The Devotional – 1416 – Another sign of the time

The Devotional – 1416 – Another sign of the time

Proverbs31:10-12 – Who can find a virtuous (valor and excellence) wife? For her worth is far above rubies. The heart of her husband safely trusts her, so he will have no lack of gain. She does him good and not evil, all of her days.

 

 Comments and challenges

If you feel besieged by life today, lean on the God of peace -- the God of hope and the future. The same God who has a plan for Israel has a plan for you. Trust that He will direct your path (Dr. David Jeremiah’s daily devotional dated 1/31/2014).

Being overwhelmed is not foreign to anyone; a sudden intrusion of privacy or a seven year old with a knife and anger in his or her heart. During the years of being an EMT we had occasion to go to a shelter for troubled children. Children: who for a variety of reasons were taken from their homes and placed under the care and protection of people who have the credentials to provide the therapies and drugs to keep them calm. When these children rebelled or acted independently of the controlled environment, they could be as evil as any normal adult bent on destruction of whatever may be in their way. Their strength and cunning demeanor would overwhelm any untrained person.

In the nation around us these days we are either connected to these children and their malicious malefactions as someone related or we are eye-witnesses of the results. It is not the weapon of choice that is available to the child that is the cause of any death or injury resulting from one of these emotional melt-downs. And to just add another thought to this overwhelming problem in our society. It is not the various actions or reactions of people in a local community when these events override the normal daily life and liberty that was so overwhelmingly snatched from them.

Yesterday we discussed the political position of the nation and I would like to insert a comment from a very close brother in Christ and friend. I suppose I should ask his permission; but I trust he will be okay with this since I will keep his name private.

((I did not listen (or, forbid, watch) the President's SOTU speech, but did read some reviews and excerpts.

It seems to me that it was very good - it stated exactly what the state of our union is! And that is very discouraging (would be frightening if we were not aware of God's sovereignty). There are cases where God protected essentially all of His people when He brought judgment (Egypt) and others where innocents among His people suffered (Assyria and Babylon) (Tribulation saints) when God judged the nation(s). So, I think, we must be ready to suffer when our country comes under His judgment, but even if that suffering is ahead for you and I, we still have His sure promises of a joyous eternity with Him.

The question, I think, that individual believers and that our local church must ask is this: How do we best prepare for what may be impending judgment that we may experience prior to the rapture? And how do we best prepare the coming generation of believers? The first I suppose is to make known the very clear possibility of a coming judgment on our country . . . then . . .)).

I agree with the statement above fully and I believe in my heart that the pending judgment of God for this nation or nations is imminent and while seeking to inform ALL, I also seek to encourage the saints of God to get up off their duffs and get on their knees. Those of us who are believers of God through the sacrifice of the LAMB (Jesus the Messiah) and involved in a local assembly must be prepared for national judgment. In saying this; it is not if it comes, but when it does there will be persecution – not on those who are unbelieving but on the believing.

In the past we have talked about the five cycles of discipline recorded in the Old Testament that are statutes (unchangeable law) of God to Israel or any nation who identifies The God of the Holy Bible as the Creator, but rejects Him along the way. While we do not have time today to search out these wonderful statutes (well maybe you do) so here is the scripture for you to follow up on. Leviticus 26:14-39, these are the judgments. Yet the whole of the chapter speaks to the reader in three parts. Verses 1 – 13 explain national prosperity for the nation when that nation follows after God; and verses 40-46 promise restoration of the nation when they as a whole confesses and forsakes their sin.

 

Only (now listen up you unbelieving) ONLY those men, women, children and those not accountable (young children and those who are not capable of understanding the gospel) who believe the gospel (The Death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ, the LAMB) will be saved from the final judgment explained by Jesus Himself in the gospel of John; lets read it together.

John 11:25 -26 – I am the resurrection and the Life, He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die.

Now this is not the whole of those two verses of scripture and does not explain the context around this statement of Jesus Christ the Son of the Living God. The contexts begins in verse 1 and continues to verse 27, also please note; when you read this whole segment that you will see what Jesus said to Martha in verse 26 after the statement above. “Do you believe this?”

What would be your response? Well if you say YES I believe as Martha did in verse 27 you can know that while the judgment on our beloved nation may be fulfilled and while we may see overwhelming things increased to the final hour; those who say yea and amen to the gospel of God have a promise from The God of the Bible, John 14:1-6. And of course if you reject this TRUTH you will be overpowered with a promise from The God of the Bible (a promise to His saints; but explains the final justice or judgment of God for the unbelieving), found in the epistles of Peter. 2 Peter 3:10-13.

The Devotional – 1415 – The sign of the time; “NO FEAR”!

The Devotional – 1415 – The sign of the time; “NO FEAR”!

Proverbs 29:25 – The fear of man brings a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD shall be safe. (The word “safe” literally means to be set on high).

 

 Comments and challenges

What does it mean for you and me to have fear? Men and women alike face dangers all day long, some of these dangers we expect and move into without much consideration; one of which is driving a vehicle. Whether we know it or not, there are more people (just in the United States alone) who die or who are injured for life in automobile accidents annually than in any war we Americans have faced. So there is this fear, but it is accepted!

Fears that seemingly come out of nowhere (like a potential auto accident), or the feeling of someone watching you, fears like these are a daily experience of life and we are aware to be on alert. Once when I was a child I had just finished with supper and we were always to bring our dishes to the kitchen sink so mom could clean them up for the next meal. As I went by the window that faced the side of the house where the driveway was I thought I saw someone staring in at me.

Another quick look and yes there was someone there; I threw my plate right through the window only to see my cousin’s face. His smile faded as his eyes became as large as the plate. No one got hurt thankfully as the screen stopped the broken pieces of window and plate, but my dad was not happy it was winter and now we had a broken window. This kind of fear is one of those characteristics that is not debilitating but none the less it is always ready to make itself known.

There are other, more intense fears; fears that cripple us mentally and if not corrected will cause real physical harm as the years roll by, in fact the physical harm of unchecked fear is more injurious to the body than any physical injury caused by an auto accident or broken window. These fears have caused most people of the nation we live in to become “drug dependent” Anxiety, depression, loneliness, obesity, guilt and other phobias not mentioned. Now you do not have to worry, go ahead and mention yours… no one is listening except the One who really cares and will help.

In every Book of the Holy Bible there are events recorded of fear and of how people dealt with the moments of fear or the season of time having to face various fears. In Genesis 12:12 Abram (Abraham) was afraid for his life before the Egyptian (Pharaoh) so Abram caused his bride, Sarai to lie. Please take the time to read Genesis 12:10-20. Now guess what? If you do not deal with the fears in your life you will repeat your lie sometime in the future. Note Genesis 20:1-18.

Someone has said; “there is nothing to fear except fear itself” I believe that was Winston Churchill; I suppose I could google that as I have a fear that I might be wrong and yes it was his contemporary, Theodore Roosevelt! Yep, it is a good thing my fear directed me to google it, sometimes fear works in our favor. So you can easily see that fear is one of those conditions in a person heart that always positions itself to either bat you around like the rubber ball on a rubber string attached to a wooden paddle or warn you that the paddle is approaching. Who holds the paddle? We do.

We deal with fear every day; most debilitating fear is the result of a lack of faith, not in yourself, but in God; note that if you know the paddle is coming you know enough to avoid it. Debilitating fear is different; we do not know enough to deal with it, so to solve these we turn to drugs instead of God. One thing about a drug, we can never stop taking it for fear that we will go out and commit the very thing we fear which is “living or having purpose for living”.

Without Faith in God there is NO reason to LIVE because the purpose to LIVE does not exist in our mind. I want to do more with this “fear and faith” in the days ahead so I will stop for now. Thank you for reading these devotionals, I hope you find them challenging. I know when I read these as, God will challenge me! I read each one, more than once each day. Have a godly day, for God is totally in your day whether you care to know it or not.

The Devotional – 1414 – God is Awesome!

The Devotional – 1414 – God is Awesome!

Proverbs 27:18 – Whoever keeps (protects or tends) the fig tree will eat of its fruit; so he who waits on his master will be honored.

 

 Comments and challenges

When is the last time you defended the tree in your yard? Protecting it from conditions like cold snaps or heat waves; young plants like children need attention but once the tree reaches maturity it will (yet with a little tender care from time to time) on its own be productive. However as the tree ages, the majesty of such a giant in the yard begins to fade, also it can become a danger. Again, to put this in perspective with humans, an older tree might show conditions of weakness, disease and fatigue. Yet all is not in vain since the tree without complaint will give up its life to warm a home or even in its prime without a whisper of alarm help to build one.

I do not remember in my younger days of walking to school, the play yard or the golf course to caddie seeing rotting trees lying on their side in the woods. I do not recall the woods of my early years being anything other than beautiful to the eyes and sweet smelling to the nose. Even my ears were in tune with those noises of life making melody as nature waited eagerly for the coming of the LORD (Romans 8-19). I do not know about you; but it literally breaks my heart these days to see the condition of our woodlands, grasslands and water ways. Not forgetting the condition of our rotting homes these days.

Yes I am guilty too of trashing the land around me; even the home in times past. And just this past Friday I was mildly reprimanded for tossing a piece of chewing gum out the window of my pickup by my companion and friend sitting next to me. Even though his words where not acknowledged, they were heard and the verse of scripture above Proverbs 27:18; that is verse 17, if you are like me and have trouble counting backwards reads; “As iron sharpens iron, so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend”. Now for the problem of the heart of most every man or woman and I am not saying you have a problem because if you Know Jesus, then No problem.

Jesus Christ (Messiah) now this is a thought that we seldom think… Jesus is the Messiah; He is not some mere man who walked about two thousand years ago performing magic by healing the sick and raising the dead. Jesus is the KING of the UNIVERSE. Jesus is the LIVING WORD of our God: “And God said”; Genesis 1:3, 6, 9, 14, 20, 24, 26 and 29. John 1:1-4 and 14; also 1 John 1:1-4. For me this is most Awesome! The Living Word is the Messiah who came and died for your sins and mine and who rose (alive) from that death, the grave did not keep HIM, why? Because He is MESSIAH and EMMANUAL (God with us). Christ is not the surname of the man Jesus, Messiah is Jesus; He is the anointed ONE.

Everyone who comes to Jesus will not be ashamed or disappointed. Romans 10:8-13 – But what does it say? "The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart" (that is, the word of faith which we preach): that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the Scripture says, "Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame." For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. For "whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved."

The Devotional – 1413 – Biblical Words and more Honey!

The Devotional – 1413 – Biblical Words and more Honey!

Proverbs 24:13-14 – My son, ear honey because it is GOOD, and the honeycomb which is sweet to your taste; so shall the knowledge of wisdom be to your soul; if you have found it, there is a prospect and your hope will not be cut off.

 

 Comments and challenges

The section of Proverbs above is excellent for finishing up our brief look at the wisdoms of the world around us. Before I continue I have noticed several typographical errors in past devotionals… I do apologize, and will seek to be more cautious as I travel through the cutting and shaping of every future paragraph.

In the 2 Samuel 1 passages we discovered that Solomon was blessed with being the wisest of men, also he was one of the wealthiest men of his time too. I wonder how we view the man and the blessings afforded to him by God. I suppose there are some who could be jealous, some who think that God plays favorites or that God is even some sort of magician. However, if you mind is bent to think these sort of things or any other thing that distracts from the truth, then you are “out of line” and stand in the judgment of condemnation with the world around you.

Character and integrity are not blessings from God as God is not a respecter of persons, Acts 10:34 and the book of Proverbs clearly expresses this truth. Also, if the character of a man or woman and the integrity that unfolds from them were blessings of God then these attributes would not change. For example; the wealth and Wisdom of Solomon did not fail in his life, only his character and integrity did with the knowledge of using his blessings to sin.

This is the importance of the last few days of looking at the four known wisdom revealed to mankind in time. Let’s review what those wisdoms are: (1) The Wisdom of God (2) the wisdom of angelic beings, (3) the wisdom of the world, and (4) the wisdom of man. We started to look into this because of a conversation I had with someone a few weeks back regarding the location of Satan’s place of existence.

I think in order for you and me to understand something of this that it is necessary to first have knowledge of God, of angels, of the world and of mankind. No one would attempt to be an engineer of a train if there were not first some training; for sure I would like to know where the brake is located. Even in this brief study I have become fearful that I am in over my head once again and the train is out of control!

Now there is scripture to back up all of what I am saying or intending to say, but for the sake of ending this today and seeking to prepare for more training in another state today, I must move quickly on. God is Holy set apart from all of the other wisdoms, yet He does reveal much. Deuteronomy 29:29 for example, also God is One and yet He reveals His Wisdom through His Son and the Holy Spirit – the Gospel of John explains much of this.

Man’s wisdom is primarily dependent on the other three, if the mind is God conscious all three wisdoms work in the person. If not then the person is limited to the wisdom of the world and angelic wisdom. Reference to this is the entire Word of the Living God, just pick a section and study. Angelic wisdom, speaking of the fallen angels is located in the realm identified in Ephesians 6:12 – For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.

Paul in his epistle of 2 Corinthians speaks of being caught up to the “third” heaven, the place where God is so this explains to us plainly that there are two other heavens. My thoughts on this have always been, but these of course are my thoughts and are subject to failure. (1) The first heaven is the universe around us, that which we can see (2) the second heaven is the principalities and powers of darkness that rules the world’s wisdom. And of course the apostle clearly explains the existence of the third heaven. 2 Corinthians 12:1-6.

The wisdom of the world is a separate wisdom, the world system is a system of good and evil or that which God forbad mankind to involve him-self with. Genesis 2:8-18. The Tree of Life is the Wisdom of God and God gave mankind this Tree to sustain man’s life eternally, Genesis 2:20-24 and Revelation 22:1-5. Satan and his fallen angels control the world in good and evil. First they disguise the world’s good in the cloak of religion 2 Corinthians 11:14-15 and there are plenty of people who are taken in by this counterfeit system of godliness.

And finally there are those people who are bent to do evil, rejecting God and everything pertaining to God and even these people can resemble some form of godliness but they deny the power of God through strong unbelief such as recorded by Jude in his epistle. These are our brothers and sister, neighbors and others in life who allow Satan to arm them with cruelties that have nothing to do with God, but are simply worshippers of self.

The Devotional – 1412 – A little stronger food

The Devotional – 1412 – A little stronger food

Proverbs 22:1 – A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, loving favor (kindness) rather than silver of gold.

 

 Comments and challenges

Matthew 5:18 speaks bold about the integrity of the Living Word of God, many of us know a part of the verse by heart and for the surrounding context we hardly know anything at all. Of course this is to our shame in that if Jesus were present with you this moment in time you would be like the two disciples on the road to Emmaus as Luke records; ‘And they said to one another’, “Did not our heart burn within us while He talked with us on the road, and while He opened the Scriptures to us?” Luke 24:32 and the whole context of this conversation is also interesting to read.

Back to the Matthew passage: Matthew 5:13-20 - "You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men. You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven”.

"Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled. Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven”.

Individually and congregationally we as saints of God through the LAMB of God, have a responsibility to the words of Jesus Christ; these short conversations with the multitudes who were listening are for you and me as well. So I am wondering; “Should we not be listening to and absorbing His conversations also, or is merely reading the words and punching the timecard in the Word sufficient?” Many churches today fail to take to heart every jot and tittle of the Living Word of God. THIS IS TO OUR SHAME!

1 Corinthians 1:23-25 – but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men. For me as I understand what the apostle Paul is saying here, I see that if God has any foolishness or weakness; we as a people saved or unsaved would never KNOW IT! Why? Because of the context: the finite wisdom of mankind is not sufficient.

Now this alone is enough to keep mankind or the world of man to know the things of God, but there is another wisdom residing in Creation which is the wisdom that God ordained for His angels. Since some of these angels are fallen creatures they use this wisdom to corrupt the wisdom of God from our viewpoint and corrupt our wisdom within our viewpoint in other words (darkness to the Light) to know anything pertaining to life and godliness. Angelic wisdom is limited though because like man’s wisdom, angelic wisdom is not OMNISCINENT nor OMNIPRESENT.

The LORD JESUS CHRIST is the POWER and THE WISDOM of GOD. Note 1 Corinthians 1:18 – For the message or literally the WORD of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. “For I will destroy the wisdom of the wise and bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent”. The cross has a message or a WORD to the wisdoms of the world and those who trash the CROSS and that word is a picture of VICTORY to those who believe and DESTRUCTION to those who do not believe.

Once again I will be cutting short on completing this devotional, but I believe that it is important that we understand that the condition of the churches today, especially in the United States of America are much like the churches in the Revelation of Jesus Christ, chapter 3:1-6 (the dead church) and the church in verses 14-22 (the lukewarm church) of the same chapter. How serious is this? IN THE HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, the birth rate of children in families of its citizens has never been so low and you know as I do. This is a rejection of mankind to the wisdom and knowledge of God. A nation that has no young people will eventually be no nation at all… pardon me… not eventually; but in your lifetime.

The Devotional – 1411 – Biblical Words flow with milk and honey!

The Devotional – 1411 – Biblical Words flow with milk and honey!

Proverbs 20:15 – There is gold and a multitude of rubies, but the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.

 

 Comments and challenges

When I was serving in the U.S. Navy there was a slogan and I am sure to get it wrong since this morning is the first time I thought of it in twenty seven years. Now there is another thought; I cannot imagine that in two more years if the LORD tarries or decides to take me home I will be retired from the Navy for as long as I served. Well this may be another story for another day. The slogan; “there is your way, my way and the Navy way to do everything” so the idea here was to do things the Navy way and save yourself a lot of rework.

Yet and I am sure it is the same in all businesses, trades and efforts of life to do things the right way, which in Navy jargon is the right way with the Navy blessing. However, it seldom takes long for the “individual mindset” and not the “corporate mindset” to find ways to cut the corners of how things are done. Sometimes these alternate methods of accomplishing a task are good and adopted by military or civilian practices and rewarded. When shaving of corners cause harm or cause damage, it is not so good and reprimand or discipline is the result.

Humanly we adopt this mindset in most everything we do, I remember my dad teaching me to tie my shoes around the age of five, right after he returned home from World War Two. Then about a year before he died I bent over to tie a lose shoelace and he watched. “Rosella”! “do you see what your son is doing, he is sixty years old and he doesn’t yet know how to tie his shoes”. In my mind the temperature went from a cool seventy degrees to somewhere near the equator!

“What do you mean I don’t know how to tie my shoes?’ “Son I taught you to run the lace over the loop not under it; no wonder you are always tying your shoes since they keep undoing the way you do it.” Well guess what, he was right I paid attention to his verbal reprimand and now my shoes stayed tied. I haven’t had a shoe come untied now for fourteen years, he would be proud that now I keep doing it the right way.

We get away with things like this in human life all too easily, but when it comes to the Living Word of God there is no opportunity to cut or shave the corners. By the way… did you pay attention here? God does not allow one jot or tittle (Matthew 5:18) to be removed or altered in His Word till all is fulfilled. For my simple way of thinking I can see in my mind that if we take our human reasoning into the spiritual disciplines of the Word of God we will come away with (carnality or as some versions of the Holy Bible say fleshly) lifestyles of modern Christianity today.

Okay! I gotta get on with it, time is working against me again and yet I suppose that if this is all I had to do I could very easily spend the day dining on milk and honey! Oh what a wonderful way to spend the day. Did you know that there are at least sixty-four sins that were active in the Corinthian church? The apostle Paul records them, but we will not count these sins or search them out. I just want to get us started on the Wisdom of God, the wisdom of man and the angelic wisdom that separates mankind from knowing God as we ought to know Him.

Now it is evident from God’s Word that He views Spiritual matters as Wisdom flowing with milk and honey, but for the nations and people groups in the world this wisdom is foolishness and to the Jew a stumbling block of offense. Spirituality is not available then to the human mindset; that is until Christ Crucified for the sin of the world is understood as the Power and Wisdom of God. 1 Corinthians 1:18-25. Once we see Jesus in this Light (John 8:12) the milk and honey of the Living Word begins flowing in our soul, or simply; Spirituality becomes real to us.

For the message of the cross is foolishness 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 bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent." Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe.

For Jews request a sign, and Greeks seek after wisdom; but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men. From this passage we can understand that God’s Wisdom is not understood with human intellect and as we move into chapter two, God explains why. Okay enough for today! Let the Word of God dwell in you today and be rich in blessings of milk and honey as the strong meat comes later in the week.

The Devotional – 1410 – Words are clouds without rain!

The Devotional – 1410 – Words are clouds without rain!

Proverbs 17:8 – A present is a precious stone in the eyes of its possessor; wherever he turns, he prospers.

 

 Comments and challenges

It seems as if most of my thoughts are founded on things of “way back yonder” now I don’t know if this qualifies as having a short term memory loss, or just reminiscing over the yonder years of way back when. However, over time and if you care to look back you should be able to see the valleys and peaks of living. Now truly there are only two ways to live life; one is for self and the other is for God. One way or the other does not eliminate the valleys, whether you live for self or for God your life will, like everyone else be full of peaks and valleys.

For most of the world around us, living for God is as foreign getting a Rhode Islander to cross the border into Massachusetts or Connecticut. Now I know you folks out west and other places who read these devotionals believe this is a New England joke, but contraire, contraire ole friend; it is true. Once some years ago we invited a family to our home in Connecticut, the family lived in Rhode Island less than twenty miles from our home. The father wanted to know if there were any motels nearby for a stay over; so we seldom invite Rhode Islanders to our home now.

Living for God or living for the world are not normal everyday thoughts for most of us so this morning my intentions is to get us moving in that direction for a brief study of 1 Corinthians. Yet and you know that I struggle with studies since I am much more the story teller than the “Bible or Pulpit Thumper” but I think the LORD is leading me to do this so I have to follow His lead. I will be starting in chapter 2, verse 7 and reading through the end of the chapter.

But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory, which none of the rulers of this age knew; for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. But as it is written: "Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him." But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God.

For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God. These things we also speak, not in words which man's wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual.

But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. But he who is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is rightly judged by no one.  For "who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct Him?" But we have the mind of Christ.

I have noticed in the study of the Word of God and when fellowshipping with others that we all share the same basic truth that Jesus Christ the Son of God is demonstrated in our hearts to be the TRUTH and that by the grace of God through faith in the Living Word (who is Christ) John 1:14 we have in our hearts this wonderful testimony of Salvation by grace through faith.

Yet and I am not sure why; there seems to be a breakdown when it comes to understanding this wisdom of God in us. In fact; I would say that for some of us the wisdom of God is like trying to drive a car if you’ve never driven one before. I am not seeking to be critical here so please pick up your spiritual armor and lay down those emotional thoughts that always seem to desire a sandwich at the banquet, instead of the full meal.

The text above plainly explains that unbelieving people are the ones who seek, speak and speed about in the world with natural mindedness. These then are not spiritually minded, nor can they be since they have no capacity for spiritual things. The things of the natural mind never incorporate or mix with the things of the Spirit of God, if the natural minded person seeks spiritual things these folks end up in religions taught by natural minded people. Therefore it is impossible for the natural minded person to understand the things that God has prepared for those who love Him.

Later in chapter three the apostle Paul speaks of these two ways of living life on this earth in this way. 1 Corinthians 3:1-4 – And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ. I fed you with milk and not with solid food; for until now you were not able to receive it, and even now you are still not able; for you are still carnal. For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men? For when one says, "I am of Paul," and another, "I am of Apollos," are you not carnal?

As I said earlier, there are only two ways to live life; for one’s self or for God, when believers have difficulty shifting gears or have difficulty with living for self or for God, the apostle Paul adds a third dimension to this by saying that those who have this difficulty are identified by him as being “carnal” or literally fleshly (natural mindedness and spiritual mindedness mixed). We have always applied the fleshy or carnal minded believer in Jesus Christ as one who likes their sins, but I want us to take a deeper look into what the apostle is may be driving at.

So for the next few days we will leave it at that, I know this is like aborting a precious moment or crossing the border from Rhode Island to Connecticut (we want to stay home in the Word, I don’t blame you me too, but time is running out). Well, there is a motel nearby but I do not recommend it, but I do recommend hymn 517 in our churches hymnals. “I’d rather have Jesus than silver or gold; I’d rather be His than have riches untold; I’d rather have Jesus than houses or lands; I’d rather be led by His nail pierced Hands.

His gift of Life to me is precious and He is my abiding place and I hope He is yours too.

The Devotional – 1409 – “Joy” always a Good Subject

The Devotional – 1409 – “Joy” always a Good Subject

Proverbs 15:13 – A merry heart makes a cheerful countenance, but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken.

 

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Many years ago one of the submarines I was stationed on was home ported in Rota, Spain. The submarine was the USS Kamehameha (SSBN 642). Those days are long since passed away, but the memories, awe yes the memories… those too are shot full of holes, so why then am I trying to reconstruct one or two of the moments? I know only about myself when it comes to memory and that is the way it should be unless we are bent on being nosy. Yet if we are bent in that direction, what we think we know is usually mixed with judgments based on our own experience; in other words whatever I judge about someone is also true of me, Romans 2:1.

One of my very first trips to Rota around 1963 was not on a submarine, but a destroyer; the USS Forrest Sherman (DD-931). After mooring to the pier we were immediately restricted to the ship. No one was allowed outside and no one was allowed to look through the portholes to the pier side of the ship. Across the pier on the other side was moored a Spanish Aircraft Carrier. The reason we could not go outside or look out the portholes was because the aircraft carrier personnel were conducting a “Hanging”. The sailor hanged was guilty of being a thief.

On one of my trips to Rota around 1976 to board the Kamehameha we were warned about going ashore in that we were required to return to the ship by 2200 hours (10pm) and not the normal time of midnight. The police, equivalent to our state troopers had raided a gypsy camp outside of Rota and kill all of the people in the camp because it was believed that these people were responsible for some thieving going on in Rota. True or false I do not know, but I did hear that the thieving continued.

Spain in those days was ruled by a dictator, his oppressive style of leadership caused an entire national collapse of joy in the land. People had little freedom, no happiness and joy was not available to anyone except those who were saved by the grace of God and of the so called gypsy camps; these were compounds of Christian believers.

Okay, why am I telling you these horrible moments in times past? In almost every visit to Rota which is more than these two, life for me there was pleasant and peaceful. When I was off duty I stayed at a Christian compound called “Victory Villa” if you go on google and type those words in you will see that the place is still active and has a very nice history. In this compound there was much “joy” sailors and other military people from the surrounding area would come together and we did sing, reminding me of Ephesians 5:15-21.

One of the churches we went to, was a converted bar room where one of the marines used to hang out in his early days in Rota. Yet when he was saved and after he retired he returned to Rota, bought the bar and converted it into a church. Military and Spanish families from all over Rota came there. I had some great fellowship both at the Villa and at the Church. Both Spanish and American people expressing “JOY” in the LORD.

As we as a nation move forward in time and space, we may see the countenance of our citizen’s fall. We do not need to go into the “why”? I am sure you know the answer, but this is what we do need to know. In the midst of all oppression and suppression there is hope and there is peace. These pockets of “joy” will be found in compounds where Jesus Christ is LORD and where families can come together; maybe not in a converted bar room, but it will be in a place where the Spirit of God can speak in Psalms and Hymns and Spiritual songs as the saints of God are found singing and making melody in their hearts to the LORD.

I miss those days in Spain, but not for long… I believe that the United States of America will face similar days in the not too distant future. Do I fret over this? NO in fact I encourage the LORD to bring it on.

The Devotional – 1408 – A father’s wisdom is valuable

The Devotional – 1408 – A father’s wisdom is valuable

Proverbs 13:1-3 – A wise son heeds his father’s instruction, but a scoffer does not listen to rebuke. A man shall eat well by the fruit of his mouth, but the soul of the unfaithful feeds on violence. He who guards his mouth preserves his life but he who opens wide his lips shall have destruction.

 

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The United States of America maintains the largest Aircraft Carrier Task Force in the world; no other country comes close in comparison but this is not the point of the matter, but the following is. Most of the carriers are nuclear powered with two or more hospitals and equipped with the latest technology and staff to treat hundreds of people. These are trauma units but these hospitals are also equipped to manage illnesses caused by world or national epidemic outbreaks.

 

The nuclear power of these ships can be rerouted to light up cities or communities with needed electricity, also there are evaporators on board that can convert thousands of gallons of salt water into fresh water, daily. Other attributes of these war vessels are galleys and cafeterias capable of producing 9,000 meals daily and vast stowage areas capable of providing supplies to last six months under normal circumstances.

 

Of all of the other countries that have navies, the total of Aircraft Carriers are eight (8), mostly non-nuclear, the United States has nine (9) that are active nuclear and ten (10) other non-nuclear carriers. Of the nine nuclear these are capable of producing 81,000 meals daily and treating several thousands of sick and injured as a routine. We call these vessels war machines and for a truth the vessels are equipped to destroy the world around them.

 

Men, when coming to grips with such power often sound like the “tool man” with words like “woo! WOO! WOO! Give me that power!” I believe that we Americans have done very well with controlling the “tool man” in us. And yet there is coming a day when it will be that men will hide themselves from a “perfect” and stronger force. The Epistle of 2 Peter and the Book of Revelation tell us of this greater power, which is already not very far away.

2 Peter 3:10-12 - But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat?

Revelation 6:12-17 – I looked when He opened the sixth seal, and behold, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became like blood. And the stars of heaven fell to the earth, as a fig tree drops its late figs when it is shaken by a mighty wind. Then the sky receded as a scroll when it is rolled up, and every mountain and island was moved out of its place. And the kings of the earth, the great men, the rich men, the commanders, the mighty men, every slave and every free man, hid themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains, and said to the mountains and rocks, "Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! For the great day of His wrath has come, and who is able to stand?"

2 Peter 3:12 – Nevertheless we, according to His promise (God’s) look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.

I just would like to add here that God has provided one (1) earth and on this earth He has provided enough oxygen, water, food and medical wisdom to meet the needs of all peoples, tongues and nations of the earth in its seven thousand (7,000) year history. If a man, woman or child has starved or died, it is not because God did not provide, but because that man, woman or child has an individual, national and universal condition identified in the Holy Bible as sin. God has promised since the beginning of time; some seven thousand (7,000) years ago that the earth would be destroyed because of sin.

Here is another truth that we do not think about daily. We are less than twenty miles away from 2 Peter 3:10-12 or Revelation 6:12-17. A magma chamber is a large underground pool of liquid rock found beneath the surface of the Earth. The molten rock in such a chamber is under great pressure, and given enough time, that pressure can gradually fracture the rock around it creating outlets for the magma and falling rock.

When finding a way to the surface, the result will be a volcanic eruption; consequently many volcanoes are situated over magma chambers. The large Magma chamber in the center of the earth is hard to detect, and most of the known ones are therefore close to the surface of the Earth, commonly between 1 km and 10 km under the surface. In geological terms, this is extremely close to the surface, although in human terms, it is considerably deep underground.

Of course the distance is straight down and under our feet; yet ever so often God will show us a glimpse of this future event promised in Peter’s epistle and that of the opening of the sixth seal judgment in the Book of Revelation. But there is another promise from God. If you like; take the time to read this promise in Revelation 21 and 22, also note the warnings, but above all we should all be prepared, that while our Creator is meeting our needs today, there will be a day in the future when He will wrap up this old world like a garment and toss it into the fire. Hebrews 1:5-14.

The Devotional – 1406 – Wisdom is choice Silver

The Devotional – 1406 – Wisdom is choice Silver

Proverbs 10:18-22 – Whoever hides hatred has lying lips and whoever spreads slander is a fool. In the multitude of words sin is not lacking, but he who restrains his lips is wise. The tongue of the righteous is choice silver; the heart of the wicked is worth little. The lips of the righteous feed many, but fools die for lack of wisdom. The blessing of the LORD makes one rich, and He adds no sorrow with it.

 

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If you have ever tried to recapture the moment you know that it is nearly impossible to do so. Last evening while watching the news, one of the news specials was about a new “eye” condition called “Digital eye strain”, the ipad, iPhone and all of the other “i’s” available to our selfish need of “I wanna be connected” lifestyle. Therefore, starring at “video screens” has caused “experts” to agree with one another that we Americans (all earthbound people) have a serious, but new “eye problem”

“Wow! Really”? Who would have ever guessed that there are already experts in this field and they actually agree, this must be a first! Sorry folks, I used my “ipun” on such a serious problem; shucks maybe I am an expert and don’t know it. I like using my “eye or I” don’t you? Seems to me that the problem with the “eye and the I” have been around as long as human life found SIN as a pathway leading away from eternal life to the place of eternal death.

Genesis 2:17 – but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die." 18 And the Lord God said, "It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him." I take “comparable” as both equally capable of having the “eye and I” STRAIN.

Genesis 3:1 – Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said to the woman, "Has God indeed said, 'You shall not eat of every tree of the garden'?" 2 And the woman said to the serpent, "We may eat the fruit of the trees of the garden; 3 but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God has said, 'You shall not eat it, nor shall you touch it, lest you die.' "4 Then the serpent said to the woman, "You will not surely die. 5 For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil."  6 So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate.  Genesis 2:23 – therefore the Lord God sent him out of the garden of Eden to till the ground from which he was taken.  24 So He drove out the man; and He placed cherubim at the east of the garden of Eden, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to guard the way to the tree of life.

I find if commonly ODD. How is that for coining a phrase “commonly odd” God has said from the beginning that if man uses the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh and the pride of life, he or she will end up with the “eye and I problem” but then again; “who listens to Him”?

1 John 2: 15 – “Do not love the world or the ithings in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 for all that is in the world – the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life – is not of the Father but is of the world. 17 and the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever”.

There is certainly a disclaimer in all of this: Technology is “God approved” even before it is applied in the life of mankind. We are to use all of God’s blessings for His glory, yet and because of SIN mankind uses good technology to do “good and evil”. In other words we use what God permits from the shade of a tree that is bent on the first “i” used by mankind and God calls this… idolatry!

As children of God, it will always be a blessing to know and to proclaim that all of the technology that God provides is first approved by Him to proclaim that God is the FIRST when it comes to “I” He has always said and will always be the “Great “ I AM” Exodus 3:14 and John 8:58, thus in our SOUL where Christ lives; He is the Great I AM” Have a great day in the LORD folks, He has already planned it for you… so enjoy!