The Thoughts of the Heart

May 19th, 2016

empty-thought-bubbleKeep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.

Proverbs 4:23

Our thoughts are what determine our success.  It is our thoughts which determine our behaviors, but more than that, it is our thoughts which determine how we feel, and our values.

Beyond the natural, it is also in the realm of our thoughts in which our faith is founded.  We have faith in God’s Word.  Faith in His promise to heal.  And, it is in keeping the realm of our thoughts rooted and grounded in God’s Word that we are able to keep our hearts from doubting what He has told us.  So important are our thoughts that they are, indeed, the realm of our salvation, as it is written, if we confess with our mouth and believe in our hearts that God has raised Him from the dead, we will be saved (Romanbs 10:9).  Our thoughts are what make our lives.

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Categories: Kingdom, Teaching Tags: , ,

Separation

May 10th, 2016
green apple with the red one standing out from the crowd - over a white background with reflection

green apple with the red one standing out from the crowd – over a white background with reflection

Where there is no vision, the people are unrestrained, But happy is he who keeps the law.

Proverbs 29:18

Probably no topic is more fraught with ‘divisiveness’ than the subject of ‘separation’.  The idea of being separate from another has with it the connotation of doing something better, or, by many people’s estimation, ‘being better’, than someone else.  But, that simply is what it is.

Paul pointed this out himself, even while explaining that we should be unified.  He said,

For there must also be factions among you, so that those who are approved may become evident among you.

1 Corinthians 11:19

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Owe No Man

May 29th, 2015

Coins in HandOwe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.

Romans 13:8 KJV

For love is the fulfillment of the Law.  This is the road to freedom, owing no man anything.

Once we have settled it in our hearts that we serve only the Christ, His Spirit, and once we have established Him alone as the source of life, freedom comes as we give it.

A man once said another one had a love debt–a level of love that was unmet within the heart.  But, among all the other remedies, the greatest was simpy to forgive our debtors, that Christ might forgive me.

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Who Christ Is In Me

April 21st, 2015

Take Up Your CrossWho Christ Is In Me

Christ is the hope within.  He is the hope of Glory within us.

To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:

Colossians 1:27

He is my high priest and apostle.

Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of a heavenly calling, consider Jesus, the Apostle and High Priest of our confession;

Hebrews 3:1

He is my Rabbi, Teacher, and Leader.

But do not be called Rabbi; for One is your Teacher, and you are all brothers. Do not call anyone on earth your father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven. Do not be called leaders; for One is your Leader, that is, Christ. But the greatest among you shall be your servant. 12 “Whoever exalts himself shall be humbled; and whoever humbles himself shall be exalted.

Matthew 23:8-12

He is the Head of the Body, First-Born from the dead.

And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.

Colossians 1:18

He is the Head over all things for the church.

And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,

Ephesians 1:22

He is my judge, lawgiver, and king.

For the LORD is our judge, The LORD is our lawgiver, The LORD is our king; He will save us–

Isaiah 33:22

He is King of Kings and Lord of Lord.

 which He will bring about at the proper time– He who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords,

1 Timothy 6:15

What Christ Does In Me

Christ within us is our Advocate, our Comforter, Strengthener and Standby, abiding forever.

And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener, and Standby), that He may remain with you forever—

John 14:16 AMP

Christ, who is both within and in heaven, lives to make intercession for me.

Therefore He is able also to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.

Hebrews 7:25

He helps me in my weakness, and prays for me through unutterable.  And, when He does, He prays perfectly, always according to the will of God.

 In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words; and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.

Romans 8:26-27

He reveals all things, even the deep things of God.

For to us God revealed them through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God.

1 Corinthians 2:10

He produces fruit in me.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

Galatians 5:22-23

He brings me conviction, reprove, and correction.

And He, when He comes, will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment;

John 16:8

I am His property, His possession. He owns me.

But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.

2 Peter 1:9

He teaches me all things and reminds me of it when I need it.

But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you.

John 14:26

He anoints me with power, and makes me a witness.

[B]ut you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.

Acts 1:8

He is the strength of God.

But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.

Romans 8:11

He gives me strength so I CAN do whatever I need to.

I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.

Philippians 4:13

He guarantees my portion in God’s promise.

[W]ho is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.

Ephesians 1:14

How Christ Is In Me

Christ Himself is the mystery of God.

[T]hat their hearts may be encouraged, having been knit together in love, and attaining to all the wealth that comes from the full assurance of understanding, resulting in a true knowledge of God’s mystery, that is, Christ Himself,

Colossians 2:2

He is my glory.  He lifts my head.

But You, O LORD, are a shield about me, My glory, and the One who lifts my head.

Psalms 3:3

He is the image of God.

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.

Colossians 1:15

He is the radiance of God’s glory, resembling in every way.  He has become better than the angels.

And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power. When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high

Colossians 1:3-4

He is my Beloved.  I am His, and He is mine.

I am my beloved’s and my beloved is mine, He who pastures his flock among the lilies.

Song of Songs 6:3

He is my Beloved, and He desires me.

I am my beloved’s, and his desire is toward me.

Song of Songs 7:10

He is my righteousness.

In His days Judah will be saved, And Israel will dwell securely; And this is His name by which He will be called, ‘The LORD our righteousness.’ [Yahweh Tsidkenu].

Jeremiah 23:6

He, in me, is Love–the very flame of God.

Put me like a seal over your heart, Like a seal on your arm. For love is as strong as death, Jealousy is as severe as Sheol; Its flashes are flashes of fire, The very flame of the LORD.

Song of Songs 8:6

Who I Am In Christ

April 20th, 2015

PrayingWho I am in Christ

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Doing Away With The Yoke

April 19th, 2015

Ox YokeIf you do away with the yoke of oppression, with the pointing finger and malicious talk,
and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday.
The Lord will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.
Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins and will raise up the age-old foundations; you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls, Restorer of Streets with Dwellings.

Isaiah 58:8b-12

Desire is the key to self-discipline.  If you want something, you are motivated to obtain it.

Consider the promises.

God will always guide you.  He will meet all your needs, even when in dry places.  You will never be in darkness–even in your darkest moments, it will be like noon day.  You will be well-watered, prospering in everything.  And, you will restore the things that had gone before, that have fallen, and been destroyed.  That which was from generations past, you will rebuild.

If that is the promise, what is God requiring?  The removal of the yoke.  The removal of the pointing of the finger.  An end to bad speech.  And, instead, to assist those who are oppressed, and to spend yourself on behalf of the hungry. If this is the requirement for that, shouldn’t we be devoted to it?

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Forgive and Be Forgiven

April 18th, 2015

ForgivenFor if you forgive others for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions.

Matthew 6:14-15

Jesus’ words on the subject of forgiveness are well known by many, and yet, still, the root of so many difficulties within the life of a believer stem from this issue of forgiveness.

The truth is, the heart is a complex, and very deep matter.  As Jeremiah said, the heart is deceitfully wicked, who can know it?  (Jeremiah 17:9).  But, speaking a little while later, the prophet wrote, “Heal me, and I will be healed;  save me, and I will be saved, for you are the one I praise.” (Jeremiah 17:14).  I do not believe we have a wicked heart, as believers, but we do have one that requires the faithful purification of a loving savior. Read more…

Death and Life

April 15th, 2015

CornucopiaDeath and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit.

Proverbs 18:21

“Death and Life”, it says, are in the power of the tongue.  Why not “life and death”?  Because the last thing on your tongue is death.  Is that what you want?

You might be tempted to say that “words don’t matter”, but, well, check the verse again.  Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and, if you love it, and accept it, you can choose to receive the rewards of your words.

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No Truth In Him

April 13th, 2015

A snake in the grassYou are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies.

John 8:44

The enemy is a deceiver, and he has “no truth in him”.

Even when he tempted Eve in the garden, he could not even speak the truth.

And he said to the woman, “Indeed, has God said, ‘You shall not eat from any tree of the garden’?”

Genesis 1:3b

That snake, he couldn’t even even quote the truth.  He was challenging what God had said, but he couldn’t even speak it.

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Less And More

November 20th, 2014

LessAndMorePhotoHe told them another parable: The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. Though it is the smallest of all seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds come and perch in its branches.

Matthew 13:31-32

Though it starts small, it grows large.  Though it is the greatest thing above all creation, it is fully contained within the single seed.

Consider the mustard seed.  It needs no addition, just to grow.  It is self contained, self replicating, and able to endure.  This is what the Kingdom is like.

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