Life Lessons from God's Word
Sunday, June 29, 2014
JoAnn's Spiritual Lessons: Peace through Jesus the Christ
JoAnn's Spiritual Lessons: Peace through Jesus the Christ: Micah 5:4-5, New King James Version (NKJV) "And He shall stand and feed His flock In the strength of the LORD, In the majesty of...
Peace through Jesus the Christ
Micah 5:4-5, New King James Version (NKJV)
"And He shall stand and feed
His flock In the strength of the LORD, In the majesty of the name of the LORD
His God; And they shall abide, For now He shall be great to the ends of the
earth; and this One shall be peace."
Philippians 4:7, (NKJV)
7 and the peace
of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds
through Christ Jesus.
2 Corinthians 13:11, (NKJV)
11 Finally, brethren,
farewell. Become complete. Be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace;
and the God of love and peace will be with you.
John 14:27, (NKJV)
27 Peace I leave with you,
My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your
heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
John 16:33, (NKJV)
33 These things I have
spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but
be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”
Ephesians 2:14, (NKJV)
14 For He Himself is our
peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of
separation,
Isaiah 9:6, (NKJV)
6 For unto us a
Child is born,
Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called
Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Micah
5:5, (NKJV)
"And this One shall be peace."
Romans 5:1, (NKJV)
5 Therefore,
having been justified by faith, we have[a] peace with God through
our Lord Jesus Christ,
None will have lasting
peace without the one true God and savior. He was chosen by God the Father to
save all mankind who would accept His freely given gift. This amazing gift was
His Son Jesus the Christ who willingly went to the Cross for our sins so we may
be reunited with the Father and become Children of the Living God.
Pastor
David Jeremiah says, “You see, this world is constantly searching for
peace, but the peace they search for is empty. Rather than seeking the One who
is peace, they chase after false promises of peace through alcohol, drugs,
relationships and even religion.” And I
would add they chase after peace through politics or policy, mollifying
fractions, worldly possessions and false doctrines. All is empty and does not
bring lasting peace or peace to the soul. Only the one who is peace can do
this. Only Jesus Christ can give peace to a hurting world or a hurting soul
whether from their own sin or the pain caused by others. He is peace.
Abba Father, fill us with the peace of Your Son
Jesus and the Holy Spirit that where we go and when we speak or act it will be
in peace and for Your glory. Thank You for Your peace that passes
understanding. In Jesus name in union with the Holy Spirit we pray. Amen
Rebishka
Friday, June 27, 2014
JoAnn's Spiritual Lessons: Holy Spirit Study 6
JoAnn's Spiritual Lessons: Holy Spirit Study 6: This study in the Holy Spirit will encompass four verses. Ponder them well and please study the verses before and after to grasp the ful...
JoAnn's Spiritual Lessons: His Word Guides
JoAnn's Spiritual Lessons: His Word Guides: 1 Corinthians 10:13-30, New American Standard Bible (NASB) 13 No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is...
Wednesday, June 25, 2014
JoAnn's Spiritual Lessons: Do All For the Glory of God
JoAnn's Spiritual Lessons: Do All For the Glory of God: 1 Corinthians 10:31, New King James Version (NKJV) Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. ...
Do All For the Glory of God
1 Corinthians 10:31, New King James Version (NKJV)
Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the
glory of God.
Colossians 3:17, New American Standard Version (NASV)
17 (A)Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, (B)giving thanks through Him to God the Father.
1 Peter 4:11, NASV
11 (A)Whoever speaks, is to do so [a]as one who is speaking the (B)utterances of God; whoever serves is to do so as one who is serving [b](C)by the strength which God supplies; so that (D)in all things God may be glorified through Jesus
Christ, (E)to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and
ever. Amen.
Isaiah 26:3, (NKJV)
You will keep him in perfect peace,
Whose mind is stayed on You,
Because he trusts in You.
Whose mind is stayed on You,
Because he trusts in You.
2 Timothy 4:5 (NKJV)
5 But you be watchful in all things, endure
afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.
(Other verses you may
care to check out through these links. You may change the version you read
while there. 1 Thess 2:4; Titus 2:1, 15; Heb 13:7, Acts 7:38, Eph 1:19; 6:10 )
My Comments: Though my comments here mainly
pertain to going out in the vineyard of the world and proclaiming the Gospel
there are other areas of our lives that we need to look to so others will see
the glory of God in all we do. If we are living our lives to bring glory to Him
we will watch everything about us, out thoughts, words and deeds, actions and
reactions will all magnify God the Father and bring glory to Him. I am not
talking about the way the Scribes and Religious were in the day of Christ and
even now you will find Churches claiming to be of Jesus yet are heavy into
rules and regulations, traditions that are not in the
Bible and are not what God intended. My other postings
in my blog speak to some of these issues and I encourage you to read them all.
This one is primarily about how our working in His vineyard brings Him glory.
There is work to be done and there are many doing
it yet not enough doing the work and doing it for the glory of God. He said the
harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. It is so true. Yet in some
countries there are people who are laying down theirs and their family’s lives
for the Gospel so others may know Jesus and be saved. People are going to jail
(as time goes on many more will willingly make these sacrifices), enduring
torture, watching their families being tortured and enduring horrible deaths
all for the glory of God and to bring salvation to the lost. Why?
First let me assure you these workers know where
they and their families are headed. Second they know the lost may not find
their way so they lay their safety and their families safety down so others may
live. Christ Jesus did this for all of us and many do this because He loved us
and died for us and for them. Jesus died for all mankind and all who want to
accept the free gift of salvation will be saved. A gift cannot be thrust upon a
person. It is offered and then it must be accepted to be owned. So it is with
Salvation. Jesus offers it. We accept it and it is ours and we become Children
of God.
Those of us not called to give up our lives (yet)
and comforts (yet) work in other way to the glory of God. Some work in the
community volunteering, some volunteer at Church (greeter, Children’s
Ministries, cleaning the Church etc.), some reach out to neighbors or any one
they encounter daily, children reach out to classmates (yes, here in the USA we
still legally can say what we believe yet that is getting harder to do), some
try to reach people by blogging or on Face Book or other media. Yet all do so
for the salvation of souls for the glory of God.
Where are you in your walk? Are you a believer?
If so are you stepping out in faith and trusting the Lord to take care of you
as you bring glory to God by bring the Good News to others? Yes, you might have
to be careful in some countries or even some very dangerous areas.
I remember a movie about a woman in China China
If you are not a believer read your Bible
especially the Gospel of John. John 3:16 says, 16 For
God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever
believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. (NKJV).
Call on the name of
Jesus, confess your sins, ask Him to be your savior and to be with you always.
Ask Him to fill you with His Holy Spirit who will then teach you, comfort,
guide you and help you grow in the wisdom, knowledge and understanding of Jesus
the Messiah. Believe that Christ died for your sins, rose again on the third
day as He said he would, was seen by the Apostles and 500 faithful and ascended
into heaven. If you have done this you are a Child of God the Father and He is
your Abba or Daddy and He will never forsake you.
Even when times are
very very hard He will be in the midst of it with you. Have faith in Him who
created the Universe and all there is and ever was and ever will be. Trust Him
to knows what is best for all, and will use you to bring others to Him (if you
let Him) for His glory. He loves you. That is the thing to remember. I will say
it again. He loves you!
Abba Father, thank
You for Your love for us. We could never have been ransomed by only a man. It
had to be Jesus fully God and fully Man who came to save us from sin and Hell.
We were lost and now we are found because You loved us and wanted us to be a part
of Your family.
Jesus thank You for
showing us the way to be a part of Your family and for sending the Holy Spirit
to help us to grow and bring glory to Abba.
Holy Spirit thank
You for teaching and guiding us, so all we do, say and are brings glory to Abba
Father.
I pray all will live
to bring glory to God the Father and spread the Gospel of Jesus our Christ and
Savior. In Jesus name in union with the Holy Spirit I pray. Amen.
Rebishka.
Saturday, June 21, 2014
JoAnn's Spiritual Lessons: Mercy
JoAnn's Spiritual Lessons: Mercy: Mercy. Ephesians 2:4-5 (ESV), romans 8:1 (NKJV), Psalms 103:12 (NASB), Jeremiah 31:34 (NLT), Psalms 103:10/11 (NLT) Napoleon was once a...
Wednesday, June 18, 2014
To Have Character Persevere
2 Chronicles 16:9
"For
the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself
strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him. In this you have done
foolishly; therefore from now on you shall have wars."
NKJV
NKJV
Romans 5:3-4 "And not only that, but we also glory in
tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance,
character; and character, hope." NKJV
Habakkuk 1:5
"The
LORD replied, "Look around at the nations; look and be amazed! For I am
doing something in your own day, something you wouldn't believe even if someone
told you about it."
NLT
NLT
1 Peter 1:6
"In
this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have
been grieved by various trials,"
NKJV
NKJV
2 Peter 3:14
"Therefore,
beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in
peace, without spot and blameless;"
NKJV
NKJV
Revelation 21:2 "Then I, John, saw
the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a
bride adorned for her husband. " NKJV
My Comments:
We know where we are bound to and it is a beautiful place yet because we have
our home there does not mean we will have an easy time of life here. In fact because
we are His we will have many trials and tribulations. Did Jesus not have them?
Can we expect our lives to be easier than our Lord’s? We are bought with a
price this free gift to us yet because we are His we have to grow. To grow we
will have things happen in our lives and around us that will challenge and
stretch us as we mature in the Love and wisdom of Jesus.
Yet not only in our lives but the lives of all people in the
world. He loves all people and sometimes the things that go on in a persons
life helps to grow them yet it may also be to bring the unsaved to Him. He goes
everywhere and sees everything and knows best how to address all things. We can
trust Him, have faith in Him and even call on Him when things are harder than
we think we can bear. Often people say, “He gives us no more than we can bear.”
The Bible tells us He allows us to have more than we can bear so we will call
on Him and He will help us to go through it. He may not take it away yet He
will be there in the midst of it with us and if we keep our eyes on Him, He
will work it out for the best.
I like how it is put in Romans 5:3-4 "And
not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation
produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope.” It
shows me that when I continue on in my tribulations (if you have been reading
my blog for awhile you know there have been many as maybe you have had) and I
know if I keep my eyes on the Lord and not on my problems, then I will
persevere, have character and always have hope. In the world we will see many
horrible things happening.
Watch the news anytime of the day or night and we see and hear of
these things more and more. Yet we are not to fear because we know where we are
headed and who is here to go through everything with us and we will grow in our
faith, hope and build character as we persevere.
Abba Father, thank You for the challenges of life. Fill us with
Your Holy Spirit so we will grow in knowledge and understanding and be equipped
to work in all situations of life.
Jesus, our Lord and Savior, thank You for always being there to go
through the challenges of life and those things that are thrown at us. Thank
You for holding us up during the hard times of life. Thank You for loving us so
much You went to the Cross for us. Thank You for Your example of how to serve
and how to live our lives for the glory of Abba Father.
Holy Spirit thank You for filling us with the skills and knowledge
we need to persevere and grow so we will bring glory to Abba Father at all
times.
In Jesus name in union with the Holy Spirit, we pray. Amen.
Rebishka
Tuesday, June 17, 2014
Love with all your heart, soul and mind
Romans 1:1 “Paul, a bondservant of
Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated to the gospel of God."
New King James Version (NKJV)
1 Corinthians
6:20
"For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in
your spirit, which are God's." NKJV
Matthew
22:37-39 "Jesus said to him, "'You shall love the LORD your God with
all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.' This is the first
and great commandment. And the second is like it: 'You shall love your neighbor
as yourself.'" NKJV
My Comments:
No matter how many times we hear it we need to take notice. Christ Jesus has
called all to Himself and wants for all to live forever. Not everyone will
accept the gift. He bought each of us, if we want to accept His Sacrifice, when
He willingly went to the Cross and kept Himself on the Cross until He died so
His Blood would cover our sin. We who accept His gift are then able to stand
before Abba Father clothed in the Righteousness of Jesus Christ and it is no
longer my sin Abba sees. He sees the Righteousness of Jesus. The Lamb of God
who takes away the sin of the world but not all in the world will accept His
Sacrifice, the Pearl of Great Price.
Paul did not
accept it at first. He tormented and stood by as Christians were tortured and
killed. Jesus had to blind him to get him to listen. He didn’t force Paul to
listen nor did He force Him to accept His gift yet He asked why Paul persecuted
Him. Some take a lot of talking to the be convinced yet often they become the
ones who make the biggest changes like Paul. Paul believed Jesus’ word and He
proclaimed Jesus and His Gospel at the peril of his own life. He loved God with
all his soul, heart, mind and body and his neighbor as himself. Because he
loved so much he did not hold back when presenting the Gospel because he did
not want that any should perish.
I feel the
same. There are many in the world today who are suffering and dieing for the
Gospel of Jesus Christ. Because they love Abba Father and they love their
neighbors. They share the Gospel often ending up in prison and being tortured
for the Gospel. Many are in prisons now yet they count it worth the price
because they hope maybe one soul will come to know Jesus and be saved. My heart
grieves for them, I pray for them and I know the Lord rejoices in them. Their
reward will be with the Lord one day and one day I will meet and know them. I
am excited for that day.
Abba Father,
protect those in this world who share the Gospel of Your Son Jesus, who risk
all they have to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus. Protect their families and give
them courage, strength and faith to move mountains. Thank You for blessing and
equipping them for the Ministries You have set them to.
Jesus, who
created the world and came as a babe in a stable, fill Your children with Your
Love for the lost and dieing. Send Your Holy Spirit to teach them so they may
teach others and guide them so they may guide others as Paul and the Apostles
did.
Holy Spirit
fill all those who have accepted Jesus Christ as their Savior and have His free
gift of Life Eternal with knowledge, wisdom, understanding and give them the
gifts each will need to bring praise and glory to Abba Father and do the will
of Him who sends them.
In Jesus name
in union with the Holy Spirit. Amen
Rebishka
Saturday, June 14, 2014
Greater than the gift of tongues is love
1 Corinthians
14:1-12 (New King James Version) (NKJV)
Prophecy and Tongues
14 Pursue love,
and desire spiritual gifts, but
especially that you may prophesy. 2 For he who speaks in a tongue does not
speak to men but to God, for no one understands him; however, in
the spirit he speaks mysteries. 3 But he who prophesies speaks
edification and exhortation and comfort to men. 4 He who speaks in a tongue edifies
himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church. 5 I wish you all spoke with tongues, but
even more that you prophesied; for he who prophesies is greater than
he who speaks with tongues, unless indeed he interprets, that the church may
receive edification.
Tongues Must Be Interpreted
6 But now,
brethren, if I come to you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you
unless I speak to you either by revelation, by knowledge, by prophesying, or by
teaching? 7 Even things without life, whether flute
or harp, when they make a sound, unless they make a distinction in the sounds,
how will it be known what is piped or played? 8 For if the trumpet makes an uncertain
sound, who will prepare for battle? 9 So likewise you, unless you utter by
the tongue words easy to understand, how will it be known what is spoken? For you
will be speaking into the air. 10 There are, it may be, so many kinds of
languages in the world, and none of them is without
significance. 11 Therefore, if I do not know the meaning
of the language, I shall be a foreigner to him who speaks, and he who speaks will be a foreigner
to me. 12 Even so you,
since you a re zealous for spiritual gifts,
let it be for the
edification of the church that you seek to
excel.
1 Corinthians
13:1-8 (NKJV)
13 Though I
speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become
sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. 2 And though I have the gift
of prophecy, and understand all mysteries
and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove
mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 And though I bestow all my goods to
feed the poor, and though I
give my body to be burned, but have not
love, it profits me nothing.
4 Love suffers
long and is kind; love
does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; 5 does not behave rudely, does not seek
its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; 6 does not rejoice in iniquity, but
rejoices in the truth; 7 bears all things, believes all things,
hopes all things, endures all things.
8 Love never
fails. But whether there are prophecies,
they will fail; whether there are tongues, they
will cease; whether there is knowledge, it
will vanish away.
1 Corinthians 13:13 (NKJV)
13 And now
abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.
My Comments: Many today seem to be concerned with speaking
in tongues, as if this were the greatest gift given to man from God. Religions
have sprung up centered around speaking in tongues and those in it say one without
the gift is not really a Christian or true believer. There are others who say
the gift is dead or was only for a time and that time has gone. There are
others who say it must only be done when one has the gift, in a closet. There
are several places in the Bible that address the gift of Tongues which would
make this a very long posting so I have chosen Paul’s discourse on it in 1 Corinthians.
I encourage all to search the Scriptures and seek the guidance of the Holy
Spirit for understanding and I hearin give my understanding from the Scripture,
the Holy Word of God.
First off let me say there are many gifts of which one may
read about in the Scripture, the gift of teaching, healing, leading and so on.
Each person when they become true Believers of Jesus Christ and are filled with
the Holy Spirit are given gifts to do the work God has for them to do (they are
equipped) and all gifts are for the help of the body and always for the glory
of Abba Father. The greatest gift He gives us is Love. So why all the
discussion, division and dissention in the body of Christ’s believers?
I believe Satan has clouded minds and is doing what he
always has done, sown dissention in the body. Dissention comes from discussion
that is based on what we want to believe rather than what the Word states and
then because of human pride there is division. I encourage all to read the
Bible closely. Nothing hinges on one passage but on a reading of the full Word
of God. If you read the passages I have offered for you, you will see not
everyone has or will have the gift of tongues and it is not the most important
gift. If one has it then it should not be used unless there is someone to
interpret and never more than three at a time in Church and it says nothing
about only for their (the beginning Churches) time. Yet, the Word Paul gives us
shows that it is a gift. Yet not as important, as none are, as Love. A Church
full of people speaking in tongues is as a clanging cymbal. Done without
someone prophesizing is not to be done. Not done for the edification and glory
of God is wrong. So if you have the gift of tongues do not brag or use it
without someone to interpret and only for the glory of God. Remember if you
have any gift and do not have Love you have nothing. For Love is the greatest
gift.
Abba Father I would that all would have the gifts You have
for them and would use them to help the body, grow Your kingdom and glorify You
the Creator of all and the giver of all gifts. May we all be filled with Your
Love and may if Your Love flow through us to all for Your glory.
Lord Jesus You sent the Holy Spirit so all may do the
things Abba Father gives us to do. Thank You for ascending and sending the Holy
Spirit to fill us with Your words, Your Love so we may bring and give glory to
God the Father.
Holy Spirit, Teacher, Comforter, Giver of Wisdom,
Knowledge and Understanding fill us with the gifts the Father desires for us
and guide us to use them for the edification and growing of the body for the
glory of God the Father Almighty, the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and
the End the First and the Last.
In Jesus name I pray in union with the Holy Spirit. Amen
Rebishka
Wednesday, June 11, 2014
Love and Forgiveness
Acts 28:2
"And the natives showed us unusual
kindness; for they kindled a fire and made us all welcome, because of the rain
that was falling and because of the cold."
NKJV
NKJV
1 John 4:20 "If someone says, "I love
God," but hates a Christian brother or sister, that person is a liar; for
if we don't love people we can see, how can we love God, whom we have not
seen?" NLT
My Comments:
These two verses go along with yesterdays post as you can see yet one seems to
be about the body of believers and one about those who yet do not know the Lord
Jesus as their Savior. Not so.
How can we as
believers say we “Love” as Christ loved us? How can we truly show the face of
Jesus? We can not if we do not love all
people whether of the Body or not. If a non believer can show more kindness
then that should show us we need to evaluate our walk with Jesus the Messiah.
If we have truly accepted Jesus as our Savior then our loving kindness should
be greater than those who have not accepted Him.
Christ Jesus
had no part of hate or anger unless someone was making a mockery of God the
Father, His Father, like when He flogged the money changers in the Temple
We are to be
loving and kind and extend a helping hand without judgment or gossip. In point
of fact we should do this even with our Brothers and Sisters in Christ Jesus.
If we find wrong words or wrong thinking in ourselves we need to drop to our
knees and confess to God our wrong and ask for His heart and words not our own
because ours are wicked indeed and His is pure and loving. If we are wronged
and cannot forgive then we are holding on to pride of self. Even Jesus the Son
of God did not have unforgiveness for those who wronged Him and He is the God
who created the Universe. If He could and can forgive ask yourself, “Am I God
that I can hold onto unforgiveness when the God of the Universe our Creator,
does not?” How can we say we love God if we do not love those He created and has died for?
Loved ones
ask God to fill you with His love and His mercy and His forgiveness and He
will. You have not because you ask not. Ask with faith and trust and He will
fill you with His love and His mercy for others whether they are believers or
your Brothers and Sisters in Christ Jesus. John said the greatest of these is
Love. It is the greatest gift we can pray for. Love covers a multitude of sins
and wrongs. Love forgives. Seek the Love of Jesus for the world and He will
fill you so you may show His love to the world.
Abba Father,
fill us with Your love and forgiveness. Help us to have Your heart for all
people. Help us to extend Your loving hand to all that others will see the face
of Jesus in us and hear His voice through us.
Jesus, You
were tortured and Crucified and still loved and forgave those who did. Fill us
with Your love and help us to forgive with the love You forgave those who
tortured You.
Holy Spirit, cleanse
us of pride that keep the love of Jesus in our hearts. Guide our every thought,
word and deed so we will become more and more like our Savior the Lamb of God,
Jesus. As Jesus continually turned to His Father, continually turn us to Abba
Father.
In the name
of Jesus with the Holy Spirit I pray. Amen.
Rebishka
Tuesday, June 10, 2014
Sorry folks
So sorry I have not been able to blog for a while. I have been sick and am just starting to recover.
I recommend you read from the first posts and hopefully I will be back to blogging again soon.
My heart and my prayers are ever with all of you. May our Lord guide, teach and show you all how you should go. Walk always with him who loved us so much He sent His only Son to die for us so we would not have to take the punishment for our sins. Thank You Abba Father.
Rebishka
I recommend you read from the first posts and hopefully I will be back to blogging again soon.
My heart and my prayers are ever with all of you. May our Lord guide, teach and show you all how you should go. Walk always with him who loved us so much He sent His only Son to die for us so we would not have to take the punishment for our sins. Thank You Abba Father.
Rebishka
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