Monday, October 19, 2009
from http://www.eroticliberty.com/article29.htm
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from http://www.mcnultyministries.com/blog
OUR DAILY BREAD
There is nothing better than a good piece of toast and coffee in the morning but our daily bread is much more than that. What is our daily bread? In the story of the Exodus, as the children of God were deciding on whether to cross the Jordan River and fight or not, Joshua shouted out to those who were backing out of the idea. He said the Call of God to possess the Land made every Giant in the Land as BREAD for them.
“Only do not rebel against the Lord. And do not fear the people of the land, for they are bread for us. Their protection is removed from them, and the Lord is with us; do not fear them.” There was no protection for their enemies as they pursued the Will of God. If that is true then we in the 21st century can look at the Giants that stand before us and say they are bread for us. Numbers 14:9
They are not to worried over as problems, mountains, or impossibilities. We eat them as bread. Our victory nurtures us for future conquest. Your Giants are nothing before your God! Your God lives in you so there is defeat in the heart of your enemies who stand before what God wants to accomplish in your life. Rahab said to the spies that they had dreaded the day when the Children of God would cross over. Defeat was already in your enemies’ heart. Leslie and I see the 100 republics and regions of the former Soviet Union experiencing a great revival as we continue to light fires through bold evangelist tent meetings of the young lions we train. We continue to expect the grace and favor of God on all who make those Giants as Bread for the young Evangelist.
We will discuss more on this important subject that gives you confidence to cross over into what God has put into your heart to do.
Keep Thinking
Kevin
There is nothing better than a good piece of toast and coffee in the morning but our daily bread is much more than that. What is our daily bread? In the story of the Exodus, as the children of God were deciding on whether to cross the Jordan River and fight or not, Joshua shouted out to those who were backing out of the idea. He said the Call of God to possess the Land made every Giant in the Land as BREAD for them.
“Only do not rebel against the Lord. And do not fear the people of the land, for they are bread for us. Their protection is removed from them, and the Lord is with us; do not fear them.” There was no protection for their enemies as they pursued the Will of God. If that is true then we in the 21st century can look at the Giants that stand before us and say they are bread for us. Numbers 14:9
They are not to worried over as problems, mountains, or impossibilities. We eat them as bread. Our victory nurtures us for future conquest. Your Giants are nothing before your God! Your God lives in you so there is defeat in the heart of your enemies who stand before what God wants to accomplish in your life. Rahab said to the spies that they had dreaded the day when the Children of God would cross over. Defeat was already in your enemies’ heart. Leslie and I see the 100 republics and regions of the former Soviet Union experiencing a great revival as we continue to light fires through bold evangelist tent meetings of the young lions we train. We continue to expect the grace and favor of God on all who make those Giants as Bread for the young Evangelist.
We will discuss more on this important subject that gives you confidence to cross over into what God has put into your heart to do.
Keep Thinking
Kevin
Friday, October 16, 2009
From Dr T. L. Osborn and an addition written by me
"The great truth of authentic Christianity is the preeminent fact that Jesus Christ has so thoroughly redeemed us to God, that it is as though no sin had ever been committed to separate us from Him." -Isa 59:2
I Finnur add Hosea 14:4 > Read through the whole of Hosea (not so long) and see the beauty of the Lord and His plan. His is all the glory. He is the giver of all good gifts; including faith, life, healing and the knowledge of Himself, including the new covenant of love as Jesus fulfilled the law and by His faith we are justified. The Lord is perfect love and casts out all fear. We are in Him and He is in us. (2 Thessalonians 1:1-2) Christ in you - your hope of glory. Mark 3:24 > You are in His Kingdom - the Kingdom is here and advancing. Jesus has all authority/power in heaven and earth. Christ suffered outside of the temple making the nations holy to good > that is good news - we are redeemed to the Lord and have been given the word of reconciliation that we may bring His peace to people the fullness of Him for the Lord is our peace. And His peace is full. Redemption is full. When He returns we will be like Him. (1 John 3:2)
I Finnur add Hosea 14:4 > Read through the whole of Hosea (not so long) and see the beauty of the Lord and His plan. His is all the glory. He is the giver of all good gifts; including faith, life, healing and the knowledge of Himself, including the new covenant of love as Jesus fulfilled the law and by His faith we are justified. The Lord is perfect love and casts out all fear. We are in Him and He is in us. (2 Thessalonians 1:1-2) Christ in you - your hope of glory. Mark 3:24 > You are in His Kingdom - the Kingdom is here and advancing. Jesus has all authority/power in heaven and earth. Christ suffered outside of the temple making the nations holy to good > that is good news - we are redeemed to the Lord and have been given the word of reconciliation that we may bring His peace to people the fullness of Him for the Lord is our peace. And His peace is full. Redemption is full. When He returns we will be like Him. (1 John 3:2)
www.jewsforjesus.org
Yeshu = Y'shua (Jesus) = Yeshuah (Salvation)
Have you ever met a Jew called Yeshu? No, right? Do you want to know why? It is very simple. We Jews don't have a name like that. But we have some names that are similar and some that are very Jewish.
For example: Joshua, Sheya (famous Israeli soccer player), and also Y'shua.
So how is it that there is a Jew that all of us call Yeshu? Where did that name spring
from? It is time for everyone to hear the truth.
Yeshu is simply the changing of the real name of the Jewish Messiah. His real name is Y'shua. Because He came to save His people Israel.
Prophecies in the Old Testament that were written hundreds of years before His coming point clearly at the fact that Y'shua is the one that was supposed to come before the destruction of the 2nd temple (Daniel 9:26). To be born in Bethlehem (Micha 5:1). To die as a sacrifice for us (Is. 53:6). And to rise from the dead three days later (Psalm 16:10).
And by doing that, save us all.
But there is one more thing that the prophecies of the Old Testament revealed to us about Him. As surprising as it sounds, that same Savior was supposed to be rejected by His people Israel. Isaiah prophesied this when he said Isaiah 53:3 (quote of the verse). And that is exactly what happened. Not only did we not recognize our Savior. Not only
did we hide our faces from Him. But we also changed His name.
In the days of the Middle Ages a certain number of rabbis decided to get rid of the last letter of His name - the letter “Ain”- and in that way they hid His real name and His real identity from all of the following generations.
His real name Y'shua exposes the truth. Y'shua came to be salvation for everyone. But first and foremost for us the Jews. So, if you consider yourself Jewish you can't allow
yourself to miss Y'shua.
For more information:
Yehudim Leman Yshua (Jews for Jesus)
Have you ever met a Jew called Yeshu? No, right? Do you want to know why? It is very simple. We Jews don't have a name like that. But we have some names that are similar and some that are very Jewish.
For example: Joshua, Sheya (famous Israeli soccer player), and also Y'shua.
So how is it that there is a Jew that all of us call Yeshu? Where did that name spring
from? It is time for everyone to hear the truth.
Yeshu is simply the changing of the real name of the Jewish Messiah. His real name is Y'shua. Because He came to save His people Israel.
Prophecies in the Old Testament that were written hundreds of years before His coming point clearly at the fact that Y'shua is the one that was supposed to come before the destruction of the 2nd temple (Daniel 9:26). To be born in Bethlehem (Micha 5:1). To die as a sacrifice for us (Is. 53:6). And to rise from the dead three days later (Psalm 16:10).
And by doing that, save us all.
But there is one more thing that the prophecies of the Old Testament revealed to us about Him. As surprising as it sounds, that same Savior was supposed to be rejected by His people Israel. Isaiah prophesied this when he said Isaiah 53:3 (quote of the verse). And that is exactly what happened. Not only did we not recognize our Savior. Not only
did we hide our faces from Him. But we also changed His name.
In the days of the Middle Ages a certain number of rabbis decided to get rid of the last letter of His name - the letter “Ain”- and in that way they hid His real name and His real identity from all of the following generations.
His real name Y'shua exposes the truth. Y'shua came to be salvation for everyone. But first and foremost for us the Jews. So, if you consider yourself Jewish you can't allow
yourself to miss Y'shua.
For more information:
Yehudim Leman Yshua (Jews for Jesus)
Thursday, October 8, 2009
from www.joncourson.com - most excellent
Paul, and Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto the church of the Thessalonians IN God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet, because that your faith groweth exceedingly, and the charity of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth.
2 Thessalonians 1:1-3
In the first verse of his first letter to the Thessalonians, Paul had commended their work of faith, labor of love, and patience of hope. Here, in his second letter, he commends only their faith and love.
Why?
No longer living for the Second Coming of Christ, they had lost their hope. Of faith, hope, and love, the greatest is love (I Corinthians 13:13) — however, all three elements are essential because it is faith and hope which allow us to love.
How?
Hung up by my past sins, I’d be too ashamed to love. But faith tells me my past sins and failures were totally cleansed by the blood of Jesus. Worried about the future, I’d be too afraid to love. But hope tells me He’s coming again, so there’s no need to fear the future.
2 Thessalonians 1:1-3
In the first verse of his first letter to the Thessalonians, Paul had commended their work of faith, labor of love, and patience of hope. Here, in his second letter, he commends only their faith and love.
Why?
No longer living for the Second Coming of Christ, they had lost their hope. Of faith, hope, and love, the greatest is love (I Corinthians 13:13) — however, all three elements are essential because it is faith and hope which allow us to love.
How?
Hung up by my past sins, I’d be too ashamed to love. But faith tells me my past sins and failures were totally cleansed by the blood of Jesus. Worried about the future, I’d be too afraid to love. But hope tells me He’s coming again, so there’s no need to fear the future.
Friday, October 2, 2009
Thoughts of my own?
Who will seek the Lord while He may be found?
"God is a Consuming fire" (A quote on quote form the Book Of Hebrews - 12).
I will - wish He teaches me to be better at it!
Need a consciousness of the relationship with Him and much more conscious communication with Him too. He spoke to Moses face to face - then "I tell you, among those born of women there is no one greater than John [greater than Moses]yet the one who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he." And now we are made nigh to God by the Cross of Jesus and He has shed His blood for the forgiveness of sin or carried away the sin of the world so we are not separated from God by our sins no longer. .......So I truly cry out "reveal yourself God in my life not as a concept, not as a theory, not as a teaching of people, not a a compleatly mystical being - for I have heard of and accepted Christ and I believe He shows Who You are and now that I have without more of an understanding of You things make no sense."
People can use, understand and twist scripture endlessly in varying ways. Teachers and fellow Christians may want to influence one this way or that....which always reminds me of the young prophet who was buried after dining with the old one in 1 Kings 13. Both had a word from God one true (the one who died) the other homemade. The one who had the true word was eaten by a Lion because He didn't follow up on it and trusted in the words of another man and/or his authority. While the one with the false word lived to bury the one who got the true word. So I cry out without God and a strong personal relationship with Him all things are impossible! Without the Living resurrected Christ and direct communication and fellowship with Him things are meaningless :-) It is not possible to recognsile the Old wine with the New or chapters as Numeri 26 with John 8. Christ is the Lord in the Flesh - did He change His mind? We are told that He doesn't that He is always the same Malachi 3:6. I can only understand things in life and scripture as Hebrews 12:18-24 by the help of Christ. How does the Lord avail Himself to be found? Is the process of finding refining?
"God is a Consuming fire" (A quote on quote form the Book Of Hebrews - 12).
I will - wish He teaches me to be better at it!
Need a consciousness of the relationship with Him and much more conscious communication with Him too. He spoke to Moses face to face - then "I tell you, among those born of women there is no one greater than John [greater than Moses]yet the one who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he." And now we are made nigh to God by the Cross of Jesus and He has shed His blood for the forgiveness of sin or carried away the sin of the world so we are not separated from God by our sins no longer. .......So I truly cry out "reveal yourself God in my life not as a concept, not as a theory, not as a teaching of people, not a a compleatly mystical being - for I have heard of and accepted Christ and I believe He shows Who You are and now that I have without more of an understanding of You things make no sense."
People can use, understand and twist scripture endlessly in varying ways. Teachers and fellow Christians may want to influence one this way or that....which always reminds me of the young prophet who was buried after dining with the old one in 1 Kings 13. Both had a word from God one true (the one who died) the other homemade. The one who had the true word was eaten by a Lion because He didn't follow up on it and trusted in the words of another man and/or his authority. While the one with the false word lived to bury the one who got the true word. So I cry out without God and a strong personal relationship with Him all things are impossible! Without the Living resurrected Christ and direct communication and fellowship with Him things are meaningless :-) It is not possible to recognsile the Old wine with the New or chapters as Numeri 26 with John 8. Christ is the Lord in the Flesh - did He change His mind? We are told that He doesn't that He is always the same Malachi 3:6. I can only understand things in life and scripture as Hebrews 12:18-24 by the help of Christ. How does the Lord avail Himself to be found? Is the process of finding refining?
From > http://www.jonathandaugherty.com/2007/08/happiness-according-to-jesus.html
Monday, August 20, 2007
Happiness According to Jesus
I know, I know. I promised I would follow up my previous articles on happiness with a post about Jesus' take on the subject. Time got away from me, but here is the promised article...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
How did Jesus define happiness? I think this is a crucial question, especially considering that everyone innately desires to be happy. But it seems that what most people pursue to secure their happiness only leads them to exhaustion, frustration, and confusion. They might acquire a lot of stuff, make quite a name for themselves, or even accomplish all the goals they set out for their life, yet still feel an ache, an emptiness that never is filled. Jesus said that He came "that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly." Jesus wants you and me to experience the fullness of life right here and right now. He desires the best for us. But what He defines as "best" is often very different from what we might think. So, let's look at how Jesus defined happiness in God's kingdom.
One of Jesus' first public sermons is recorded in Matthew 5, often referred to as the Sermon on the Mount. He begins this famous sermon with what are called the Beatitudes. What are those? Beatitude is defined as "supreme blessedness or happiness." (The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition). In His sermon introduction we learn what Jesus considers supreme happiness in the kingdom of God. And His revelation starts out making sense, "Blessed [Happy] are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." I can get that. Humility is a key characteristic of those who are truly, or supremely, happy. They don't puff themselves up, but rather understand that God is above all and in control. Of course, those who adopt such an attitude would be well on their way to real happiness.
But Jesus continues, and in so doing begins to confuse our usual definitions of happiness. He says, "Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted." Hmm. Happy are the mourners? When do you mourn? When someone has died, or when you have suffered a great loss, right? How could such a circumstance be included in Jesus' definition of happiness? Because of the result: comfort. For those who feel deeply, and embrace their losses unashamedly, there is a wonderful comfort that comes at the end of such grief. And in that comfort a person experiences the presence of God, the Almighty Comforter of those who mourn. To mourn is to be honest and invite the comfort of God, and happy is the heart whose grief has been touched by the hand of God.
"Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth." Are you seeing a pattern yet? I mean, when will Jesus say, "Blessed are the famous, the wealthy, and the 'important'?" Seems like Jesus is revealing a definition for happiness that is attainable for all, not just the "gifted" or well off. Anyone can be meek, humbly patient despite oncoming opposition. This sort of gentleness molds a happy heart.
"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled." How many in our world today truly hunger and thirst for what is right, what is pure, what is of God? Few, and even fewer by the day. Yet, Jesus said it is these who experience true happiness. To be filled with a desire for righteousness, and to pursue it as your sustenance, fills a place in your heart that cannot be filled with material possessions or anything else. Do you want to feel truly filled up, fully content? Then hunger and thirst for righteousness.
"Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy." Have you noticed that the world's paradigm for happiness is to "get to the top" no matter the cost, and no matter who you crush to get there? Mercilessness is often the mantra of "success" in this day and age. But such cruelty, however justified it may be, never fills a heart, a life with happiness. No, it is the merciful who invite the very blessedness of God into their hearts and lives. To withhold judgment and wrath, even for those who deserve it, is what contributes to a truly abundant, happy life. Strange? Yes. Mysterious? Yes. But true, nonetheless.
"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God." Oh, what happiness to walk in purity! This one is particularly special to me. For years I walked in impurity, inviting filth into my mind and heart. And all this "mud" prevented me from really seeing God, not to mention all the heartache and unhappiness that accompanied my addictive behaviors. But to walk in purity, to have a clean heart before God, what happiness, what joy! Why does purity bring such happiness? Because you see God in ever increasing glory and splendor. Could there be anything that brings greater happiness?
"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God." Peace is a close cousin to happiness. When your spirit is rested, content, you are free to live, and enjoy, abundant life. And those who promote such peace, God's peace, gain a happiness that cannot be stolen by circumstance or ridicule. Peace is a beautiful thing.
"Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." Whoa! Wait a second. Did Jesus just say that those who get persecuted for doing the right thing are HAPPY?! Yes He did. How is that possible? I know none of us would have included persecution as a defining characteristic of happiness. But God's kingdom is not like the world. When you do the right thing in spite of the negative consequences from those who disagree with you, you are demonstrating strength, honor, and integrity. Happiness is reserved for those unswayed by the ever-changing winds of public opinion, and rather are rooted firmly in the solid truth of God's Word. Do the right thing, take some shots on the chin, and you will be filled with a mysterious happiness. Yes, happy are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake.
Jesus concludes the introduction of his sermon with this statement, "Blessed are you when they revile you and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you." (emphasis mine) Rejoice and be exceedingly glad...for persecution, reviling, and evil spoken against you? Is it apparent that Jesus has a vastly different definition for happiness than our culture? He seems to be saying that happiness in the here and now has much more to do about your eternal perspective than it does with temporary circumstance. I believe that is precisely the point He is making. How else could someone be exceedingly glad in the moment they are being persecuted? Seeing beyond the pain of the moment, a happiness washes over the soul of the one who understands that in God's kingdom such persecution brings about eternal rewards, treasures that can never be destroyed or stolen away.
This is written by Jonathan Daugherty www.bebroken.com
Happiness According to Jesus
I know, I know. I promised I would follow up my previous articles on happiness with a post about Jesus' take on the subject. Time got away from me, but here is the promised article...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
How did Jesus define happiness? I think this is a crucial question, especially considering that everyone innately desires to be happy. But it seems that what most people pursue to secure their happiness only leads them to exhaustion, frustration, and confusion. They might acquire a lot of stuff, make quite a name for themselves, or even accomplish all the goals they set out for their life, yet still feel an ache, an emptiness that never is filled. Jesus said that He came "that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly." Jesus wants you and me to experience the fullness of life right here and right now. He desires the best for us. But what He defines as "best" is often very different from what we might think. So, let's look at how Jesus defined happiness in God's kingdom.
One of Jesus' first public sermons is recorded in Matthew 5, often referred to as the Sermon on the Mount. He begins this famous sermon with what are called the Beatitudes. What are those? Beatitude is defined as "supreme blessedness or happiness." (The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition). In His sermon introduction we learn what Jesus considers supreme happiness in the kingdom of God. And His revelation starts out making sense, "Blessed [Happy] are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." I can get that. Humility is a key characteristic of those who are truly, or supremely, happy. They don't puff themselves up, but rather understand that God is above all and in control. Of course, those who adopt such an attitude would be well on their way to real happiness.
But Jesus continues, and in so doing begins to confuse our usual definitions of happiness. He says, "Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted." Hmm. Happy are the mourners? When do you mourn? When someone has died, or when you have suffered a great loss, right? How could such a circumstance be included in Jesus' definition of happiness? Because of the result: comfort. For those who feel deeply, and embrace their losses unashamedly, there is a wonderful comfort that comes at the end of such grief. And in that comfort a person experiences the presence of God, the Almighty Comforter of those who mourn. To mourn is to be honest and invite the comfort of God, and happy is the heart whose grief has been touched by the hand of God.
"Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth." Are you seeing a pattern yet? I mean, when will Jesus say, "Blessed are the famous, the wealthy, and the 'important'?" Seems like Jesus is revealing a definition for happiness that is attainable for all, not just the "gifted" or well off. Anyone can be meek, humbly patient despite oncoming opposition. This sort of gentleness molds a happy heart.
"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled." How many in our world today truly hunger and thirst for what is right, what is pure, what is of God? Few, and even fewer by the day. Yet, Jesus said it is these who experience true happiness. To be filled with a desire for righteousness, and to pursue it as your sustenance, fills a place in your heart that cannot be filled with material possessions or anything else. Do you want to feel truly filled up, fully content? Then hunger and thirst for righteousness.
"Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy." Have you noticed that the world's paradigm for happiness is to "get to the top" no matter the cost, and no matter who you crush to get there? Mercilessness is often the mantra of "success" in this day and age. But such cruelty, however justified it may be, never fills a heart, a life with happiness. No, it is the merciful who invite the very blessedness of God into their hearts and lives. To withhold judgment and wrath, even for those who deserve it, is what contributes to a truly abundant, happy life. Strange? Yes. Mysterious? Yes. But true, nonetheless.
"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God." Oh, what happiness to walk in purity! This one is particularly special to me. For years I walked in impurity, inviting filth into my mind and heart. And all this "mud" prevented me from really seeing God, not to mention all the heartache and unhappiness that accompanied my addictive behaviors. But to walk in purity, to have a clean heart before God, what happiness, what joy! Why does purity bring such happiness? Because you see God in ever increasing glory and splendor. Could there be anything that brings greater happiness?
"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God." Peace is a close cousin to happiness. When your spirit is rested, content, you are free to live, and enjoy, abundant life. And those who promote such peace, God's peace, gain a happiness that cannot be stolen by circumstance or ridicule. Peace is a beautiful thing.
"Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." Whoa! Wait a second. Did Jesus just say that those who get persecuted for doing the right thing are HAPPY?! Yes He did. How is that possible? I know none of us would have included persecution as a defining characteristic of happiness. But God's kingdom is not like the world. When you do the right thing in spite of the negative consequences from those who disagree with you, you are demonstrating strength, honor, and integrity. Happiness is reserved for those unswayed by the ever-changing winds of public opinion, and rather are rooted firmly in the solid truth of God's Word. Do the right thing, take some shots on the chin, and you will be filled with a mysterious happiness. Yes, happy are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake.
Jesus concludes the introduction of his sermon with this statement, "Blessed are you when they revile you and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you." (emphasis mine) Rejoice and be exceedingly glad...for persecution, reviling, and evil spoken against you? Is it apparent that Jesus has a vastly different definition for happiness than our culture? He seems to be saying that happiness in the here and now has much more to do about your eternal perspective than it does with temporary circumstance. I believe that is precisely the point He is making. How else could someone be exceedingly glad in the moment they are being persecuted? Seeing beyond the pain of the moment, a happiness washes over the soul of the one who understands that in God's kingdom such persecution brings about eternal rewards, treasures that can never be destroyed or stolen away.
This is written by Jonathan Daugherty www.bebroken.com
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