Thursday, September 27, 2012

Two Masters



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Two Masters

From fire and brimstone to churches all doctrinated up
Seems that everywhere you’re lookin’ there’s Christians all messed up
Well I’ve got the solution, to religious pollution
His Name is Christ Jesus, Yes, He came to free us

From all our diversions and traditional perversions
If we would only obey Him, and with our hearts receive Him
He’d make us new creatures and give us new features
To be molded in His image and fight back at the scrimmage

The lust for money is the root of all evil
You can’t serve two masters, you can’t please all the p-pill
If you wanna rob the poor and give to the rich
I don’t have to give a cent to your golden calf project
Wah-wah-wah…

God won’t wait much longer as His people die from hunger
They’re cryin’ out for mercy but you can’t hear no longer
For judgment must begin in the house of the Lord
Where do sinners stand if we just make it thru the door

I’m really tryin’ to tell you, I’m really tryin’ to warn you
But you won’t listen to someone who’s below you
But now it’s come between push and shove
I’m cryin’ out for mercy, I’m cryin’ out for love
Wah-wah-wah…     

I bring you this message, He’ll never forsake us
If you’d only listen, you wouldn’t put up such a fuss
I’ve told you these things, it will come to pass
If it can be shaken, it surely will not last

Copyright © 1984 Jim Hughes / Copyright © 2012 Tree Number 3 Publishing


Friday, September 21, 2012

Enter In, To God’s Rest


What does it mean to enter in, to God’s rest?

Hebrews 4:14-16 (AMP)
14 Inasmuch then as we have a great High Priest Who has [already entered into the rest of God] and ascended and passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession [of faith in Him].

15 For we do not have a High Priest Who is unable to understand and sympathize and have a shared feeling with our weaknesses and infirmities and liability to the assaults of temptation, but One Who has been tempted in every respect as we are, yet without sinning.

16 Let us then fearlessly and confidently and boldly [enter in] draw near to the throne of grace (the throne of God’s unmerited favor to us sinners), that we may receive mercy [for our failures] and find grace to help in good time for every need [appropriate help and well-timed help, coming just when we need it].

Hebrews 3:18-19 (KJV)
18 And to whom sware He that they should not enter into his rest G2663 but to them that believed not? 19 So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.

Strong’s Concordance: G2663
κατάπαυσις
katapausis
kat-ap'-ow-sis
From G2664; reposing down, that is, (by Hebraism) abode: - rest.

Jesus says, Abide in Me:

John 15:4-6 (KJV)

4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. 5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. 6 If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.

I conclude then that to enter into God’s rest is to abide in Christ! Jesus says that if life is too hard, you’re not doing it right:

Matthew 11:28-30
(KJV)
28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
(MSG)
Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.
(CPV)
Come to me, all of you who are frustrated and have had a bellyful, and I will give you zest, Get in the harness with me and let me teach you, for I am trained and have a cooperative spirit, and you will find zest for your lives. For my harness is practical, and my assignment is joyful.

References:
Translations are retrieved from http://www.biblegateway.com unless noted BibleGateway.com © Copyright 1995-2010 Gospel Communications International
    Amplified Bible (AMP)—Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation
    The Message Bible (MSG)—Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995 by Eugene H. Peterson
    King James Version (KJV)—Public Domain/ 1604, King James I of England
The following are retrieved from e-Sword www.e-sword.net  —Copyright © 2000-2012 Rick Meyers All Rights Reserved Worldwide
    Cotton Patch Version (CPV)—Copyright © 1968 by Clarence Jordan— for more works by Clarence Jordan go to http://rockhay.tripod.com/cottonpatch/index.htm
    Strong’s Concordance: Greek & Hebrew Dictionary; Published in 1890 by James Strong

Thursday, September 20, 2012

The Spirit Bears Witness


We can know that God approves of our lives and that we are in right standing with Him. There is no need for fear.

Rom 8:14-16
(KJV) 
For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God.
(CPV) 
If by the Spirit you utterly smash your selfishness, you will live. For God’s sons are they who are led by God’s Spirit. Listen, you all didn’t get an old master-slave relationship based on fear; instead, you got a father-son relationship in which we are entitled to call God "Father." The Spirit himself sings out with our spirit that "WE ARE GOD’S CHILDREN."

This is speaking of true believers, God’s children. Jesus said, “You can know the truth and the truth will set you free!” (John 8:32) There are many immature believers who are afraid of judgment day thinking God will say, “Depart from Me, I never knew you!” (Matthew 7:23) But this not what the Bible says will happen to true children of God; this exhortation is for false believers—liars! True believers are not to live in fear and condemnation.

These next verses are in the Amplified Bible. Each verse is pregnant with gold, read them slowly—do not  flippantly go over them! Allow them to radically change your life forever—this is Discipleship 101:

1 John 4:16-21 (AMP)
16 And we know (understand, recognize, are conscious of, by observation and by experience) and believe (adhere to and put faith in and rely on) the love God cherishes for us. God is love, and he who dwells and continues in love dwells and continues in God, and God dwells and continues in him.

17 In this [intimate union and communion with Him] love is brought to completion and attains perfection with us, that we may have confidence for the day of judgment [with assurance and boldness to face Him], because as He is, so are we in this world.

18 There is no fear in love [dread does not exist], but full-grown (complete, perfect) love turns fear out of doors and expels every trace of terror! For fear brings with it the thought of punishment, and [so] he who is afraid has not reached the full maturity of love [is not yet grown into love’s complete perfection].

19 We love Him, because He first loved us.

20 If anyone says, I love God, and hates (detests, abominates) his brother [in Christ], he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, Whom he has not seen.

21 And this command (charge, order, injunction) we have from Him: that he who loves God shall love his brother [believer] also.

So we see here that fear brings the thought of punishment— full-grown (complete, perfect) love turns fear out of doors and expels every trace of terror! This is how to get rid of terrorism once and for all! By trusting God! God bears witness with our spirits that we are His children, He loves us! Now we may have confidence for the day of judgment, NO FEAR of condemnation. It will be a day of rejoicing!

References:
Translations are retrieved from http://www.biblegateway.com/  unless noted BibleGateway.com © Copyright 1995-2010 Gospel Communications International
Amplified Bible (AMP)—Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation
Cotton Patch Version (CPV)—Copyright © 1968 by Clarence Jordan—Retrieved from e-Sword www.e-sword.net —Copyright © 2000-2012 Rick Meyers All Rights Reserved Worldwide; for more works by Clarence Jordan go to http://rockhay.tripod.com/cottonpatch/index.htm

Friday, September 7, 2012

Can You Come To God Naked And Unashamed


Will you allow God to see you naked? I know that sounds absurd since God can see thru the darkest night—He doesn’t need light, He is light! There is nothing hidden from God:

Hebrews 4:13 (AMP)
Not a creature exists that is concealed from God’s sight, but all things are open and exposed, naked and defenseless to the eyes of Him with Whom we have to do.

and

Job 34:21-22 (MSG)
God has his eyes on every man and woman.
    He doesn’t miss a trick.
There is no night dark enough, no shadow deep enough,
    to hide those who do evil.
God doesn’t need to gather any more evidence;
    their sin is an open-and-shut case.

Before the fall Adam and Eve were “naked and unashamed.” They walked daily with God in open fellowship with Him. They tried to hide their shame with fig leaves. They didn’t know God can see thru fig leaves.

Are you walking around in fig leaves? Does your life feel kind of scratchy? Don’t hide from God:

Hebrews 4:16 (AMP)
Let us then fearlessly and confidently and boldly draw near to the throne of grace (the throne of God’s unmerited favor to us sinners), that we may receive mercy [for our failures] and find grace to help in good time for every need [appropriate help and well-timed help, coming just when we need it].

Hebrews 10:22 (KJV)
Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.

John 3:19-21 (MSG)
This is the crisis we’re in: God-light streamed into the world, but men and women everywhere ran for the darkness. They went for the darkness because they were not really interested in pleasing God. Everyone who makes a practice of doing evil, addicted to denial and illusion, hates God-light and won’t come near it, fearing a painful exposure. But anyone working and living in truth and reality welcomes God-light so the work can be seen for the God-work it is.

Let us run to God when we sin, naked and unashamed!

References:
Translations are retrieved from http://www.biblegateway.com/  BibleGateway.com © Copyright 1995-2010 Gospel Communications International
King James Version (KJV)—Public Domain/ 1604, King James I of England
The Message Bible (MSG)—Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995 by Eugene H. Peterson
Amplified Bible (AMP)—Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation

Email: classicdevotionals@gmail.com