Personal Thoughts and Ministry

His mercy endures forever

1/31/2014

Unto Thee lift I up mine eyes, O Thou that dwellest in the heavens. Behold, as the eyes of servants look unto the hand of their masters, and as the eyes of a maiden unto the hand of her mistress; so our eyes wait upon the LORD our GOD, until that He have mercy upon us. Have mercy upon us, O LORD, have mercy upon us: for we are exceedingly filled with contempt. Our soul is exceedingly filled with the scorning of those that are at ease, and with the contempt of the proud. (Psalms 123:1-4)

Those of us who have looked to GOD in faith for Salvation continue to do so for understanding, learning, care, blessings, and security until He brings us Home. That does not mean that He is our butler, but that He provides all that by grace as we continue serve Him.

GOD the Father sits on the Throne of Heaven. GOD the Son, Jesus Christ, who is the Son of GOD, sits at His right hand ever living to make intercession for the saints. GOD the Spirit convicts the world and indwells every believer to guide us into all Truth.

We thank GOD for His mercy, extended to us each and every day. Mercy that withheld judgment until we could come to Him on His terms and repent of our sIn and receive Him by faith in His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary. Mercy that gave each of us many days of living our former life, even though we were dead in our trespasses and sIns, and enemies with the GOD of all creation, until we could be born again. Mercy that GOD allows even those that despise Him to continue to draw breath so that they might repent and believe in His Sovereign grace and be saved.

For GOD is not willing that any should perish, but that all would come to repentance and the knowledge of the Truth. Jesus loves you and wants to establish a covenant relationship with you that is real and personal. Believe His Word and receive Him by faith, surrendering to Him on His terms and be born again, and He will give you a brand new life of discipleship and fellowship with Him that is abundant and everlasting. Humble yourself under the mighty Hand of GOD and He will exalt you in grace and mercy.

In Christ,
Jefferson Sweet

Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised in the city of our GOD

1/30/2014

Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee. Peace be within thy walls, and prosperity within thy palaces. For my brethren and companions' sakes, I will now say, Peace be within thee. Because of the House of the LORD our GOD I will seek thy good. (Psalms 122:6-9)

Jerusalem, the past capital of Israel's glory, the place of our Lord's crucifixion, and the future capital of GOD's Kingdom here on earth, has always been at the heart of GOD's geography. If this world is the center of the universe, at least as GOD pays attention to us, then Jerusalem is the center of the world, and GOD says to pray for the peace of Jerusalem.

Understanding the times, and realizing what GOD is doing over the longer view of history, we know that GOD is not done with Israel, or Jerusalem. There is coming a day when GOD will call all those that are secure in Him Home to be with Him, and once again He will focus on Israel, and the nation and people of the Jews. There is also coming a day, when all the world will be against Jerusalem, and the Jews, but GOD will deliver those that endure to the end. Then GOD will set up His glorious millenial Kingdom and establish His throne of peace in Jerusalem. We pray for that peace.

There was a day, when GOD offered His Son, in our place, to take away the sIn of the world. Jesus, the Son of GOD who is GOD the Son, put on flesh and willingly and humbly went obediently to the Cross of Calvary to purchase our Salvation. His resurrection and glorification to the right hand of GOD the Father finalized GOD's plan of redemption that is freely offered to all who will repent and believe. We thank Him for the Good News that His sacrifice makes it possible to have peace with GOD.

For GOD is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance and the knowledge of the Truth. Jesus loves you and wants to establish a covenant relationship with Him that is real and personal. He calls you to believe His Word and receive Him by faith in His finished and perfect work on that cruel Roman cross. Surrender to Him on His terms and be born again, and He will give you a brand new life of discipleship and fellowship with Him that is abundant and everlasting. Then you will have real peace, peace with GOD through forgiveness and His Salvation.

In Christ,
Jefferson Sweet

You are our Hope, O Lord GOD

1/29/2014

I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth. He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: He that keepeth thee will not slumber. Behold, He that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep. The LORD is thy keeper: the LORD is thy shade upon thy right hand. The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night. The LORD shall preserve thee from all evil: He shall preserve thy soul. The LORD shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore. (Psalms 121:1-8)

Age old questions and an answer. Where is GOD when I am in trouble? When our nation is destroying itself in sIn? When GOD's people seem to be asleep spiritually?

GOD is always here. The creator of all things hasn't moved, and He does not change. He doesn't get tired, and He will keep all His promises. In His time, and His way, according to His will, He will accomplish all that He has set forth. For the Psalmist that meant both personal and national deliverance. For us, it means personal deliverance, and care during whatever GOD allows or brings upon the nations that forget Him.

Whatever our circumstances, unless it is a consequence of our own actions, GOD will bring us through it. If it is His judgment of our own rebellion, GOD will only act upon repentance, but He may allow us to suffer through the results of our decisions. He is faithful. He is just, and He is merciful. We praise Him, and continue to look for Him, our blessed Hope.

GOD judges sIn: All mankind is guilty and is under the curse of that rebellion against GOD. But, GOD is not willing that any should perish, but that all would come to repentance and the knowledge of the Truth.

If you don't know Him, if you don't have that kind of personal relationship with Him, this Psalm does not apply to you. Only those in Christ can say our help comes from GOD. But, Jesus loves you and wants to establish a covenant relationship with you that is real and personal. Receive Him by faith in His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary, and He will give you a brand new life of discipleship and fellowship with Him that is abundant and everlasting. He is the only one who can help us with our sIn problem, and He freely offers His Salvation to those that look to Him for forgiveness.

In Christ,
Jefferson Sweet

Call upon the Name of the Lord

1/28/2014

In my distress I cried unto the LORD, and He heard me. Deliver my soul, O LORD, from lying lips, and from a deceitful tongue. What shall be given unto thee? or what shall be done unto thee, thou false tongue? Sharp arrows of the mighty, with coals of juniper. Woe is me, that I sojourn in Mesech, that I dwell in the tents of Kedar! My soul hath long dwelt with him that hateth peace. I am for peace: but when I speak, they are for war. (Psalms 120:1-7)

David cried out to GOD during his exile with the Philistines for mercy and deliverance. In GOD's own time, He answered that prayer, and not only restored David to his place in Israel, but gave Him the kingdom He had promised and anointed him for years earlier.

GOD is faithful, He will keep His promises, and everything He has foretold will come to pass. Not on our timetable, or when we think it should, but always when GOD has willed it to be. David had to suffer for a bit, but GOD even used them to accomplish His goals. We must trust GOD to accomplish in us what He has said He will do.

From discipling one another through His Word, His Church, and His Spirit, to conforming us to the image of His dear Son, Jesus Christ who is our Life, to sharing the message of Hope and Peace through the Gospel of Jesus Christ to this lost and dying world. We are comforted through His Word when we see such accounts, and empowered and emboldened to be obedient and faithful to Him who gave Himself for us.

We share GOD's love, mercy and grace because of what He did for us when He willingly and obediently took our place on the Cross of Calvary. GOD is not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance and the knowledge of the Truth.

Jesus loves you and wants to establish a covenant relationship with you that is real and personal. If you will trust and believe in His finished and perfect work on that cruel Roman cross and surrender to Him on His terms, He will give you a brand new life of discipleship and fellowship with Him that is abundant and everlasting. No matter what your circumstances, GOD is bigger and already knows what you have done, and He is willing to forgive all those that come to Him in faith and receive His free gift of Salvation.

In Christ,
Jefferson Sweet

Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly

1/27/2014

Let my cry come near before Thee, O LORD: give me understanding according to Thy Word. Let my supplication come before Thee: deliver me according to Thy Word. My lips shall utter praise, when Thou hast taught me Thy Statutes. My tongue shall speak of Thy Word: for all Thy Commandments are righteousness. Let thine hand help me; for I have chosen Thy Precepts. I have longed for Thy Salvation, O LORD; and Thy Law is my delight. Let my soul live, and it shall praise Thee; and let Thy Judgments help me. I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek Thy servant; for I do not forget Thy Commandments. (Psalms 119:169-176)

Our GOD hears and answers our prayers according to His Word. He has a much bigger vocabulary than yes, no, and wait. He speaks through His Spirit and the Word of GOD to guide us into all Truth, to instruct us in righteousness, to rebuke us when we are wrong, and to correct us when it is needed.

The more time we spend with Him in His Word, the closer we draw to Him as we learn of Him. Soon we think GOD's thoughts after Him, and desire the things He desires to give us. We want to accomplish for Him what He wants us to accomplish, and we seek Him and His will above all else. When we want what He wants to give us, Our loving Father gives it willingly, overflowing, and abundantly.

All the promises in His Word are completed and affirmed in Jesus Christ, through Him we have our being, and in Him is Life. When we look to His Word, we have to see Him and what He is doing to understand the passage. Studying to show ourselves approved unto GOD and rightly dividing the Word of Truth is essential to our growth as a Christian, our discipleship of one another, and our witness to this lost and dying world that needs the Good News of Jesus Christ.

For GOD is not willing that any should perish, but that all would come to repentance and the knowledge of the Truth. Jesus loves you and wants to establish a covenant relationship with you that is real and personal. Believe His Word, trust His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary for your sIn, and surrender to Him on His terms, and He will give you a brand new life of discipleship and fellowship with Him that is abundant and everlasting. Receive, by faith in Him, His free gift of Salvation and forgiveness today.

In Christ,
Jefferson Sweet

The Words of the LORD are pure Words

1/24/2014

I cried with my whole heart; hear me, O LORD: I will keep Thy Statutes. I cried unto Thee; save me, and I shall keep Thy Testimonies. I prevented the dawning of the morning, and cried: I hoped in Thy Word. Mine eyes prevent the night watches, that I might meditate in Thy Word. Hear my voice according unto Thy lovingkindness: O LORD, quicken me according to Thy Judgment. They draw nigh that follow after mischief: they are far from Thy Law. Thou art near, O LORD; and all Thy Commandments are truth. Concerning Thy Testimonies, I have known of old that Thou hast founded them for ever. (Psalms 119:145-152)

Does our whole heart seek GOD? Do we desire Him and His Word more than our necessary food? Do we keep the Commands of GOD as a precious treasure? Do we seek them early and often, for comfort, for instruction, for guidance or for correction?

What is our attitude toward the Scriptures? Is it just another book, or is the very Words of GOD? What do we do when we 'finally' get to the end of the Book, do we put it away on the shelf, or do we start again? What about the 'dry' parts? Do we just read the good stories, or do we partake of all the books, even the ones hard to understand?

The Psalmist here wrote that he got up before the morning, before the night watches were over, just to hear from GOD and meditate on His Word. His hope and faith were strong because He knew GOD and continued in His Word. He didn't waver with each new 'thing' that he heard, for He stood firm on the Solid Rock.

Our obedience to His Word, and our obedience to share it with those we meet, is not an option. He commands us to hear, to read, to study, to memorize, and to meditate on His Word. We do so that we may know Him. The Scriptures speak of Jesus, from the creation of this world, to the final consummation of all things, He is there. If we would seek Jesus, that is where we must go.

We must also take the Good News, the Gospel of Jesus Christ that we heard and believed to others that they might hear and believe. We cannot keep the love of GOD to ourselves.

For GOD is not willing that any should perish, but that all would come to repentance and the knowledge of the Truth. Jesus loves you and wants to establish a covenant relationship with you that is real and personal. Believe His Word and what it says about Him and about you, and surrender to Him on His terms and be born again, and He will give you a brand new life of discipleship and fellowship with Him that is real and personal. Trust His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary for forgiveness and Salvation. GOD is waiting to hear from you.

In Christ,
Jefferson Sweet

The Word of the Lord is Truth

1/23/2014

Righteous art Thou, O LORD, and upright are Thy Judgments. Thy Testimonies that Thou hast commanded are righteous and very faithful. My zeal hath consumed me, because mine enemies have forgotten Thy Words. Thy Word is very pure: therefore Thy servant loveth it. I am small and despised: yet do not I forget Thy Precepts. Thy righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and Thy Law is the truth. Trouble and anguish have taken hold on me: yet Thy Commandments are my delights. The righteousness of Thy Testimonies is everlasting: give me understanding, and I shall live. (Psalms 119:137-144)

If it were not for the revealed Word of GOD telling us of who GOD is, and revealing Himself to us, we could not know Him. He is high and Holy, above all else. GOD is outside His creation, He is eternal and altogether Righteous. GOD had to become a man, in order to redeem man from our sIn. The eternal GOD-Man Jesus Christ is both King of this world because of His victory of sIn and death on the Cross of Calvary, but also King over all, because He is GOD in the flesh. The Father is glorified in all and above all, the Son of GOD who is GOD the Son is the Living Word, The Spirit indwells us and guides us into all Truth.

We understand His Word only as we are obedient to Him, as we study to show ourselves approved unto GOD, and as we live its precepts and commands in our walk with Him. He tells us to grow in grace and the knowledge of our Lord. He insists that we disciple one another in the Word of GOD. He commands us to tell others that do not know of the grace and love of Jesus Christ. We should have the zeal for His written Word as we do for Him, and the obedience to do what our Lord tells us to do.

We are told to have the mind of Christ, and to follow His heart. He loves everyone so much that He was willing to die for their sIn, all we have to do is live in Him, and share His mercy through the Gospel of Jesus Christ to everyone we meet.

If you are reading this and saying that is not me, I don't have that relationship then I have Good News for you: The Truth of the Gospel is that Jesus loves you and wants to establish a covenant relationship with you that is real and personal. If you believe His Word and surrender to Him on His terms, He will give you a brand new life of discipleship and fellowship with Him that is abundant and everlasting. Give Him all your troubles and rest in the delights of His Word and His Salvation today.

In Christ,
Jefferson Sweet

In the Light of His Word

1/22/2014

Thy Testimonies are wonderful: therefore doth my soul keep them. The entrance of Thy Words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple. I opened my mouth, and panted: for I longed for Thy Commandments. Look Thou upon me, and be merciful unto me, as Thou usest to do unto those that love Thy Name. Order my steps in Thy Word: and let not any iniquity have dominion over me. Deliver me from the oppression of man: so will I keep Thy Precepts. Make Thy face to shine upon Thy servant; and teach me Thy Statutes. Rivers of waters run down mine eyes, because they keep not Thy law. (Psalms 119:129-136)

How wonderful is the Word of GOD. It is a Light to our path, Life to those that partake its Words, the Law to our hearts, and Liberty to those that hear and obey.

To those of us who know GOD through the power of His resurrection, His Holy Word is both a warning, and a comfort. A warning because it continues to show us our sIn, and to show us His Judgments. A comfort because it reminds us of His grace even in times of trouble, and His continued presence from the moment of our Salvation unto our eternal rest with Him.

It is also a warning to those without, that we are to take to them, not just to tell those that don't know GOD the nice parts, with a false comfort and a false hope, but to take the whole Word to the whole world as GOD gives us utterance and opportunity. It is not an option, it is a command to take the Gospel of Jesus Christ to this lost and dying world.

We must warn them that sIn keeps us from GOD. Though GOD is everywhere, only those in right relationship with Him through faith in His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary have eternal life and forgiveness that leads to eternal life.

For GOD is not willing that any should perish, but that all would come to repentance and the knowledge of the Truth. The Truth of GOD's Word and what He tells us about Him, and that Jesus loves you and wants to establish a covenant relationship with you that is real and personal. Surrender to Him on His terms and be born again, and He will give you a brand new life that is abundant and everlasting. Let His perfect Word engrafted into your heart and mind deliver you from your sIn and give you comfort and peace with and through Jesus Christ today.

In Christ,
Jefferson Sweet

Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the Word of GOD

1/21/2014

I have done judgment and justice: leave me not to mine oppressors. Be surety for Thy servant for good: let not the proud oppress me. Mine eyes fail for Thy Salvation, and for the Word of Thy righteousness. Deal with Thy servant according unto Thy mercy, and teach me Thy Statutes. I am Thy servant; give me understanding, that I may know Thy Testimonies. It is time for Thee, LORD, to work: for they have made void Thy Law. Therefore I love Thy Commandments above gold; yea, above fine gold. Therefore I esteem all Thy Precepts concerning all things to be right; and I hate every false way. (Psalms 119:121-128)

Our righteousness, the only righteousness that will save us, is in the Word. It is in the Word made flesh, for we are in Christ, and He in us, replacing the filthy rags of our unrighteousness for His perfect righteousness. It is in the written Word for our faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of GOD, if we have not believed in vain. GOD's Word cannot fail, and our trust and believe is in Him, so it is firmly anchored in the Author and Finisher of our faith.

GOD's Word has many parts, and each is to be studied to rightly divide them as the Spirit gives us understanding. From historical narrative, revealing GOD and His dealings with His creation, and His people; to the wisdom and poetry of the Psalms and Proverbs, to the Commands and Prophecy proclaiming His goodness and our judgment; throughout His Word GOD speaks through the people He chose to write His Words and transmit them to us. It is Power, it is Life, it is Holy, and we as people of the Book are to look to it as our final Authority in all we say, think, and do.

We are to share His Word with those around us: Partake of it, as we do our daily bread, to hear from GOD; Pronounce its Doctrines, its Reproofs, its Corrections, and its Instructions so that all may hear and learn and grow; and Preach it to one another for discipleship and to the lost for Salvation.

We share His Word to those that are without by the Command and Commission of GOD because GOD is not willing that any should perish but that all would come to repentance and the knowledge of the Truth. Jesus loves you and wants to establish a covenant relationship with you that is real and personal. Surrender to Him on His terms and be born again by faith in His finished and perfect work on that cruel Roman cross, and He will give you a brand new life of discipleship and fellowship with Him that is abundant and everlasting. Understand and believe the work Jesus has already accomplished for you on the Cross of Calvary and believe His Word today.

In Christ,
Jefferson Sweet

In the mirror of His Word

1/20/2014

I hate vain thoughts: but Thy Law do I love. Thou art my hiding place and my shield: I hope in Thy Word. Depart from me, ye evildoers: for I will keep the Commandments of my GOD. Uphold me according unto Thy Word, that I may live: and let me not be ashamed of my Hope. Hold Thou me up, and I shall be safe: and I will have respect unto Thy Statutes continually. Thou hast trodden down all them that err from Thy Statutes: for their deceit is falsehood. Thou puttest away all the wicked of the earth like dross: therefore I love Thy Ttestimonies. My flesh trembleth for fear of Thee; and I am afraid of Thy Judgments. (Psalms 119:113-120)

When we look into the mirror of the perfect Word of GOD, it reveals to us GOD, ourselves, our need of Him, and His provision for our Salvation. Without it we would not know GOD, nor would we even know of Him. GOD is eternal, outside His creation and beyond our thoughts, and we cannot dwell in His presence apart from His saving work in us.

He loves us so much that even though we rebelled against Him in Adam, He had already prepared Himself as the Lamb of GOD to take the sIn of the whole world upon Himself. He made us to be with Him, and has redeemed those of us who have trusted in His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary to eternal life with and in Him.

We study His Word to know more of Him, to see and let the Spirit correct our faults, and know what He is going to do in and through us, as well as what is to come. We share His Word and the Good News so that others, who don't know Him may repent and believe in the Gospel of Jesus Christ and be saved from the destruction that GOD has declared to all those who reject Him because of their sIn.

For GOD is not willing that any should perish but that all would come to repentance and the knowledge of the Truth. Jesus loves you and wants to establish a covenant relationship with you that is real and personal. Believe His Word and surrender to Him on His terms and He will give you a brand new life of discipleship and fellowship with Him that is abundant and everlasting. Receive Him and Live.

In Christ,
Jefferson Sweet

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