confines of God’s sovereignty to move about and make choices.
Now some folks take issue with God’s control. They want to direct the course of their life-ships. I for one find great comfort in the numerous, reassuring scriptures about God’s sovereignty.
For example, everything in heaven and earth belongs to Him. He is the glorious head over all, the ruler of all things (1 Chronicles 29:11-12). That includes us–those who know Jesus and belong to the family of God.
As our Heavenly Father, he provides for our needs, guides us through decisions, bestows many blessings, and more. What encouraging truth! The Almighty God of the universe is in charge of our lives as we submit to him. We don’t have to navigate alone.
The key, however, is submission. God is a gentleman and will not force himself upon us. He’s chosen to limit his sovereignty, to allow humans free choice.
Another reassuring truth: God is totally competent. We’ve all known inept leaders who couldn’t fulfill their responsibilities.
But our Ruler is supremely capable. Nothing is too hard for him (Jeremiah 32:17). As we focus on his complete sufficiency, our worries shrink in significance.
In addition, no plan of God’s can be thwarted (Job 42:2). What God says, happens.
His sovereign plan is efficient and goal-oriented. He works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his perfect plan (Isaiah 25:1).
God’s sovereignty is also employed with infinite wisdom (Job 12:13). No foolish decisions come from God’s throne!
And contrary to appearances, he does maintain over-arching rule on humankind (Daniel 4:35).
Consider how circumstances must have seemed to the people of Judah as the barbaric Babylonians destroyed Jerusalem in 586 B. C., murdered all the nobles, and took thousands of Jewish captives to Babylon.
That wasn’t an isolated case of oppression either. Good people have suffered at the hands of the wicked for eons, and it breaks our hearts. It breaks God’s heart too (Isaiah 63:10).
Our question of why God allows bad things to happen to good people doesn’t always get answered. We’re not privy to everything God knows or all the reasons behind his decisions (Romans 11:33-36).
What we do know is this: evil never wins in the end. Every evil empire of history that rose in prominence and power eventually fell in ruin. Our sovereign God knows what he’s doing.
And he will have the last word.
So when the squeaky wheels of worry, doubt, or fear begin to spin in your head, and you wonder, Who’s in Charge Here?, apply the oil of gladness, delighting in who God is—your all-powerful, all-knowing, all-wise, and yes, in-control God!
Take joy in the knowledge that “if God is for us, who can be against us” (Romans 8:31)?
And rest in thIs affirmation: “from him and through him and to him are all things” (Romans 11:36, emphasis added).
* * * * * * * * * *
Sovereign Lord of the universe, I bow in worshipful wonder of your magnificence. Your greatness shatters all boundaries! I stand in awe of your vast power and infinite wisdom, always at work in the world.
But for those timeswhen I cannot understand your plan or your ways, help me stand in the truth of who you are.
(Revised and reblogged from February 26, 2015, while we enjoy the company of out-of-town family.)
P.S. (from bruce) When there is no other place to turn…turn to God !! If you’re not a “born again” Christian, is the Holy Spirit urging you to open this link ?? Here is the truth about how God’s grace is received to become a Christian in God’s eyes; through understanding and obeying the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ… https://godsmanforever.com
To my brothers and sisters in Christ, please feel free to share this message of the cross with those in need…
Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.Philippians 4:8(NIV).
Are you running after Christ? Are you pursuing Him for all you’re worth? Are you intent on catching Him?
I want to chase and catch Jesus. And when I catch Him, like Jacob, I won’t let go until He gives me a blessing (cf.Genesis 32:26).
But what’s the blessing I’m after? What do I want from Him? A Christ-like attitude. I want to think and act more like Him.
Wanting to be more like Jesus is a good thing. God delights in a Christ-like attitude. Philippians 2:5 says, “Your attitude should be the same that Christ Jesus had” (NLT). The definition of “attitude” in the Oxford Dictionary is “opinion or way of thinking; behavior reflecting this.”
God wants my opinions to be in line with His opinions. He wants my way of thinking to be in line with His way of thinking. And He wants my behavior to be in line with His behavior. Attitude is everything. It’s more important than education, money, appearances, talent, circumstances, failure or success, what people think or say, and more important than anything that happened in the past or will happen in the future.
Attitude will make or break you. While stuff happens, the difference between one person and another is attitude. The difference between my life and yours is the way I react to it – the way I choose to respond. If I choose to see the cup half full, I’ll see life more positively. But if I choose to see the cup half empty, I’ll see life more negatively.
How are you looking at life? Attitude makes all the difference. We all have good and bad feelings. What makes the difference is how we choose to handle those feelings. How are you feeling about the things at your work, home, school, and church? If you’re feeling positive – way to go! And if you’re feeling negative – there’s still hope.
You see, it’s never too late to make an attitude adjustment. Get squared off with Christ today. Chase a Christ-like attitude. Ask Christ to give you the same attitude as He has, and then watch Him do the rest.
*******************************
P.S. (from bruce) When there is no other place to turn…turn to God !! If you’re not a “born again” Christian, is the Holy Spirit urging you to open this link ?? Here is the truth about how God’s grace is received to become a Christian in God’s eyes; through understanding and obeying the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ… https://godsmanforever.com
To my brothers and sisters in Christ, please feel free to share this message of the cross with those in need…
It is desirable beyond measure that we, as believers, should keep the person of Jesus constantly before us, to stir up our love for Him and to grow in our knowledge of Him. I would to God that my readers were all entered as diligent scholars in Jesus’ college, students of Corpus Christi, or the body of Christ, resolved to get a good degree in the learning of the cross. But to have Jesus ever near, the heart must be full of Him, welling up with His love and even running over; so the apostle prays “that Christ may dwell in your hearts.” Look at how close he wants Jesus to be! You cannot get a subject closer to you than to have it in your heart. “That Christ may dwell”; not that He may call upon you sometimes, as a casual visitor may stay overnight, but that He may dwell; that Jesus may become the Lord and permanent resident of your inmost being, never to leave again.
Observe the words: that He may dwell in your heart, the best room in the house! Not in your thoughts alone, but in your affections; not merely in the mind’s meditations, but in the heart’s emotions. We should long love Christ in an enduring way—not a love that flames up and then dies out into the darkness of a few embers, but a constant flame, fed by sacred fuel, like the fire upon the altar that never went out.
This cannot be accomplished except by faith. Faith must be strong, or love will not be fervent; the root of the flower must be healthy or we cannot expect the blossom to be glorious. Faith is the plant’s root, and love is the plant’s blossom. Now, reader, Jesus cannot be in your heart’s love unless you have a firm hold of Him by your heart’s faith; and, therefore, pray that you may always trust Christ in order that you may always love Him. If love is cold, be sure that faith is faltering.
P.S. (from bruce) When there is no other place to turn…turn to God !! If you’re not a “born again” Christian, is the Holy Spirit urging you to open this link ?? Here is the truth about how God’s grace is received to become a Christian in God’s eyes; through understanding and obeying the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ… https://godsmanforever.com
To my brothers and sisters in Christ, please feel free to share this message of the cross with those in need…
Galatians 5:22-23 lists the fruit of the Spirit—the resulting character of someone who is allowing the Holy Spirit to develop maturity in his or her life. The fifth characteristic, kindness, is called “gentleness” in the KJV.
The Greek word for “kindness” is chrēstotēs. It means “benignity, tender concern, uprightness.” It is kindness of heart and kindness of act.
Kindness is the characteristic that led God to provide salvation for us (Titus 3:4-5; Romans 2:4; 11:22). Kindness leads God to give us green pastures, quiet waters, and the restoration of our souls when we’re weary (Psalm 23:2-3). It is God’s tender care that makes Him want to gather us under His wings, to protect us and keep us close to Him (Psalm 17:8; 36:7; 61:4; Matthew 23:37). God expressed kindness when He provided for Elijah and the widow of Zarephath during a drought—and He showed more kindness later when He raised the widow’s only son from the dead (1 Kings 17:8-24). When Sarah exiled Hagar and Ishmael, God gave the outcasts kindness in the form of water and hope (Genesis 21:9-21). On multiple occasions, kindness induced Jesus to stop what He was doing and help others in need (Mark 6:34; Mark 7:29; Mark 10:46-52). And kindness leads the Good Shepherd to rescue us when we stray (Luke 15:3-7). In kindness He “gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young” (Isaiah 40:11).
When we exhibit the kindness of God, we are tender, benevolent, and useful to others. Every action, every word will have the flavor of grace in it. To maintain this attitude toward those we love is hard enough. To express kindness toward those who are against us requires the work of God (2 Corinthians 6:4-6). That is why kindness is a fruit of the Spirit.
P.S. (from bruce) When there is no other place to turn…turn to God !! If you’re not a “born again” Christian, is the Holy Spirit urging you to open this link ?? Here is the truth about how God’s grace is received to become a Christian in God’s eyes; through understanding and obeying the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ… https://godsmanforever.com
To my brothers and sisters in Christ, please feel free to share this message of the cross with those in need…
God's group 