Ponds and Rivers

My thoughts after reading 2Peter 1…When we truly know the Lord, not just by the mind, then that literally bids or commands our attention to worship Him and give Him all the glory that He deserves and to resolutely boldly pursue His life, and His standard of holiness. There is nothing like being a stagnant pond which is the opposite of being a river of living water. A pond generally has life in it, but if not fed from an outside source of water, life will cease and eventually will dry up. Not a good water source to drink from either, because it can make you sick. Rivers on the other hand are abundant in life, freshness, clean, ever flowing, ever pursuing the ocean or larger body of water, or more living water. Drinking water from a river is usually safe(granted no one is dumping pollution in it) there is no time for yucky stuff to grow in it, it doesn’t take a break from moving. Near the end of a river one would fine rapids, bumpy and rocky. The race to the finish line is picking up speed, easier because we can see our reward ahead, but yet harder from more serious tests we have to pass yet to get there. Like a river, we should be boldly pursuing to attain what the Lord has promised, his ever abundant life for us(the ocean, which never seems to run out of water and life)in His kingdom. I can’t afford to be stagnant. I don’t want to be that fig tree our Lord withered because it produced no fruit. I am a river not a pond, purged from the impurities of sin; not to look back, a river doesn’t look back it keeps going in a forward motion. Oblivious to the things around it that might hinder it. So when it sees the end in sight, it’s start sprinting and falls into the ocean in need of rest, the finish line. I can’t wait til this body can rest in Him for all eternity…

 

The Fast of Relief

Most of us know that fasting(abstaining from food/drink) is supposed to be something that followers of Jesus Christ are to do regularly for various reasons.

Matt 6:16-18,Matt 9:14-17,2 Cor 6:4-5
2 Cor 11:25-27,Matt 17:20-21
Acts 14:23,1 Cor 7:5

But how many of us have come across Isaiah 58, and know what fasting really is? Brethren, read through the passage and see the importance of it. Is our abstaining from food(or other “good deeds” for that matter) really accomplishing anything if we neglect what the Lord really wants from us, obedience. In Isaiah 58, the people of God were looking for God, were excited about God, did things for God, wanted to know His will, and heartily prayed a lot.(58:2)But still wondered why their “deeds” were not rewarded and it seemed that God was not listening or paying attention to it at all.(v 3)Israel believed that their acceptance by God was by their own works.They didn’t see that abstaining from food had nothing to do with what God wanted from them. And that they were fasting with the wrong motives, and not sorrowful; it was all a show (v 4,5). They were despising their neighbors and exploiting them. They were only thinking of themselves. True fasting is denial of self and the loving of others(God AND man). Hear the Lord:

Isa 58:6-7 Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke? 7 Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh?

How can we say we love God, who we don’t see, and yet not love our neighbor who we do see? Just “loving God” is not acceptable. (1John 4:7-21) Loving our neighbor IS loving God; it’s a package deal. We feign love for God if we neglect others and their needs. We are then liars. By this we will be judged. (Matt 25:31-46) whether we are sheep or goats; the obedient on the right(sheep), the liars on the left(goats). Did you deny yourself of daily comfort, so that you could relieve your neighbor in his affliction, his hunger, his lack of clothing, his lack of shelter? “Well done good and faithful servant“(Matt 25:21)….”Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world” Did you turn from your brother’s need, when you had it in your hand to give or do? “Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels“

Does it seem like your prayers are not being answered? And that your walk the Lord seems to be stagnant, though you are doing, doing, doing for the Lord? Examine yourself, and whether you are truly obeying Him or just going through the motions. When we truly obey and walk in love for God and our neighbor it is His delight to answer our needs and enlighten our eyes, and guide us in His will.(Isaiah 58:8-12)(1John 3:16-24)

(Isaish58:13-14) Resting in the Lord’s work should be our delight. We need to fast from our own works, our ways, our own idea of pleasure, and our own opinions. Esteem and relieve others first above ourselves. When we do that, we can then without pretense say “I Love God” (Matt 25:35-40)

 

Your Past, Your Present, Your Future

YOUR PAST

Reminisce -to look to the past, specifically the good memories

Remember Lots Wife. Luke 17:32

Genesis 19:17, 26 And it came to pass, when they had brought them forth abroad, that he said, Escape for thy life; look not behind thee, neither stay thou in all the plain; escape to the mountain, lest thou be consumed….But his wife looked back from behind him, and she became a pillar of salt.

Some of the “good” things we hold onto today.

• past achievments(highschool, college graduation, sports trophies, honorary degrees, beauty pageants etc.)
• childhood memories(school days, neighborhood hangouts, secret clubs etc.)
• our first “love”
• old friends
• material things(momentos, antiques,souvenirs of places we’ve gone)

Remember Israel? They weren’t content with what God had for them in their present time and circumstance.

Numbers 11:4-6 And the mixt multitude that was among them fell a lusting: and the children of Israel also wept again, and said, Who shall give us flesh to eat? We remember the fish, which we did eat in Egypt freely; the cucumbers, and the melons, and the leeks, and the onions, and the garlick:
But now our soul is dried away: there is nothing at all, beside this manna, before our eyes.

As His people the Lord doesn’t want us to remain in the past, longing for things, or relationships, or that “fuzzy warm feeling” we had, which only shows we are too comfortable in this world. Looking back to the “good ol’ days” shows we are not fit for the kingdom of God.

Luke 9:62 And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.

Looking back and longing for the past in any aspect of our life and not letting go of it or someone, will entangle us back into bondage, if we’ve ever gotten out of it that is.

2 Peter 2:20-22 For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them. But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.

We’ve escaped who we were before, we are not the same anymore. Why do we hang around those places, those things, those people, who are enemies of God and purposely want to drag you back into your old life. They don’t care, they just want their old friend back. There is a difference between giving them the gospel and sowing the truth into their life than just keeping company for carnal reasons.

1 Peter 4:1-4 Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin;
That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God.
For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries: Wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you:

Take for example a true widow…

1Timothy 5:9-10 Let not a widow be taken into the number under threescore years old, having been the wife of one man, Well reported of for good works; if she have brought up children, if she have lodged strangers, if she have washed the saints’ feet, if she have relieved the afflicted, if she have diligently followed every good work.

She could easily, losing her husband, start a new life, get a new hairdo, new wardrobe, start traveling, going to parties etc

Like a young widow would…1 Timothy 5:11-13 

But she diligently, carefully seeks to do for others and not herself. Esteeming others better than herself. Philippians 2:3-4
The Lord is not pleased when we go back or long for the past things we’ve given up

Heb 10:38-39 Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.

Have you given up your past? Are you careful of what and who you have in your life?

YOUR PRESENT

What determines what we like? What we eat? What we wear? Where we live? How we talk? Much of humanity decides the things by what is in style or fashion, to say, or do, or wear. Do we follow what’s popular? Fashion or style is what other people are doing and how they are conforming to each other. Brethren, we are not to be stylish or “in fashion” in any manner of life. Why we do things should be determined by God’s will and not man’s whims.

Romans 12:1-2 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Our body is not our own. We have given up every right to determine what is best for us; that’s what it means to be a living sacrifice.

1Corinthians 6:19-20 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.

If Jesus Christ our Lord had conformed to His age/era, He would have had an innumberable amount of “buddies”; people you hang around with to talk or chat about just carnal things and do carnal stuff. He left everything that came in the first 30 years of His life here on earth. He lost friends, a permanent residence(is there truly “no place like home” here on earth), familial relationships(His were forever from that point based on the spirit not on fleshly ties 2 Cor 5:16-17, Matt 12:46-50) Let us examine why we do the things we do, and why we know the people we keep company with.

YOUR FUTURE

What determines our decisions for the future? A ‘trend’ is how the world many times makes their decisions. They see what might happen and then just “go with the flow”. The stock market is one example of that. People buy and sell based on what might happen or “hope” is going to happen. But that is not how God wants us to determine how we see the future here on earth dealing with every day life..

James 4:13-15 Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that.

We are not to worry about earthly matters. The Lord will provide if we seek first His kingdom.
Matt 6:19-21, 25-34

But there is one future we ARE to look to. Finish the race, attain the prize. Conforming to the image of Christ. The apostle Paul recognized the unprofitableness of our past achievments, relations, and “good” things. Let him be our example here. Christ was his example…Read Philippians 3:3-4:1

 

Unfeigned Love of the Brethren

Joh 15:12-14 This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.

Do we claim to know the one true God and obey him? He commands us, not just asks us to love the brethren. To truly love one another we must look into how how he loves and follow in His example. For being a disciple and the proof of God truly dwelling in us through his Holy Spirit, is evinced by the love we have for each other.

Joh 13:34-35 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

1Jn 4:7-13 Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another. No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us. Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit.

What is the godly kind of love he calls us to? As John 14:12-14 above states “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. ” Do we do this? Is it a bother to give up our time to others? Is our schedule too busy to carve out time for a letter, phone call, to encourage, comfort, help others in the body of Christ? One hinderance to loving is that we don’t know those we call our brethren. One morning for two hours a week doesn’t cut it. People can’t get to know the needs of others by looking at the back of their head, sitting in pews one day a week.

1Th 5:11-15 Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do. And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you; And to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake. And be at peace among yourselves. Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men. See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men.

The apostle Paul reminds us that we should know those that are in the body. Or else how can you be aware of someone’s needs, lack in finances, sin creeping into their lives. Love helps someone up when they sin or stumble; but if you know not the person and live totally separate existences six days a week, you can’t really know them enough to say, “hey brother, I see a problem here and I am concerned you are not following the Lord in this area of your life”

Jas 5:19-20 Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him; Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.

1Pe 4:8 And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.

We can say we love someone, for the words flow easily from our lips, but do we back up those words with deeds. Words can mean nothing, but action proves everything, even the proof of the very life of Christ dwelling in us.

1Jn 3:14-19 We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death. Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him. Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth. And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him.

Our love for each other should not half-hearted also, but fervent (1Pet 4:8), without pretense, without hypocrisy(which is only the words flowing from out lips without action). Seeking not our own but the good of the other person.

1Pe 1:22 Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently:

Rom 12:9-10 Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. 10 Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another

To be fervent means to be ardent, zealous, devoted, eager, and vehement. There is no room for complacency in our love for one another. For if we desire to love like this, just as He did, laying down our whole lives for Him and the brethren, He will gladly show us how to love in the way He does and abound in it. And since it is a fruit of having the spirit Gal 5:22, we know that fruit does not develop overnight. It takes much time to take root and come to fruition. But God is faithful, and if we desire to be like Him, He will bring us to point of maturity. To that point of being conformed to the image of the Lord Jesus Christ.

1Th 3:12-13 And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you: To the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints.

2Th 1:3 We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet, because that your faith groweth exceedingly, and the charity of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth;

Let us so desire to be like him, mature and not babes; so that we spur each other on daily in love until the day of our Lord Jesus’ coming to receive that beautiful and spotless bride for which he laid down his life.

Heb 10:24-25 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: 25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.