Our acceptance by God is based entirely upon FAITH (Eph 2:8-9); and even though this acceptance (our forgiveness & reconciliation) back into God’s family is “not of ourselves” (it’s a gift from God & not by works of anything we can do to earn it), nevertheless FAITH, by its very definition (Heb 11:1), requires action based upon our obedience to Gods Word.
Hebrews 10:38
“Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.”
Hebrew 11:6
“Without faith it is impossible to please God: for he that comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.”
Faith is the medium of exchange between heaven and earth (the means by which we may appropriate heaven’s resources); and by its very nature, it requires our casting our very lives, our bodies and the entirety of our life circumstances upon the reliability and trustworthiness of both God and His Word.
Proverbs 3:6
“Trust in the LORD with all your heart; and lean NOT unto your own understanding.”
So based upon these scriptures, our acceptance by God and our appropriation of heaven’s resources have NOTHING to do with our righteous acts, nor our performance of anything we can do to earn it; but rather it’s ALL based entirely upon our resting in ALL that Christ accomplish for us on Calvary’s cross.
Hebrew for Christians
“And he believed the LORD, and he counted it to him as righteousness” (Gen. 15:6).
Here note the distinction between the promise of God and the commandments of God.
The promise of God is rooted in God’s heart – his desire and will, his character and passion – but the commandments of God are rooted in man’s heart, in his desire and will to obey (or not).
Receiving God’s love is not based on imperative and the language of conditional acceptance, but is based on the promise of love and grace.
The “work of faith” (מַעֲשֶׂה הָאֱמוּנָה) is to believe that God accepts you despite your unacceptability, and that you are esteemed righteous for believing the truth of God’s heart.
Faith justifies the ungodly because faith accepts the promise, just as Abraham was justified because he trusted in the promise of the seed to come.
Therefore, as Rabbi Paul taught, we maintain that a person is justified apart from the law (Rom. 3:28), which is to affirm that eternal life is found exclusively in the grace and promises of God.
This is the Torah of “faith, hope, and love,” and it is a lifelong discipline to know it in the truth.
“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for God’s righteousness, for they shall be satisfied” (Matt. 5:6).
For every covenant child of God, there is a rhyme and a reason for everything that happens in their life.
God promises to enter into every situation (the good, the bad and the ugly) and cause it to work together for our good, for everyone who loves Him and is called according to His purpose (Rom 8:28).
There are many examples of this that we may read all throughout the Bible.
The reason for why God allows trials and tribulations is beauses it’s the only way our faith muscles may grow.
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Saturday, September 03, 2016 This Evening’s Meditation
C. H. Spurgeon
“The Lord trieth the righteous.“
—Psalm 11:5.
ALL events are under the control of Providence; consequently all the trials of our outward life are traceable at once to the great First Cause.
Out of the golden gate of God’s ordinance the armies of trial march forth in array, clad in their iron armour, and armed with weapons of war.
All providences are doors to trial. Even our mercies, like roses, have their thorns.
Men may be drowned in seas of prosperity as well as in rivers of affliction. Our mountains are not too high, and our valleys are not too low for temptations: trials lurk on all roads.
Everywhere, above and beneath, we are beset and surrounded with dangers. Yet no shower falls unpermitted from the threatening cloud; every drop has its order ere it hastens to the earth.
The trials which come from God are sent to prove and strengthen our graces, and so at once to illustrate the power of divine grace, to test the genuineness of our virtues, and to add to their energy.
Our Lord in His infinite wisdom and superabundant love, sets so high a value upon His people’s faith that He will not screen them from those trials by which faith is strengthened.
You would never have possessed the precious faith which now supports you if the trial of your faith had not been like unto fire.
You are a tree that never would have rooted so well if the wind had not rocked you to and fro, and made you take firm hold upon the precious truths of the covenant grace.
Worldly ease is a great foe to faith; it loosens the joints of holy valour, and snaps the sinews of sacred courage.
The balloon never rises until the cords are cut; affliction doth this sharp service for believing souls.
While the wheat sleeps comfortably in the husk it is useless to man, it must be threshed out of its resting place before its value can be known. Thus it is well that Jehovah trieth the righteous, for it causeth them to grow rich towards God.
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He listens to all of our heart’s cry – our yearning, our lament, as well as our praise, and attends to our daily needs.
Our part is to turn to God for help in all that we do: we are to “know Him in all our ways” (בְּכָל־דְּרָכֶיךָ דָעֵהוּ) by trusting in his nearness (Prov. 3:5-6).
The Torah states that the LORD is close to us “in all our calling to Him” (Deut. 7:7). He listens to all of our heart’s cry – our yearning, our lament, as well as our praise, and attends to our daily needs.
Our part is to turn to God for help in all that we do: we are to “know Him in all our ways” (בְּכָל־דְּרָכֶיךָ דָעֵהוּ) by trusting in his nearness (Prov. 3:5-6).
Even if we feel our prayer is unanswered, we trust despite our temporary darkness, believing that God sees our need and knows what is best for us.
God is close “in all our calling to Him” (בְּכָּל־קָרְאֵנוּ אֵלָיו), and therefore we are often brought to a place of need.
We can endure suffering and find acceptance as we call upon God for help in all that we do, then if we feel our prayer is unanswered, we trust despite our temporary darkness, believing that God sees our need and knows what is best for us.
God is close “in all our calling to Him” (בְּכָּל־קָרְאֵנוּ אֵלָיו), and therefore we are often brought to a place of need. We can endure suffering and find acceptance as we call upon God for help in all that we do.
The Twelve Disciples: Were they management potential?
MEMO
TO: JESUS, SON OF JOSEPH, WOODCRAFTER CARPENTER SHOP, NAZARETH
FROM: JORDAN MANAGEMENT CONSULTANTS, JERUSALEM
Dear Sir:
Thank you for submitting the resumes of the 12 men you have picked for management positions in your new organization. All of them have now taken our battery of tests; we have not only run the results through our computer, but also arranged personal interviews for each of them with our psychologist and vocational aptitude consultant.
It is the staff opinion that most of your nominees are lacking in background, education, and vocational aptitude for the type of enterprise you are undertaking. They do not have the team concept. We would recommend that you continue your search for persons of experience in managerial ability and proven capability.
Simon Peter is emotionally unstable and given to fits of temper. Andrew has absolutely no qualities of leadership. The two brothers, James and John, the sons of Zebedee, place personal interest above company loyalty. Thomas demonstrates a questioning attitude that would tend to undermine morale.
We feel that it is our duty to tell you that Matthew has been blacklisted by the Greater Jerusalem Better Business Bureau. James, the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus definitely have radical leanings, and they both registered a high score on the manic depressive scale.
One of the candidates, however, shows great potential. He is a man of ability and resourcefulness, meets people well, has a keen business mind and has contacts in high places. He is highly motivated, ambitious, and responsible. We recommend Judas Iscariot as your controller and right-hand man. All of the other profiles are self-explanatory.
We wish you every success in your new venture.
Sincerely yours,
Jordan Management Consultants
[From: “Transforming Discipleship: Making Disciples a Few at a Time” by Greg Ogden – printed in SoJo Mail for 30 October 2003.]
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Getting our head around the fact that God’s ways and thoughts are truly not the ways of man or of this world.
Jesus instructed His disciples to come to Him and learn of Him, and we are told in the Bible that the wisdom of this world is far different from the wisdom of God, and so by the spirit we are to operate with the mind of Christ.
Breaking through the obstacles and resistance of life…
Success in life for the Christian means reaching your destiny and fulfilling God’s purpose in your life.
Jesus said that he came that we may have life and that we may have it more abundantly (John 10:10).
Are we not all intuitively looking for that Abundant Life, something to give our life meaning and purpose, to rock our world and give us a sense of completeness and fullness?
Who better to determine how to give us that sense a completeness and purpose, than the One who authored and gave us our life to begin with?
This is one of my favorite scriptures in the Bible:
Psalm 139:13-18
Living Bible (TLB)
13 You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit them together in my mother’s womb. 14 Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! It is amazing to think about. Your workmanship is marvelous—and how well I know it. 15 You were there while I was being formed in utter seclusion! 16 You saw me before I was born and scheduled each day of my life before I began to breathe. Every day was recorded in your book!
17-18 How precious it is, Lord, to realize that you are thinking about me constantly! I can’t even count how many times a day your thoughts turn toward me.<span data-fn="#fen-TLB-14038a" class="footnote" data-link="[a]” style=”box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; vertical-align: top; top: 0px;”>[a] And when I waken in the morning, you are still thinking of me!
God has created each of us with a god-sized void inside of us, that can only be filled with Himself!
So if we’re going to learn to be successful at life, the way God wants us to be, the way he has intended for us to be, then we’re going to have to learn to cooperate with Him, and put on the mind of Christ (Philippians 2:5-11).
God’s ways are not ours, and if we’re going to comply with the plan God has predestined for us, then we’re going to have to learn His ways and forsake our own.
This is true in every part of our life and particularly in spiritual warfare.
2 Corinthians 10:3-6
3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds,
5 casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,
6 and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled.
Come join the Adventure!
Skip
ΙΧΘΥΣ
Jesus Christ, God’s Son, Savior
—
Ps 150:6
Let everything that has breath praise the LORD!
Sent from my
Samsung Galaxy Note® 3
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Break Through the Wall
By Kenneth Copeland
I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. – Philippians 4:13
You’re running the race set before you, moving full speed ahead with God’s blessing overtaking you at every step.
Then suddenly, wham! You hit the wall. It may be a wall of sickness or financial trouble, of spiritual failure or family problems. But, regardless of the form it takes, the effect of “the wall” is always the same. It stops you cold.
The question is, once you hit a wall like that, what will you do?
You’ll be tempted to quit, to turn back in defeat. But don’t do it. Because God will enable you to break through that wall and keep right on going.
I’m not going to tell you it’s easy. The truth is, it’s tough. But you have to push on through the tough times if you’re ever going to have a breakthrough.
Ask any athlete. He’ll tell you that! Because if he’s a winner, he’s been there. He’s pushed his body to what seems to be the maximum. His side has hurt. His lungs have ached. He’s had cramps in his legs and thighs. And just when he felt like he couldn’t go on, he’s heard some coach yell, “Come on! Move it!”
Athletes call that “hitting the wall.” It’s a time when the body says, “That’s it. That’s all I can do. I can’t go any further. I can’t go any faster. I quit.”
But the seasoned athlete knows that “the wall” isn’t the end. It’s a signal that he’s on the verge of a breakthrough. If he’ll toughen up and push himself a little more, he’ll get a second wind. Suddenly, he’ll go faster than before. He’ll reach a level of excellence he couldn’t have reached any other way.
When you feel the worst, when failure is breathing down your neck, press into the Word as never before.
You may meditate on a particular scripture for days and even weeks sometimes, trying to get a revelation of it, seemingly without success.
Then suddenly, like the dawn of the morning, light will come pouring in. You’ll see the way to break through.
All you have to do is punch one little hole in that wall of problems, dig one tiny hole in it with your faith and with the Word of God.
Then keep tearing away at that hole. Don’t quit! And, before long, the forces of God will come bursting through, demolishing every obstacle in their path!
Once that happens you’ll never be the same again. You’ll be hooked. It will only take one breakthrough like that to make a never-dying, never-quitting champion out of you.
My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge (in not following My laws and My ways): because you have rejected knowledge, I will also reject you, that you shall be no priest to me: because you have forgotten the law of your God.
May God deliver America from the present “Evil” that runs our country.
As we read and study our Bible, we quickly will learn that there is no difference between the secular and the sacred, as both come under God’s purview and requirements for the Kingdom of Heaven being implemented in the Earth.
Howbeit, under the New Covenant, the judgment and retribution that was owed us for our failure to follow and obey God’s law, was satisfied in the propitious sacrifice of Jesus Christ, on Calvary’s cross, which met all the demands on us, through our obedience to the gospel and our faith and acceptance of Jesus Christ, as both our Lord and Savior.
As the Bible says, “there is no other name under heaven whereby we may be saved” (Acts 4:12).
That being said, part of the mission of every Christian in preaching and the discipling of nations, is also the implementation of God’s will and God’s ways in the Earth (Mat 6:10).
There are only two nations in the history of the world who built their government upon God’s Word and upon a covenant with Him, and that’s the nation of Israel and America.
Our government was originally formed as a Constitutional Republic, but unfortunately it only lasted from 1776 to 1861.
Video link Do You Know About The Act of 1871 (Note: Pres Tim Turner was the first president of the reinhabited Republic for the united states of America – circa March 2010)
The rich rules over the poor, and the borrower is the slave of the lender.
In spite of these Commandments, the American people have just stood by and watched, while these International Banksters, since 1913, when the Federal Reserve Act was passed, have taken us from being the chief creditor nation of the world, to the chief debtor nation of the world.
In the following graph, you can see how that translates into the buying power of the dollar, as it relates to the increase in inflation over the years:
Whether the American people realize it or not, under this unconstitutional and therefore illegal system – this ponzi scheme from the pit of hell – that has been perpetrated upon the American people, by these International Banksters, the American people have in fact become the slaves to the bankers.
This is a major part of the battle that is being waged against the American people today, by this de facto Washington DC Corporation, in an effort to establish a Satanic – dictatorial and fascist One World Government and monetary system, which is called the Antichrist Kingdom and is talked about in The Book of Revelation.
So as Christians, what is our part in all of this?
Do we just ignore our Constitution and stand by and watch these criminals steal our liberties and our government from us?
“If I profess, with the loudest voice and the clearest exposition, every portion of the truth of God, except precisely that little point which the world and the devil are at that moment attacking, I am not confessing Christ, however boldly I may be professing Christianity.
Where the battle rages, the loyalty of the soldier is proved; and to be steady on all the battle-fields besides, is mere flight and disgrace to him, if he flinches at that one point.”
— Quote attributed to Martin Luther
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Jesus told His disciples:
Matthew 10:32-33
32 “Therefore whoever acknowledges Me before men, I will also acknowledge him before My Father who is in heaven. 33 But whoever denies Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father who is in heaven.
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Unless we, as Christians, are following and representing Jesus (1 John 2:6), who is the “Truth,” “the Way” and the Life” (John 14:6), meaning God’s revelation and fulfillment of His law and righteousness in the earth, as revealed in Scripture; and unless we, as Christians – who are also God’s occupational force in the earth (Luke 19:13), are actively resisting the advancement of evil and sin (“…and for this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil” – 1 John 3:8b), and in so doing are therefore fighting and resisting where the enemy is attacking, then we are in effect losing the war.
For a long time now the enemy’s strongest attack, here in America, especially (but not limited to) this present Obama administration, is in the area of law and government, and the total obfuscation and erosion of our Bill of Rights and our organic US Constitution!
Both Republican and Democratic parties, in terms of the leadership of both parties, are complicit in this treason against our organic US Constitution.
This “New World Order” agenda, that is supported by both parties, is treasonous and is a violation of every politician’s oath of office, to preserve, protect and to defend the Constitution.
Isaiah 5:20
Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!.
Psalm 9:17
The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God..
Galatians 6:7
Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man sows, that shall he also reap.
(See also Deuteronomy 28:1-61)
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Have we so soon forgotten that our nation and our liberties were born out of an act of rebellion against the tyrannical government of King George III and mother England?
Our founding fathers warned us of the very thing that we see happening today:
George Washington on the danger of amendment by usurpation
George Washington was also somewhat prophetic as he foresaw a time when controlling leaders would bypass the Constitution for the sake of instituting what he called an “instrument of good.”
He clearly believed and predicted that ignoring the Constitution would be the “weapon by which free governments are destroyed.”
Here’s what he said in the parting words of his farewell address in 1796:
“If, in the opinion of the people, the distribution or modification of the constitutional powers be in any particular wrong, let it be corrected by an amendment in the way which the Constitution designates.
But let there be no change by usurpations; for though this, in one instance, may be the instrument of good, it is the customary weapon by which free governments are destroyed.”
He uses the old English word “usurpations” to describe a change to the Constitution effected by force or political power instead of through the amendment process designated in the document itself.
We have seen our share of that in recent years. To many, the Constitution has become a “living document” that can be manipulated for the sake of political ideals and changes can come by political fiat.
It is possible that America’s first president would be shocked at what is happening in the fulfillment of his biggest prophetic warning.
Thomas Jefferson on the danger of an out of control judicial branch
Thomas Jefferson prophetic warnings were primarily associated with his fear of the judicial branch becoming too powerful.
He claims to have seen its seizure of power even in his day.
In a letter to Judge Spencer Roane in 1821 he wrote this unnerving prediction:
“The great object of my fear is the federal judiciary. That body, like gravity, ever acting with noiseless foot and unalarming advance, gaining ground step by step and holding what it gains, is engulfing insidiously the governments into the jaws of that which feeds them.”
To put it in more contemporary words, Jefferson was saying that the federal judiciary would gain more and more power as it slowly but gradually advanced its power and would never relinquish the power it gained.
In so doing, it would take the power that belongs to states and give it to the federal government, “the jaws of that which feeds them.”
Jefferson appears to have identified this potential problem we see arising today in the growing power of the Supreme Court and federal courts everywhere.
Surely he recognized the federal courts as a primary means by which the national government can expand its power over the people.
Have we also so soon forgotten the words written in the Preamble of the Declaration of Independence, which says,
“…That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed,
That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles, and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.
Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object, evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.”
For the Lord GOD will do nothing, But He revealeth His counsel unto His servants the prophets.
1 Thessalonians 5:19-21
19 Do not quench the Spirit.20 Do not despise prophecies,21 but test everything; hold fast what is good.
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Trump Chosen by God To Stop America’s Destruction – Astounding 2011 Prophecy
Published on Apr 21, 2016… Rick Wiles interviews retired firefighter Mark Taylor who was given this prophetic revelation in 2011.
God’s Man: Firefighter shares 2011 vision of President Trump
(TRUNEWS) Retired firefighter Mark Taylor says God showed him in 2011 that Donald Trump would become President of the United States.
Taylor’s statements were made during an exclusive interview with Rick Wiles of TRUNEWS on Monday, April 18th, 2016, while sharing his prophetic visions publicly for the first time.
Taylor said he received God’s word about Donald Trump on April 28th 2011, while watching an interview featuring the New York billionaire.
While Trump was speaking Taylor heard the Lord say to him that he was listening to a President.
At the time, Trump was considering a presidential run and was also campaigning strongly for the release of Barack Obama’s birth certificate.
Though he ultimately decided against running for the GOP nomination in 2012, Taylor believes his appearance in the 2016 campaign is God ordained.
On April 28th, 2011 Trump gave a speech in Las Vegas to a gathering organized by the Clark County Nevada Republican Party.
In the speech he spoke directly about the present —and future— potential of him making a run for president.
Below is a copy of the message Mark Taylor says God shared with him:
Commander in Chief
The Spirit of God says, I have chosen this man, Donald Trump, for such a time as this.
For as Benjamin Netanyahu is to Israel, so shall this man be to the United States of America!
For I will use this man to bring honor, respect and restoration to America.
America will be respected once again as the most powerful and prosperous nation on earth, (other than Israel).
The dollar will be the strongest it has ever been in the history of the United States, and will once again be the currency by which all others are judged.
The Spirit of God says, the enemy will quake and shake and fear this man I have anointed.
They will even quake and shake when he announces he is running for president, it will be like the shot heard across the world.
The enemy will say what shall we do now? This man knows all our tricks and schemes. We have been robbing America for decades, what shall we do to stop this?
The Spirit says HA! No one shall stop this that l have started! For the enemy has stolen from America for decades and it stops now!
For I will use this man to reap the harvest that the United States has sown for and plunder from the enemy what he has stolen and return it 7 fold back to the United States.
The enemy will say Israel, Israel, what about Israel? For Israel will be protected by America once again.
The spirit says yes! America will once again stand hand and hand with Israel, and the two shall be as one. For the ties between Israel and America will be stronger than ever, and Israel will flourish like never before.
The Spirit of God says, I will protect America and Israel, for this next president will be a man of his word, when he speaks the world will listen and know that there is something greater in him than all the others before him.
This man’s word is his bond and the world and America will know this and the enemy will fear this, for this man will be fearless. The Spirit says, when the financial harvest begins so shall it parallel in the spiritual for America.
The Spirit of God says, in this next election they will spend billions to keep this president in; it will be like flushing their money down the toilet.
Let them waste their money, for it comes from and it is being used by evil forces at work, but they will not succeed, for this next election will be a clean sweep for the man I have chosen.
They will say things about this man (the enemy), but it will not affect him, and they shall say it rolls off of him like the duck, for as the feathers of a duck protect it, so shall my feathers protect this next president.
Even mainstream news media will be captivated by this man and the abilities that I have gifted him with, and they will even begin to agree with him says the Spirit of God.
[Note: Mr. Taylor thought the fulfillment of this prophecy was to happen in the 2012 election, and he thought he had missed it.]
Mr. Taylor originally wrote this amazing prophecy back in 2011, giving us a glimpse of what’s to come and why all who attack Mr. Trump will fall by the wayside.
What’s amazing is that this revelation has gone forth to thousands. The wrath of God has come not for the people of America but for the leaders of the establishment. The hour of judgment is upon them. The light has begun to shine and the darkness of evil will prevail no more.
[Click here to read the history behind this corrupt DC Corporation that most Americans don’t even know about]
Down with the Bankster controlled Washington DC Corporation and the corrupt politicians that have sold our country out; and up with our organic US Constitution and the already inhabited Republic for the United States of America!
What comes to my mind is how the Bible says,
Isaiah 59:19
“So shall they fear the name of the Lord from the west and His glory from the rising of the sun. When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard against him.”
