“Turning the other cheek” is becoming wise as a serpent, but harmless as a dove. Jesus said, If my servants were of this world they would fight.” The apostle Paul said, “we wrestle not against flesh and blood but against principalities, powers, rulers of darkness and spiritual wickedness in high places.” Jesus knew the scriptures must be fulfilled and forewarned his disciples that they too would be hated by the world and some would even be killed by those who think they are dong God service. “Crucify him! Away with him!”
Showing posts with label Amazing Grace. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Amazing Grace. Show all posts
Sunday, January 6, 2019
Sunday, January 8, 2017
To his surprise and to my amazement
Let me share a true story that happened decades ago in a Assemblies of God church where I attended regularly, seeking refuge for my wretchedness nigh unto hypocrisy. A renown professor degreed in divinity, was lecturing a class on the doctrine of the Holy Spirit. Scriptures like, "there is no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit" and "not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, SAITH the LORD of Hosts" and "have you received the Holy Ghost since you believed" and "these signs shall follow them that believe: they shall cast out devils and speak in new tongues. And if they pick up any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them" and "As many as received Him, to them gave He the power to become the sons of God" and "ye shall receive power after the Holy Ghost shall come upon you" These are great promises for one who is struggling with besetting sins as the apostle Paul wrote in Romans 7: "the good that I would, I do not. And the evil that I would not, that I do. O wretched man that I am! Who can deliver me from the body of this death?" The doctor of divinity, in all his degrees, spoke with authority as he shared with us the holy scriptures. Until he inserted, " nobody's perfect" several times after quoting scriptures that cut to the heart. I suppose it was to console us wretched sinners that everybody sins Even when filled with the Holy Ghost and with fire. But I was troubled at the contradictions of the professor who seemed to excuse sinning though grace may abound. So I asked him after the lecture, when everyone had left: Do you believe everyone sins even when sanctified by the word and filled with the Spirit? He said yes, "nobody's perfect". I then said, Jesus taught concerning faith that there are stages of growth. "First the blade, then the ear. After that, the full corn in the ear." and in another place he said regarding receiving blessings when denying ourselves and taking up our cross, leaving behind ore friends and kin. That some faithful servants receive 30, and some 60, and others a hundred fold blessing, "when there obedience has been fulfilled" so I ask the doctor: Do you believe anyone in the body of Christ sins less than you do? Without hesitation he blurted out, "NO!" To his own surprise and to my amazement.
E K K L E S I A- Apostolic 284
Monday, March 9, 2015
EKKLESIA, message 5, "COMING UP SHORT"
"Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest,
any of you should seem to come short of it."
(Hebrews 4:1 KJV)
The grace that brings salvation has appeared to all men: for all have sinned and come short of the glory of God, "teaching us", who have been washed by the Blood, to draw close to the throne of grace where we who are new creatures in Christ can obtain help in time of need. Having access by faith into the grace of God, "wherein we stand", if we continue in His word, "building up ourselves" in the faith of Christ, "praying in the Holy Ghost." As we are the temples of God, not by works of men, but by the Holy Spirit, "which dwells in us, unless we are reprobates who hold the truth with unclean hands. God is not mocked. "Those who sow to the flesh shall reap corruption. Break up you fallow ground and sow not among the thorns." Be not as despisers of those that are good, who are born of God are righteous, even has Christ is righteous because of the death and resurrection of the Just One, the Lamb of God whose blood was shed before the foundation of the world, manifest on the cross, The King of glory bearing the sins of us all, was crucified by wicked hands hating the Light and Perfection of Beauty. Sinless Savior. Almighty God! that as many as should believe on His glorious name, which is above all names: The WORD, JESUS, THE CHRIST OF GOD, for the remission of sin, (this is the refreshing, that is, in Jesus Christ there is no sin, but eternal life, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, wherein we rejoice) in the Comforter and Anointing Who teaches us to deny ourselves and take up our cross and follow Him, as those who are "alive to God, reckoning ourselves dead unto sin and awakened in "newness of life" offering our bodies as living sacrifices unto God, "making no more provisions for the flesh to fulfill the lusts thereof...and not swerving from the faith giving heed to seducing spirits in ungodly men and women, teaching whom they may devour, who war against the saints and precious souls. We must be sober and vigilant. Because our adversary, the devil, goes about through the earth as prince of the power of the air, destroying precious souls through the deceitful lusts of the flesh, the pride of life and lust of the eyes. "All this will I give you, if you worship me". So many have. And many are. Because there are now so many anti-christs, we have no need for teachers of vain traditions and philosophies of cunning men. But the Spirit reveals the things and ways of God to those that are His, "a peculiar people" redeemed from all iniquity. "And you hath he quickened who were dead in trespasses and sins" (Eph. 2:1)
The Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the bondage of sin and death", wrote the apostle Paul, who was beaten and imprisoned and "dying daily" for his testimony of "Jesus Christ and Him crucified".
"I do not frustrate the grace of God" (by building up again that which was destroyed) "Awake to righteousness, and sin not!"
The pride of life is "earthy, sensual and devilish". The enemy comes in like a flood of ungodliness upon the whole world "which dwells in iniquity". "LOVE NOT THE WORLD, neither the things that are in the world". We are admonished in the Holy scriptures to flee fornication and idolatry, to live soberly (and not to foolishness or jesting), but to love God with all our strength and to hate evil, which is in the corruption of the world through lusts of the flesh without compromise.. "Hold to the One, despise the other". Take heed that no man deceive you.
any of you should seem to come short of it."
(Hebrews 4:1 KJV)
The grace that brings salvation has appeared to all men: for all have sinned and come short of the glory of God, "teaching us", who have been washed by the Blood, to draw close to the throne of grace where we who are new creatures in Christ can obtain help in time of need. Having access by faith into the grace of God, "wherein we stand", if we continue in His word, "building up ourselves" in the faith of Christ, "praying in the Holy Ghost." As we are the temples of God, not by works of men, but by the Holy Spirit, "which dwells in us, unless we are reprobates who hold the truth with unclean hands. God is not mocked. "Those who sow to the flesh shall reap corruption. Break up you fallow ground and sow not among the thorns." Be not as despisers of those that are good, who are born of God are righteous, even has Christ is righteous because of the death and resurrection of the Just One, the Lamb of God whose blood was shed before the foundation of the world, manifest on the cross, The King of glory bearing the sins of us all, was crucified by wicked hands hating the Light and Perfection of Beauty. Sinless Savior. Almighty God! that as many as should believe on His glorious name, which is above all names: The WORD, JESUS, THE CHRIST OF GOD, for the remission of sin, (this is the refreshing, that is, in Jesus Christ there is no sin, but eternal life, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, wherein we rejoice) in the Comforter and Anointing Who teaches us to deny ourselves and take up our cross and follow Him, as those who are "alive to God, reckoning ourselves dead unto sin and awakened in "newness of life" offering our bodies as living sacrifices unto God, "making no more provisions for the flesh to fulfill the lusts thereof...and not swerving from the faith giving heed to seducing spirits in ungodly men and women, teaching whom they may devour, who war against the saints and precious souls. We must be sober and vigilant. Because our adversary, the devil, goes about through the earth as prince of the power of the air, destroying precious souls through the deceitful lusts of the flesh, the pride of life and lust of the eyes. "All this will I give you, if you worship me". So many have. And many are. Because there are now so many anti-christs, we have no need for teachers of vain traditions and philosophies of cunning men. But the Spirit reveals the things and ways of God to those that are His, "a peculiar people" redeemed from all iniquity. "And you hath he quickened who were dead in trespasses and sins" (Eph. 2:1)
The Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the bondage of sin and death", wrote the apostle Paul, who was beaten and imprisoned and "dying daily" for his testimony of "Jesus Christ and Him crucified".
"I do not frustrate the grace of God" (by building up again that which was destroyed) "Awake to righteousness, and sin not!"
The pride of life is "earthy, sensual and devilish". The enemy comes in like a flood of ungodliness upon the whole world "which dwells in iniquity". "LOVE NOT THE WORLD, neither the things that are in the world". We are admonished in the Holy scriptures to flee fornication and idolatry, to live soberly (and not to foolishness or jesting), but to love God with all our strength and to hate evil, which is in the corruption of the world through lusts of the flesh without compromise.. "Hold to the One, despise the other". Take heed that no man deceive you.
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