My hospital stay which ended a year ago for Appendicitis lasted almost 3 weeks total with complications. The "spiritual" ER for me was having someone ask if they could pray for me who was actually a Christian (not always certain given the denomination of the hospital). Some years back my former roomate who started a nursing home ministry about 25 years ago now went with me a couple times and wasn't afraid to discuss life's brevity and give a clear Gospel presentation to people in the last stages of life; as well as with his own mother who came to the Lord the last couple months of her life after years of effort. Enough time in these environments and you see people pass on; some of who clearly knew the Lord and others who didn't. The particular residence was technically a rehabilitation center; thus occasionally young people would come in and even in those cases you don't know how much time is left and neither do they. It takes patience and wisdom to know how much time to spend with particular people; some of whom want to get a rise out of any interaction and the conversation gets crude rather quickly. Such an environment certainly helps one with serving people whether or not we are spiritually gifted in that area. In helping those down and out in other environments wisdom of s similar nature is needed; particularly when they are asking for a handout.
In short; it shouldn't have to be a mutually exclusive question if we should have to show compassion on a human level as well as proclaim the Gospel. We still are called to help meet the needs of others we encounter whenever possible whether or not they are open to the truth. What we don't do is dumb down the Gospel to a more "user friendly" lukewarm message to try to make them "feel good". We are ambassadors of the Truth; and shouldn't be ashamed of the Gospel; nonetheless it is pointless to have to shove it down the throats of others. Who we serve should be clear.
Could you explain please, how does that Proverb speak about Jesus. I assume it was about Wisdom. I just assume the effeminate usage in the verse is because Wisdom like the Earth, feeds you, nourishes you and helps to grow.
How are you comparing the two. I would compare the Israelites rejecting Gods food as today's people who are rejecting the word of God and Jesus(who is the bread of Life). He is the manna and as we see today people are so against his word. The are fighting against any believe of God. The seventh seal opening for me is showing the end of life. Some people say that is not about the Gentiles because we will already be in heaven, but it is about the Jewish nation who does not except Christ as the Messiah.
Provers 8, we assume the Bible is taking about Jesus, but the chapter starts off as if God is referrng to a women, also was before creation as was with Jesus ?
I agree with you in prayer for your family and for mine. It is a pleasure to pray for our loved ones-those who know the Lord and those who don't or who have strayed.
The Israelites loathed manna because their heart was not right before God. In this apathy for wholesome gospel the imposter church is following the same slippery slope to perdition. "But now our soul is dried away: there is nothing at all, beside this manna, before our eyes." (Nu.11:6) The church highjacked from the Apostolic age is a mixed multitude. They serve mammon as well. " "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?" Their nostalgia for fleshpots of Egypt we see in the manner simplicity in Christ has thrown aboard for several movements that in its merits almost nil. How long shall this silence in heaven last? As with the one week from Seventy weeks in the vision of Daniel this silence in heaven serves as a parenthesis. John tells about it, "and no man was able to enter into the temple, till the seven plagues of the seven angels were fulfilled." The work in heaven goes on despite of what the imposter church may do. It is not the work for the flesh. It is the work according to the Law where the only measurement is by whom God has justified as well as glorified. This glory of God is established in heaven.
"And the seven angels came out of the temple, having the seven plagues, clothed in pure and white linen, and having their breasts girded with golden girdles./And one of the four beasts gave unto the seven angels seven golden vials full of the wrath of God, who liveth for ever and ever./And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God, and from his power; and no man was able to enter into the temple, till the seven plagues of the seven angels were fulfilled."(15:6-8)
And when he had opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven about the space of half an hour./And I saw the seven angels which stood before God; and to them were given seven trumpets."
Prior to this in ch.7 we have more or less the same events in heaven as was at the beginning when the new song was sung (5:11-14) The elders once again show foreknowledge this time with regards to the wave of persecutions that were currently going on under Caesar Domitian. The short colloquy between Apostle John and the elder tells us that. "What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they?" It tells us that the elders identified John as coming there from among them. The line,"For the time is at hand."(1:3) sets John as a contemporary, and it is right about the nascent Apostolic age going through some 10 waves of persecution.
Leaving aside the sealing of 144,000 in Ch.7 let us trace backwards where we have the four winds "I saw in my vision by night, and, behold, the four winds of the heaven strove upon the great sea."(Dan.7:2). The commotion that spawned nations has hit the doldrums by divine command, so this continuity of the nations (that began with the night vision) is now hit a hiatus that explains the nations warring with one another; it is a sure sign to the end times. Jesus warned us. "For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places./All these are the beginning of sorrows."(Matt.24:7-8)
This silence in heaven shall be broken by the angel that has everlasting covenant to preach. (Re.14:6-7) What is this everlasting gospel but the same gospel preached by the Apostles, and the Acts is part of the Bible. The everlasting covenant and the gospel go hand in hand. The angel declares it in heaven and man treats it as manna in the wilderness was the angel's food. The silence in heaven refers to the present state.
The Authority of the seven seal is set in terms of a series of sevens which are complete in itself. First the verse, "And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth."
As soon as the Lamb has taken the book the elders worship him and sing a new song indicating what must occur with that action. It is new heaven and the new earth, proof the new creation. and the chorus along with angels reverberate from one end of heaven the other. "And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever./And the four beasts said, Amen. And the four and twenty elders fell down and worshipped him that liveth for ever and ever."(vv.13:14) The Spirit gives the unity of the Spirit, (The Lamb with seven eyes) Authority of the Spirit, (seven horns) to set the single measurement of man, angel as two pinions.
We have two sets men and angels, "And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands"(5:11)
The creature that join in singing the new song are the elect , making up the single measurement (Re.21:17) The two witnesses we see in Ch.11 represent them."These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth."
These two candlesticks standing before God are attached to the body, signified by the Lamb slain, four and twenty elders and the four beasts.
"And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof."
The Spirit sets the twenty four elders represent the body prepared for the Word become flesh. The Son of man preaches the gospel to the souls in prison for a purpose, "(For Christ) being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:/By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison."(1 Pe.3:18-19) It pleased God that in him all his fulness should dwell. As Word made flesh his fulness covers the heaven, earth and the lower part. The tag for the Son 3x8 makes up the sum of four and twenty elders. This body is one, memorial of which has foreknowledge possible only because the Word was made flesh.
One of the elders, the spokesman refers to him as the root of David, meaning he is the Lord. (Re.22:16;Is.11:10) Alpha and Omega aspect of the Son sets him as the root of Jesse as well as the root of David. This point forms the basis by which Jesus was able to silence the Pharisees, "If David then call him Lord, how is he his son?"(Matt.22:45)
We have the Lamb given a body, or rather the divine Will given a tangible form, so the body prepared in the world unseen, is translated into the world (made to appear) is a throne as well. It is thus the throne of God is hyphenated with the throne of the Lamb and consequently both worlds framed by the word of God is completed in heaven and the light of the Lamb is its manifestation.
The number seven, significance of which is same as the seven days in the everlasting covenant. Authority of the covenant between God and Man is established here as well. Thus when the Lamb opens the seal, and it is serially and sequentially as well so we entries and exits through the heaven earth and lower parts. The first seal points to the rider on the white horse, "and he went forth conquering, and to conquer."
"a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals"
The Spirit gives us a physical book so we shall treat it as such. The Book of remembrance, the right hand, backside are to be understood for what is the intent of the Spirit. He concretises the unseen aspects of the divine Will in a manner the reader shall understand. The book written within and on the backside for example we shall consider here. The worlds framed by the word of God have the unseen word which is divine Will and what was made to appear and it has a beginning as well its fulfilment. (He.11:3) What is written within is followed by what is on the backside or what shall be revealed in the fulness of time. It is in this sense the Spirit sets the Lord God speak as follows, "And it shall come to pass, while my glory passeth by, that I will put thee in a clift of the rock, and will cover thee with my hand while I pass by:/And I will take away mine hand, and thou shalt see my back parts."(Ex.33:22-23). The Spirit gives additional clue, and 'the clift in the rock' is with reference to 'the rock from which ye are hewn", the Rock of ages,,- the Son "Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person," (He.1:3;Is.51:1-3)
The book is sealed with seven which is another tag to indicate the day decreed for the Son is complete and the seal is the divine emblem, for Authority. "And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon./ And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon./And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof." (vv.2-5) Significance is clear In Jesus Christ is the fulness of God. He 'has prevailed upon' and how and why we understand: 'the slain Lamb', the Word become flesh.
"And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals."
The Spirit uses the right hand to indicate Jesus Chrst as in this Psalm, "Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore."(Ps.16:11). Here are two more references, "Let thy hand be upon the man of thy right hand, upon the son of man whom thou madest strong for thyself." and "And the vineyard which thy right hand hath planted, and the branch that thou madest strong for thyself." (Ps.80:17,15). The throne that St John refers to the Lord God. The right hand indicates the Word made flesh in the context, considering that the Lamb slain who shall take the book with seals refers to the body that God has prepared for him. Before the Lamb would open the seals the Spirit is setting the entire day decreed for the Son within the chapter. Thus we shall consider this chapter and the one preceding it as an exercise orienting the readers with the Revelation of Jesus Christ in terms of the body' Thou has prepared me'
The body has a memorial and it is what the four and twenty elders signifies. According to the everlasting covenant God and his Son, the Fellowship of God and Man has a facsimile as it were, enshrined before the throne. To this primary relationship we also have His creation in the four beasts pendent which refers to the last Adam and the four beasts. As with the right hand of him who sat on the throne indicates the Word ecome flesh, the beast with the face of man, the third beast refers to Jesus Christ the Last Adam. This entire scene is set up by the Spirit where the Law of the Spirit has its own logic, time element so we shall benefit only by suspension of disbelief. If we willing accord it to the author of the book we read, is it too much to ask?
"Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart." ( Psalm 37:4).
In continuing on the theme of my last posting; having thoughts about spiritual matters can only be right if focused on the Prince of Peace. Until we start having unity with the Spirit we cannot comprehend or desire to see things come to pass that are His will and part of His plan. The living Word must transform our hearts to be receptive to these matters so we can pray in the Spirit.
The Tribulation; therefore is executed with the victory already secure; but each judgment in tempo with increasing intensity; I could compare music such as the 1812 Overture as the best example. In a recent comment by someone tied into the Presidential race for a particular party (I will as usual leave out names) stated that; literally there is "no rest for the wicked" as to the lack of time for being able to make public appearances. There surely is no rest for the wicked; and you can be sure no matter how carefully they try to sweep everything under the rug all things will be revealed. Isaiah 26:21 assures us that the dead will someday no longer be hidden.
God will surely remove His Bride; but in the meantime death and destruction march on. Every opportunity to spread the Good News must continue whenever opportunity presents itself. We have the assurance that He is with us even unto the end of the age. We don't know how long we have but seeing that many events that involve the end of the church age and the terrible times coming persecution could certainly worsen exponentially in the few years or months right before the Rapture. Again to review there is direct persecution and there is deception of all sorts of worldly things. There is a great calling as well to warn those who think they are in the faith to test themselves and that they must deny ungodliness and lifestyles which disqualify us to inherit the Kingdom.
I have felt the Spirit's prompting to post these commentaries before the upcoming weekend. I know better than to set dates but September is something to consider as to the upcoming Jewish feasts of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur IF indeed the unknown day and hour COULD be a veiled reference to that being the time of the Rapture and if the Tribulation starts immediately after 7 years before the Second Coming (or at least approximately).
I can't help but think of that old story of the boy who cried wolf in regard to this event. The great wolf actually (I just realized this) is coming in the form of the Antichrist and his false prophet. If we think of how long much of the world has gone since the atomic era began and the only time it was used in war in 1945 and the economy of much of the "free world" that somehow has remained afloat despite TRILLIONS in debt over generations to this point it is only the grace of God holding back complete destruction. Hence the trap that scripture speaks about; the sudden destruction of 2 Thessalonians surely is near.
In terms of the church; I would surmise that in all the lukewarmness and politically correct lingo we also are afraid to say that we are going to literally rule and reign with Christ over the earth in the Millennium. As with anything else it is our heart attitude that counts; and the Lord will reveal it. Nonetheless this reality needs to be expressed on occasion as it is our Master and Lord Christ Jesus who will rule and reign on the earth. We are part of that new government that Isaiah promises will come when Jesus rules with perfect righteousness. I will leave the name out purposely here but one rather popular charismatic preacher always likes to introduce his sermons with "everything is going down" in this world except for Christ's truths in the Word.
We however are "going up". Let us as Luke emphatically states pray always that we are worthy to escape all things to come.
Philippians 1:21 states that to live is Christ and to die is gain. I had always associated this with Paul's upcoming knowledge of martyrdom and applied it to our own dying to self and readiness to give our lives for the Gospel's sake. One could possibly apply this to our eternal promise of rapture and resurrection which will occur at a specific place and time.
Those who view this event as primarily a method of escape perhaps I could describe as someone who eats a wedding cake and describes it as sweet. The depth of meaning here is the joy of the reunion of the saints; but it also is only relatable to those who are now seated in heavenly places and having regular discourse and communications with the Lord and therefore hear His voice.
For a believer; of course there is anticipation of an escape from a fallen body and a final death blow to any possibility of sin to ever mar the experience of fellowship with the Lord forevermore. There is an escape from a fallen world and of course the horrors of the Tribulation and God's wrath to come. As to His unexpected arrival; I can't help remembering Sept 11 2001 which was a nice sunny day in my part of the country as well as at ground zero in all the places which were attacked. Some have theorized that as we go up there will come down missiles and or demons. For the first seal to come afterwards it would seem that whatever accompanies the rapture will appear to be some sort of utopian dream at first which would relate to the confirming of the Daniel 9:27 covenant.
The best way I can describe what I believe to be this experience as to those participating in it will be an indescribably powerful surge of the Holy Spirit that translates us from our terrestrial to celestial bodies where God's church that is now being used to hold back the evil to come through the particular ministry of the Spirit being removed.
Describing this reunion with long deceased believers and with the Lord is beyond words.
In continuation, we can say that faith with works is in shifting our lives from being subject to the flesh and its demands to that of the Spirit. " For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace." (v.8)
Without being subject to the Law of the Spirit and being led, our protestations that they were serving God 'in thy name' is hypocritical. "Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity." (Matt.7:22-23) How Luther's word on justification has been twisted to mean faith alone is required is what the imposter churches teach. Without being led by the Spirit and treating the flesh as dead they are still creating a wicked and adulterous generation. Without faith their work is that of those that work iniquity.
"Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his./ And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness."(vv.9-10)
"Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us."
'In all these things' refers to v.34 "shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?" Shall these things separate us from the love of Christ?
On one hand we have 'love of Christ' which in the sight of God is what our physical body can quite comprehend but it is faith given its full scope ,- so trust explains our part,- and intercessory aspect of faith is on the other pinion, of our being hid in Christ and it is what the Spirit shall attend to. In vv.26-27 we have this assurance," but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered./And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God".Without faith on our part this love of Christ is merely eyewash. It is not our flesh but faith that makes the connection.Both man and angel have equal part as this verse explains, "Be merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto me: for my soul trusteth in thee: yea, in the shadow of thy wings will I make my refuge, until these calamities be overpast."(Ps.57:1)
Significance of "In the shadow of thy wings" is same as in the Song of Moses,"He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty./I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust."
There is only one measurement in the world of the Spirit, to which we have been called according to his purpose. So the love of Christ is interchangeable with that of God. This explains the fulness of God in Christ. "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God,"(v.28)
Without doing the will of God all these profession of faith is merely lip service."Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils?
All things associated with the fulness of God in Jesus Christ is the core value. Not material wealth not praise of men but whom God did not spare for our sakes. If the world hated him we also shall be hated. So all things we need consider within the frame of reference to Jesus Christ. "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?"(v.35).
"It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us," so whatever happens is according to his purpose. "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." This is good when we dod share certain things that he also suffered in his body. "When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory."(Col.3:4)
If we are dead to the flesh, is loss if dust to dust returns. It follows law of nature. But we who are in the Spirit are under the Law of the Spirit. " For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,/Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. " This is what the Law has spoken and it is according to the divine Will.
"If God be for us, who can be against us?/ He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?"
It is with him that God gives us 'all things'. James in his epistle tells we were made a new creation not of ourselves but of his own will." Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights...."(Jas.1:17-18). Firstly these things delineate the fulness of God in him for his glory, so Constantine I using it to ensure his claim to the throne of Caesars, was not according to his purpose. " All things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose," claimed by the Caesar Constantine did not work together for his son whom on some specious charge he had killed. Neither did it good for the empire since it was soon split into two and the same controversy followed the Mother church at every turn. God had cast off the nation of Israel and as warned by his Son. Yet the Pope would create a holy war in order to retrieve Jerusalem, a conflict that haunts to this day.
The second century church father's homily, coming down to us "the blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church,"has become a double edged sword with the inquisitions, religious wars so the evil that was outside simply got within, so we may well heed the warning of Jesus, "But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep./ The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep." ( John 10:12-13) For the robbers and thieves, 'all things' have been what is tangible, wealth titles, landed property megachurches, power over life and death over men and pomp and circumstance of their cloth. Jesus would call them,"for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, "(Matt.23:27)
Do we have to look in the mirror to see how closer we conform in the image of his Son? The Law of the Spirit underpins these growing in grace, being hid in Christ. "Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty./But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord."(2 Co.3:17-18)
There is sequence in the manner the lump of leaven can transform the whole batch of meal. "Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified."(v.30)
His calling and gifts are irrevocable. The Lord is good and he also is co-signatory to the everlasting covenant. So he chided Jonah for putting his personal prejudices before his ministry."And should not I spare Nineveh, that great city, wherein are more than sixscore thousand persons that cannot discern between their right hand and their left hand; and also much cattle?"( Jonah 4:11) Jonah must been like some of these Evangelicals who let the colour and race come between their own salvation and calling. If one fool of a politician suggest millions of migrants be in one fell swoop be seized by the army and deported, these 'ministers' find that is good. "The Lord hath made all things for himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil."(Pr.16:4) The Lord alone is good and the manner the rogues have hijacked the word to impose their own prejudices and make evil for good, the Spirit has a warning for them. These wicked who lies and spread disinformation did not get to the position by their merits. God set them up for the day of evil. It has to come before the Age of apostles should continue as before. God knows how to keep His saints in that day.
The word "good" as with "absolutely" are two words in my opinion, the most abused simply because the ungodly use them to mean something else. 'Every home with a carport' was a sign of the good times but now anyone with an axe to grind, simply use one to plough into an unsuspecting crowd crowd, to cause untold damages.God alone is good and absolute but without trusting Him what the godless is what we get. Law of the Spirit use the word of God with a purpose. It is Person specific. Consider this verse."For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren."(v.29). God decrees a day,'Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee./Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance." (Ps.2:7-8) If the Son asks 'the heathen' will He not give him just that? The everlasting covenant with which the Bible begins is just that. Without believing it the imposter church has completely disrupted the Age of Apostles with their travesty of 'new norms' and the Christian world is solely to blame if a Christian father gives his son for glock when he asks one. the boy already has been bitten by the 'wannahaves' as influencers. "If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?(Matt.7:11) Many have problem to understand the idea of predestination. They forget the Word made flesh is the same yesterday, today and forever'. The omnipotent God foreknows those who are His. Jesus asked of Him and given them for his inheritance. I do not find any impossibility here. Jesus makes it clear," For I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came out from thee, and they have believed that thou didst send me."( John 17:8)
Do we have to look in the mirror to see how closer we conform?
Remember that Jesus will never leave you or forsake. His promise of the holy spirit indwelling you is true and reliable. Seek His guidance as you read His Word. Psalms is a good place to read because David had many highs and lows, gains and losses in his life and he wrote so openly and passionately about them in His conversations and worship with God.
We can always be helped by the prayers of others. May prayer be a strong and steady practice in our daily lives because our needs are truly deeper than we really know. But God knows, and the Spirit who lives in us prays with us. How wonderful is this great blessing we receive freely from the Lord!
Hello Sandra, today I lift up your unspoken request knowing the the Holy Spirit knows all of your needs and will intercede for you along with us as we pray.
I am so happy that you have been drawn to Christ by our God and Father. He has made you new in His Son and redeemed you from so much. How great is our God!
We all can do some repenting from certain ways of thinking. One day we will all have a mid like Jesus has, that only thinks what is good and right before the Father and a mind that obeys without considering not to obey. But for now in this life, we battle against our sinfulness in our mind. We aim to take every thought captive to God's Word, being sober minded and not delighting in base and useless kinds of thinking, idle thoughts, and those that bring us into temptation in so many ways.
"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose."
Here we have the two wings of Christian Living. On one hand we have those 'who are called according to his purpose'. On the other those 'who love God'. These are two witnesses: these are like olive trees ,"These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth."(Ro.11:4). These two pinions have a body which is the building of God eternal in heavens so being hid in Christ means man called according to God's purpose, and his works while in his vile body are as though Christ in him did. Where is Christ seated? He sat down "sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high." Under the Law of the Spirit he has his covered in the other pinion which establishes his love of Christ. It is what v.27 says, "And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God." This part is called 'angel.' There is only single measurement for the holy city of God, man-angel ("according to the measure of a man, that is, of the angel"-Ro.21:17)
God makes angels spirits, "and his ministers a flaming fire."(Ps.104:4). We see how Moses, Elijah and prophets of old stood upto the wickedness,"And if any man will hurt them, fire proceedeth out of their mouth, and devoureth their enemies: and if any man will hurt them, he must in this manner be killed./These have power to shut heaven, that it rain not in the days of their prophecy: and have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to smite the earth with all plagues." It is what the Law of the Spirit executes. The angel part is witness to the mind of the Spirit,"because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God." The man is hid in Christ in heavenly places, his faith meanwhile works as the two witnesses do testify. We are more than conquerors.
My hospital stay which ended a year ago for Appendicitis lasted almost 3 weeks total with complications. The "spiritual" ER for me was having someone ask if they could pray for me who was actually a Christian (not always certain given the denomination of the hospital). Some years back my former roomate who started a nursing home ministry about 25 years ago now went with me a couple times and wasn't afraid to discuss life's brevity and give a clear Gospel presentation to people in the last stages of life; as well as with his own mother who came to the Lord the last couple months of her life after years of effort. Enough time in these environments and you see people pass on; some of who clearly knew the Lord and others who didn't. The particular residence was technically a rehabilitation center; thus occasionally young people would come in and even in those cases you don't know how much time is left and neither do they. It takes patience and wisdom to know how much time to spend with particular people; some of whom want to get a rise out of any interaction and the conversation gets crude rather quickly. Such an environment certainly helps one with serving people whether or not we are spiritually gifted in that area. In helping those down and out in other environments wisdom of s similar nature is needed; particularly when they are asking for a handout.
In short; it shouldn't have to be a mutually exclusive question if we should have to show compassion on a human level as well as proclaim the Gospel. We still are called to help meet the needs of others we encounter whenever possible whether or not they are open to the truth. What we don't do is dumb down the Gospel to a more "user friendly" lukewarm message to try to make them "feel good". We are ambassadors of the Truth; and shouldn't be ashamed of the Gospel; nonetheless it is pointless to have to shove it down the throats of others. Who we serve should be clear.
Ii agree with you for your upcoming surgery. I will be praying for all to go well and for a quick and complete recovery.
I agree with you in prayer for your family and for mine. It is a pleasure to pray for our loved ones-those who know the Lord and those who don't or who have strayed.
The Israelites loathed manna because their heart was not right before God. In this apathy for wholesome gospel the imposter church is following the same slippery slope to perdition. "But now our soul is dried away: there is nothing at all, beside this manna, before our eyes." (Nu.11:6) The church highjacked from the Apostolic age is a mixed multitude. They serve mammon as well. " "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?" Their nostalgia for fleshpots of Egypt we see in the manner simplicity in Christ has thrown aboard for several movements that in its merits almost nil. How long shall this silence in heaven last? As with the one week from Seventy weeks in the vision of Daniel this silence in heaven serves as a parenthesis. John tells about it, "and no man was able to enter into the temple, till the seven plagues of the seven angels were fulfilled." The work in heaven goes on despite of what the imposter church may do. It is not the work for the flesh. It is the work according to the Law where the only measurement is by whom God has justified as well as glorified. This glory of God is established in heaven.
"And the seven angels came out of the temple, having the seven plagues, clothed in pure and white linen, and having their breasts girded with golden girdles./And one of the four beasts gave unto the seven angels seven golden vials full of the wrath of God, who liveth for ever and ever./And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God, and from his power; and no man was able to enter into the temple, till the seven plagues of the seven angels were fulfilled."(15:6-8)
And when he had opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven about the space of half an hour./And I saw the seven angels which stood before God; and to them were given seven trumpets."
Prior to this in ch.7 we have more or less the same events in heaven as was at the beginning when the new song was sung (5:11-14) The elders once again show foreknowledge this time with regards to the wave of persecutions that were currently going on under Caesar Domitian. The short colloquy between Apostle John and the elder tells us that. "What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they?" It tells us that the elders identified John as coming there from among them. The line,"For the time is at hand."(1:3) sets John as a contemporary, and it is right about the nascent Apostolic age going through some 10 waves of persecution.
Leaving aside the sealing of 144,000 in Ch.7 let us trace backwards where we have the four winds "I saw in my vision by night, and, behold, the four winds of the heaven strove upon the great sea."(Dan.7:2). The commotion that spawned nations has hit the doldrums by divine command, so this continuity of the nations (that began with the night vision) is now hit a hiatus that explains the nations warring with one another; it is a sure sign to the end times. Jesus warned us. "For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places./All these are the beginning of sorrows."(Matt.24:7-8)
This silence in heaven shall be broken by the angel that has everlasting covenant to preach. (Re.14:6-7) What is this everlasting gospel but the same gospel preached by the Apostles, and the Acts is part of the Bible. The everlasting covenant and the gospel go hand in hand. The angel declares it in heaven and man treats it as manna in the wilderness was the angel's food. The silence in heaven refers to the present state.
The Authority of the seven seal is set in terms of a series of sevens which are complete in itself. First the verse, "And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth."
As soon as the Lamb has taken the book the elders worship him and sing a new song indicating what must occur with that action. It is new heaven and the new earth, proof the new creation. and the chorus along with angels reverberate from one end of heaven the other. "And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever./And the four beasts said, Amen. And the four and twenty elders fell down and worshipped him that liveth for ever and ever."(vv.13:14) The Spirit gives the unity of the Spirit, (The Lamb with seven eyes) Authority of the Spirit, (seven horns) to set the single measurement of man, angel as two pinions.
We have two sets men and angels, "And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands"(5:11)
The creature that join in singing the new song are the elect , making up the single measurement (Re.21:17) The two witnesses we see in Ch.11 represent them."These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth."
These two candlesticks standing before God are attached to the body, signified by the Lamb slain, four and twenty elders and the four beasts.
"And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof."
The Spirit sets the twenty four elders represent the body prepared for the Word become flesh. The Son of man preaches the gospel to the souls in prison for a purpose, "(For Christ) being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:/By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison."(1 Pe.3:18-19) It pleased God that in him all his fulness should dwell. As Word made flesh his fulness covers the heaven, earth and the lower part. The tag for the Son 3x8 makes up the sum of four and twenty elders. This body is one, memorial of which has foreknowledge possible only because the Word was made flesh.
One of the elders, the spokesman refers to him as the root of David, meaning he is the Lord. (Re.22:16;Is.11:10) Alpha and Omega aspect of the Son sets him as the root of Jesse as well as the root of David. This point forms the basis by which Jesus was able to silence the Pharisees, "If David then call him Lord, how is he his son?"(Matt.22:45)
We have the Lamb given a body, or rather the divine Will given a tangible form, so the body prepared in the world unseen, is translated into the world (made to appear) is a throne as well. It is thus the throne of God is hyphenated with the throne of the Lamb and consequently both worlds framed by the word of God is completed in heaven and the light of the Lamb is its manifestation.
The number seven, significance of which is same as the seven days in the everlasting covenant. Authority of the covenant between God and Man is established here as well. Thus when the Lamb opens the seal, and it is serially and sequentially as well so we entries and exits through the heaven earth and lower parts. The first seal points to the rider on the white horse, "and he went forth conquering, and to conquer."
"a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals"
The Spirit gives us a physical book so we shall treat it as such. The Book of remembrance, the right hand, backside are to be understood for what is the intent of the Spirit. He concretises the unseen aspects of the divine Will in a manner the reader shall understand. The book written within and on the backside for example we shall consider here. The worlds framed by the word of God have the unseen word which is divine Will and what was made to appear and it has a beginning as well its fulfilment. (He.11:3) What is written within is followed by what is on the backside or what shall be revealed in the fulness of time. It is in this sense the Spirit sets the Lord God speak as follows, "And it shall come to pass, while my glory passeth by, that I will put thee in a clift of the rock, and will cover thee with my hand while I pass by:/And I will take away mine hand, and thou shalt see my back parts."(Ex.33:22-23). The Spirit gives additional clue, and 'the clift in the rock' is with reference to 'the rock from which ye are hewn", the Rock of ages,,- the Son "Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person," (He.1:3;Is.51:1-3)
The book is sealed with seven which is another tag to indicate the day decreed for the Son is complete and the seal is the divine emblem, for Authority. "And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon./ And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon./And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof." (vv.2-5) Significance is clear In Jesus Christ is the fulness of God. He 'has prevailed upon' and how and why we understand: 'the slain Lamb', the Word become flesh.
"And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals."
The Spirit uses the right hand to indicate Jesus Chrst as in this Psalm, "Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore."(Ps.16:11). Here are two more references, "Let thy hand be upon the man of thy right hand, upon the son of man whom thou madest strong for thyself." and "And the vineyard which thy right hand hath planted, and the branch that thou madest strong for thyself." (Ps.80:17,15). The throne that St John refers to the Lord God. The right hand indicates the Word made flesh in the context, considering that the Lamb slain who shall take the book with seals refers to the body that God has prepared for him. Before the Lamb would open the seals the Spirit is setting the entire day decreed for the Son within the chapter. Thus we shall consider this chapter and the one preceding it as an exercise orienting the readers with the Revelation of Jesus Christ in terms of the body' Thou has prepared me'
The body has a memorial and it is what the four and twenty elders signifies. According to the everlasting covenant God and his Son, the Fellowship of God and Man has a facsimile as it were, enshrined before the throne. To this primary relationship we also have His creation in the four beasts pendent which refers to the last Adam and the four beasts. As with the right hand of him who sat on the throne indicates the Word ecome flesh, the beast with the face of man, the third beast refers to Jesus Christ the Last Adam. This entire scene is set up by the Spirit where the Law of the Spirit has its own logic, time element so we shall benefit only by suspension of disbelief. If we willing accord it to the author of the book we read, is it too much to ask?
"Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart." ( Psalm 37:4).
In continuing on the theme of my last posting; having thoughts about spiritual matters can only be right if focused on the Prince of Peace. Until we start having unity with the Spirit we cannot comprehend or desire to see things come to pass that are His will and part of His plan. The living Word must transform our hearts to be receptive to these matters so we can pray in the Spirit.
The Tribulation; therefore is executed with the victory already secure; but each judgment in tempo with increasing intensity; I could compare music such as the 1812 Overture as the best example. In a recent comment by someone tied into the Presidential race for a particular party (I will as usual leave out names) stated that; literally there is "no rest for the wicked" as to the lack of time for being able to make public appearances. There surely is no rest for the wicked; and you can be sure no matter how carefully they try to sweep everything under the rug all things will be revealed. Isaiah 26:21 assures us that the dead will someday no longer be hidden.
God will surely remove His Bride; but in the meantime death and destruction march on. Every opportunity to spread the Good News must continue whenever opportunity presents itself. We have the assurance that He is with us even unto the end of the age. We don't know how long we have but seeing that many events that involve the end of the church age and the terrible times coming persecution could certainly worsen exponentially in the few years or months right before the Rapture. Again to review there is direct persecution and there is deception of all sorts of worldly things. There is a great calling as well to warn those who think they are in the faith to test themselves and that they must deny ungodliness and lifestyles which disqualify us to inherit the Kingdom.
I have felt the Spirit's prompting to post these commentaries before the upcoming weekend. I know better than to set dates but September is something to consider as to the upcoming Jewish feasts of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur IF indeed the unknown day and hour COULD be a veiled reference to that being the time of the Rapture and if the Tribulation starts immediately after 7 years before the Second Coming (or at least approximately).
I can't help but think of that old story of the boy who cried wolf in regard to this event. The great wolf actually (I just realized this) is coming in the form of the Antichrist and his false prophet. If we think of how long much of the world has gone since the atomic era began and the only time it was used in war in 1945 and the economy of much of the "free world" that somehow has remained afloat despite TRILLIONS in debt over generations to this point it is only the grace of God holding back complete destruction. Hence the trap that scripture speaks about; the sudden destruction of 2 Thessalonians surely is near.
In terms of the church; I would surmise that in all the lukewarmness and politically correct lingo we also are afraid to say that we are going to literally rule and reign with Christ over the earth in the Millennium. As with anything else it is our heart attitude that counts; and the Lord will reveal it. Nonetheless this reality needs to be expressed on occasion as it is our Master and Lord Christ Jesus who will rule and reign on the earth. We are part of that new government that Isaiah promises will come when Jesus rules with perfect righteousness. I will leave the name out purposely here but one rather popular charismatic preacher always likes to introduce his sermons with "everything is going down" in this world except for Christ's truths in the Word.
We however are "going up". Let us as Luke emphatically states pray always that we are worthy to escape all things to come.
Those who view this event as primarily a method of escape perhaps I could describe as someone who eats a wedding cake and describes it as sweet. The depth of meaning here is the joy of the reunion of the saints; but it also is only relatable to those who are now seated in heavenly places and having regular discourse and communications with the Lord and therefore hear His voice.
For a believer; of course there is anticipation of an escape from a fallen body and a final death blow to any possibility of sin to ever mar the experience of fellowship with the Lord forevermore. There is an escape from a fallen world and of course the horrors of the Tribulation and God's wrath to come. As to His unexpected arrival; I can't help remembering Sept 11 2001 which was a nice sunny day in my part of the country as well as at ground zero in all the places which were attacked. Some have theorized that as we go up there will come down missiles and or demons. For the first seal to come afterwards it would seem that whatever accompanies the rapture will appear to be some sort of utopian dream at first which would relate to the confirming of the Daniel 9:27 covenant.
The best way I can describe what I believe to be this experience as to those participating in it will be an indescribably powerful surge of the Holy Spirit that translates us from our terrestrial to celestial bodies where God's church that is now being used to hold back the evil to come through the particular ministry of the Spirit being removed.
Describing this reunion with long deceased believers and with the Lord is beyond words.
Agape.
In the second para instead of 'can' read as 'cannot' quite comprehend.
In continuation, we can say that faith with works is in shifting our lives from being subject to the flesh and its demands to that of the Spirit. " For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace." (v.8)
Without being subject to the Law of the Spirit and being led, our protestations that they were serving God 'in thy name' is hypocritical. "Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity." (Matt.7:22-23) How Luther's word on justification has been twisted to mean faith alone is required is what the imposter churches teach. Without being led by the Spirit and treating the flesh as dead they are still creating a wicked and adulterous generation. Without faith their work is that of those that work iniquity.
"Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his./ And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness."(vv.9-10)
"Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us."
'In all these things' refers to v.34 "shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?" Shall these things separate us from the love of Christ?
On one hand we have 'love of Christ' which in the sight of God is what our physical body can quite comprehend but it is faith given its full scope ,- so trust explains our part,- and intercessory aspect of faith is on the other pinion, of our being hid in Christ and it is what the Spirit shall attend to. In vv.26-27 we have this assurance," but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered./And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God".Without faith on our part this love of Christ is merely eyewash. It is not our flesh but faith that makes the connection.Both man and angel have equal part as this verse explains, "Be merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto me: for my soul trusteth in thee: yea, in the shadow of thy wings will I make my refuge, until these calamities be overpast."(Ps.57:1)
Significance of "In the shadow of thy wings" is same as in the Song of Moses,"He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty./I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust."
There is only one measurement in the world of the Spirit, to which we have been called according to his purpose. So the love of Christ is interchangeable with that of God. This explains the fulness of God in Christ. "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God,"(v.28)
Without doing the will of God all these profession of faith is merely lip service."Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils?
All things associated with the fulness of God in Jesus Christ is the core value. Not material wealth not praise of men but whom God did not spare for our sakes. If the world hated him we also shall be hated. So all things we need consider within the frame of reference to Jesus Christ. "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?"(v.35).
"It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us," so whatever happens is according to his purpose. "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." This is good when we dod share certain things that he also suffered in his body. "When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory."(Col.3:4)
If we are dead to the flesh, is loss if dust to dust returns. It follows law of nature. But we who are in the Spirit are under the Law of the Spirit. " For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,/Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. " This is what the Law has spoken and it is according to the divine Will.
"If God be for us, who can be against us?/ He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?"
It is with him that God gives us 'all things'. James in his epistle tells we were made a new creation not of ourselves but of his own will." Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights...."(Jas.1:17-18). Firstly these things delineate the fulness of God in him for his glory, so Constantine I using it to ensure his claim to the throne of Caesars, was not according to his purpose. " All things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose," claimed by the Caesar Constantine did not work together for his son whom on some specious charge he had killed. Neither did it good for the empire since it was soon split into two and the same controversy followed the Mother church at every turn. God had cast off the nation of Israel and as warned by his Son. Yet the Pope would create a holy war in order to retrieve Jerusalem, a conflict that haunts to this day.
The second century church father's homily, coming down to us "the blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church,"has become a double edged sword with the inquisitions, religious wars so the evil that was outside simply got within, so we may well heed the warning of Jesus, "But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep./ The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep." ( John 10:12-13) For the robbers and thieves, 'all things' have been what is tangible, wealth titles, landed property megachurches, power over life and death over men and pomp and circumstance of their cloth. Jesus would call them,"for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, "(Matt.23:27)
Do we have to look in the mirror to see how closer we conform in the image of his Son? The Law of the Spirit underpins these growing in grace, being hid in Christ. "Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty./But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord."(2 Co.3:17-18)
There is sequence in the manner the lump of leaven can transform the whole batch of meal. "Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified."(v.30)
His calling and gifts are irrevocable. The Lord is good and he also is co-signatory to the everlasting covenant. So he chided Jonah for putting his personal prejudices before his ministry."And should not I spare Nineveh, that great city, wherein are more than sixscore thousand persons that cannot discern between their right hand and their left hand; and also much cattle?"( Jonah 4:11) Jonah must been like some of these Evangelicals who let the colour and race come between their own salvation and calling. If one fool of a politician suggest millions of migrants be in one fell swoop be seized by the army and deported, these 'ministers' find that is good. "The Lord hath made all things for himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil."(Pr.16:4) The Lord alone is good and the manner the rogues have hijacked the word to impose their own prejudices and make evil for good, the Spirit has a warning for them. These wicked who lies and spread disinformation did not get to the position by their merits. God set them up for the day of evil. It has to come before the Age of apostles should continue as before. God knows how to keep His saints in that day.
The word "good" as with "absolutely" are two words in my opinion, the most abused simply because the ungodly use them to mean something else. 'Every home with a carport' was a sign of the good times but now anyone with an axe to grind, simply use one to plough into an unsuspecting crowd crowd, to cause untold damages.God alone is good and absolute but without trusting Him what the godless is what we get. Law of the Spirit use the word of God with a purpose. It is Person specific. Consider this verse."For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren."(v.29). God decrees a day,'Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee./Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance." (Ps.2:7-8) If the Son asks 'the heathen' will He not give him just that? The everlasting covenant with which the Bible begins is just that. Without believing it the imposter church has completely disrupted the Age of Apostles with their travesty of 'new norms' and the Christian world is solely to blame if a Christian father gives his son for glock when he asks one. the boy already has been bitten by the 'wannahaves' as influencers. "If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?(Matt.7:11) Many have problem to understand the idea of predestination. They forget the Word made flesh is the same yesterday, today and forever'. The omnipotent God foreknows those who are His. Jesus asked of Him and given them for his inheritance. I do not find any impossibility here. Jesus makes it clear," For I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came out from thee, and they have believed that thou didst send me."( John 17:8)
Do we have to look in the mirror to see how closer we conform?
I will pray for you tonight.
Remember that Jesus will never leave you or forsake. His promise of the holy spirit indwelling you is true and reliable. Seek His guidance as you read His Word. Psalms is a good place to read because David had many highs and lows, gains and losses in his life and he wrote so openly and passionately about them in His conversations and worship with God.
We can always be helped by the prayers of others. May prayer be a strong and steady practice in our daily lives because our needs are truly deeper than we really know. But God knows, and the Spirit who lives in us prays with us. How wonderful is this great blessing we receive freely from the Lord!
I am so happy that you have been drawn to Christ by our God and Father. He has made you new in His Son and redeemed you from so much. How great is our God!
We all can do some repenting from certain ways of thinking. One day we will all have a mid like Jesus has, that only thinks what is good and right before the Father and a mind that obeys without considering not to obey. But for now in this life, we battle against our sinfulness in our mind. We aim to take every thought captive to God's Word, being sober minded and not delighting in base and useless kinds of thinking, idle thoughts, and those that bring us into temptation in so many ways.
I am very happy to pray for you today.
"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose."
Here we have the two wings of Christian Living. On one hand we have those 'who are called according to his purpose'. On the other those 'who love God'. These are two witnesses: these are like olive trees ,"These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth."(Ro.11:4). These two pinions have a body which is the building of God eternal in heavens so being hid in Christ means man called according to God's purpose, and his works while in his vile body are as though Christ in him did. Where is Christ seated? He sat down "sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high." Under the Law of the Spirit he has his covered in the other pinion which establishes his love of Christ. It is what v.27 says, "And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God." This part is called 'angel.' There is only single measurement for the holy city of God, man-angel ("according to the measure of a man, that is, of the angel"-Ro.21:17)
God makes angels spirits, "and his ministers a flaming fire."(Ps.104:4). We see how Moses, Elijah and prophets of old stood upto the wickedness,"And if any man will hurt them, fire proceedeth out of their mouth, and devoureth their enemies: and if any man will hurt them, he must in this manner be killed./These have power to shut heaven, that it rain not in the days of their prophecy: and have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to smite the earth with all plagues." It is what the Law of the Spirit executes. The angel part is witness to the mind of the Spirit,"because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God." The man is hid in Christ in heavenly places, his faith meanwhile works as the two witnesses do testify. We are more than conquerors.