How Is God Seen and Heard

In the Old Testament God spoke by prophets.  How is God seen and heard now?   The bible says that Jesus is the brightness of God’s glory and God speaks by Him.

God speaks to us in Jesus

The Glorious Change In God’s Way of Speaking 

Since the coming of our Lord to earth, and his powerful death and glorious resurrection God now speaks to us  ALWAYS  in His Son.

God Is Now Speaking In His Son

In the Old Testament God spoke in the prophets, in men moved by His Spirit (Heb. 1:1; 2 Pet. 1:21).
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Heb 1: 1, 2God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, 2 has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds;
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2 Pet. 1:21 prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit
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In the New Testament, (after Jesus death and resurrection), God speaks in the Son, who is God Himself openly shown and expressed (Heb. 1:2-3)
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Heb. 1:2 and 3has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds; 3 who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,
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God The Father Has Been Revealed In Jesus

God the Father is hidden and not visible to human eyes, but God the Son is expressed.    The Son of God is visible.
The beauty and loveliness of God the Father could be seen as Jesus walked this earth. Today, we who have His Spirit can see the same beauty and loveliness of Jesus as the Holy Spirit reveals him to us. Thus we see the Glorious Father as we ‘look at Jesus’
No one has ever seen God, but the Son as the “Word of God, as the speaking of God, has declared and expressed Him.

John 1: 18  – No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is Himself God and is at the Father’s side, has made Him known.

Whereas God spoke through the prophets in the Old Testament, He did not have Himself expressed. But in the New Testament God speaks in the Son, who expresses Him. Formerly God spoke through the prophets indirectly, but now He speaks directly in the Son, that is, in the One who is the expression of the Father.

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The BLESSINGS OF THE NEW COVENANT – (3)

We will now ask the question,  ” IN THE BLESSINGS OF THE NEW COVENANT WHAT DOES A HEART OF FLESH THAT  GOD PROMISED TO  GIVE TO PLACE INSIDE US US LOOK LIKE?  The answer lies in the hearts of man that needed change. A great change was needed.

WHAT IS A HEART OF FLESH?

  1. A Heart Inclined Towards Righteousness
  1. It is a “Truth Filled Heart
  2. A heart turned from foolish madness to wisdom

            (4) It is soft and readily responds to God

THROUGH THE WHOLE OF THE NEW TESTAMENT THERE WAS ALWAYS ONE TROUBLE. MAN’S HEART WAS NOT RIGHT WITH GOD. IN THE NEW COVENANT THE EVIL IS TO BE REMEDIED. ITS CENTRAL PROMISE IS A HEART DELIGHTING IN GOD’S LAW AND CAPABLE OF KNOWING AND HOLDING FELLOWSHIP WITH HIM.

As I said … We are given a new disposition!

THE “ HAVE TO’S “ OF THE CHRISTIAN LIFE HAVE BECOME THE “ I WANT TO’S” – BECAUSE GOD IS WRITING HIS LAW ON OUR HEARTS.

Jer 31 33 –  But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put My law in their minds, and write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.

God has moved upon us in Christ so powerfully that the person of Jesus and our love for him becomes a consuming passion, and the truth of God’s Word inspires us with zeal and godly EMOTIONS to serve him.

As we experience, the power and reality of the New Covenant we don’t have to ” work up” a desire to serve God. We are motivated by God’s Spirit to delight and enjoy serving Him and doing his will.

The Tender Emotions In The Born Again Sons and Daughters

In the New Covenant we experience such tender and sweet emotions. The “ world” cannot even come close to experiencing the wonderful emotions and feelings we enjoy!

YOU CANNOT LIVE APART FROM FEELINGS! IT IS NOT EVEN POSSIBLE FOR THE HUMAN MIND TO EVEN WORK APART FROM FEELINGS. VIRTUALLY EVERYTHING WE DO IN LIFE OUR AFFECTIONS INCLINE OUR WILL ,

TRUE RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD. CONSISTS OF AFFECTION AND LOVE AND ZEAL FOR HIM,

Here are some scriptures that speak of beautiful and powerful emotions in a believer’s life …….

The Joy of The Lord

Num 8:10Then he said to them, “Go, eat of the fat, drink of the sweet, and send portions to him who has nothing prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord. Do not be grieved, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.”

Joy unspeakable

1 Pet 1:8 Though you have not seen Him, you love Him; and though you do not see Him now, you believe in Him and rejoice with an inexpressible and glorious joy,

The love of God

Rom 5:5 hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out His love into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, whom He has given us.

Peace

Phil 4:7 – the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

But all this is the new set of desires that God has given us in the New Covenant. WE DON’T WORK FOR IT- WE USE IT!

SOME MORE NEW COVENANT TRUTHS

(1) THE DESIRE TO DO THE WILL OF GOD IS THE GIFT OF GOD!

Righteousness is INSTINCTIVE. The GIFT OF GOD. The desire to do the will of God is not something I have to work up. It is something I can ” fall back upon” and rely on.

Psalm 40: 8 I delight to do Your will, O my God, And Your law is within my heart.”

Phil 2: 13 – 

Many Christians have tried so hard and so long to try and ” work up something” , that God says. ” Guess what – WHEN YOU BECAME BELIEVER, I PUT IT RIGHT THERE!

,,,, that desire may be DEEP!

Rom 7 ……..DEEP

(1) YOU ALWAYS DESIRE TO TO ALL THE WILL OF GOD AT THE DEEPEST LEVEL OF YOUR BEING

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Rom 7: 22, 23 I delight in the law of God according to the inward man. 23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.
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The battle between the “ flesh and the spirit” is raging in this chapter. (Later Romans chapter 8 will show the power of The Holy Spirit giving victory). But notice, in Romans 7:22, the apostle says that he “ delights in the law of God according to the inward man”.

The word “ delight” in the original language of the bible is an extremely strong word!

  • Note: Paul does not say on GOOD DAYS…
  • Paul doe not say “WHEN I’M IN FELLOWSHIP” ..
  • Paul does not say “MOST OF TIME”
  • It’s a blanket statement!   ALL THE TIME!

AT THE DEEPEST LEVEL OF MY BEING … AT THE CORE OF MY SOUL ….GOD HAS PLACED WITHIN ME NOT JUST THE POWER BUT ALSO THE DISPOSITION TO PLEASE HIM.   DEEP WITHIN ME IS THE DESIRES TO DO WHATEVER THE WILL OF GOD REQUIRES IN THIS SITUATION TO HONOUR GOD

(3) THE HAVE TO NOW BCOME THE WANT TO’S BECAUSE GOD GIVES BOTH THE DESIRE AND THE POWER

( 1 John 5:3, Phil 2: 13, John 4:34)

OBEDIENCE IS INDULGING YOUR NEW NATURE, ( HAVING A FEAST)

MAN LOOKING AT CAKE – most CHRISTIANS SEE THE WILL OF GOD LIkE THAT

OUR TASTE BUDS HAVE BEEN SUPERNATURALLY INPLANTED

(4) THE SCRIPTURES CLARIFY IN MY MIND WHAT I ALREADY DESIRE TO DO IN MY REDEEMED HEART

WE READ THE SCRIPTURES AND ARE GETTING IN TOUCH WITH WHAT WE ALREADY DESIRE TO DO.

RELEASE THE REALITY

(5) YOU CAN TRUST THE REDEEMED HEART ……AND THE REDEEMED HEART OF OTHER BELIEVERS

It’s NOT …. what do I want to do – and THEN DO THE OPPOSSITE

(Psalm x: x) – DELIGHT YOURSELF IN THE LORD AND HE WILL GIVE YOU THE DESIRES OF YOUR HEART

OUR ROLE IS TO DRAW FORTH WHAT PEOPLE FUNDAMENTALLY DO WANT TO DO THOUGH SOMETIMES IT IS BLOCKED BY SIN AND INSANITY .

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The Blessings Of The New Covenant – 2

We will now ask the question,  “WHY DID GOD HAVE TO BRING US INTO THE BLESSINGS OF THE NEW COVENANT?  The answer lies in the hearts of man that needed change. A great change was needed..

WHY DID GOD HAVE TO BRING US INTO THE NEW COVENANT?

GOD HAD TO BRING US INTO THIS NEW COVENANT BECAUSE THE GREATEST PROBLEM WITH MAN 
……..IS………….. THE HEART OF MAN!

THROUGH THE WHOLE OF THE OLD TESTAMENT THERE WAS ALWAYS ONE TROUBLE. MAN’S HEART WAS NOT RIGHT WITH GOD. 
IN THE NEW COVENANT THE EVIL IS TO BE REMEDIED. ITS CENTRAL PROMISE IS A HEART DELIGHTING IN GOD’S LAW AND CAPABLE OF KNOWING AND HOLDING FELLOWSHIP WITH HIM.

What is the Heart of Man?

The ” heart” of man includes the will, longings, desires, emotions and also the conscIence. The heart is the MAINSPRING of man!

LET US LOOK AT THE HEART OF UNSAVED MAN AND WOMAN WITHOUT CHRIST

(1) The UNSAVED heart is evil (Gen 8:21)

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Gen 8: 21And the Lord smelled a soothing aroma. Then the Lord said in His heart, “I will never again curse the ground for man’s sake, although the imagination of man’s heart is EVIL from his youth;
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Ecc 9:3 Truly the hearts of the sons of men are full of EVIL; madness is in their hearts while they live, and after that they go to the dead. 
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(2) The UNSAVED heart is DECEITFUL

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Jer 17:9 “The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked; Who can know it? 
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(3) The UNSAVED heart is FOOLISH, AND LACKS GOD’S WIDOM
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Rom 1:21although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their FOOLISH hearts were darkened.
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(4) THE UNSAVED MAN’S HEART IS – HARD
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Matt 19:7, 8 They said to Him, “Why then did Moses command to give a certificate of divorce, and to put her away?” 8 He said to them, “Moses, because of the HARDNESS of your hearts, Permitted you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it was not so. 
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Ezek 36: 26I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the HEART OF STONE out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.
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LET’S NOW READ ABOUT HOW GOD GAVE HS HOLY LAW TO PEOPLE WHO WHERE INCAPABLE OF KEEPING IT.

Turning to Deuteronomy chapter 5. God is giving the Law to the children of Israel through Moses.

The children of Israel seem to be ready, willing and enthusiastic to do the will of God. In verse 27, we read that they are saying to Moses …..
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Deut 5:27 – You go near and hear all that the Lord our God may say, and tell us all that the Lord our God says to you, AND WE WILL HEAR AND DO IT.’ 
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It was just like a ” revival meeting”!. They seemed SO WILLING AND COMMITTED to serve The Lord! But God knows that although their intentions are good . They need A NEW HEART to love and serve him.

And in verse 29, it is recorded that God says ………

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OH THAT THEY HAD SUCH A HEART in them that they would fear me and always keep my commandments.
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WHAT DOES “SUCH A HEART” THAT GOD WANTED TO GIVE THEM LOOK LIKE?

(1) “Such a Heart” is A heart that can obey and love God

(2) iT’S a heart that has been operated on……. that has been ” circumsciced”
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Deut 30:6 – And the Lord your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your descendants, to love 
the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, that you may live.
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The apostle Paul wrote about such a ” circumcised heart” in Romans 2:28, 29 .
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Rom 2:28, 29For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh; 29 but he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit, not in the letter; whose praise is not from men but from God.
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(3) “ SUCH A HEART” is a heart that actually “ knows” God
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JER 24:7 Then I will give them a heart to know Me, that I am the Lord; and they shall be My people, and I will be their God, for they shall return to Me with their whole heart.
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(4) it has a heart that has a respectful and reverent fear of God
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JER 32:40 And I will make an everlasting covenant with them, that I will not turn away from doing them good; but I will put MY FEAR in their hearts so that they will not depart from Me.
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It is also a heart that has been changed FROM ( unfeeling). Hardness,, into a heart of “ flesh” that is 
tender, soft and yielding to God.

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Ezek 36:26 I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.
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Proceed To – Blessings of The New covenant – 3

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The BLESSINGS OF THE NEW COVENANT – (1)

For hundreds of years this wonderful promise given through the prophets about the blessings of The New Covenant made to restored Israel had been forgotten.

THE NEW COVENANT OF OUR LORD AND SAVIOUR JESUS CHRIST

Blessings of The New CovenantTHE THEME OF THE TEACHING – GOD HAS GIVEN TO US A WHOLE NEW SET OF DESIRES, A NEW HEART AND A NEW POWER TO CARRY GOD’S DESIRES OUT

The promise, given through the prophets Jeremiah and Ezekiel had been made SPECIFICALLY TO ISRAEL.  These promises specifically concern what God will do the Israel nation when Jesus returns to earth.
God , in that day will fill every redeemed Israeli heart with an intimate knowledge of and a fellowship with the Lord Jesus.  Every Israeli heart will one day be filled with a desire to do God’s will.

READINGS – from the Prophet Jeremiah and Ezekiel

Jer 31:31 to 34
The New Covenant
Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah– 32 not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt, My covenant which they broke, though I was a husband to them, says the Lord. 33 But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put My law in their minds, and write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. 34 No more shall every man teach his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they all shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them, says the Lord. For I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more.” 

Ezek 36: 26 to 34 Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah– 32 not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt, My covenant which they broke, though I was a husband to them, says the Lord. 33 But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put My law in their minds, and write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. 34 No more shall every man teach his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they all shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them, says the Lord. For I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more.” 

This promise of the New Covenant  had been forgotten  for hundreds of  years.  Forgotten, until the night of the last supper  that Our Lord Jesus had with his disciples before he suffered. As he offered the wine to them , the Lord spoke these words to them ……..

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Matt 26: 28this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. 29 But I say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father’s kingdom.”
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As the Lord Jesus spoke these words to his apostles he established the New Covenant with His blood to His Church. We the church can now have a preliminary foretaste of the blessings of the new covenant that will one day be fulfilled completely to the Nation of Israel. Today is the age of the new covenant.
In the New Covenant the Lord’s special grace is poured out to us his redeemed sons and daughters who make up his church.

You see, the bible tells us that when Jesus enters our lives, MANY THINGS HAPPEN….

The New Covenant given to us is so wonderful – and sometimes we don’t realize the power and blessing we have because of the New Covenant Jesus has purchased for us with His precious blood. Because we do not fully realise what is our inheritance in Christ, sometimes we are satisfied living sub-standard spiritual lives.

A New Disposition To Righteousness

TO US WHO ARE SAVED AND BORN AGAIN, GOD HAS MADE HIS REQUIREMENTS THE INSTINCTIVE DESIRE OF OUR REDEEMED HEARTS!
IN THE NEW COVENANT GOD GIVES US A NEW DISPOSITION; A NEW SET OF DESIRES. WE ARE GIVEN A NEW INCLINATION TOWARDS RIGHTEOUSNESS THAT WE DON’T WORK FOR, BUT WE MERELY HAVE RECEIVED – THAT WE CAN CLAIM AND LIVE IN ON AN ONGOING BASIS.   WE ARE  ALSO GIVEN A NEW DYNAMIC POWER TO CARRY THROUGH THOSE DESIRES!

In the New Covenant, God places us INTO CHRIST to such a degree that we are completely identified with Jesus.  Because of this identification with Christ – we have a NEW SET OF DESIRES.   These new desires are POWERFUL because we have the power of the Life Giving Spirit of Jesus Christ. 

The New Covenant is The Basis of All Spiritual Life

The new covenant is the basis of all spiritual life.  Because we have the blessings of the New Covenant:

  • our sins can be forgiven
  • Our conscience can have peace.
  • Because we have the New Covenant we can obey God and do what He pleases.
  •  Because we have the new covenant we can have direct fellowship with God
  • Because we have the new covenant we can have  a deep inward knowledge of Him.

Without the New Covenant we would have no confidence that our sins are forgiven. It would be difficult for us to obey God and do His will or to have anything deeper than an external and ordinary fellowship with God. But, praise God, we have the new covenant! And this new covenant is a covenant which He has established. Therefore, we can rest upon and rejoice in this covenant.

IN THIS NEW COVENANT We Are Blessed With So Much

(1) blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ (Eph 1: 3)

(2 ) We are complete in Him…..
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Col 2: 9, 10For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; 10 and you are complete in Him
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(3) In The new Covenant we are infused wuth Jesus very own nature ….
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2 Pet 1:4( To us) has been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be PARTAKERS OF THE DIVINE NATURE, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
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(4) In The New Covenant we have received Christ’s fulness and grace.
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John 1: 16, 17And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace. 17 For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
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WHEN WE BEGIN TO SEE THE DIVINE REALITIES THAT GOD HAS PLACED AT OUR DISPOSAL …… WOW! OUR LIVES CAN REALLY CHANGE!

God’s LAWS WRITTEN ON OUR HEARTS

Instead of God writing a ” rule book, manual” ( Tablets of stone) ,, God NOW writes His requirements in our hearts!

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Jer 31:33 – “This is the covenant I will make with the people of Israel after that time,” declares the Lord. “I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people.
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2 Cor 3:3you are an epistle of Christ, ministered by us, written not with ink but by the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of flesh, that is, of the heart.
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Proceed To – Blessings of The New covenant – 2

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God Has A Wonderful Plan For your Life

GOD HAS A WONDERFUL PLAN FOR YOUR LIFE

When you fully realise that God has a wonderful plan for your life, things will never be the same for you anymore!   Our God has an AWESOME PLAN for his sons and daughters!  He has chosen you and placed you into Christ.

God has a plan for your lifeIf we know Jesus as our saviour, the reality is that God actually picked us out for Himself as His own in Christ before the foundation of the world… He foreordained us.   He destined us, planned in love for us to be adopted as His own children’

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Eph 1:4 to 5 – .He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love 5 He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will,
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Eph 1:11we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will,
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( To be predestined means,,,,,, chosen……before the universe was created, God the father loved you. You and I were so important to him).

Many non -Christians struggle with their self- image! Sadly, so do some Christians. But we who know and love Christ don’t have to struggle with a low self-image. We know we have been chosen and prepared by God for a unique and great work!  We can with excitement and optimism find out who we are and what God planned that we are living for.  When we serve him. his beauty will rest upon us and be seen with spiritual eyes.

it’s truly amazing the way some people work on their Facebook or other social media profile! Some people spend hours and hours and hours on their Facebook profile taking pictures and pictures and pictures and rewriting the profile over and over again. –  because these people have a low self image and strain with all their energy to impress.

But we don’t have to have a low Self Image because God has called each one of us to be special in his Kingdom and giving us a beauty that is from him.  And so …. We can with excitement and optimism find out who we are and what God planned for us to do!

GOD’S PLAN COMES WITH TRUE RICHES

If it is His will, God MAY give us wealth and possessions. Money is not everything however!  One thing we can be sure of as we walk after God’s ways and will. He will meet our every need.

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Matt 6:33But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you. 34Therefore do not worry about tomorrow.
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God will always meet our needs, However he will never “MEET OUR GREEDS” – just so that we can be selfish. However, God certainly does make some of His children rich; He allows them to have great riches and they are able to be “rich in good” works, giving money to help others.  Not every Christian has great earthly riches from God. ….

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Acts 3:6But Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, get up and walk!”
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You may not have every material blessing you want. The  apostle Paul was in prison when he wrote this letter to the Ephesian Christians but he was rich; God has blessed you ‘with every spiritual blessing in Christ’ .

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Eph 1:.3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ.
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NO FAILURES IN GOD’S PLAN

We have no need to think or say, “I’m a failure.”  God chooses NO FAILURES!   We have no need to think or say,“I am no use to God; I can’t think why He bothers with me.”
We have no need to think or say,“He wouldn’t want to answer my prayers.” The Lord has endless love for us ….and if we are living with a clean conscience He WILL HEAR AD ANSWER OUR PRAYERS.

OPTIMISM IN EVERY TRIAL

We can rest because God has planned that we have a power at our disposal far greater than oor own. We have the power of God’s Holy Spirit at our disposal.   God’s plan in our lives is sent to make us a blessing in
God’s kingdom.

IN HIS PLAN GOD HEALS OUR BROKEN HEARTS

Even though at times we MAY suffer heartbreak, God WILL  restore our joy again! Sometimes life does hurt! LET’S BE HONEST … We may suffer, fierce persecution that makes us sad.  We may weep for the sins and sadness of men and women ‘ outside of Christ’. But God’s providence is sent to make us a blessing in God’s kingdom.
He heals our wounded hearts. After he has healed our hearts, God can use us to bring blessing to the wounded in a new way David says,,, (Psalm 109:22)…

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Psalm 109:22 My heart is wounded within me’.
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God loves to use people who have been wounded and then healed because no one can minister better than a person who has had the same wound and then been healed by God. This is taught by the apostle Paul in Second Corinthians…..

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2 Corinthians 1:3 to 7 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. 5 For just as the sufferings of Christ are ours in abundance, so also our comfort is abundant through Christ. 6 But if we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; or if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which is effective in the patient enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer;
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This is how it works……

(1) we have trials God allows.  (2) God pours grace and comfort into us.  ( 3) we pass that comfort and encouragement t others

WE HAVE THE ANSWER TO THE WORLD’S NEEDS

We Know we have the answer to the worlds’s need. Isaiah
writes,

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Isaiah 52:7How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news… who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, “Your God reigns!”’
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God’s salvation is such good news that it makes even the smelly feet of the messenger seem beautiful!

GOD HAS PLANNED FOR US TO  HAVE THE PEACE OF A CLEAN CONSCIENCE

Out conscience can be free of nagging guilt.. We will see that Part of God The Father’s plan in choosing us in Christ – is that we are Redeemed, forgiven and free.  We have been redeemed through His precious blood.

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Eph 1:7 in whom we have our redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace,
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Isaiah 52:3For thus saith Jehovah, Ye were sold for nought; and ye shall be redeemed without money.
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Isaiah 52:9Break forth into joy, sing together, ye waste places of Jerusalem; for Jehovah hath comforted his people, he hath redeemed Jerusalem.
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‘Redeemed’ was the word used for the buying back of a slave – a captive set free for a price.

PEACE IN THE PLAN – IN ANY STORM

We have peace in Any storm. because we know we are in GREAT plan.

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Rom 8:28we know that to them that love God all things work together for good; to them that are called according to his purpose.
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How wonderful to know that We have been chosen, destined and adopted in God’s mIghty plan.  We rejoice in the glorious HOPE for the future!   My christian brother and sister,  your eternal inheritance is guaranteed.

WE ARE ABOVE EVERY CIRCUMSTANCE IN GOD’S PLAN!

Power belongs to God, but he has come to live within you and to give you ‘endless energy, boundless strength!’

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Eph 1:18 to 20having the eyes of your heart enlightened, that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, 19 and what the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to that working of the strength of his might 20 which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and made him to sit at his right hand in the heavenly [places],
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You are seated with Christ in the heavenly realms (v.20).  God has placed you ‘in charge of running the universe, everything from galaxies to governments’ (vv.20–21, MSG).

READ MORE HOW – GOD HAS A PLAN FOR YOUR LIFE

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God’s Great Provision In Christ

We had looked at God’s Plan and his choosing of us before the world’s foundation.  Now we look at God’s Great Provision In Christ he has made to redeem us.

AAA_30We saw that in the Godhead, all things are “of” The Father. Everything is “by” the Son and then the The Holy Spirit implements these things and brings them into reality. Since all things are “OF” the Father, it was He who PLANNED the great scheme of salvation, (Eph 1: 3 to 5) !  Since all things God does are “by” the Son, it was He who came to earth and in awesome love went to the cross and accomplished that salvation. MAKING THE PROVISION for men and women to be saved according to the Father’s will..

The wonderful provision of our eternal salvation was made by Christ in His coming to earth to redeem us and is succinctly stated in Ephesians chapter one, verse seven.

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Eph 1: 7 –   in whom we have our redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, 

The Son of God Jesus, in His wonderful love and grace, at an awesome cost,  redeemed us from our sins through His blood shed on the cross of calvary,  (1 Pet. 1:18-19).

1 Pet. 1:18-19 knowing that ye were redeemed, not with corruptible things, with silver or gold, from your vain manner of life handed down from your fathers;  but with precious blood, as of a lamb without spot, [even the blood] of Christ

The gospel of Matthew as well as the book of Hebrews tells us that the Son’s redemption through his blood is the forgiveness of our offenses. 
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The Lord Jesus told his disciples on the night of his last supper with them, before his death.
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Matt. 26:28 for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many unto remission of sins. 

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Heb. 9:22 – .according to the law, I may almost say, all things are cleansed with blood, and apart from shedding of blood there is no remission
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Redemption and forgiveness are actually two ends of one thing.  Because Jesus  has accomplished redemption for our offenses on the cross ,we receive forgiveness the very moment we believe in Christ.   Although redemption was accomplished on the cross when Christ shed His blood, it was not applied to us at that time. The application did not take place until we believed in Christ and made confession to the righteous God. At that very moment, the Spirit of God applied to us the redemption Christ had accomplished on the cross. Hence, redemption is the accomplishment, and forgiveness is the application.

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God Has A Plan For Your Life

Friend, I want to tell you today that God has a plan for your life.  Provision has been made for your every need and God’s power can be released to bless your life.   Today God willing we will be looking into the Book of Ephesians which captivates us with theses three dynamic realities of God’s plan, God’s provision and God’s power.   

God The Father Made The Great Plan

Firstly ( on this webpage) we will look at some aspects of God our Father’s Plan for your life.  Matthew 28:19 speaks of the Father, the Son, and the Spirit.  in The Trinity it is GOD THE FATHER WHO MADE THE GREAT PLAN OF SALVATION.

The whole of the bible is about the Triune God—the Father, the Son, and the Spirit—working together to rescue and redeem men and women who have fallen and become slaves of sin and satan. The Father, Son and Holy Spirit are perfecting redeemed humanity, and step-by-step these redeemed ones are being made into the glorious likeness of God’s beloved Son, (Rom 8:29). Finally this redeemed company will together become a “bride” full of love for God’s Son, (Rev 21:9).

In the Trinity, the Father, Son and Holy Spirit are One God. They all co-exist together simultaneously in inapproachable EQUAL glory. However, there is a difference between the Father, the Son and The Holy Spirit. This is a difference in arrangement and function.

All things are “of” The Father. Everything is “by” the Son. The Holy Spirit implements these things and brings them into reality. Since all things are “OF” the Father, it was He who PLANNED the great scheme of salvation, (Eph 1: 3 to 5) !

Later, we will see that since all things God does are “by” the Son, it was He who came to earth and in awesome love went to the cross and accomplished that salvation. MAKING THE PROVISION for men and women to be saved, ( Eph 1:7).

Finally we will see that the Holy Spirit implements and bring into reality the salvation that Jesus accomplished in the Father’s plan, (Eph 1: 13, 14).   But  it is GOD THE FATHER WHO MADE THE GREAT PLAN OF SALVATION.

The Book of Ephesians Tells God’s Plan 

God has a wonderful plan for you

God has the most amazing plan for you.

The Book of Ephesians is a wonderful book that tells us that God has a plan and a purpose for each one of our lives. He has made a plan that is awesome and wonderful that causes us more and more to bear the image of our glorious God.
If we could only grasp and find out in our minds the great CHARACTERS that God has called us to have.   If we could only grasp in  our minds the great THINGS that God has called us to do, we would stand in awe and wonder and God’s plan for each one of us.
As well as telling us about God’s purpose the Book of Ephesians tells us how God has provided for that plan and purpose to be implemented and brought into reality. So the Book of Ephesians tells us about God’s plan that is His purpose. God’s PLAN (His purpose),  is the first thing described in the book of Ephesians.

God’s Plan For Your Blessing

Firstly let’s read the first few verses in the first chapter of Ephesians that speak concerning God’s plan.

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Eph 1: 1 to 6 – Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, To the saints who are in Ephesus, and faithful in Christ Jesus: 2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, 4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, 5 having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, 6 to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved.
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God Loved You Before The Earth Was Formed

From this portion of the first chapter of Ephesians we see God’s plan. God made a wonderful plan from before the foundations of the world – before there was time or space and before you and I were created. God thought about you and God thought about me and God loved you and God Loved Me.

We all had a physical birth when we came into being.
I was looking at a programme on the human body and genetics and in this program I discovered that each one of us starts life as ONE single cell.
Every one of us at the point of conception starts out as one single cell
and then by God’s grace and power, that number of cells multiply into millions and millions and millions and we become the individual that God has planned this to be.
But millions of years before that, if you belong to Jesus, your real beginning was in the mind and in the heart of God. Before the world was ever made and before the stars were ever created; before your mother and father thought about having you God loved you and planned a destiny for you.

God know the colour of your eyes and your personality. He even knew how many hairs would be on your head and exactly how many years days months and seconds you would live. You are not something that happened by chance.

If you’re reading this, let me tell you that you are very important in the heart and the mind in the plan of God and he has for you an awesome awesome destiny to fulfill.

Singing an anthem of Joy

Singing An Anthem of Joy To The Lord

We should all wake up every morning full of hope, life and expectancy. We should be full of excitement and expectation that God is going to use us every day that we live to serve him and to make a difference that will last forever in the kingdom of God!  Together we should all be singing an anthem of Joy to the Lord.

Ephesians 1:4 then, tells us that God chose us in him Christ before the foundations of the world that we should be holy and without blame before him in love. God chose us to be holy!

What It Means To Be  Holy

What does that mean ? let’s examine the word ‘Holy‘.

To be holy means to be separated from everything common, debased, messy and defiling and to be instead, SEPARATED UNTO GOD.  God wants that we be separated from everything common and unclean and ordinary and that we be separated unto Him who his holy. 

Holiness Brings Confidence and a Positive Attitude

 If we are separated unto God we will be full of a positive attitude. God has a positive attitude because he is the God of all hope, (Rom 15:13) .

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Rom 15:13 – Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you believe in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
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We as Christians should never allow negative thoughts to play opon our mind because God is Holy. He is a positive God with positive hopes and plans and dreams – so we should be like God. Full of hope!
if we are separated unto God and joined to God we should be full of love
the Bible says God Is Love, (1 John 4:8).

The Very nature of God is to love and if we are separated unto Him we will even love those who despises and mistreat us, because we will be like Jesus who’s on the cross Cried Out “father Forgive them For they don’t know what they are doing”, (Luke 12:34).

Now we read in verse 5 that God has adopted us to be his children to be his sons and Daughters. verse five actually tells us that God has predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ.
The word ‘predestined’ means to be marked out beforehand do a purpose or to be chosen beforehand.

From your point of view you chose Jesus when you made the decision to be a Christian and follow him – but from God’s point of view it was him who chose you even before you were born. He chose you do that you could would be saved and come to his Son for salvation.
The Bible teaches us that he chose you before the stars were in space that you would be a son or daughter of the living God and come to Christ
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Eph 1:5 –– Having predestined us to adoption as Sons by Jesus Christ to himself according to the good pleasure of his will.
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Let’s look at the words – ‘according to the good pleasure of his will’. Let’s put them into a more Modern language. what this verses is telling us is that it THRILLED God’s heart the thought that you would be his son or daughter! God WAS so wonderfully happy before the stars were put in space to think that you would be his son or daughter. he loves you so much; God we’re so happy when he thought of you.

God’s provision

The second thing that the Book of Ephesians tells us about is God’s Provision. This is what God has done to bring  his plan and purpose into existence. He did that by sending His wonderful Son,  Jesus to redeem us.   

To continue reading more about the wonderful  provision that the Lord Jesus Christ has made for us proceed to
GOD’S GREAT PROVISION IN CHRIST.

But finally the third thing that shows is in the Book of Ephesians is his power. This is God’s power In our lives by the Holy Spirit to bring about what he has planned and purpose and provided for.

READ MORE ABOUT  HOW – GOD HAS A WONDERFUL PLAN FOR YOUR LIFE

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Most beautiful Words of Love

Greetings everybody!  Today from Philippians chapter 2 we are looking at four most beautiful words of love.  These come from the first verse of a great chapter.  Philippians 2 is one of the most wonderful chapters  in scripture.   It speaks of glorious truths that need to be approached with reverence.  

Beautiful words of loveThe Four Precious Things

As we approach the great truth in this passage we should take the shoes off our feet spiritually and reverence, for as we read this together we are standing truly on Holy Ground.

We will be looking at 4 beautiful words in these verses that describe the love we share in our christian fellowship.   For the benefit of readers who speak and read Tagalog, the scripture references have also been given in that language.

Here is the verse we will look at …….

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Phil 2:1Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of  love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy,
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Phil 2:1Kaya nga kung mayroong anomang kasiglahan kay Cristo, kung
mayroong anomang kaaliwan ng pagibig, kung mayroong anomang pakikisama ng
Espiritu, kung mayroong anomang mahinahong awa at habag,
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The four words we will look at are ……

  • CONSOLATION – (kasiyahan)
  • COMFORT OF LOVE – (kaaliwan ng pagibig)
  • FELLOWSHIP OF THE SPIRIT – (pakikisama ng Espiritu)
  • AFFECTION OF MERCY –

This passage starts off by saying “kaya”. In Tagalog…. kaya

In the English translation of the bible this is translate “IF”. The word in the original Greek language of the Bible is better translated ‘since’.

… SINCE ( so, therefore ” kaya”)

It’s really saying that ‘Since’ we have such wonderful consolation in Christ; in Christ, in the church, by his Spirit the Lord has given us many great blessings and in Jesus Christ we are so richly blessed!

Word 1 – CONSOLATION- kasiyahan

That word ‘consolation’ (kasiyahan) in the original language of the Bible is the word “parakaleo” and it means ‘encouragement‘.

It is the same word used when Jesus said to his disciples in in the Gospels of
John – will send you another comforter that he will be with you forever even
the Spirit of Truth.
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John 14:16 And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Advocate to be with you forever —
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John 14:16At ako’y dadalangin sa Ama, at kayo’y bibigyan niya ng ibang Mangaaliw, upang siyang suma inyo magpakailan man,
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So that word ‘consolation’ means to cheer on, to encourage, to comfort and  strengthen. And all these wonderful blessings are ours as we share in the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. So this word ‘consolation’ means to “Cheer us on.” It means to “Wave the flags”. To “Encourage us”.

God shouts to us with Joy ….” You can make it!”

Word 2 – COMFORT OF LOVE

Next we come to the second word …. ‘COMFORT OF LOVE’ – (kaaliwan ng pagibig)

In the original Greek language of the Bible, the New Testament ues the word “Paramuthion.” This means a comfort that comes very close to one. So the word means God comes very Close to us ……. tenderly ….. like a kiss to bring us sweet intimate comfort.

In the Fellowship of the Church of God ( among God’s children), the Holy Spirit not only cheers us on with a shout. The Holy Spirit also comes along very gently at times when we need and whispers gentle words of comfort and love….., VERY CLOSELY into our hearts.

And the Most beautiful and wonderful thing of all is that….

We also encourage each other.  We all need each other and God expects us to encourage each other in the faith.  God expects each one of Us to sometimes speak gentle words of Love and comfort to a brother or sister.

Sometimes we need to speak gentle words of Love and say to each other, “cheer up my brother I know what you are going through”..
Or to say, ” cheer up my sister, I know what you are going through”..

God knows what you are going through and he will bring you through into Victory!

Word 3 – FELLOWSHIP OF THE SPIRIT

Thirdly we come to the phrase…..”FELLOWSHIP OF THE SPIRIT – (pakikisama ng Espiritu”.)

The Greek word for ” fellowship” here means “a sharing in something together.”   When people go to the pub to drink AND want a drink they go to share .  The thing they go to share in is not really Fellowship! it may be good and they MAY make friends but it’s not even friendship that they are sharing in!  The thing that they are sharing is …..alcohol! …Booze.

the Bible nowhere tells us that we should never drink. The Bible does not teach but we must be teetotal. The original Jewish people have many festivals where the cheerful. moderate use of wine was used a lot.  But drunkenness is a sin. drunkenness is a sin and God hates drunkenness because it is a ” work of the flesh, (Gal 5:21).  But what I’m saying is, that they go to share in alcohol, but Praise God we share in God’s Holy Spirit.

THE LORD HAS GIVEN US A BEAUTIFUL COMMAND.
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Eph 5:18,  19 Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to reckless indiscretion. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. 19 Speak to one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your hearts to the Lord,…
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Eph 5:18. 19At huwag kayong magsipaglasing ng alak na kinaroroonan ng kaguluhan, kundi kayo’y mangapuspos ng Espiritu; 19 Na kayo’y mangagusapan ng mga salmo at mga himno at mga awit na ukol sa espiritu, na nangagaawitan at nangagpupuri sa inyong mga puso sa Panginoon;
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We are all bathing and all sharing in a beautiful HOLY SPIRIT “bathtub” together. We are all being cleansed and and renewed by the spirit of God. We all share in together in such beautiful things. We are all DRINKING IN together in such beautiful truth. But the MOST WONDERFUL THING OF ALL is that we are sharing together in In the beautiful son of God, the Lord Jesus Christ that we love so much.

Word 4 – AFFECTION OF MERCY

Last of all we read ” affections of mercy”

Different Bible translations may have different words for the word affection.
But again, it’s best to go back to the original Greek language of the Bible to get the accurate meaning. The word is the word ‘ splanchnon’

SPLANCHNON

I guess that might sound a very strange word but it means… “Bowels”

This word was used because the ancient Greeks believed that the bowels where the centre of emotions. Even today, im modern times we often hear somebody say –
…….. “I really feel it in my guts”.

Sometimes when we feel emotions it really feels like its coming from deep down within us! ….OUR guts!

I want to say something here …]

Feelings and emotions are very important in the spiritual life. God expects us to feel emotions, but sadly different sectors of the church have tried to “cut off” the importance of emotions in a Christians life.

We often here the saying, “We walk by Faith not by feelings”.   This is very true – up to a certain point only.  Its truth lies in the fact that because our emotions are changeable  we need to stand up on God’s truth irrespective of how we feel.  However,  our emotions are vitally necessary if we are to love the Lord.  SOMETIMES ….like David the psalmist we need to say to our selves, ” bless the Lord oh my soul and all that is within me bless his holy name”,
(Psalm 103:1) .

We need to actually consciously stir up our emotions with the truth of God’s word!  Emotions are very important in the Christian Life. We need to love God and each other with tender emotions. The truth that we receive from God’s word by Faith; this truth should hit our emotions.  And when our emotions are stirred, (and I’m talking about godly emotions) being stirred – these godly emotions will propel us, DRIVE US, CAUSE US to serve God faithfully.
The Devil knows the importance of emotions!  He tries to trap people through
their emotions.

Satan doesn’t tempt us and tell us he wants us to DO EVIL. He attacks our emotional life.   He says, ” I’m offering you this …. it will stir your emotions and make you FEEL.”  Satan tempts us and tries to make us feel that sin ( rebellion) is …. EXCITING.
That sin is fascinating that sin is a alluring!
Satan tries to tell us that serving God is boring!
But I can tell you ……. SERVING GOD IS NOT BORING!!

Satan tries to tell us that the only emotions we’re going to feel – the best emotions we will feel are in sin! But that is a total lie. A TOTAL LIE……
REAL BEAUTIFUL EMOTIONS COME FROM THE HOLY SPIRIT.  Let m say that again….
REAL BEAUTIFUL EMOTIONS COME FROM THE HOLY SPIRIT.
The truly Christian life is full of beautiful sweet godly emotions and Passions.

People love to “FEEL”.   So that they can ” feel emotions”, many people spend hours crying in front of the TV set Over some Crazy FICTIONAL Love Story.   wasted hours….wasted hours.
Many people spend hours crying in front of the TV set Over some Crazy Love Story
or sob story …Wasting emotions on fiction. I don’t waste my time and emotions om FICTION.
I am stirred up by the reality and beauty of Jesus christ and God’s word of truth.

I’m not saying we should never watch a TV program or a play. But let’s not waste our emotions on things that will not last forever.  Let’s offer and pour our emotions into loving a wonderful, glorious, majestic,  gracious God and into the magnificent things he has accomplished for us.  It’s far better to experience all the beauty of the emotions Our Lord is able and wants to put into US.

Let’s continue with the verses up to verse 4
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Phil 2: 2 to 4 Fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same
love, being of one accord, of one mind. 3 Let nothing be done through selfish
ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than
himself. 4 Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for
the interests of others.
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Phil 2: 2 to 4 – Ay lubusin ninyo ang aking katuwaan, upang kayo’y mangagkaisa ng pagiisip, mangagtaglay ng isa ring pagibig, na mangagkaisa ng akala,
at isa lamang pagiisip; 3 Na huwag ninyong gawin ang anoman sa pamamagitan ng pagkakampikampi o sa pamamagitan ng pagpapalalo, kundi sa kababaan ng pagiisip, na ipalagay ng bawa’t isa ang iba na lalong mabuti kay sa kaniyang sarili;
4 Huwag tingnan ng bawa’t isa sa inyo ang sa kaniyang sarili, kundi ang bawa’t isa naman ay sa iba’t iba.
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The Word says, “Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit!”
It’s very possible to do good things for the wrong motive.  It’s easy to be conceited or have selfish ambition and to make a display!   It’s easy to be conceited or have selfish ambition!  

If Our Emotions and Motives are Wrong

If our motives are wrong … and if we truly belong to Jesus…… God will CORRECT us gently
if our motives are wrong …… God will show us gently and we will be changed as
we admit our pride and sin. But it so easy to do things to show off.

We need to be humble! But let me tell you something amazing. Jesus IS humble. Jesus our Mighty Lord and Saviour is humble.

Jesus Our Lord Is Humble

He said in Matthew chapter 11…..
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Matthew 11:29Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
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Matthew 11:29Pasanin ninyo ang aking pamatok, at magaral kayo sa akin; sapagka’t ako’y maamo at mapagpakumbabang puso: at masusumpungan ninyo ang kapahingahan ng inyong mga kaluluwa.
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IF we are his…. If we belong to him…..we will have his spirit of humility.   JESUS ….he always stooped to serve!
In John’s gospel, chapter 13 we see that Our Lord took the towel and washed his disciples feet.
So we only need to ALLOW his attitude….. his spirit of humility to fill us….
Praise God we can have a humility that is far greater than our own ( natural)
humility.

We can have THE VERY HUMILITY OF JESUS HIMSELF
Jesus is HUMBLE – and humility is the ” very perfume of heaven”, so verse 5 carries on…… saying …
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Philippinas 2:5 – 8Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, 6
who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God,
7 but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and
coming in the likeness of men.
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La Fede La Speranza e L’amore

La Prima lettera ai Tessalonicesi capitolo 5 ci dà  esortazioni su come vivere come credenti come noi custodire La Fede La Speranza e L’amore nella nostra vita.

A Guardia Nostra Fede, Speranza e Amore Mentre Aspettiamo Gesù Ritorno

La Fede La Speranza e L'amoreIn questo capitolo ci dice come la protezione di questi tre preziose virtù eterne mentre aspettiamo la venuta del Signore. Queste tre preziose qualità eterne sono la nostra fede, la nostra speranza e il nostro amore, (1 Tess 1:3,  1 Cor 13:13). Questi Tessalonica cristiani erano pieni di queste belle qualità durevoli, fede, speranza e amore,

Quindi aprire le bibbie. Apriamo le nostre Bibbie al primo libro di Tessalonicesi 5: 1. La prima sezione leggeremo sarà dal versetto uno al versetto otto.

1 Tessalonicesi 5: 1 a 8 –  Riguardo poi ai tempi e ai momenti, fratelli, non avete bisogno che ve ne scriva; infatti voi ben sapete che come un ladro di notte, così verrà il giorno del Signore. E quando si dirà: «Pace e sicurezza», allora d’improvviso li colpirà la rovina, come le doglie una donna incinta; e nessuno scamperà. Ma voi, fratelli, non siete nelle tenebre, così che quel giorno possa sorprendervi come un ladro: voi tutti infatti siete figli della luce e figli del giorno; noi non siamo della notte, né delle tenebre. Non dormiamo dunque come gli altri, ma restiamo svegli e siamo sobri. Quelli che dormono, infatti, dormono di notte; e quelli che si ubriacano, sono ubriachi di notte. Noi invece, che siamo del giorno, dobbiamo essere sobri, rivestiti con la corazza della fede e della carità e avendo come elmo la speranza della salvezza.

Introduzione – Una Chiesa Vivace piantato Rapidamente

Nel momento in cui l’apostolo Paolo scrisse a loro, i credenti di Tessalonica erano i membri di una chiesa molto di recentemente impiantato. Questa chiesa era stato solo in esistenza circa un anno. Anche se Paolo era stato con loro predicando per un tempo molto breve, già la chiesa era piena di fede, speranza e amore. Questi sono tre virtù preziose che tutti noi dovremmo nutrire e proteggere. Leggiamo quanto segue nel libro degli Atti capitolo 17:

Atti 17: 1  a 3:  Seguendo la via di Anfipoli e Apollonia, giunsero a Tessalonica, dove c’era una sinagoga dei Giudei. 2 Come era sua consuetudine Paolo vi andò e per tre sabati discusse con loro sulla base delle Scritture, 3 spiegandole e dimostrando che il Cristo doveva morire e risuscitare dai morti; il Cristo, diceva, è quel Gesù che io vi annunzio.

Vediamo da questa narrazione in Atti che Paolo rimase solo con loro per un brevissimo lasso di tempo di tre settimane. Paolo ero stato tra di loro solo tre settimane istruendo i credenti nella fede del Signore Gesù Cristo. Questo ci mostra che quando Dio si sta muovendo con forza che può fare un lavoro rapido! Quando Dio è lavorando potentemente, perché noi stiamo lavorando con il suo movimento, si può fare un lavoro spirituale profonda in un brevissimo lasso di tempo. proprio per questo breve lasso di 21 giorni Paul ha spiegato e dimostrato dalle scritture ebraiche che il Cristo doveva soffrire e risorgere dai morti. Egli proclamò loro apertamente: “Questo Gesù che sto predicando a voi è il Cristo.”

Atti capitolo 17 versi quattro ci dice che alcuni di loro credevano che il meraviglioso vangelo di Gesù.

Atto 17:4Alcuni di loro furono convinti e aderirono a Paolo e a Sila, come anche un buon numero di Greci credenti in Dio e non poche donne della nobiltà.

versetto 4 ci dice. che dopo questa, Paolo ha dovuto lasciare e abbandonare la città a causa delle persecuzioni .. Scrivendo questa epistola ai Tessalonicesi solo pochi mesi dopo questo, egli ricordò loro le sofferenze per Cristo che aveva sperimentato a Philipi prima del suo arrivo in mezzo a loro. Inoltre ha ricordato che nel bel mezzo di continuare persecuzioni, il Signore gli aveva dato il coraggio di predicare il Vangelo a loro.

1 Tessalonicesi 2:2Ma dopo avere prima sofferto e subìto oltraggi a Filippi, come ben sapete, abbiamo avuto il coraggio nel nostro Dio di annunziarvi il vangelo di Dio in mezzo a molte lotte.

Attraverso tutte le dure prove l’apostolo ha dovuto sopportare, Paolo è stato in grado di stabilire una chiesa che era piena di fede. pieno di amore e piena di speranza. Non solo quello! I nuovi credenti non siamo solo ricco di fede, speranza e amore; erano anche un popolo che in cui con entusiasmo in attesa del ben presto Venuta del Signore Gesù Cristo.  Paolo, nel primo capitolo aveva scritto a loro ……

1 Tessalonicesi 1: 8 a 10:   Infatti la parola del Signore riecheggia per mezzo vostro non soltanto in Macedonia e nell’Acaia, ma la fama della vostra fede in Dio si è diffusa dappertutto, di modo che non abbiamo più bisogno di parlarne.  9 Sono loro infatti a parlare di noi, dicendo come noi siamo venuti in mezzo a voi e come vi siete convertiti a Dio, allontanandovi dagli idoli, per servire al Dio vivo e vero.  10 e attendere dai cieli il suo Figlio, che egli ha risuscitato dai morti, Gesù, che ci libera dall’ira ventura.

Il rapporto si era già diffusa lungo e in largo su come sono stati con grande gioia in attesa della venuta del Signore Gesù Cristo. Loro avevano allontanato da loro idoli per aspettare pazientemente Figlio di Dio dal cielo. Questi credenti di Tessalonica avevano la verità che Gesù sarebbe venuto molto molto presto piantati nel profondo del loro spiriti. Per noi che vivono in tempi attuali, l’unica realtà che dovremmo avere brucia nel nostro spirito è l’aspettativa che Gesù potrebbe tornare molto molto presto. Questo atteggiamento (dei Tessalonicesi) dovrebbe essere la nostra come viviamo nel mondo di oggi, perché i segni che Gesù tornerà molti presto suonano come una tromba da ogni evento mondiale.

Mentre leggiamo il libro di Tessalonicesi ne vedremo delle esortazione pratico. Abbiamo questa meravigliosa speranza e la certezza che il Signore Gesù tornerà sulla terra e che saremo riuniti per incontrarlo. Ma, come speriamo e mentre siamo in attesa che dobbiamo guardare e rimanere sobrio.

Dobbiamo incoraggiare l’un l’altro nella nostra fede e, soprattutto, dobbiamo incoraggiare i nuovi credenti e dire loro che mentre aspettano per il Signore dal cielo loro hanno bisogno di essere vigile e hanno bisogno di essere sobrio. Dobbiamo essere vigili e abbiamo bisogno di essere sobrio. Noi non dovrebbe dormire. Non dobbiamo diventare disattento. Non dobbiamo diventare stanco,

La Tempi e Le Stagioni

Nel primo verso del 1 Tessalonicesi capitolo 5 Paolo ha parlato di “tempi e momenti”.  ‘” Un tempo'” è come un (relativamente lungo) periodo di tempo ‘indeterminato’. ” I momenti” sono stagioni che sono più piccole “epoche” all’interno del lasso di tempo. All’interno di ogni epoca, Dio sta facendo qualcosa di molto specifico.  –

Per esempio se consideriamo un anno per essere un ‘tempo’ – Questo lasso di tempo (l’anno) è diviso in quattro epoche che conosciamo come le stagioni; queste stagioni sono la primavera, l’estate, l’autunno e l’inverno .  Ognuno di questi quattro stagioni è importante per la crescita di una certa coltura. Ogni stagione compie qualcosa di importante (ma diversa e specifica) nella crescita delle colture. –

A volte Dio deve utilizzare molte stagioni differenti per realizzare i suoi scopi eterni. Tutte queste stagioni sono importanti e Dio sta facendo qualcosa di specifico, essenzialmente diverso, ma di vitale importanza in ogni stagione che compongono l’arco di tempo dei suoi scopi. Nella nostra vita personale, Dio utilizzerà il sole dell’estate per scaldare i nostri cuori e ispirare, rinfrescare e ci delizia. Sarà anche necessario utilizzare volte il ‘invernali’ di avversità e di test per sviluppare la nostra pazienza e la resistenza.=

Song of Solomon 4:18 – Awake, north wind,and come, south wind! Blow on my garden that its fragrance may spread everywhere

Abbiamo bisogno sia dei venti Nord e del Sud (venti sia di benedizione e le avversità).

Gli Ultimi Giorni – La Fine dei Tempi in cui Viviamo Oggi

Nostro Signore Gesù Cristo ha predetta l’epoca in cui viviamo oggi

Matteo 24: 6 a 8Allora sentirete parlare di guerre e di rumori di guerre; guardate di non turbarvi, perché bisogna che tutte queste cose avvengano ma non sarà ancora la fine. 7 Infatti si solleverà popolo contro popolo e regno contro regno; vi saranno carestie, pestilenze e terremoti in vari luoghi 8 Ma tutte queste cose saranno soltanto l’inizio delle doglie di parto.

Tutti i segni che vediamo all’orizzonte al momento attuale sono cose che Gesù ci ha predetto. Le guerre, carestie, malattie e terremoti. Gesù ci ha detto che quando queste cose cominceranno ad accadere è il segno dell’inizio delle doglie di parto.

Ed in Luca, Gesù ci ha detto che quando vediamo tutte queste cose cominciano ad accadere allora dovremmo guardare in alto e sollevare la nostre teste al cielo, perché la nostra redenzione è vicina. Il tempo è
vicino.

Luca 21:28Ora, quando queste cose cominceranno ad accadere, guardate in alto e alzate le vostre teste, perche la vostra redenzione è vicina.

E mentre ci guardiamo intorno agli eventi in corso in tutto il mondo vediamo che Planet Earth è nel caos totale e assoluta. In questo ambiente molto ostile abbiamo bisogno di alzare gli occhi e guardare per l’imminente ritorno di Gesù! Che Dio ci darà; Dio mi darà spirito di rapimento. Posso avere uno spirito che dice .. Sì, vieni, Signore Gesú, ( Apocalisse 22:20 ).

Il Ritorno di Israele al Suo Paese Negli Ultimi Giorni

Abbiamo attraversato  stagioni drammatiche piene di cambiamento nella storia del mondo. Una di queste stagioni coinvolti l’anno 1948.  1948 ha iniziato una nuova stagione per la nazione di Israele.  1948 è stato l’inizio della stagione, quando la nazione di Israele è tornato alla sua terra storica e geografica.     Per 2000 anni circa, dal AD70. il popolo d’Israele avevano posseduto senza terra e sono stati dispersi, braccato e perseguitato – braccato nei quattro angoli della terra.   Il olocausto nella Germania nazista è stato un recente visualizzazione grafica delle sofferenze che loro subite nel corso dei secoli.  Tuttavia, le scritture avevano predetto chiaramente che in un momento specifico della storia umana, la nazione ebraica sarebbe tornato di nuovo alla loro terra storica. Prima della dispersione finale degli ebrei, nei giorni che il Figlio di Dio, Gesù di Nazareth camminava sulla terra, Gesù aveva profetizzato la loro diffusione;  anche Gesù aveva  predetto la loro regathering negli ultimi giorni: 

Luca 21:24 Ed essi cadranno sotto il taglio della spada, e saranno condotti prigionieri fra tutte le nazioni; e Gerusalemme sarà calpestata dai gentili, finché i tempi dei gentili siano compiuti.

Questo evento è stato dichiarato bruscamente e improvvisamente.  Il 14 maggio 1948, il Consiglio ebraico popolare riuniti al Museo di Tel Aviv e ha approvato un proclama, dichiarando la creazione dello Stato di Israele. Il nuovo stato è stato riconosciuto la notte stessa da parte degli Stati Uniti e tre giorni dopo è stato approvato da parte dell’Unione Sovietica.   Anche i cristiani credenti, tra cui ben noti insegnanti della Bibbia ritenuti questa profezia da Gesù difficile da credere. Essi ritengono che questa piccola nazione d’Israele, dopo essere stato spostato ed espropriati per 2000 anni, avrebbe bisogno di un miracolo per questo si verifichi. Essi ovviamente erano corrette.   Ma Dio ha fatto compiere questo miracolo ed questa profezia parlata da Gesù!

La possibilità di annientamento globale

La stagione in cui stiamo vivendo, è quella in cui per la prima volta nella storia umana il mondo intero potrebbe essere annientata da scambi nucleari. Non c’è mai stato un momento così minacciosa come questo! Ma questa è la stagione in cui tale minaccia è davvero possibile, anche presto inevitabile.  

Il Nuovo Ordine Mondiale

Un altro segno che preannuncia la stagione che oggi viviamo è l’ascesa del “The New World Order”. Lo spirito del mondo ha influenzato la politica in un modo molto potente. Alto rango leader mondiali influenti cercare di negare la verità biblica che Gesù Cristo è venuto in questo mondo come un bambino. Questi politici e leader mondiali cercano di negare la verità che Dio è venuto in mezzo a noi vestito di carne umana. (1 Giovanni 4: 2, 3). Essi cercano di creare il mondo in cui ognuno crede che ci sono molte strade a Dio. Ma il nostro Salvatore ha affermato chiaramente (Giovanni 14: 6). ‘Io sono la Via, la Verità e la Vita – nessuno viene al Padre se non per me’.
Gesù è l’sola via verso Dio. Il Nuovo Ordine Mondiale cerca anche di abolire tutti i confini nazionali e demarcazioni della terra. Questo si fonde con l’ideologia del ‘multiculturalismo’, che ha (invece di aiutare la coesione sociale) ha portato a ghetti e violenza razziale nei molti luoghi in cui è stata praticata. La Bibbia è chiaro che Dio in realtà ordinato che ogni singola nazione ha i suoi confini geografici separati.

Atti 17:26 or egli ha tratto da uno solo tutte le stirpi degli uomini, perché abitassero sopra tutta la faccia della terra, avendo determinato le epoche prestabilite e i confini della loro abitazione,

I capi e politici di tutto il mondo nel Nuovo Ordine Mondiale stanno cercando di spingere Gesù “fuori dal quadro” e agiscono dallo spirito dell’Anticristo. Un tale uomo politico che ha operato in uno spirito Anticristo secondo il “Nuovo Ordine Mondiale) è stato ex-presidente Obama.  Obama durante il periodo della sua presidenza degli Stati Uniti ha dimostrato un’ossessione con l’Islam. Senza dubbio ci sono molta brava gente islamici; tuttavia la radice della religione stessa, ha uno spirito anticristo. Questa religione ha una dottrina di base che nega che Dio ha un Figlio.  L’Islam cerca anche di annientare la nazione di Israele dall’esistenza. La nazione di Israele sono popolo di Dio. Durante il periodo della sua presidenza Obama ha fatto numerose citazioni dal Corano islamica e ha cercato di elevare questa religione. In molte regioni del mondo in cui l’Islam è prevalente c’è un tentativo satanico per abbattere il cristianesimo e invece sollevare un predominio islamico opprimente.

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