Friday, February 17, 2017
PJP2 SEVEN - 170217 - GOSPEL
SEVEN: Share/Seek; Encourage; Verily Verify the Victory; Evaluate NOW (Note On WORD)
{NOTE: All Passages Of the WORD, Select (POWS) are from the ESV; Also might readily see Emphasis And Paraphrase added/jaj....Appreciate your patience/understanding....}
GOSPEL: God's Own SON Provides (us with) Everlasting LIFE
Team PJPJ - Today His Holy Spirit has Guided me to Simply Share our Lord Jesus's Story as Inspired By His Holy Spirit and Relayed by the Apostle Peter via Peter's First Major "Sermon" during the First Pentecost post our Lord Jesus' Resurrection (and Ascension).....
Acts 2:22-41 (ESV)....“Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know— this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it. For David says concerning him, “‘I saw the Lord always before me, for he is at my right hand that I may not be shaken; therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced; my flesh also will dwell in hope. For you will not abandon my soul to Hades, or let your Holy One see corruption. You have made known to me the paths of life; you will make me full of gladness with your presence.’ “Brothers, I may say to you with confidence about the patriarch David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. Being therefore a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that he would set one of his descendants on his throne, he foresaw and spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to Hades, nor did his flesh see corruption. This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses. Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this that you yourselves are seeing and hearing. For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he himself says, “‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool.”’ Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.” Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.” And with many other words he bore witness and continued to exhort them, saying, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation.” So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls."....
Thus, Team, May I Offer Up this Brief Paraphrase of Prayer and Praise.....Psalm 80:1-3 (ESV)....O Lord Jesus, Holy Spirit, Father God, we Praise and Worship Your Holy Name. Lord Jesus, Thank You as You Give Ear, O Shepherd of Israel, You Who Lead Joseph and us Like A Flock of lost sheep. O Holy Spirit, to You Who Is Enthroned Upon The Cherubim, May Your Light of LIFE Shine Forth in, around and through us. O Father God, Thank You, for As You Have Before, during the days of Ephraim and Benjamin and Manasseh, Once More, Stir Up Your Righteous Might And Remind us That You Have Indeed, Through Your Son, our Lord Jesus, Come To SAVE us from ourselves! Lord Jesus, Restore us in a Right Relationship with Your Father. O Holy Spirit, Indeed May Your Face Shine upon us. Father God, Open our Inner Hearts and Minds to Repent and Receive Your Salvation. Lord Jesus, In You and You Alone, we Are SAVED. We Raise our Praise and Prayers, Lord Jesus, in Your Holy Name...Amen and Amen....jaj
REMEMBER: Ephesians 3:20-21 (ESV)...."Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen."
Thursday, February 16, 2017
PJP2 SEVEN - 170216 - JOT
SEVEN: Share/Seek; Encourage; Verily Verify the Victory; Evaluate NOW (Note On WORD)
{NOTE: All Passages Of the WORD, Select (POWS) are from the ESV; Also might readily see Emphasis And Paraphrase added/jaj....Appreciate your patience/understanding....}
JOT: Just ONE Thing.....
Luke 10:38-42 (ESV)...."Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at The Lord's Feet And Listened To His Teaching. BUT Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to Him and said, 'Lord, Do You Not Care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.' BUT The Lord Answered her, 'Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, BUT ONE THING Is Necessary. Mary Has Chosen The GOOD PORTION, Which Will NOT Be taken away from her.'”....
Just ONE Thing.....
General J and I are in the process of down-sizing, meaning we've been beginning to purge through our 30-year collection of 'stuff' that we've accumulated over the course of our experience via my Tours-of-Duty (TOD) with our U.S. Armed Forces.....yikes.....
The Holy Spirit pinged me this morning with this Question: "Jeff, IF you had to boil your 30-years down to JUST ONE THING to Reflect your TOD, what would that ONE THING be?"
So, I've been setting here Pondering just that - looking over The Collection, there really IS a lot.....Trust me, Team PJP2, I am NOT going to bore you with the list.....just suffice to say, in 30-years, there's a significant pile of STUFF setting here.
At last, I finally stopped and asked our Lord Jesus for His Guidance, His Answer with Regards to this Question.....What ONE THING......The Holy Spirit Brought me to Read His Inspired WORD as Recorded by Paul....
Philippians 3:7-16 (ESV)...."BUT Whatever gain I had, I Counted As LOSS For The Sake Of Christ. INDEED, I Count EveryThing As LOSS Because Of The Surpassing WORTH Of Knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For HIS Sake I have suffered The LOSS Of All Things And Count them as rubbish, In Order That I May GAIN Christ And Be Found In HIM, NOT Having A Righteousness of my own that comes from The Law, BUT THAT Which Comes THROUGH FAITH In Christ, The Righteousness From God That Depends On FAITH— That I May KNOW HIM And The POWER Of HIS Resurrection, And May Share HIS Sufferings, Becoming Like HIM In His Death, That By Any Means Possible I May Attain The Resurrection from the dead. NOT That I Have Already Obtained This OR am Already Perfect, BUT I PRESS ON To Make IT my own, BECAUSE Christ Jesus Has Made me HIS OWN. Brothers (& Sisters), I Do NOT Consider That I Have Made IT my own. BUT ONE THING I Do: Forgetting what lies behind AND STRAINING FORWARD To WHAT Lies Ahead, I PRESS ON Toward The GOAL For The PRIZE Of The UPWARD CALL Of God IN Christ Jesus. Let those of us who are Mature THINK This WAY, And if in anything you THINK otherwise, God Will REVEAL That Also to you. Only Let us HOLD TRUE To WHAT we Have Attained."....
BaBaaam!
What a POWERFUL Passage Of the WORD Select (POWS). What A Blessing Of Encouragement for us. I have made a 'sticky-note' of these POWS and taped it up so as I continue down this Path of Purging....I am Seeing Clearly God's Guidance on....
JUST ONE THING.....
Team PJP2, here's my Prayer for us as we continue to Consider His JUST ONE THING for our Lives....(Psalm 63:1, 3-4, 8 {ESV})....O Lord Jesus, Holy Spirit, Father God, we Praise and Worship You. You Are our Lord and our God. Lord Jesus, Strengthen us and Open our Inner-Eyes as we Earnestly Seek You. Holy Spirit, our Souls Thirst For You. Father God, our Flesh faints For You, as If we would be sojourning in a dry and weary land where there is no water. Lord Jesus, You Are our ONE THING! O Father God, Because Your Steadfast LOVE IS Better Than LIFE, our lips Will Praise You. O Holy Spirit, we Will BLES You as Long as we Live. Lord
Jesus, In Your NAME, we Lift Up our hands in Worship and Praise. Father God, our Souls CLING to You. Holy Spirit, Remind us Ever That Your Mighty Right Hand Upholds us. Lord Jesus, Forever and Ever we Worship You, and Lift Up our Prayers and Praise In Your Holy Name.....Amen and Amen....jaj
REMEMBER: Hebrews 12:1-2 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
SEVEN: Share/Seek; Encourage; Verily Verify the Victory; Evaluate NOW (Note On WORD)
{NOTE: All Passages Of the WORD, Select (POWS) are from the ESV; Also might readily see Emphasis And Paraphrase added/jaj....Appreciate your patience/understanding....}
JOT: Just ONE Thing.....
Luke 10:38-42 (ESV)...."Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at The Lord's Feet And Listened To His Teaching. BUT Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to Him and said, 'Lord, Do You Not Care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.' BUT The Lord Answered her, 'Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, BUT ONE THING Is Necessary. Mary Has Chosen The GOOD PORTION, Which Will NOT Be taken away from her.'”....
Just ONE Thing.....
General J and I are in the process of down-sizing, meaning we've been beginning to purge through our 30-year collection of 'stuff' that we've accumulated over the course of our experience via my Tours-of-Duty (TOD) with our U.S. Armed Forces.....yikes.....
The Holy Spirit pinged me this morning with this Question: "Jeff, IF you had to boil your 30-years down to JUST ONE THING to Reflect your TOD, what would that ONE THING be?"
So, I've been setting here Pondering just that - looking over The Collection, there really IS a lot.....Trust me, Team PJP2, I am NOT going to bore you with the list.....just suffice to say, in 30-years, there's a significant pile of STUFF setting here.
At last, I finally stopped and asked our Lord Jesus for His Guidance, His Answer with Regards to this Question.....What ONE THING......The Holy Spirit Brought me to Read His Inspired WORD as Recorded by Paul....
Philippians 3:7-16 (ESV)...."BUT Whatever gain I had, I Counted As LOSS For The Sake Of Christ. INDEED, I Count EveryThing As LOSS Because Of The Surpassing WORTH Of Knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For HIS Sake I have suffered The LOSS Of All Things And Count them as rubbish, In Order That I May GAIN Christ And Be Found In HIM, NOT Having A Righteousness of my own that comes from The Law, BUT THAT Which Comes THROUGH FAITH In Christ, The Righteousness From God That Depends On FAITH— That I May KNOW HIM And The POWER Of HIS Resurrection, And May Share HIS Sufferings, Becoming Like HIM In His Death, That By Any Means Possible I May Attain The Resurrection from the dead. NOT That I Have Already Obtained This OR am Already Perfect, BUT I PRESS ON To Make IT my own, BECAUSE Christ Jesus Has Made me HIS OWN. Brothers (& Sisters), I Do NOT Consider That I Have Made IT my own. BUT ONE THING I Do: Forgetting what lies behind AND STRAINING FORWARD To WHAT Lies Ahead, I PRESS ON Toward The GOAL For The PRIZE Of The UPWARD CALL Of God IN Christ Jesus. Let those of us who are Mature THINK This WAY, And if in anything you THINK otherwise, God Will REVEAL That Also to you. Only Let us HOLD TRUE To WHAT we Have Attained."....
BaBaaam!
What a POWERFUL Passage Of the WORD Select (POWS). What A Blessing Of Encouragement for us. I have made a 'sticky-note' of these POWS and taped it up so as I continue down this Path of Purging....I am Seeing Clearly God's Guidance on....
JUST ONE THING.....
Team PJP2, here's my Prayer for us as we continue to Consider His JUST ONE THING for our Lives....(Psalm 63:1, 3-4, 8 {ESV})....O Lord Jesus, Holy Spirit, Father God, we Praise and Worship You. You Are our Lord and our God. Lord Jesus, Strengthen us and Open our Inner-Eyes as we Earnestly Seek You. Holy Spirit, our Souls Thirst For You. Father God, our Flesh faints For You, as If we would be sojourning in a dry and weary land where there is no water. Lord Jesus, You Are our ONE THING! O Father God, Because Your Steadfast LOVE IS Better Than LIFE, our lips Will Praise You. O Holy Spirit, we Will BLES You as Long as we Live. Lord
Jesus, In Your NAME, we Lift Up our hands in Worship and Praise. Father God, our Souls CLING to You. Holy Spirit, Remind us Ever That Your Mighty Right Hand Upholds us. Lord Jesus, Forever and Ever we Worship You, and Lift Up our Prayers and Praise In Your Holy Name.....Amen and Amen....jaj
REMEMBER: Hebrews 12:1-2 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
Wednesday, February 15, 2017
PJP2 SEVEN - 170216 - MILK/MEAT
SEVEN: Share/Seek; Encourage; Verily Verify the Victory; Evaluate NOW (Note On WORD)
{NOTE: All Passages Of the WORD, Select (POWS) are from the ESV; Also might readily see Emphasis And Paraphrase added/jaj....Appreciate your patience/understanding....}
MILK/MEAT: Messiah Is LORD & KING / Messiah (is God's) Eternal, Abiding TRUTH
Psalm 107:9 (ESV)...."For HE Satisfies The LONGING Soul, And The HUNGRY Soul HE Fills With GOOD Things."....
Today's Devotion from Jonathan Cahn's Devotional, "The Book of Mysteries", was entitled, "Heaven's Milk". It is an excellent reading, and Jonathan focused on our internal LONGINGs that begins from the moment of our first breath upon birth, that is our LONGING for MILK. As we grow older, that initial LONGING becomes less of a focus.....BUT we Discover Even a Deeper LONGING....A LONGING for The Eternal, The Perfect.....
SO.....The Holy Spirit Got me to Thinking on MILK and MEAT.....MILK being that First Natal LONGING for nourishment/sustainment/even nurturing us to new growth. Then MEAT, as we age, still for the same basic NEED....nourishment/sustainment/nurturing new growth....
BUT....if we 'morph' this external NEED to our Internal/Spiritual NEED, that NEED for The PERFECT LOVE, HAPPINESS, CONTENTMENT, PEACE.....again The ETERNAL.....We see that This Inner NEED is Indeed A GIFT From God.....
Ecclesiastes 3:11 (ESV)...."HE Has Made Everything Beautiful in its time. Also, HE Has Put ETERNITY Into man's Heart, Yet So That he Cannot Find Out What God Has Done From The Beginning To The End."....
Though we are finite and God The Father is INFINITE......He Still, Because of His LOVE for us, Provides us With His PERFECT PEACE when we are One With HIM....
Isaiah 26:3 (ESV)...."YOU Keep him In PERFECT PEACE whose Mind Is STAYED On YOU, Because he TRUSTS In YOU."....
His Holy Spirit Inspired Paul to Record this most excellent compilation in regards to our Inner LONGING for God's Eternity In our Lives, especially in the context of our Daily Circumstances....
Romans 8:18-25 (ESV)...."For I Consider That the sufferings of this present time Are NOT Worth Comparing With The GLORY That IS To Be Revealed to us. For The Creation Waits With Eager LONGING For The Revealing of the sons of God. For The Creation Was Subjected to futility, Not willingly, BUT Because Of HIM WHO Subjected it, IN HOPE That The Creation Itself Will Be Set FREE From Its bondage to corruption And Obtain The Freedom Of The Glory of the children of God. For we Know That The Whole Creation Has Been Groaning Together in the pains of childbirth Until Now. And NOT Only The Creation, BUT we ourselves, who Have The First-Fruits Of The Spirit, Groan INWARDLY As we WAIT Eagerly For Adoption as sons, The REDEMPTION of our bodies. FOR IN THIS HOPE we Were SAVED. Now HOPE That Is SEEN Is NOT hope. For who hopes for what he sees? BUT IF we HOPE For What we Do NOT See, we WAIT For IT With Patience."....
Team, Praise God, He Provides us with His Heavenly MILK and MEAT for our Inner Nourishment/Sustainment/Nurturing New Growth In HIM.....So, Crew, regardless of our circumstance, or the challenges we be facing.....HEAR His Promise to us.....
Psalm 55:22 (ESV)...."Cast your Burden ON The Lord, AND HE Will SUSTAIN you; HE Will NEVER Permit The Righteous to be moved."....
Thus permit me to Offer Up a Paraphrase of Prayer and Praise from His Holy Spirit's Inspired WORD as Recorded in Psalm 38:9-10, 15, 18, 22....O Lord Jesus, Holy Spirit, Father God, we Thank You and Praise You for Your LOVE, MERCY and GRACE towards us. Lord Jesus, we Come to You and Present to You ALL of our Inner-Longing. We Set our Longing Before You, O Holy Spirit. Father God, our Sighing, as we face our Daily Challenges, are Not Hidden From You. O Lord Jesus, our Heart throbs; our Strength fails us, And it even seems The LIGHT of our eyes has gone from us. O, BUT, Father God, For You, O Lord, For You and You Alone DO we WAIT! O Holy Spirit, we Praise You, For It Is You, O Lord our God, Who Will Answer our Cries. Lord Jesus, we Do Humbly Bow Before You and Confess our iniquity. Holy Spirit, we Are Sorry for our sin and selfishness, that causes us to stumble. Forgive us Lord. Make Haste, we Pray, Father God, To Help us, O Lord of our Salvation! Lord Jesus, In Your Holy Name we Lift Up our Prayers....AMEN and AMEN....jaj
REMEMBER: Isaiah 26:3 (ESV)...."YOU Keep him In PERFECT PEACE whose Mind Is STAYED On YOU, Because he TRUSTS In YOU."....
SEVEN: Share/Seek; Encourage; Verily Verify the Victory; Evaluate NOW (Note On WORD)
{NOTE: All Passages Of the WORD, Select (POWS) are from the ESV; Also might readily see Emphasis And Paraphrase added/jaj....Appreciate your patience/understanding....}
MILK/MEAT: Messiah Is LORD & KING / Messiah (is God's) Eternal, Abiding TRUTH
Psalm 107:9 (ESV)...."For HE Satisfies The LONGING Soul, And The HUNGRY Soul HE Fills With GOOD Things."....
Today's Devotion from Jonathan Cahn's Devotional, "The Book of Mysteries", was entitled, "Heaven's Milk". It is an excellent reading, and Jonathan focused on our internal LONGINGs that begins from the moment of our first breath upon birth, that is our LONGING for MILK. As we grow older, that initial LONGING becomes less of a focus.....BUT we Discover Even a Deeper LONGING....A LONGING for The Eternal, The Perfect.....
SO.....The Holy Spirit Got me to Thinking on MILK and MEAT.....MILK being that First Natal LONGING for nourishment/sustainment/even nurturing us to new growth. Then MEAT, as we age, still for the same basic NEED....nourishment/sustainment/nurturing new growth....
BUT....if we 'morph' this external NEED to our Internal/Spiritual NEED, that NEED for The PERFECT LOVE, HAPPINESS, CONTENTMENT, PEACE.....again The ETERNAL.....We see that This Inner NEED is Indeed A GIFT From God.....
Ecclesiastes 3:11 (ESV)...."HE Has Made Everything Beautiful in its time. Also, HE Has Put ETERNITY Into man's Heart, Yet So That he Cannot Find Out What God Has Done From The Beginning To The End."....
Though we are finite and God The Father is INFINITE......He Still, Because of His LOVE for us, Provides us With His PERFECT PEACE when we are One With HIM....
Isaiah 26:3 (ESV)...."YOU Keep him In PERFECT PEACE whose Mind Is STAYED On YOU, Because he TRUSTS In YOU."....
His Holy Spirit Inspired Paul to Record this most excellent compilation in regards to our Inner LONGING for God's Eternity In our Lives, especially in the context of our Daily Circumstances....
Romans 8:18-25 (ESV)...."For I Consider That the sufferings of this present time Are NOT Worth Comparing With The GLORY That IS To Be Revealed to us. For The Creation Waits With Eager LONGING For The Revealing of the sons of God. For The Creation Was Subjected to futility, Not willingly, BUT Because Of HIM WHO Subjected it, IN HOPE That The Creation Itself Will Be Set FREE From Its bondage to corruption And Obtain The Freedom Of The Glory of the children of God. For we Know That The Whole Creation Has Been Groaning Together in the pains of childbirth Until Now. And NOT Only The Creation, BUT we ourselves, who Have The First-Fruits Of The Spirit, Groan INWARDLY As we WAIT Eagerly For Adoption as sons, The REDEMPTION of our bodies. FOR IN THIS HOPE we Were SAVED. Now HOPE That Is SEEN Is NOT hope. For who hopes for what he sees? BUT IF we HOPE For What we Do NOT See, we WAIT For IT With Patience."....
Team, Praise God, He Provides us with His Heavenly MILK and MEAT for our Inner Nourishment/Sustainment/Nurturing New Growth In HIM.....So, Crew, regardless of our circumstance, or the challenges we be facing.....HEAR His Promise to us.....
Psalm 55:22 (ESV)...."Cast your Burden ON The Lord, AND HE Will SUSTAIN you; HE Will NEVER Permit The Righteous to be moved."....
Thus permit me to Offer Up a Paraphrase of Prayer and Praise from His Holy Spirit's Inspired WORD as Recorded in Psalm 38:9-10, 15, 18, 22....O Lord Jesus, Holy Spirit, Father God, we Thank You and Praise You for Your LOVE, MERCY and GRACE towards us. Lord Jesus, we Come to You and Present to You ALL of our Inner-Longing. We Set our Longing Before You, O Holy Spirit. Father God, our Sighing, as we face our Daily Challenges, are Not Hidden From You. O Lord Jesus, our Heart throbs; our Strength fails us, And it even seems The LIGHT of our eyes has gone from us. O, BUT, Father God, For You, O Lord, For You and You Alone DO we WAIT! O Holy Spirit, we Praise You, For It Is You, O Lord our God, Who Will Answer our Cries. Lord Jesus, we Do Humbly Bow Before You and Confess our iniquity. Holy Spirit, we Are Sorry for our sin and selfishness, that causes us to stumble. Forgive us Lord. Make Haste, we Pray, Father God, To Help us, O Lord of our Salvation! Lord Jesus, In Your Holy Name we Lift Up our Prayers....AMEN and AMEN....jaj
REMEMBER: Isaiah 26:3 (ESV)...."YOU Keep him In PERFECT PEACE whose Mind Is STAYED On YOU, Because he TRUSTS In YOU."....
Tuesday, February 14, 2017
PJP2 SEVEN - 170214 - DARKNESS
SEVEN: Share/Seek; Encourage; Verily Verify the Victory; Evaluate NOW (Note On WORD)
{NOTE: All Passages Of the WORD, Select (POWS) are from the ESV; Also might readily see Emphasis And Paraphrase added/jaj....Appreciate your patience/understanding....}
DARKNESS:
Deny At (your own) Risk (the) KING of kings, Never (to) Experience (the) Savior's Saving (GRACE)
Isn't it amazing to ponder....."In The Beginning".....In my mind's eye I envision God The Father, His Son, our Lord Jesus, The WORD and His Holy Spirit there in the midst of The Heavens Beginning to Create and Form earth, space, all therein. The Holy Trinity, Three-In-One-In-Three, Working Together in Perfect Harmony and Concert.
Interesting to see that DARKNESS was noted first, and THEN...."LET THERE BE LIGHT!"....
Genesis 1:1-4 (ESV)...."In The Beginning, God Created The Heavens and the earth. The earth was without form and void, And DARKNESS was over the face of The Deep. And The Spirit Of God Was Hovering Over The Face Of The Waters. And God Said, 'LET THERE BE LIGHT!,' And There Was LIGHT. And God Saw That The LIGHT Was Good. And God Separated The LIGHT From The DARKNESS."....
And so the ongoing tension between LIGHT and DARKNESS began....Intensified by man's fall from God's GRACE due to man's election to pursue sin/selfishness....
Genesis 6:5 (ESV)...."The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually."....
Yes, this Battle Between LIGHT and DARKNESS is a Primary Theme Throughout God's WORD to us.....And I know there've been many times in my own Life where I'd have to echo Job as The Holy Spirit Inspired him to Record....
Job 15:22 (ESV)...."He (mankind) does not believe that he will return out of DARKNESS, and he is marked for the sword."....
BUT (Behold the Underlying Truth)....God The Father IS In Control EVEN of DARKNESS....
Genesis 15:12 (ESV)...."As the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell on Abram. And behold, dreadful and great DARKNESS fell upon him."....
Exodus 10:21 (ESV)...."Then the Lord said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand toward heaven, that there may be DARKNESS over the land of Egypt, a DARKNESS to be felt.”
At times, God Employs DARKNESS to Protect us, as we see.....
Exodus 20:21 (ESV)...."The people stood far off, while Moses drew near to the thick DARKNESS where God was."....
And our Lord Is Ever Faithful and True to His LOVE for us.....clearly Revealing that When we Are In His LIGHT, He Guards us...
1 Samuel 2:9 (ESV)....“He Will Guard The Feet of His Faithful ones, BUT the wicked shall be cut off in DARKNESS, for not by might shall a man prevail."....
God The Father's Ultimate Stance on LIGHT/DARKNESS is Expressed in His Son, our Lord Jesus.....
John 1:1-5 (ESV)...."In The Beginning Was The WORD, And The WORD Was With God, And The WORD Was God. He Was In The Beginning With God. ALL Things Were Made THROUGH Him, And Without Him Was NOT Any Thing Made That Was Made. In Him Was LIFE, And The LIFE Was The LIGHT Of men. The LIGHT Shines In the DARKNESS, And the DARKNESS Has NOT Overcome IT."....
So.....Team....IF at present you find yourselves surrounded by DARKNESS; The storm-waves of Life are beating upon you; You seemed to be overwhelmed and surrounded by challenge.....
Hear His WORD and His Encouragement, even in the midst of what seems unbearable....Isaiah 41:10 (ESV)...."Fear NOT, For I AM WITH you; Be NOT dismayed, For I AM your God; I Will Strengthen you, I Will Help you, I Will Uphold you With MY Righteous Right Hand."....
We too can Sing with His Holy Spirit as we Share The WORD from His Psalm....Psalm 56:13 (ESV)...."For YOU Have Delivered my Soul from death, YES, my feet from falling, That I May Walk Before God IN The LIGHT Of LIFE."....
May I offer Up A Paraphrase of Prayer and Praise as Inspired By His Holy Spirit and Recorded by His Prophet Samuel in 2 Samuel 22:2-4, 7, 17-19, 29-31 (ESV/emphasis & paraphrase added/jaj)....O Lord Jesus, Holy Spirit, Father God, You Are our ROCK and our Fortress! Holy Spirit, our Deliverer, we Praise You. Father God, our God, You Are our ROCK in Whom we Take Refuge. Lord Jesus, Thank You, for You Are our Shield, and The Horn Of our Salvation. Holy Spirit, Forever You Have Been and Will Be our Stronghold. Father God, In Your GRACE we Seek Refuge from Life's storms. O Lord Jesus, our Savior, By Your Life, Sacrifice and Resurrection, You Have SAVED us from our own-self-inflicted violence. Holy Spirit, we Call Upon You, O our Lord, You Who Are Worthy To Be Praised. Father God, By The Might of Your Arm we Are SAVED from our enemies. Lord Jesus, In our distress we Call Upon You, O Lord. Holy Spirit, out of our DARKNESS, we Call To You O our God, for Help. Father God, we Are Humbled, for From Your Eternal Temple, You Heard our Voice, and our Cry Came To Your Ears. Lord Jesus, Thank You for Responding. Thank You for Taking On The Mission, as God The Father Sent You From On High. Holy Spirit, we Praise You that You Took us and Drew us Out of many waters. Father God, we Sing Your Praise, as You Rescued us From the strong enemy, From those who hated us, for they were far too mighty for us. Daily, Lord Jesus, they confronted us in the day of our calamity. BUT, Praise You, Praise Your Holy Name, You, O Lord, You Are our Support. Lord Jesus, You Are our LAMP, O Lord, and our God. You, Holy Spirit, LIGHTENS the DARKNESS. Father God, For By You we Can Run Against a troop, And By You, O Lord God, we Can Leap Over A Wall. You, O Lord Jesus, Your WAY Is Perfect! Holy Spirit, Your WORD Proves Ever TRUE. Father God You Are our Shield. Lord Jesus, In You and Your Name we Ever Take Refuge.....We Lift Up our Prayers, In Your Name.....AMEN and AMEN....jaj
REMEMBER: John 8:12 (ESV)...."Again Jesus Spoke to them, Saying, 'I AM The LIGHT Of the world. Whoever Follows ME Will NOT Walk in DARKNESS, BUT Will Have The LIGHT Of LIFE.'”....
SEVEN: Share/Seek; Encourage; Verily Verify the Victory; Evaluate NOW (Note On WORD)
{NOTE: All Passages Of the WORD, Select (POWS) are from the ESV; Also might readily see Emphasis And Paraphrase added/jaj....Appreciate your patience/understanding....}
DARKNESS:
Deny At (your own) Risk (the) KING of kings, Never (to) Experience (the) Savior's Saving (GRACE)
Isn't it amazing to ponder....."In The Beginning".....In my mind's eye I envision God The Father, His Son, our Lord Jesus, The WORD and His Holy Spirit there in the midst of The Heavens Beginning to Create and Form earth, space, all therein. The Holy Trinity, Three-In-One-In-Three, Working Together in Perfect Harmony and Concert.
Interesting to see that DARKNESS was noted first, and THEN...."LET THERE BE LIGHT!"....
Genesis 1:1-4 (ESV)...."In The Beginning, God Created The Heavens and the earth. The earth was without form and void, And DARKNESS was over the face of The Deep. And The Spirit Of God Was Hovering Over The Face Of The Waters. And God Said, 'LET THERE BE LIGHT!,' And There Was LIGHT. And God Saw That The LIGHT Was Good. And God Separated The LIGHT From The DARKNESS."....
And so the ongoing tension between LIGHT and DARKNESS began....Intensified by man's fall from God's GRACE due to man's election to pursue sin/selfishness....
Genesis 6:5 (ESV)...."The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually."....
Yes, this Battle Between LIGHT and DARKNESS is a Primary Theme Throughout God's WORD to us.....And I know there've been many times in my own Life where I'd have to echo Job as The Holy Spirit Inspired him to Record....
Job 15:22 (ESV)...."He (mankind) does not believe that he will return out of DARKNESS, and he is marked for the sword."....
BUT (Behold the Underlying Truth)....God The Father IS In Control EVEN of DARKNESS....
Genesis 15:12 (ESV)...."As the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell on Abram. And behold, dreadful and great DARKNESS fell upon him."....
Exodus 10:21 (ESV)...."Then the Lord said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand toward heaven, that there may be DARKNESS over the land of Egypt, a DARKNESS to be felt.”
At times, God Employs DARKNESS to Protect us, as we see.....
Exodus 20:21 (ESV)...."The people stood far off, while Moses drew near to the thick DARKNESS where God was."....
And our Lord Is Ever Faithful and True to His LOVE for us.....clearly Revealing that When we Are In His LIGHT, He Guards us...
1 Samuel 2:9 (ESV)....“He Will Guard The Feet of His Faithful ones, BUT the wicked shall be cut off in DARKNESS, for not by might shall a man prevail."....
God The Father's Ultimate Stance on LIGHT/DARKNESS is Expressed in His Son, our Lord Jesus.....
John 1:1-5 (ESV)...."In The Beginning Was The WORD, And The WORD Was With God, And The WORD Was God. He Was In The Beginning With God. ALL Things Were Made THROUGH Him, And Without Him Was NOT Any Thing Made That Was Made. In Him Was LIFE, And The LIFE Was The LIGHT Of men. The LIGHT Shines In the DARKNESS, And the DARKNESS Has NOT Overcome IT."....
So.....Team....IF at present you find yourselves surrounded by DARKNESS; The storm-waves of Life are beating upon you; You seemed to be overwhelmed and surrounded by challenge.....
Hear His WORD and His Encouragement, even in the midst of what seems unbearable....Isaiah 41:10 (ESV)...."Fear NOT, For I AM WITH you; Be NOT dismayed, For I AM your God; I Will Strengthen you, I Will Help you, I Will Uphold you With MY Righteous Right Hand."....
We too can Sing with His Holy Spirit as we Share The WORD from His Psalm....Psalm 56:13 (ESV)...."For YOU Have Delivered my Soul from death, YES, my feet from falling, That I May Walk Before God IN The LIGHT Of LIFE."....
May I offer Up A Paraphrase of Prayer and Praise as Inspired By His Holy Spirit and Recorded by His Prophet Samuel in 2 Samuel 22:2-4, 7, 17-19, 29-31 (ESV/emphasis & paraphrase added/jaj)....O Lord Jesus, Holy Spirit, Father God, You Are our ROCK and our Fortress! Holy Spirit, our Deliverer, we Praise You. Father God, our God, You Are our ROCK in Whom we Take Refuge. Lord Jesus, Thank You, for You Are our Shield, and The Horn Of our Salvation. Holy Spirit, Forever You Have Been and Will Be our Stronghold. Father God, In Your GRACE we Seek Refuge from Life's storms. O Lord Jesus, our Savior, By Your Life, Sacrifice and Resurrection, You Have SAVED us from our own-self-inflicted violence. Holy Spirit, we Call Upon You, O our Lord, You Who Are Worthy To Be Praised. Father God, By The Might of Your Arm we Are SAVED from our enemies. Lord Jesus, In our distress we Call Upon You, O Lord. Holy Spirit, out of our DARKNESS, we Call To You O our God, for Help. Father God, we Are Humbled, for From Your Eternal Temple, You Heard our Voice, and our Cry Came To Your Ears. Lord Jesus, Thank You for Responding. Thank You for Taking On The Mission, as God The Father Sent You From On High. Holy Spirit, we Praise You that You Took us and Drew us Out of many waters. Father God, we Sing Your Praise, as You Rescued us From the strong enemy, From those who hated us, for they were far too mighty for us. Daily, Lord Jesus, they confronted us in the day of our calamity. BUT, Praise You, Praise Your Holy Name, You, O Lord, You Are our Support. Lord Jesus, You Are our LAMP, O Lord, and our God. You, Holy Spirit, LIGHTENS the DARKNESS. Father God, For By You we Can Run Against a troop, And By You, O Lord God, we Can Leap Over A Wall. You, O Lord Jesus, Your WAY Is Perfect! Holy Spirit, Your WORD Proves Ever TRUE. Father God You Are our Shield. Lord Jesus, In You and Your Name we Ever Take Refuge.....We Lift Up our Prayers, In Your Name.....AMEN and AMEN....jaj
REMEMBER: John 8:12 (ESV)...."Again Jesus Spoke to them, Saying, 'I AM The LIGHT Of the world. Whoever Follows ME Will NOT Walk in DARKNESS, BUT Will Have The LIGHT Of LIFE.'”....
Monday, February 13, 2017
PJP2 SEVEN - 170213 - AF
SEVEN: Share/Seek; Encourage; Verily Verify the Victory; Evaluate NOW (Note On WORD)
{NOTE: All Passages Of the WORD, Select (POWS) are from the ESV; Also might readily see Emphasis And Paraphrase added/jaj....Appreciate your patience/understanding....}
AF: Asinine Fatuity....Always (a) FOOL (for Christ)
C.S. Lewis writes in his book, "Mere Christianity": "One part of the claim tends to slip past us unnoticed because we have heard it so often that we no longer see what it amounts to. I mean the claim to forgive sins: any sins. Now unless the speaker is God, this is really so preposterous as to be comic. We can all understand how a man forgives offences against himself. You tread on my toes and I forgive you, you steal my money and I forgive you. But what should we make of a man, himself unrobbed and untrodden on, who announced that he forgave you for treading on other men’s toes and stealing other men’s money? Asinine fatuity is the kindest description we should give of his conduct. Yet this is what Jesus did. He told people that their sins were forgiven, and never waited to consult all the other people whom their sins had undoubtedly injured. He unhesitatingly behaved as if He was the party chiefly concerned, the person chiefly offended in all offences. This makes sense only if He really was the God whose laws are broken and whose love is wounded in every sin. In the mouth of any speaker who is not God, these words would imply what I can only regard as a silliness and conceit unrivalled by any other character in history. Yet (and this is the strange, significant thing) even His enemies, when they read the Gospels, do not usually get the impression of silliness and conceit. Still less do unprejudiced readers. Christ says that He is ‘humble and meek’ and we believe Him; not noticing that, if He were merely a man, humility and meekness are the very last characteristics we could attribute to some of His sayings."
Wow.....Asinine Fatuity.....
Hear How His Holy Spirit Inspires Paul to write something along the very same Line of Logic....
1 Corinthians 1:18-25 (ESV)...."For The WORD Of The Cross is folly to those who are perishing, BUT To us who Are Being SAVED IT Is The Power Of God. For It Is Written, 'I Will Destroy the wisdom of the wise, And the discernment of the discerning I Will Thwart.' Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has Not God Made Foolish the wisdom of the world? For Since, In The Wisdom Of God, the world Did Not Know God through wisdom, It Pleased God THROUGH The Folly Of What we Preach To SAVE those who BELIEVE. For Jews demand Signs and Greeks Seek Wisdom, BUT we Preach Christ Crucified, A Stumbling Block to Jews And Folly to Gentiles, BUT To those who Are Called, BOTH Jews And Greeks, Christ The Power Of God AND The Wisdom Of God. For The Foolishness Of God IS Wiser than men, And The Weakness Of God IS Stronger than men."....
Yep....in the world's view, our FAITH would be considered Asinine Fatuity......or Always (a) FOOL for CHRIST.....In the J-ACRONYM world FOOLS means....Follow Only Our Lord/Savior.....
Here how the Holy Spirit Captures this.....
1 Corinthians 4:10 (ESV)...."We Are FOOLS For Christ's Sake, BUT you Are Wise IN Christ. We are Weak, BUT you Are Strong. You Are Held In Honor, BUT we in Disrepute."....
So, let the world have their view of our FAITH as Asinine Fatuity....In our Lord Jesus Christ, His Holy Spirit CONFIRMS His TRUTH.....I will, with Brother Paul, Gladly Proclaim....
Romans 1:16-17 (ESV)...."For I am NOT ashamed Of The Gospel, For IT Is The Power Of God For Salvation To Everyone who BELIEVES, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For In IT The Righteousness Of God IS Revealed From FAITH For FAITH, As IT Is Written, 'The Righteous Shall LIVE By FAITH.'”....
Thus to conclude this Pondering on our Asinine Fatuity of TRUTH.....Let me Share this Paraphrase of Prayer and Praise from His Holy Spirit's Inspired WORD as Recorded in Psalm 145:1-6, 8-10, 18, 21....O Lord Jesus, Holy Spirit, Father God, we Will Extol You, our God And King, And Bless Your Name Forever And Ever. Lord Jesus, regardless of the world's view of what they see as our "Asinine Fatuity", Every Day we Will Bless You And Praise Your Righteous Name Forever And Ever. Holy Spirit, even when the world views our FAITH as foolishness, we Will Say To You: "GREAT Is The Lord, AND GREATLY To Be Praised. Father God, we are Humbled By Your Love and Grace. Your Greatness IS unsearchable. Lord Jesus, Encourage and Empower us as One of Your Generations Of Your Household Of HOPE, that we Commend and Share Your Works within us, around us and through us, To Another Generation. Holy Spirit, Embolden us to Declare Your Mighty Acts. O Father God, Upon The Glorious Splendor Of Your Majesty, And On Your Wondrous Works of GRACE, we Will Meditate, Ponder and Share! We Shall, with Your Help, Lord Jesus, Speak Of The Might Of Your Awesome Deeds, AND we Will Boldly Declare Your Greatness. O Father God, You Are our Lord! Holy Spirit, Thank You for You Are Gracious And Merciful. Lord Jesus, we Praise You, for You Are Slow To Anger And Abounding In Steadfast LOVE. Father God, You Are Good To All, And Your MERCY IS Over ALL That You Created. Holy Spirit, All Your Works Shall Forever Give Thanks To You, O Lord. Lord Jesus, Join us as One with You, And May All Your saints Forever Bless You! Oh people, Hear us as we Say: "The Lord IS Near To ALL who CALL On HIM. To ALL who CALL On HIM In His Holy TRUTH!" Lord Jesus, our Mouths Will Ever Speak PRAISE to YOU. Let All Flesh Bless Your Holy Name, Forever and Ever...In Your Name, Lord Jesus, we Raise our Praise and Prayers....AMEN and AMEN....jaj
REMEMBER: 1 Corinthians 1:25 (ESV).... "For The Foolishness Of God IS Wiser than men, And The Weakness Of God IS Stronger than men."....
SEVEN: Share/Seek; Encourage; Verily Verify the Victory; Evaluate NOW (Note On WORD)
{NOTE: All Passages Of the WORD, Select (POWS) are from the ESV; Also might readily see Emphasis And Paraphrase added/jaj....Appreciate your patience/understanding....}
AF: Asinine Fatuity....Always (a) FOOL (for Christ)
C.S. Lewis writes in his book, "Mere Christianity": "One part of the claim tends to slip past us unnoticed because we have heard it so often that we no longer see what it amounts to. I mean the claim to forgive sins: any sins. Now unless the speaker is God, this is really so preposterous as to be comic. We can all understand how a man forgives offences against himself. You tread on my toes and I forgive you, you steal my money and I forgive you. But what should we make of a man, himself unrobbed and untrodden on, who announced that he forgave you for treading on other men’s toes and stealing other men’s money? Asinine fatuity is the kindest description we should give of his conduct. Yet this is what Jesus did. He told people that their sins were forgiven, and never waited to consult all the other people whom their sins had undoubtedly injured. He unhesitatingly behaved as if He was the party chiefly concerned, the person chiefly offended in all offences. This makes sense only if He really was the God whose laws are broken and whose love is wounded in every sin. In the mouth of any speaker who is not God, these words would imply what I can only regard as a silliness and conceit unrivalled by any other character in history. Yet (and this is the strange, significant thing) even His enemies, when they read the Gospels, do not usually get the impression of silliness and conceit. Still less do unprejudiced readers. Christ says that He is ‘humble and meek’ and we believe Him; not noticing that, if He were merely a man, humility and meekness are the very last characteristics we could attribute to some of His sayings."
Wow.....Asinine Fatuity.....
Hear How His Holy Spirit Inspires Paul to write something along the very same Line of Logic....
1 Corinthians 1:18-25 (ESV)...."For The WORD Of The Cross is folly to those who are perishing, BUT To us who Are Being SAVED IT Is The Power Of God. For It Is Written, 'I Will Destroy the wisdom of the wise, And the discernment of the discerning I Will Thwart.' Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has Not God Made Foolish the wisdom of the world? For Since, In The Wisdom Of God, the world Did Not Know God through wisdom, It Pleased God THROUGH The Folly Of What we Preach To SAVE those who BELIEVE. For Jews demand Signs and Greeks Seek Wisdom, BUT we Preach Christ Crucified, A Stumbling Block to Jews And Folly to Gentiles, BUT To those who Are Called, BOTH Jews And Greeks, Christ The Power Of God AND The Wisdom Of God. For The Foolishness Of God IS Wiser than men, And The Weakness Of God IS Stronger than men."....
Yep....in the world's view, our FAITH would be considered Asinine Fatuity......or Always (a) FOOL for CHRIST.....In the J-ACRONYM world FOOLS means....Follow Only Our Lord/Savior.....
Here how the Holy Spirit Captures this.....
1 Corinthians 4:10 (ESV)...."We Are FOOLS For Christ's Sake, BUT you Are Wise IN Christ. We are Weak, BUT you Are Strong. You Are Held In Honor, BUT we in Disrepute."....
So, let the world have their view of our FAITH as Asinine Fatuity....In our Lord Jesus Christ, His Holy Spirit CONFIRMS His TRUTH.....I will, with Brother Paul, Gladly Proclaim....
Romans 1:16-17 (ESV)...."For I am NOT ashamed Of The Gospel, For IT Is The Power Of God For Salvation To Everyone who BELIEVES, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For In IT The Righteousness Of God IS Revealed From FAITH For FAITH, As IT Is Written, 'The Righteous Shall LIVE By FAITH.'”....
Thus to conclude this Pondering on our Asinine Fatuity of TRUTH.....Let me Share this Paraphrase of Prayer and Praise from His Holy Spirit's Inspired WORD as Recorded in Psalm 145:1-6, 8-10, 18, 21....O Lord Jesus, Holy Spirit, Father God, we Will Extol You, our God And King, And Bless Your Name Forever And Ever. Lord Jesus, regardless of the world's view of what they see as our "Asinine Fatuity", Every Day we Will Bless You And Praise Your Righteous Name Forever And Ever. Holy Spirit, even when the world views our FAITH as foolishness, we Will Say To You: "GREAT Is The Lord, AND GREATLY To Be Praised. Father God, we are Humbled By Your Love and Grace. Your Greatness IS unsearchable. Lord Jesus, Encourage and Empower us as One of Your Generations Of Your Household Of HOPE, that we Commend and Share Your Works within us, around us and through us, To Another Generation. Holy Spirit, Embolden us to Declare Your Mighty Acts. O Father God, Upon The Glorious Splendor Of Your Majesty, And On Your Wondrous Works of GRACE, we Will Meditate, Ponder and Share! We Shall, with Your Help, Lord Jesus, Speak Of The Might Of Your Awesome Deeds, AND we Will Boldly Declare Your Greatness. O Father God, You Are our Lord! Holy Spirit, Thank You for You Are Gracious And Merciful. Lord Jesus, we Praise You, for You Are Slow To Anger And Abounding In Steadfast LOVE. Father God, You Are Good To All, And Your MERCY IS Over ALL That You Created. Holy Spirit, All Your Works Shall Forever Give Thanks To You, O Lord. Lord Jesus, Join us as One with You, And May All Your saints Forever Bless You! Oh people, Hear us as we Say: "The Lord IS Near To ALL who CALL On HIM. To ALL who CALL On HIM In His Holy TRUTH!" Lord Jesus, our Mouths Will Ever Speak PRAISE to YOU. Let All Flesh Bless Your Holy Name, Forever and Ever...In Your Name, Lord Jesus, we Raise our Praise and Prayers....AMEN and AMEN....jaj
REMEMBER: 1 Corinthians 1:25 (ESV).... "For The Foolishness Of God IS Wiser than men, And The Weakness Of God IS Stronger than men."....
Sunday, February 12, 2017
PJP2 SEVEN - 170212 - HOUSE
SEVEN: Share/Seek; Encourage; Verily Verify the Victory; Evaluate NOW (Note On WORD)
{NOTE: All Passages Of the WORD, Select (POWS) are from the ESV; Also might readily see Emphasis And Paraphrase added/jaj....Appreciate your patience/understanding....}
HOUSE: He's Our Ultimate Sovereign Savior/Source (Of LIFE) Everlasting
As I was Reading during today's Quite Time 101 (ONE-on-one), The Holy Spirit led me to His Passage Of the WORD Select (POWS), Mark 11:15-18....
Mark 11:15-17 (ESV)...."And they came to Jerusalem. And Jesus Entered The Temple And Began To Drive Out those who sold and those who bought in The Temple, And HE Overturned the tables of the money-changers And the seats of those who sold pigeons. And HE Would NOT Allow anyone to carry anything Through The Temple. And HE Was Teaching them And Saying to them, 'Is IT Not WRITTEN, ‘MY HOUSE Shall BE Called A HOUSE Of Prayer For ALL the nations’? BUT you have made IT a den of robbers.'”....
The Holy Spirit cause the WORD HOUSE to almost jump off the page and whack me! The Thought/Questions I Heard Him Planting in my noggin.... "Jeff, Is This NOT Reflective of what sin's impact IS on you? Are you NOT God The Father's Temple, as I Reside Within you? Does NOT sin turn God's Holy Temple into a den of thieves and robbers?"
SO.....let's drill into this for just a moment.....Remember that....
Proverbs 24:3-4 (ESV)...."By Wisdom A HOUSE Is Built, AND By Understanding IT Is Established; By Knowledge The Rooms Are Filled With ALL Precious And Pleasant Riches."....
IF we were to do a WORD Search of the WORD HOUSE (for example via BIBLEgateway.com), we'd find that there's at least 1807 POWS that His Holy Spirit Inspired His writers to Record HOUSE in the POWS.....From what I can quickly find, there seems to be two overall basic uses of HOUSE (meaning-wise)....(1) HOUSE - a physical place that one lived; (2) HOUSE/HOUSEHOLD - The Family/Clan (such as The HOUSE of Abraham). Ok, clearly for today's J-ACRONYM, the FOCUS is more-so on The HOUSE OF God.....
Genesis 28:17 (ESV)...."And Jacob was afraid and said, 'How AWESOME Is This Place! This IS None Other Than The HOUSE Of God, And This Is The Gate Of Heaven.'”
Now, as we consider His Story, we discover man's desire to Build A HOUSE for YAHWEH to Dwell in....
1 Kings 5:3-5 (ESV)....“King Solomon said....'You know that David my father could not build a house for the name of the Lord his God because of the warfare with which his enemies surrounded him, until the Lord put them under the soles of his feet. But now the Lord my God has given me rest on every side. There is neither adversary nor misfortune. And so I intend to build a house for the name of the Lord my God, as the Lord said to David my father, ‘Your son, whom I will set on your throne in your place, shall build the house for my name.’"
So, indeed, we of The House of Adam have a tendency, at least I know I do, to stay grounded on Terra Firma thinking God NEEDS us to Build Him A HOUSE.....
YET - Keep in mind.....
Isaiah 55:8-9 (ESV)...."YAHWEH Said to Isaiah....'For MY Thoughts Are NOT your thoughts, Neither Are your ways MY Ways', Declares The Lord. 'For As The Heavens Are Higher Than the earth, SO Are MY Ways Higher Than your ways And MY Thoughts Than your thoughts.'"....
Thank our Lord Jesus, for HE Continues Down This PathwayProviding us that re-connection to God's THOUGHTS on His Unseen WORLD that we NEED to REMEMBER....
Matthew 12:43-45 (ESV)....“Jesus Said....'When the unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, but finds none. Then it says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ And when it comes, it finds the house empty, swept, and put in order. Then it goes and brings with it seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and dwell there, and the last state of that person is worse than the first. So also will it be with this evil generation.'”
Which brings us back to our J-ACRONYM for today's PJP2 SEVEN/170212.....HOUSE
HOUSE: He's Our Ultimate Sovereign Savior/Source (Of LIFE) Everlasting
His Holy Spirit Further Reminds us......1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (ESV)...."Or Do you Not Know THAT your BODY IS A TEMPLE Of The Holy Spirit WITHIN you, WHOM you Have From God? You Are NOT your own, For you Were BOUGHT With A PRICE. SO Glorify God IN your BODY."
And then there is THIS BLUF WORD from our Lord Jesus.....
Matthew 7:24-27 (ESV)...."Jesus Said....'Everyone then who Hears These WORDs Of MINE And Does THEN Will BE Like A Wise man who Built his HOUSE On The ROCK. AND the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on That HOUSE, BUT IT DID NOT fall, BECAUSE IT Had Been Founded On The ROCK. And everyone who Hears These WORDs Of MINE And Does NOT DO THEM Will Be Like a foolish man who built his HOUSE on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that HOUSE, And IT FELL, And Great Was The FALL Of IT.'”....
So....leaves us with This Question - Upon WHAT have we BUILT our HOUSE? Have we BUILT Upon His ROCK (Rely On Christ {our} KING) - or - Upon the world's shifting/sinking sand - or - are we like The HOUSE our Lord Jesus Describes in Matthew 12:43-45?
The GOOD NEWS for us ALL, though IS our Lord Jesus HAS PAID THE PRICE for our Reconstruction Into His HOUSE. All we need DO is Surrender the Blue-Print of our LIFE's HOUSE to HIM the Ultimate and Eternal BUILDER of GRACE.
To conclude our Pondering on HOUSE.....May I Offer Up the Paraphrase of Prayer and Praise from His Holy Spirit's Inspired WORD as Recorded in Psalm 52:7-9 (ESV/emphasis & paraphrase added/jaj)....O Lord Jesus, Holy Spirit, Father God, we Praise and Worship Your Righteous and Holy Name. O Lord Jesus, Strengthen us to Share Your Story of Mercy and GRACE as we See and Witness our fellow-man who would NOT Make You, O God, their refuge. Holy Spirit, Give us Your WORD to Share to those who have turned from You, BUT trusted in the abundance of their riches, their own strength, And sought refuge in their own destruction! Father God, Forgive us when we too stumble, relying on our own way, and NOT TRUSTING You. O BUT Lord Jesus, May we BE Like A Green Olive Tree of FAITH In Your HOUSE. O Father God, we TRUST In Your Steadfast LOVE. Holy Spirit, You Are our God Forever And Ever. Lord Jesus, we Will THANK YOU Forever, Because You, Through Your Life, Sacrifice and Resurrection, You Have Reconciled us, and You Have Re-BUILT our HOUSE In YOU. We Will, O Lord, WAIT For Your NAME, For IT Is GOOD, In The Presence Of Your HOUSEHOLD OF HOPE, Your Godly children of GRACE. In Your Holy Name, Lord Jesus, we Raise our Prayers and Praise.....AMEN and AMEN....jaj
REMEMBER: Psalm 84:4 (ESV)...."Blessed Are those who Dwell In Your HOUSE, Ever Singing Your Praise!"....
SEVEN: Share/Seek; Encourage; Verily Verify the Victory; Evaluate NOW (Note On WORD)
{NOTE: All Passages Of the WORD, Select (POWS) are from the ESV; Also might readily see Emphasis And Paraphrase added/jaj....Appreciate your patience/understanding....}
HOUSE: He's Our Ultimate Sovereign Savior/Source (Of LIFE) Everlasting
As I was Reading during today's Quite Time 101 (ONE-on-one), The Holy Spirit led me to His Passage Of the WORD Select (POWS), Mark 11:15-18....
Mark 11:15-17 (ESV)...."And they came to Jerusalem. And Jesus Entered The Temple And Began To Drive Out those who sold and those who bought in The Temple, And HE Overturned the tables of the money-changers And the seats of those who sold pigeons. And HE Would NOT Allow anyone to carry anything Through The Temple. And HE Was Teaching them And Saying to them, 'Is IT Not WRITTEN, ‘MY HOUSE Shall BE Called A HOUSE Of Prayer For ALL the nations’? BUT you have made IT a den of robbers.'”....
The Holy Spirit cause the WORD HOUSE to almost jump off the page and whack me! The Thought/Questions I Heard Him Planting in my noggin.... "Jeff, Is This NOT Reflective of what sin's impact IS on you? Are you NOT God The Father's Temple, as I Reside Within you? Does NOT sin turn God's Holy Temple into a den of thieves and robbers?"
SO.....let's drill into this for just a moment.....Remember that....
Proverbs 24:3-4 (ESV)...."By Wisdom A HOUSE Is Built, AND By Understanding IT Is Established; By Knowledge The Rooms Are Filled With ALL Precious And Pleasant Riches."....
IF we were to do a WORD Search of the WORD HOUSE (for example via BIBLEgateway.com), we'd find that there's at least 1807 POWS that His Holy Spirit Inspired His writers to Record HOUSE in the POWS.....From what I can quickly find, there seems to be two overall basic uses of HOUSE (meaning-wise)....(1) HOUSE - a physical place that one lived; (2) HOUSE/HOUSEHOLD - The Family/Clan (such as The HOUSE of Abraham). Ok, clearly for today's J-ACRONYM, the FOCUS is more-so on The HOUSE OF God.....
Genesis 28:17 (ESV)...."And Jacob was afraid and said, 'How AWESOME Is This Place! This IS None Other Than The HOUSE Of God, And This Is The Gate Of Heaven.'”
Now, as we consider His Story, we discover man's desire to Build A HOUSE for YAHWEH to Dwell in....
1 Kings 5:3-5 (ESV)....“King Solomon said....'You know that David my father could not build a house for the name of the Lord his God because of the warfare with which his enemies surrounded him, until the Lord put them under the soles of his feet. But now the Lord my God has given me rest on every side. There is neither adversary nor misfortune. And so I intend to build a house for the name of the Lord my God, as the Lord said to David my father, ‘Your son, whom I will set on your throne in your place, shall build the house for my name.’"
So, indeed, we of The House of Adam have a tendency, at least I know I do, to stay grounded on Terra Firma thinking God NEEDS us to Build Him A HOUSE.....
YET - Keep in mind.....
Isaiah 55:8-9 (ESV)...."YAHWEH Said to Isaiah....'For MY Thoughts Are NOT your thoughts, Neither Are your ways MY Ways', Declares The Lord. 'For As The Heavens Are Higher Than the earth, SO Are MY Ways Higher Than your ways And MY Thoughts Than your thoughts.'"....
Thank our Lord Jesus, for HE Continues Down This PathwayProviding us that re-connection to God's THOUGHTS on His Unseen WORLD that we NEED to REMEMBER....
Matthew 12:43-45 (ESV)....“Jesus Said....'When the unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, but finds none. Then it says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ And when it comes, it finds the house empty, swept, and put in order. Then it goes and brings with it seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and dwell there, and the last state of that person is worse than the first. So also will it be with this evil generation.'”
Which brings us back to our J-ACRONYM for today's PJP2 SEVEN/170212.....HOUSE
HOUSE: He's Our Ultimate Sovereign Savior/Source (Of LIFE) Everlasting
His Holy Spirit Further Reminds us......1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (ESV)...."Or Do you Not Know THAT your BODY IS A TEMPLE Of The Holy Spirit WITHIN you, WHOM you Have From God? You Are NOT your own, For you Were BOUGHT With A PRICE. SO Glorify God IN your BODY."
And then there is THIS BLUF WORD from our Lord Jesus.....
Matthew 7:24-27 (ESV)...."Jesus Said....'Everyone then who Hears These WORDs Of MINE And Does THEN Will BE Like A Wise man who Built his HOUSE On The ROCK. AND the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on That HOUSE, BUT IT DID NOT fall, BECAUSE IT Had Been Founded On The ROCK. And everyone who Hears These WORDs Of MINE And Does NOT DO THEM Will Be Like a foolish man who built his HOUSE on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that HOUSE, And IT FELL, And Great Was The FALL Of IT.'”....
So....leaves us with This Question - Upon WHAT have we BUILT our HOUSE? Have we BUILT Upon His ROCK (Rely On Christ {our} KING) - or - Upon the world's shifting/sinking sand - or - are we like The HOUSE our Lord Jesus Describes in Matthew 12:43-45?
The GOOD NEWS for us ALL, though IS our Lord Jesus HAS PAID THE PRICE for our Reconstruction Into His HOUSE. All we need DO is Surrender the Blue-Print of our LIFE's HOUSE to HIM the Ultimate and Eternal BUILDER of GRACE.
To conclude our Pondering on HOUSE.....May I Offer Up the Paraphrase of Prayer and Praise from His Holy Spirit's Inspired WORD as Recorded in Psalm 52:7-9 (ESV/emphasis & paraphrase added/jaj)....O Lord Jesus, Holy Spirit, Father God, we Praise and Worship Your Righteous and Holy Name. O Lord Jesus, Strengthen us to Share Your Story of Mercy and GRACE as we See and Witness our fellow-man who would NOT Make You, O God, their refuge. Holy Spirit, Give us Your WORD to Share to those who have turned from You, BUT trusted in the abundance of their riches, their own strength, And sought refuge in their own destruction! Father God, Forgive us when we too stumble, relying on our own way, and NOT TRUSTING You. O BUT Lord Jesus, May we BE Like A Green Olive Tree of FAITH In Your HOUSE. O Father God, we TRUST In Your Steadfast LOVE. Holy Spirit, You Are our God Forever And Ever. Lord Jesus, we Will THANK YOU Forever, Because You, Through Your Life, Sacrifice and Resurrection, You Have Reconciled us, and You Have Re-BUILT our HOUSE In YOU. We Will, O Lord, WAIT For Your NAME, For IT Is GOOD, In The Presence Of Your HOUSEHOLD OF HOPE, Your Godly children of GRACE. In Your Holy Name, Lord Jesus, we Raise our Prayers and Praise.....AMEN and AMEN....jaj
REMEMBER: Psalm 84:4 (ESV)...."Blessed Are those who Dwell In Your HOUSE, Ever Singing Your Praise!"....
Saturday, February 11, 2017
PJP2 SEVEN - 170211 - IMPOSSIBLE
SEVEN: Share/Seek; Encourage; Verily Verify the Victory; Evaluate NOW (Note On WORD)
{NOTE: All Passages Of the WORD, Select (POWS) are from the ESV; Also might readily see Emphasis And Paraphrase added/jaj....Appreciate your patience/understanding....}
IMPOSSIBLE:
In My (own) Power Only (possible result is) Sin & Selfishness (BUT) In (Jesus) By (His GRACE we have) LIFE Everlasting
Mark 10:23-27 (ESV)...."And Jesus Looked Around And Said to His disciples, 'How difficult it will be for those who have wealth To Enter The Kingdom Of God!' And the disciples Were Amazed At His WORDs. BUT Jesus Said to them again, 'Children, how difficult it is To Enter The Kingdom Of God! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle Than For a rich person To Enter The Kingdom Of God.' And they were Exceedingly Astonished, and said to Him, 'Then who can be SAVED?' Jesus Looked at them And Said, 'With man It Is IMPOSSIBLE, BUT NOT With God. FOR ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE WITH GOD.'".....
I am sure we've all been here....At this juncture where we've exhausted ourselves, beat our head against the proverbial 'wall' until we're a bloody-pulp and worn down to nothing left. In anguish we cry out, "This is IMPOSSIBLE!!!!" The circumstances could be caused by a plethora of things and situations......
BUT (BEHOLD, the Underlying TRUTH).....in every situation, every circumstance, His ONE TRUTH Rings So Very TRUE and There for our ENCOURAGEMENT......
Matthew 19:26 (ESV)...."BUT Jesus Looked at them And Said, “With man this is impossible, BUT WITH GOD ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE.”
Mark 9:23 (ESV)...."And Jesus Said to him, “‘If you can’! ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE For one Who Believes.'”
Mark 14:36 (ESV)....."And HE Said, “Abba, Father, ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE FOR YOU. Remove this cup from Me. YET NOT What I will, BUT What YOU Will.'”
Luke 1:37 (ESV)...."FOR NOTHING WILL BE IMPOSSIBLE WITH GOD.”
Luke 18:27 (ESV)...."BUT He Said, 'What is impossible with man IS POSSIBLE WITH GOD.”
Acts 2:24 (ESV)...."God Raised Him Up, Loosing the pangs of death, BECAUSE IT WAS NOT POSSIBLE For HIM To Be held by it."....
BABAAM!
So, Team PJP2, whatever circumstances, bumps-in-the-road, or mountains you, or yours, may be facing at this moment....Dear Hearts, as our J-ACRONYM Shares....
IMPOSSIBLE:
In My (own) Power Only (possible result is) Sin & Selfishness (BUT) In (Jesus) By (His GRACE we have) LIFE Everlasting....
Luke 1:37 (ESV)...."FOR NOTHING WILL BE IMPOSSIBLE WITH GOD.”
To close today's PJP2 SEVEN 170211.....Permit me to Offer Up a Prayer of Encouragement....
Psalm 80:1, 3, 14-15, 18 (ESV/emphasis & paraphrase added/jaj)....O Lord Jesus, Holy Spirit, Father God, we Raise our Voices in Worship and Praise. Lord Jesus, Please Give Ear, O Shepherd of Israel, You Who Lead Joseph and All That Have Followed You Like Your Flock, Hear our Prayers and Pleas. O Father God, You Who Sets Enthroned Upon The Cherubim Of Your Holy ARK of Your Eternal Covenant with us, Please Shine Forth Your Light of LOVE. Holy Spirit, Restore us, O God, Please Let Your Face Shine Upon us, That we May Be SAVED! Lord Jesus, Please Turn Again, O God Of The Heavenly Hosts! Please Lord, Look Down From Heaven, And See; Have Graceful Regard For us, Your Vine. Holy Spirit, Take us, Your Stock That Your Right Hand Planted where we are. Father God, Ever Remind us that in our own power we are powerless - in us nothing is really possible....ONLY IN YOU ARE ALL THINGS POSSIBLE. Lord Jesus, as Your children, By Your Grace, Mold us into sons/daughters That Are Strong In YOU and YOU Alone. Holy Spirit, Strengthen us and Embolden us that we May NOT EVER turn back to our old selves. Father God, Open our Inner Minds and Give us Your LIFE Within us. Lord Jesus, Now and Always, we Will Call Upon Your Name....AMEN and AMEN....jaj
BLUF BONUS: John 16:33 (ESV)...."Jesus Said, 'I Have Said These Things To you, THAT IN ME you May Have PEACE. In the world you will have tribulation. BUT Take Heart; I Have Overcome the world.'”
REMEMBER: Mark 10:27 (ESV)...."Jesus Looked at them And Said, 'With man It Is IMPOSSIBLE, BUT NOT With God. FOR ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE WITH GOD.'".....
SEVEN: Share/Seek; Encourage; Verily Verify the Victory; Evaluate NOW (Note On WORD)
{NOTE: All Passages Of the WORD, Select (POWS) are from the ESV; Also might readily see Emphasis And Paraphrase added/jaj....Appreciate your patience/understanding....}
IMPOSSIBLE:
In My (own) Power Only (possible result is) Sin & Selfishness (BUT) In (Jesus) By (His GRACE we have) LIFE Everlasting
Mark 10:23-27 (ESV)...."And Jesus Looked Around And Said to His disciples, 'How difficult it will be for those who have wealth To Enter The Kingdom Of God!' And the disciples Were Amazed At His WORDs. BUT Jesus Said to them again, 'Children, how difficult it is To Enter The Kingdom Of God! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle Than For a rich person To Enter The Kingdom Of God.' And they were Exceedingly Astonished, and said to Him, 'Then who can be SAVED?' Jesus Looked at them And Said, 'With man It Is IMPOSSIBLE, BUT NOT With God. FOR ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE WITH GOD.'".....
I am sure we've all been here....At this juncture where we've exhausted ourselves, beat our head against the proverbial 'wall' until we're a bloody-pulp and worn down to nothing left. In anguish we cry out, "This is IMPOSSIBLE!!!!" The circumstances could be caused by a plethora of things and situations......
BUT (BEHOLD, the Underlying TRUTH).....in every situation, every circumstance, His ONE TRUTH Rings So Very TRUE and There for our ENCOURAGEMENT......
Matthew 19:26 (ESV)...."BUT Jesus Looked at them And Said, “With man this is impossible, BUT WITH GOD ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE.”
Mark 9:23 (ESV)...."And Jesus Said to him, “‘If you can’! ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE For one Who Believes.'”
Mark 14:36 (ESV)....."And HE Said, “Abba, Father, ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE FOR YOU. Remove this cup from Me. YET NOT What I will, BUT What YOU Will.'”
Luke 1:37 (ESV)...."FOR NOTHING WILL BE IMPOSSIBLE WITH GOD.”
Luke 18:27 (ESV)...."BUT He Said, 'What is impossible with man IS POSSIBLE WITH GOD.”
Acts 2:24 (ESV)...."God Raised Him Up, Loosing the pangs of death, BECAUSE IT WAS NOT POSSIBLE For HIM To Be held by it."....
BABAAM!
So, Team PJP2, whatever circumstances, bumps-in-the-road, or mountains you, or yours, may be facing at this moment....Dear Hearts, as our J-ACRONYM Shares....
IMPOSSIBLE:
In My (own) Power Only (possible result is) Sin & Selfishness (BUT) In (Jesus) By (His GRACE we have) LIFE Everlasting....
Luke 1:37 (ESV)...."FOR NOTHING WILL BE IMPOSSIBLE WITH GOD.”
To close today's PJP2 SEVEN 170211.....Permit me to Offer Up a Prayer of Encouragement....
Psalm 80:1, 3, 14-15, 18 (ESV/emphasis & paraphrase added/jaj)....O Lord Jesus, Holy Spirit, Father God, we Raise our Voices in Worship and Praise. Lord Jesus, Please Give Ear, O Shepherd of Israel, You Who Lead Joseph and All That Have Followed You Like Your Flock, Hear our Prayers and Pleas. O Father God, You Who Sets Enthroned Upon The Cherubim Of Your Holy ARK of Your Eternal Covenant with us, Please Shine Forth Your Light of LOVE. Holy Spirit, Restore us, O God, Please Let Your Face Shine Upon us, That we May Be SAVED! Lord Jesus, Please Turn Again, O God Of The Heavenly Hosts! Please Lord, Look Down From Heaven, And See; Have Graceful Regard For us, Your Vine. Holy Spirit, Take us, Your Stock That Your Right Hand Planted where we are. Father God, Ever Remind us that in our own power we are powerless - in us nothing is really possible....ONLY IN YOU ARE ALL THINGS POSSIBLE. Lord Jesus, as Your children, By Your Grace, Mold us into sons/daughters That Are Strong In YOU and YOU Alone. Holy Spirit, Strengthen us and Embolden us that we May NOT EVER turn back to our old selves. Father God, Open our Inner Minds and Give us Your LIFE Within us. Lord Jesus, Now and Always, we Will Call Upon Your Name....AMEN and AMEN....jaj
BLUF BONUS: John 16:33 (ESV)...."Jesus Said, 'I Have Said These Things To you, THAT IN ME you May Have PEACE. In the world you will have tribulation. BUT Take Heart; I Have Overcome the world.'”
REMEMBER: Mark 10:27 (ESV)...."Jesus Looked at them And Said, 'With man It Is IMPOSSIBLE, BUT NOT With God. FOR ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE WITH GOD.'".....
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