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| From:  Aalie- (Original Message) | Sent: 3/26/2006 2:59 PM |
Sunday, March 26, 2006 Dear Heavenly Father, I thank you again Lord for another day that you have made. May your will be done in my life today. May you use me to be a blessing to others Lord, to my family, to my friends, to my church and to the world. Guide my steps today for I know that the steps of a righteous man or woman are ordered of the Lord. Father may the Holy Spirit prick and convict my heart if I stray from your Word and your will for my life. May the blood of Jesus wash me clean of any unrighteousness. And I thank you Lord for giving your life for me on Calvary. I Pray in the precious nameof your Son Jesus. Amen Read Matt. 3 Here I read about John the Baptist, who was the forerunner of Jesus himself. What that means is that he preceded the Lord Jesus, in birth, in ministry, and in death. In this chapter John jumps right into his ministry preaching that the kingdom of heaven is at hand and that folks needed to repent. John is called the "Baptist" because he baptized people. But only those who repented of their sins. and who identified with his message. The word repent means a change in attitude and outlook which means that one will be sorry for their sins, and turn away from them. John preached that the kingdom of God was at hand, which I take to mean that the Messiah's kindom was here in the person of Jesus Christ. Before a king came to visit a city or area, the roads were repaired, smoothed, straightened and leveled in preparation for the event. So also John was preparing a spiritual road for the Messiah before his arrival. In verse 7 the Pharisees and the Sadducees came to one of John's baptismal services. They were just religious, but had no change in attitude or ways. John called them a 'brood of vipers', that is pretty strong language for a believer in Christ. But John the Baptsist was not in a popularity contest. He preached it the way he saw it. The Pharisees and Sadducees (the were not fair but sad you see? LOL just a funny) were two prominent groups in Jewish religion during the time of Christ.Both groups claimed to be true followers of Judaism, but both groups were considerably different in their beliefs. The Pharisees were mostly associated with the laymen of Israel, and they were strict teachers to the Law of Moses and Scriptures and also were steeped in oral tradition. Their activities were centered around the synagogue. On the other hand the Sadducees were more associated with the priestly duties and worship in the temple. They were extreme conservative and based their beliefs on the Pentateuch- the books of Genisis - Deuteronomy. (Acts 23-6-10) They came to the baptismal service but had not repented and John told them "to bear fruits worthy of repentance." You can always see when someone has repented, their whole attitude and ways change, they don't do the things they used to do, don't go the places they used to go either. In verse 10 John likened his ministry to God's ax, clearing His orchard of dead wood- especially that which did not produce any fruit. In verse 11, John identified people with himself and with his message of repentance by water baptism.He said that the One coming after him would be so much greater that He would unite people to Himself through the baptism of the Holy Spirit and with fire.It would be Jesus Himself who would baptize His people in the Holy Spirit. Then in verse 12, Jesus will clean out His treshing floor and gather the wheat into the barn but the chaff will be burned. I know somewhere in Scripture the Lord said; In a field to let the wheat and the weeds grow together until the harvest time and then they would be seperated. The bad stuff is burned away, but the good is kept and stored for use.This is one of the things the baptism of the Holy Spirit does in our personal lives, the bad stuff in our lives gets burned away but the good stuff in our lives and hearts gets used for His glory. In verses 13-16, Jesus comes to John the Baptist to be baptized in water Himself. John felt like he was not worthy to do so, but Jesus said he must to full fill all righteousness. Not because Jesus had sinned in any way (2Cor.5:21;Heb.4:15;7:26) but probaby to be obedient to the Father, to join with the others who had been baptized, and confirm the ministry of John the Baptist. After Jesus was baptized he came up from the water and the Holy Spirit in the form of a dove came upon Him. And the Father spoke a word from heaven saying "This is my beloved Son in whome I am well pleased." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ God is pleased with us also when we obey his command to repent and be baptized in water. Then seek Him (Jesus) to be baptized in the Holy Spirit for power to be a witness for Him. Aalie |
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| | | From: Aalie- | Sent: 3/27/2006 2:46 PM |
Monday March 27, 2006 Dear Heavenly Father, Thank you for this beautiful day Lord! Thank you for the rest and sleep and strength you give each and every day! Thank you for your provisions to us, thank you for your my health and healing which were provided by you on the stripes that were layed on your son Jesus. Guide me today to do the work you would have me to do Lord today, and may I do it the best I can with your help and guidance. May I be used of you to help someone today. Thank you Lord for all your goodness for I pray in Jesus Name, Amen Satan Tempts Jesus Read Matt.4: 1-11 Here I read that Satan did not lead Jesus into the temptation, but He was " led by the "Spirit" into the wilderness. This temptation took place immediately after Jesus was baptized. Spiritual victories are often followed by testing (see 1Kings 19). Jesus had been on a 40 day fast, and of course was hungry afterwards. That is when the tempter came to Him. Satan tried to place doubt into Jesus' mind by questionong Him , "If you are the Son of God..." of course he know that Jesus was the Son of God. But this is one way he tries to trick or tempt us. He tries to put doubt into our minds he will say things like "If you are really a child of God..you would not do this or that..or you could do this or that." Satan told Jesus if he was the Son of God He could turn the stones into bread... and of course Jesus could do that! But Jesus answered the devil with the Word of God. "It is written, man shall not live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God." (NKJV) In fact Jesus' response to all three temptations was to quote the Word of God, showing His followers the power of Scriptures to overcome the Evil One. There really was nothing morally wrong with turning the stones into bread; Satan was tempting Jesus to perform a miracle outside of the Father's will. This explains why Jesus is quoting, Duet. 8:3. Bread alone does not sustain life; ultimately God is the one who sustains all life. This is why it is important for us to trust God and remain in His will. I will continue tomorrow, the good Lord willing with this section of Satan's temptaions to Jesus. Aalie |
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| | | From: Aalie- | Sent: 3/29/2006 12:05 AM |
Tuesday March 28, 2006 Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for this day that you have made. Thank you for the rain, and the clouds. I know that you will use today's rainy weather, to bring green grass and flowers tomorrow. Lord what a beautiful world you have created for mankind. Help us to be good care takers of what you have given to us. Help us to be a blessing to others who come accross our pathway today! I thank you Lord for everything. In Jesus Name , Amen! Satan Tempts Jesus (2) Matt. 4:1-11 Today we are continuing the devotional we started yesterday about Satan tempting Jesus in the wilderness. If you remember Satan did not lead Jesus into the wilderness. But Jesus was led by the Spirit of God there. We are into the 2nd temptation now beginning with verse number 5. Please open your Bible and read it. Here we see Satan taking Jesus up into a holy city, and set Him on the pinnacle of the temple and said to him..."If you are the Son of God, throw Yourself down. For it is written: He shall give His angels charge over you, and, 'In their hands they shall bear you up, lest you dash a foot against a stone."" Here Satan quoted part of the protective promise of Ps.91:11,12. but he omitted part of the verse. The part he omitted said, "to keep you in all your ways." That is just like the devil to quote only part of the Scripture, even to us today. He tries it make it sound like the truth, but he is a deceiver even from the very beginning. He tried to get Jesus to throw himself down from the pinnacle of the temple. Tempting Jesus to gain public attention through spectacle rather than through His righteous life and message. In verse 7 Jesus again answers Satan with the Word of God, and He is our example. Jesus said to him..."It is written again, you shall not tempt the Lord your God.'" Duet. 6:6 says that one should not test God. There is only one place in Scripture where the Lord ever told the Israelites to test God and that was with their tithing. By giving to Him they could test whether He would fulfill His promises to bless them. (Mal. 3:10) So this was the 2nd temptation of Christ. The next one will be tomorrow! Aalie |
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| | | From: Aalie- | Sent: 3/30/2006 2:27 PM |
Wednesday, March 29, 2006 Satan Tempts Jesus (Part 3) Matthew 4: 1-11 Yesterday we studied on the second temptation of Christ in the wilderness. The first was about turning stones into bread, the second about throwing Himself off the pinnacle of the temple that the angels would protect him. Today we will study about the third temptation which starts in verse 8. So open up your Bibles and follow along. Matt.4:8 "Again the devil took Him up on an exceedinly high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory." The devil keeps trying to tempt Jesus . This time taking Him up on a high mountain and showing Him all the kingdoms of this world, and the glory of being the ruler of them all. Matt. 4:9 "And he said to Him, "all these things I will give You if You fall down and worship me." Everytime in the past temptations Jesus answered the devil by quoting the Scriptures back to him.Will He do so agin this time? Lets look... Matt. 4:10 "Then Jesus said to him, "Away with you Satan! For it is written, You shall worship the LORD Your God, and Him only shall you serve.'" Yes He did! There is power in the Word of God! This is one reason why we need to read, study and memorize the Word of God, so that when Satan tempts us we can do warfare with him by using God's weapons. We see here that Christ rebuked the devil for asking for worship, a temptation to do exactly the opposite of what every Israelite was called upon to do (see Duet.6:13, 15). Specifically in reference to Jesus, Satan was offering a crown without the Cross. Jesus' experience serves as an example in spiritual warfare today. First of all Jesus resisted Satan (see Eph. 6:11, 13, 14; Jam. 4:7; 1Pet. 5:9), then He defeated Satan with consistent meaningful use of the Scriptures (see Eph. 6:17). Matt.4:11 "Then the devil left Him, and behold, angels came and ministered to Him." After having rejected Satan's offer of bread (first temptation), assistance from angels (second temptation), and eartly kingdoms (third temptation), Jesus was immediately visited by angels who helped Him. Tomorrow we will look at Matt.4:12-17, where Jesus begins His Galilean ministry. Aalie |
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| | | From: Aalie- | Sent: 3/30/2006 3:04 PM |
Thursday, March 30, 2006 Jesus Begins His Galilean Ministry Matthew 4: 12-17 Jesus was about 30 years old before He started his ministry and it lasted only three years. He had been baptized by John, and tested by Satan in the wilderness. He was walking in obedience to His Father. This is a requirement for ministry, remember Jesus is our example! Matt.4:12 "Now when Jesus heard that John had been put in prison, He departed to Galilee." 4:13 "And leaving Nazareth, He came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is by the sea, in the regions of Zebulun and Naphtali" Matthew omits the incident reported in Luke 4:16-30 of Jesus' rejection in His hometown. Matthew simply indicates that Capernaum, located at the Northern end of the Sea of Galilee, became Jesus' home and base of operation. 4:14 "that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, Saying:" 4:15 "The Land of Zebulon and the land of Naphtali, By way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles: 4:16 "The people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, And upon those who sat in the region and shadow of death Light has dawned." The passage quoted here, is from Is. 9:1,2 and it foretells the reign of the Messiah in the coming kingdom. The ministry of Jesus in Galilee was a preview of what was yet to come. Galilee was a fertile, populous area with two major trade routes. The way of the sea was one of those routes. 4:17 "From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, Repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." The phrase from that time Jesus began occurs twice in the Book of Matthew (see 16:21). Each referencemarks a crucial direction in the book. This one looks to the beginning of His earthly ministry, while 16:21 anticipates His Crusifiction and resurrection. Jesus' exhortation was identical to that of John the Baptist (3:2). Our next devotional study will be in Matthew 4:18-22, it will be about Four Fishermen Called as Disciples. Aalie |
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| | | From: Aalie- | Sent: 3/31/2006 4:10 PM |
Friday, March 31, 2006 Four Fishermen Called as Disciples Matthew 4: 18-22 Today's devotional study is about Jesus calling four fishermen to come to be His followers. Lets take a look at the Book. Matt.4:18- "And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brothers, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen." 4:19- "Then He said to them, "Follow me and I will make you fishers of men." 4:20- "They immediately left their nets and followed Him." Notice in verse 18 he called two brothers, they were hard working fishermen. Just ordinary folk. But when Jesus spoke they took notice and were immediately drawn to Him, so much so that they left their nets, left their lively hood trusting God to provide for their needs and that of their family. They had a change of heart, they wanted to do something that would count for eternity. They followed Jesus. 4:21- "Going on from there, He saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets, He called them, 4:22- and immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed Him." Here we have two other brothers also fishermen, and Jesus also called them to follow Him and become fishers of men instead of fish. They too were ordinary hard working men. They did not waste any time they immediately followed Jesus. It was as though they felt the urgency of the time and the need to hurry to fish for men. Jesus is still calling people to come and follow Him. Are you a follower of Christ? Are you fishing for men? You need to, this is the job of everyone who has accepted Jesus' invitation to come and follow Him! Followers of Christ should immediately drop their former life, old things have passed away, all things have become new and become fishers of men because He is not willing that any should perish but that all come to repentance. Aalie |
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| | | From: Aalie- | Sent: 4/2/2006 1:46 AM |
Saturday, April 1, 2006 Jesus Heals A Great Multitude Matthew 4: 23-25 After calling the four fishermen Simon called Peter, Andrew his brother, James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, Jesus went about the whole region of Galilee preaching and teaching and healing in their synogagues. 4:23- "And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all kinds of sickness and all kinds of diseaseamong the people." This was Jesus' eartly ministry, teaching... preaching...healing. His teaching is illustrated by His discourses; His preaching is illustrated by the announcement in v.17 , "...Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."; His healing is illustrated by His many miracles. 4:24- "Then His fame went throughout all Syria; and they brought to Him all sick people who were afflicted with various diseases and torments, and those who were demon-possessed, epileptics, and paralytics; and He healed them." 4:25- "Great multitudes followed Him- from Galilee, and from Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea, and beyond the Jordan." Jesus' early ministry is an outworking and authentication of His baptismal experience. Here He comes primarily as the anointed one with power to resist evil, and to bring in the Kingdom of God in power. The anointing Jesus received at his baptismal experience leads Him into a widespread ministry, teaching... preaching... healing. The Word went out and many people were attracted to the "great light" (Mt.4:16). People came from all over the regions to Him. From Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea, and beyond the Jordan.The anointing of the Holy Spirit which He received at His baptism, has drawing power. Remember his eartly ministry did not start until after His baptism. The same is true for us today. The anointing we can receive from being baptized in the Holy Spirit, will have drawing power. The things that Jesus did we can do also. In fact Jesus told his followers not to even go until they had received the baptism with the Holy Spirit. Acts 1:4. Blessings, Aalie |
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| | | From: Aalie- | Sent: 4/4/2006 5:19 PM |
Sunday, April 2, 2006 The Beatitudes (Part1) Matthew 5:1-11 (NKJV and also Nelson's Study System) v.1- " And seeing the multitudes, He went up on a mountain, and when He was seated His disciples came to Him." The multitudes were found at the beginning and end of Jesus' Sermon on the Mount ( the term is translated "the people" in chapter 7: 28). Yet this verse implies that Jesus left the multitude. Evidently He went away from the crowds so that He could instruct the disciples. As He taught the disciples, the crowds came to where He was. He was seated: It was normal for a teacher or rabbi to sit while He taught, with His audience gathered around. The mountain, probably a high hill on the north-west shore of the Sea of Galilee, would have served as a natural amphitheater. disciples: Jesus had many disciples, He selected twelve to receive special instruction and power. |
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| | | From: Aalie- | Sent: 4/4/2006 5:21 PM |
| Monday, April 3, 2006 The Beatitudes (Part 2) Matthew 1-11 (KNJV and the Nelson Study System) v. 2- "Then He opened His mouth and taught them, saying:" He ...taught them: This Sermon on the Mount recorded by Matthew (chs.5-7) is slightly different from the sermon preached to the multitude in Luke 6. The essence of this sermon was probably preached many times during Jesus' early ministry. The Sermon on the Mount was not given as the way of salvation for the lost, but as the way of life for true children of the kingdom. It was instruction for those who had responded to Jesus' invitation to "repent" (4:17). These discipleswere probably confused as to the true nature of righteousness and God's kingdom (see mic. 6:8). In a sense, Jesus turned the law, which was mainly negative, inside out to show its positive core (v.17). ~~~ What I find personally interesting is the fact that Jesus opened his mouth. Of course this does not negate the fact that we as Christians can also teach others by keeping our mouth shut and letting them see the fruit of the Spirit in our lives. One of the things we can do is shut our mouths when and where gossip is concerned. But of course we need to open our mouths to teach our children and others the Word of God. God still holds us responsible for teaching those in our households not only by example but also by opening our mouths. We must also not forget that we all as christians are to go into all the world and preach and teach the gospel to every creature. Blessings, Aalie | |
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| | | From: Aalie- | Sent: 4/5/2006 2:17 AM |
| Tuesday, April 4, 2006 The Beatitudes (Part 3) Matthew 5:1-12 (NKJV & the Nelson Study System) Overview of v.3-12 The Beautitudes are comprised of three elements: a pronouncement of blessing, a quality of life, and a reason why the recipient should be considered blessed. The first element is found in the word Blessed (see Ps. 1:11), which introduces each beatitude. the second element does not decribe different groups of people, but a composite picture of the kind of person who will inherit Christ's kingdom. v. 3- "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." Blessed are the poor in spirit: The idea of God's blessing the humble and resisting the proud can also be found in Proverbs 3:34; James 4:6 What is it to be poor in spirit? 1. It is when you realize what your spiritual state is. When you realize you are guilty and helpless 2. It is that we see the true light in ourselves, and the tendency to do evil, that we understand the habits of our mind, our appetites that they tend to be selfish continually. 3. We have a realizing conviction that our only help can come from God's grace. Unmerrited favor. 4. A conviction that the only possible way to obtaining help is through our faith in Christ alone. Blessings, Aalie | |
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| | | From: Aalie- | Sent: 4/5/2006 6:53 PM |
Wednesday, April 5, 2006 Matthew 5: 1-12 NKJV V. 4 " Blessed are those who mourn, For they shall be comforted." How is it possible that mourners can be comforted? Well that is part of the Good News of the Gospel! Praise the Lord! Jesus said it so it has to be true! I have read of a minister who said that he would rather do a funeral than a wedding, because apart from the gospel there is no comfort. What does it mean to mourn? Webster's Dictionary defines it this way: 1... to feel or express sorrow for (something regrettable). 2... to grieve for (someone dead). But lets look at some mourning going on in the Bible. The book of Genesis is filled with death. First of all Adam and Eve were told by God they would die if they partook of the forbidden fruit. So there was a lot of mourning going on in Genesis. Abraham mourns for Sarah in Gen. 23. Jacob mourns for his son Joseph (although he was not dead, he just thought he was), the Egyptians mourned for Jacob when he died. David mourned greatly in the death of Saul in 2 Sam. 1, and for his best friend Jonathan who was also Saul's son. Throughout the entire Bible there is a lot of mourning going on and not only because of death but also other losses as well. Mourning is an emotional response. All you have to do is read the Bible to see this. Yet in our culture it may not be as evident as in other cultures. In some of the Eastern cultures there are professional mourners hired to weep and carry on. We see a lot of that when we watch news from the Middle East, when we see people mourning over the death of someone in a bombing or other tragedy. I know of a lady who lost her son, but I never saw her shed one tear. That is unbelieveable to me, but she said that he is in a better place why should she cry? Then I have been at other funerals where there are a lot of unbelievers present, they mourn but they cannot be comforted because there is no comfort for them apart from Jesus Christ and His good news. Jesus Himself mourned and wept, so it is OK to mourn. Jesus mourned at the death of His friend Lazarus, probably not because He would never see him again, but because others around Him were mourning. Does the Bible not say to weep with them that weep, and rejoice with those who rejoice? Jesus is our example. Jesus also wepts over the city of Jerusalem. He wept over them because He came to them as Messiah and they have rejected Him. He wept because of their sin. When ever we weep over the sins of others or over losses or death, God promises to bring comfort to us. It is not wrong to mourn as some may suppose, but when we do, God's good news is that he will bring comfort to us. Blessings, Aalie |
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Thursday, April 6, 2006 The Beatitudes (Part 5) Matthew 5: 1-12 (NKJV & Nelson Study System) V.5 "Blessed are the meek, For they will inherit the earth." The meek are blessed!! What is being meek? Websters says that being meek is to be gentle, patient and mild. It also says that meek is being too submissive, or spiritless. But Jesus Himself said that the meek are blessed and will inherit the earth. I do not believe that Jesus made any mistakes in His statement. Meekness is not weakness as some may think. It takes a very strong person to be meek. It takes someone with a lot of self-control, and someone full of Spirit, in my opinion. I believe meekness is a very beautiful thing even though the process may be painful. Psalm 37:11 says, "The meek shall possess the land, and delight themselves in abundant prosperity." I understand that the word for "land" in Greek and Hebrew also means "earth." I believe that meek people trust God. Look at Psalms 37, it is mostly about meek people, and in verse 5 it says that they trust God. They believe that he will work for them and vindicate them when others oppose them. Biblical meekness is rooted in the deep confidence that God is for you and not against you. Meek people also commit their way to the Lord (v5a). They have learned that God is trustworthy, so they roll their way, their business, their problems, health, relationships, fears, and frustrations all on the Lord. Next, meek people are quiet or still before the Lord (v.7) and just wait patiently for Him to move in their behalf. It does not mean they become lazy, it means they are free of craziness. They have a steady calm knowing that God has everything under control. The Bible records that Moses was a very meek man. Aaron and Miriam ( Moses' siblings) spoke against Moses concerning a woman he had married. They criticized him. But what did Moses do? Moses doesn't say a word. Instead he waits patiently for the Lord. He frets not over these critical words. And God comes to his defense. So we see that meekness, not only trusts God, it commits to God's way! It waits patiently, it refrains from anger or revenge and even from self defense. Whenever we see a meek person we need to give God the glory and the aim of Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount is fulfilled. Now let's look to the second half of the verse: "For they shall inherit the earth." I believe that the Lord intended this promise to give us enduring strength , even when our flesh would want to defend ourselves or retaliate in some way. Sometimes our flesh may want to boast in what we have as far as this world is concerned. The Bible says in 1Cor. 3:21:..."for all things are yours". There is no sense in boasting our father owns it all and we are beneficiary of His will. So work on meekness, let God defend you, let God make you in to that gentle person He intends you to be! Love and Blessings, Aalie |
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| | | From: Aalie- | Sent: 4/7/2006 3:20 PM |
Friday, April 7, 2006 The Beatitudes (Part 6) Matthew 5: 1-12 (NKJV and the Nelson Study System) v.6- "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, For they shall be filled." In this beatitude we see that those who hunger and thirst for righteousness shall be filled, this is the blessing for desiring righteousness. What is righteousness? Again Websters dictionary defines righteous as 1. acting in a just upright manner; virtuous and 2. morally right or justifiable. Lets look at what the Old Testament says about righteousness, I think we will get a clearer picture of what God is trying to tell us. "Drop down, ye heavens, from above, and let the skies pour down righteousness: let the earth open, and let them bring forth salvation, and let righteousness spring up together; I the Lord have created it" (Isa. 45:8). (KJV) The first half of this verse in its symbolic language refers to the advent of Christ coming to this earth. After all never before Christ, was true righteousness ever revealed in anyone. The second half refers to His resurrection, when He was "raised again for our justification" (just as if we had never sinned) Rom. 4:259(KJV). Now lets look at Isa.46:12,13 (KJV) "Hearken unto Me, ye stouthearted, that are far from righteousness: I bring near My righteousness; it shall not be far off, and My salvation shall not tarry: and I will place salvation in Zion for Israel My glory" The LORD is saying to those who are far from righteousness to listen up! He talks about My righteousness and My salvation. Of course He is talking about Christ! Christ is God's righteousness and salvation. We cannot have righteousness or salvation by any other means but through Christ. In reality when we hunger and thirst for Christ, we will be filled! For He is all we really need. In Him we have everything, since as believers we are heirs and joint heirs with Him. Without Christ we are totally void of righteousness, because apart from Him there is none. Rom 3:10 says "there is none righteous no not one". That is why God gave His only begotten Son, because In Him we have a right standing and take on His righteousness. Hungering and thirsting after righteousness expresses a strong passion of the soul to seek after God. To obey His Word and follow after Him in all things, realizing that we are helpless in ourselves to be righteous, but wholly desire to lean on Christ. Love and Blessings, Aalie |
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| | | From: Aalie- | Sent: 4/9/2006 4:18 AM |
| Saturday, April 8, 2006 The Beatitudes (Part 7) Matthew 5:1-12 ( NKJV) "Blessed are the merciful, For they shall obtain mercy." V.7 The following definition is from my Webster's New World Dictionary. Merciful- 1. Refraining from harming offenders, enemies, ect. 2. imprisonment rather than death for a capital crime. 3. a disposition to forgive or be kind. 4. the power to forgive. 5. a lucky thing; blessing. As humans it is natural for us not to be so generous in mercy. We are more interested in self-concern and have much in-difference. In this fifth beatitude, Jesus tied giving mercy to receiving mercy. In this verse we are told that God's rule is for mercy, and the more mercy that we give, we will receive. This is one of God's spiritual laws: as we sow, so shall we reap. God's will for you and me, is a merciful attitude that will bring about merciful acts. He promises his mercy to us. He asks us to be as merciful to others as we want him to be merciful to us. "Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy." Mercy is marvelous. Mercy brings its its own rewards. Blessings, Aalie | |
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