New Post on The Way

Standing in the Water

by my brother Brandon on our other site, The Way…

“Standing on the edge of the Gulf of Mexico, admiring the beauty and serenity of the cool water softly rippling over my feet, thoughts of judgment entered my mind. Strange, I know, but give it a moment. Ankle-deep in the water, I thought, “From whence did come this wonderful creation?” (Okay, so maybe not in those exact words, but the idea is clear.) The obvious answer, of course, is God, but in that moment He led me deeper to ponder the specific cause of the ocean’s existence; judgment…” cont’d here

 

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 Summation of All Things

In the beginning was the Word
And the Word created
A time had been appointed
His people would be liberated 

In human eyes a God so far away
One who expected much
But a chosen few
He revealed His plan as such:

Coming as a man, thru Jesus His Son
He humbled himself as nothing
In all points tempted
In every way suffering

He died a cruel death
As a payment for our sin
Bearing the shame upon His cross
Below a sign declaring Him Sovereign

Out of the tomb
He arose three days and nights later
Appearing to many
Who would be witnesses and propagators

Of the truth they would proclaim
Thinking nothing of their lives
Spreading the great news
Of Jesus the Christ

Now we come to today
Christ’s kingdom still growing
Longsuffering God has
His witnesses going and going

Into all the world
The message is the same
As when Jesus walked the earth
And for this reason he came:

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to
preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted,
to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind,
to set at liberty them that are bruised, To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.
Luke 4:18-19

Remember from the beginning,
God appointed His people to liberation?
All for God’s Glory!
That is the summation…

 

Brethren Be Diligent

1 John 5:19-21

  And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness. And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.  Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.

Anything, any belief or any man that we put above the truth of God is an idol. If that thing distracts you away from the things of God, or that belief is contrary to the scriptures and the message Jesus brought, or if that man proclaims a message contrary to the truth; Lay it down, throw it away, turn away from that person. Let God be true and every man a liar (Rom 3:4)

Prov 4:13-19

  Take fast hold of instruction; let her not go: keep her; for she is thy life. Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men.  Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away. For they sleep not, except they have done mischief; and their sleep is taken away, unless they cause some to fall. For they eat the bread of wickedness, and drink the wine of violence. But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day. The way of the wicked is as darkness: they know not at what they stumble.

The wicked themselves are deceived, so they continue to deceive others…

Romans 16:17-18

 Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.

How can we be sure that we won’t be deceived, we should make sure that we LOVE THE TRUTH (Read the entirety of 2 Thessalonians chap 2) If we don’t love the TRUTH(Jesus Christ and all that He is and has proclaimed to the world)then we will fall for the lies of this world and anyone proclaiming the lies of this world.

2Pe 1:10

 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall…