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The vessels of the house of the LORD

6/22/2016

 
Who is there among you of all His people? his GOD be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judah, and build the house of the LORD GOD of Israel, (He is the GOD,) which is in Jerusalem. And whosoever remaineth in any place where he sojourneth, let the men of his place help him with silver, and with gold, and with goods, and with beasts, beside the freewill offering for the house of GOD that is in Jerusalem. Then rose up the chief of the fathers of Judah and Benjamin, and the priests, and the Levites, with all them whose spirit GOD had raised, to go up to build the house of the LORD which is in Jerusalem. And all they that were about them strengthened their hands with vessels of silver, with gold, with goods, and with beasts, and with precious things, beside all that was willingly offered. (Ezra 1:3-6)
     Our journey through Mark now complete, we turn our attention to the history in Ezra, Nehemiah, and Esther. Ezra was a faithful scribe who collected many of the books of the Old Testament after the books of the Law and the books of wisdom and gathered them together, though not the same way we know them, into the Hebrew Scriptures or Old Testament. He begins his chronicle with the command and proclamation by Cyrus for the Jews to go back to Judah and Jerusalem and rebuild the temple which Babylon had torn down when Jerusalem was overthrown and the Jews were captured. The captivity of the Jews is drawing to a close and GOD has moved to return His people to their land and build a new temple that they may worship Him in spirit and in truth.
 
     When GOD moves, we must strengthen ourselves to the work, not in our own strength, or relying simply on our talents, abilities, strengths, and knowledge, but resting in His power, gifts, wisdom, and direction, to accomplish His will and do His work in this lost and dying world. Whatever GOD has called us to do for Him, we must do His work as His ambassadors and servants in this broken and sinful world He has called us to serve in for as long as we are here. He will strengthen us to whatever He brings us to do, and provide all our needs that He may be glorified in the work He does in us, just as He did with the Jews that He sent to build a new temple for Him in Jerusalem.
 
     Then the Jews who were obedient and faithful focused their worship on the Law and the sacrifices, so they needed a temple, the priests, and all the instruments of their worship to meet GOD. Today, we are the temple of the Holy Spirit that lives within us, and we worship all the time, the GOD who redeemed us from the Law and from sin when we repented of our sin, that we might serve Him whom we have received by faith in Him and His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary. Though a new temple is coming, and GOD will call back the Jews to Himself, and all nations will worship in that temple for a thousand years, and Christ Himself will be there as He rules and reigns on this earth, that is a future still to come.

     Until that day, we are called to minister to those around us who are hurting and in need as GOD provides, with the Word of reconciliation and righteousness, rightly divided and fitly spoken, that others may see Christ in us, the hope of Glory. Our GOD has commanded us to love one another with an unfeigned love, even as He first loved us, and to disciple one another in the Word of GOD so that we may all grow in grace and in the Knowledge of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Our Lord has commissioned us with the Gospel of Jesus Christ, to go in the power of the Holy Spirit where He sends us, and as we go, to proclaim the Good News of forgiveness through repentance and reconciliation with the Father through faith in His Son, that those who believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah of GOD might have life in His Name.
 
       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. 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. GOD calls you to trust Him and what He has already done for you to pay your sIn debt. He has provided the only way of reconciliation with GOD, forgiveness from GOD, and Salvation through Jesus Christ, the Son of GOD who is GOD the Son, to give you a new life in Christ. Turn away from yourself and your sIn and turn to Him alone for eternal Life, now and always.

In Christ,
Jefferson Sweet

They were astonished with a great astonishment

6/6/2016

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And when He was come into the ship, he that had been possessed with the devil prayed Him that he might be with Him. Howbeit Jesus suffered him not, but saith unto him, Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee. And he departed, and began to publish in Decapolis how great things Jesus had done for him: and all men did marvel. (Mar 5:18-20)
      When the Lord works in our lives we are to go and tell that He might be glorified. We are to proclaim His wondrous works among the people, that they might know there is a GOD who saves, and the Jesus Christ has purchased that Salvation in His own body on that tree. We are to lift up the one who has saved us, who provides for our need according to His riches in Glory through Christ Jesus, and who has called us out of darkness into His marvellous light. We are to shout from the highways and the byways, from the rooftops, and out in the fields, all that GOD is and what He can do, that those who repent and believe in Him and His finished work on the Cross of Calvary might be born again into the new life which GOD has prepared for them that love Him.

     Those who walk in darkness fear the light, for their deeds are evil, but those who follow Jesus walk in the light and have the light of life. We are to live in and through Him the life we were meant to live, not our old life remade and repackaged, but new creatures in Christ, crucified to ourselves and to this world. Those without, who have not yet acknowledged their sin and rebellion against a Holy GOD who is just and righteous and repented of their sin that they might be forgiven by our Lord who is loving and gracious, are not yet in Christ, nor can they understand the things of GOD which are Spiritually discerned. We must go and tell them that they may believe in Him and receive His free gift of Salvation and reconciliation with the Father.

      We who are in Christ by faith in Him are called to serve, to represent Jesus who is our Lord and Master, as ambassadors of the King, ministering to those around us who are hurting and in need with the Word of righteousness, rightly divided and fitly spoken, that they might know Him and see Christ in us, the hope of Glory. We who are made new by the Spirit of GOD within us are to love the brethren as members one of another and disciple one another in the Word of GOD that we might all grow up into the full measure of Him who first loved us. We who have received His redemption are to take the Gospel of Jesus Christ to this lost and dying world, and as we go, in the power of the Holy Spirit, proclaim the Good News of forgiveness through repentance and reconciliation with the Father through faith in His Son, that those who believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah of GOD, might have life in His Name.

     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. 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. GOD calls you to trust Him and what He has already done for you to pay your sIn debt. He has provided the only way of reconciliation with GOD, forgiveness from GOD, and Salvation through Jesus Christ, the Son of GOD who is GOD the Son, to give you a new life in Christ. Turn away from yourself and your sIn and turn to Him alone for eternal Life, now and always.

In Christ,
Jefferson Sweet
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Let your light so shine before men

6/3/2016

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And He said unto them, Is a candle brought to be put under a bushel, or under a bed? and not to be set on a candlestick? For there is nothing hid, which shall not be manifested; neither was any thing kept secret, but that it should come abroad. If any man have ears to hear, let him hear. And He said unto them, Take heed what ye hear: with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you: and unto you that hear shall more be given. For he that hath, to him shall be given: and he that hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he hath. (Mar 4:21-25)
     Our light, the light of life, reflecting the light of the Saviour, through the Holy Spirit that is within us, should shine forth, not for our glory, or to advance our agenda, but to glorify our Father which is in Heaven and accomplish His will in this broken and sinful world. We are His children and ambassadors of His Kingdom and the life we live while we sojourn here ought to always reflect Him who has called those of us who have believed out of the darkness we once lived in into His marvellous light and placed us as beacons where He wants us to be.

     Our responses to what the sin and suffering in this world, to what the world brings against us, or what we experience in this lost and dying world, must always be with a measure of grace, as children of the King. Our understanding and judgment ought to be tempered by our worldview, through His Word and what it reveals about our GOD, about ourselves and others who are not born again, and His eternal plan of Salvation to all those who repent of their sins and trust Him and His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary.

      His people, the Church of GOD, are called to serve and minister to those around us who are hurting and in need, that they might know Him and see Christ in us, the hope of Glory. His children, the family of GOD, are commanded to love one another and disciple one another in His Word that we might grow thereby. His saints, the army of GOD, are commissioned to the work of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, to proclaim His Good News of forgiveness through repentance and reconciliation with the Father through faith in His Son, that those who believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah of GOD, might have life in His Name.

     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. 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. GOD calls you to trust Him and what He has already done for you to pay your sIn debt. He has provided the only way of reconciliation with GOD, forgiveness from GOD, and Salvation through Jesus Christ, the Son of GOD who is GOD the Son, to give you a new life in Christ. Turn away from yourself and your sIn and turn to Him alone for eternal Life, now and always.

In Christ,
Jefferson Sweet
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I must be about My Father's business

6/2/2016

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There came then His brethren and His mother, and, standing without, sent unto Him, calling him. And the multitude sat about Him, and they said unto Him, Behold, Thy mother and Thy brethren without seek for Thee. And He answered them, saying, Who is My mother, or My brethren? And He looked round about on them which sat about Him, and said, Behold My mother and My brethren! For whosoever shall do the will of GOD, the same is My brother, and My sister, and mother. (Mar 3:31-35)
     Jesus was not being unkind when He refused to give preferential treatment to those who were related to Him after the flesh, but demonstrated that He had a higher purpose and a calling to serve all who believe. Those who are related to Him because they are born again into His family by repentance and faith in Him and His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary are eternally His and servants of the most High GOD. Earthly and temporal relations will end on this life, but that which is eternal will last forever. Those of us who are in Christ by faith have been received into His Church and are His brethren and members one of another that we might serve Him until He calls us Home.

    While He walked this earth He never sinned, but His plans and purposes always remained in obedience to His Heavenly Father. He always did the will of His Father and was always about His Father's business. That should be our goal, for those of us who are secure in His Salvation because of our trust in Him, we ought to seek His will and accomplish His work in this world, for we are His workmanship and the greater works which we do are the works which He has before ordained that we should walk in them by faith. We don't earn or keep that which GOD has graciously given to us but glorify our GOD as He works through and in us that which He has purposed for us to do, when we are obedient to His call and submit to His service.

      For we who are His people are called to serve, we are His ambassadors and are to minister to those around us with the Word of righteousness and reconciliation, rightly divided and fitly spoken, that they may know Him as they see Christ in us, the hope of Glory. Those of us in His family are commanded to love, as members one of another, and to disciple one another in His Word that we may grow up into the full measure of Him with whom we have to do. We who are His children and soldiers of the Cross are to take the Gospel of Jesus Christ to this lost and dying world, and as we go in the power of the Holy Spirit that is within us, we are to proclaim the Good News of forgiveness through repentance and reconciliation with the Father who loves us through faith in His Son, that those who believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah of GOD might have life in His Name.

     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. 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. GOD calls you to trust Him and what He has already done for you to pay your sIn debt. He has provided the only way of reconciliation with GOD, forgiveness from GOD, and Salvation through Jesus Christ, the Son of GOD who is GOD the Son, to give you a new life in Christ. Turn away from yourself and your sIn and turn to Him alone for eternal Life, now and always.

In Christ,
Jefferson Sweet
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The LORD turned the captivity of Job

5/27/2016

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And it was so, that after the LORD had spoken these words unto Job, the LORD said to Eliphaz the Temanite, My wrath is kindled against thee, and against thy two friends: for ye have not spoken of Me the thing that is right, as My servant Job hath. Therefore take unto you now seven bullocks and seven rams, and go to My servant Job, and offer up for yourselves a burnt offering; and My servant Job shall pray for you: for him will I accept: lest I deal with you after your folly, in that ye have not spoken of Me the thing which is right, like My servant Job. (Job 42:7-8)
     As we wrap up our journey through this both difficult and interesting book of Job, possibly one of the oldest books of the Bible, we see the Word of the Lord unto Job and his friends. GOD was not pleased with Job's friends, for their mistaken characterization of Him, of their attacks on Job and his righteousness, and for their lack of comfort in his time of need. None of them were aware of the spiritual battle and trial that Job was undergoing, nor did they understand GOD and His righteousness and mercy.

     That mercy was displayed when GOD told them to repent and offer sacrifices for their sin through Job. Job prayed for his friends and forgave them and they were spared the judgment they deserved. GOD was under no obligation to offer mercy, but because of His love, He forgave them their sin. He also blessed Job with more than he had before the trial began. His property and health was restored and he had additional sons and daughters and lived a long time. He also got his request granted and his words were written in a book, the book of Job.

     In this broken and dying world there are certain truths we can count on: one, GOD is and He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him. Two, trials and tribulations come to all, either directed or allowed by our Sovereign King or as a result of living in this post-flood world. In all of these we can trust GOD, whether we are being tested, chastised, or just being rained on. On this side of the grass, we may never know, but we can go to our Father and seek His face and rest in Him who is our rest, our peace, our life, and our eternal security. He offers His great Salvation to all who will acknowledge and repent of their sin against Him and receive Him by faith in Him and His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary.

     GOD, who is full of mercy and grace, is also a GOD of judgment and justice. His love is perfect, tempered and balanced by His authority over His creation. He calls His people to minister to those around us who are hurting and in need that they might see Christ in us, the hope of Glory and know of Him through His Word and through His servants. GOD commands His Church to love one another as He first loved us, and to disciple one another in His Word that we might grow thereby. The Lord has commissioned each of us who are His to take the Gospel of Jesus Christ to this lost and sinful world, and as we go in the power of the Holy Spirit, to proclaim the Good News of forgiveness through repentance and reconciliation with the Father through faith in His Son, that those who believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah of GOD, might have life in His Name.

     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. 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. GOD calls you to trust Him and what He has already done for you to pay your sIn debt. He has provided the only way of reconciliation with GOD, forgiveness from GOD, and Salvation through Jesus Christ, the Son of GOD who is GOD the Son, to give you a new life in Christ. Turn away from yourself and your sIn and turn to Him alone for eternal Life, now and always.

In Christ,
Jefferson Sweet
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What shall I answer Thee?

5/26/2016

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I know that Thou canst do every thing, and that no thought can be withholden from Thee. Who is he that hideth counsel without knowledge? therefore have I uttered that I understood not; things too wonderful for me, which I knew not. Hear, I beseech Thee, and I will speak: I will demand of Thee, and declare Thou unto me. I have heard of Thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth Thee. Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes. (Job 42:2-6)
     Job answers all of GOD'S questions and statements regarding Himself and His creation and power with an acknowledgement that GOD is GOD and Job is not, neither did he really understand GOD, though he defended Him and himself to his friends. The Lord chastised Job's friends for their misinformation and for not speaking right about GOD or about Job and told Job to pray for his friends lest GOD deal with them as they deserved. Job entreated for his friends and forgave them and GOD blessed Job in the end with as much as he had lost in the trial.

     GOD can do every thing and His ways are above our ways and His thoughts are above our thoughts, and we, apart from the Spirit of GOD to give us wisdom, cannot understand the things of GOD nor know Him. But GOD is gracious and gives knowledge and revelation of Himself through His Word, that we might know Him and the Spirit of the Lord gives understanding to those who seek Him by faith, for without faith it is impossible to please Him. He will reward those who diligently seek Him and gives Salvation to those who repent and trust Him and His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary for redemption and reconciliation.

      GOD wants every one every where to be saved, and He desires His Church to be on mission with Him that those without might see Christ in us and come to know Him and be born again. GOD calls His people to minister to those around us who are hurting and in need, with the Word of righteousness and reconciliation, rightly divided and fitly spoken, and serve Him as His ambassadors to do His will and accomplish His work in this broken and dying world. GOD commands His children to love one another as members one of another, and to disciple one another in His Word as apprentices in the work of the Kingdom. GOD has commissioned all His saints to take the Gospel of Jesus Christ as we go in the power of the Holy Spirit to this lost and dying world that they may hear the Good News of forgiveness through repentance and reconciliation with the Father through faith in His Son and in believing that Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah of GOD, they might have life in His Name.

       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. 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. GOD calls you to trust Him and what He has already done for you to pay your sIn debt. He has provided the only way of reconciliation with GOD, forgiveness from GOD, and Salvation through Jesus Christ, the Son of GOD who is GOD the Son, to give you a new life in Christ. Turn away from yourself and your sIn and turn to Him alone for eternal Life, now and always.

In Christ,
Jefferson Sweet
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Consider the wondrous works of GOD

5/19/2016

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By the breath of GOD frost is given: and the breadth of the waters is straitened. Also by watering He wearieth the thick cloud: He scattereth His bright cloud: And it is turned round about by His counsels: that they may do whatsoever He commandeth them upon the face of the world in the earth. He causeth it to come, whether for correction, or for His land, or for mercy. (Job 37:10-13)
     As Elihu wraps up his impassioned speech against Job, his friends, and in a mostly right but somewhat misapplied understanding of the righteousness and holiness of our GOD, he extols the power of GOD in Creation. GOD is still in control, and can direct even the very winds and waters of His creation, in judgment and in blessing of His people. The rain that falls on the just and the unjust may just be rain or it can be a powerful storm to get our attention, though He is not in the whirlwind. The calamity or blessing that comes our way may be allowed by GOD, or it may be directed by GOD, but all for our growth and His good, that He might be glorified in all things.

      GOD is good, and all His doings, though they may be past our finding out, are good. Evil events and the results of sinful acts, as well natural calamities may come our way, either because GOD simply lets them, and lets the weather be the weather we experience, and have since the flood of Noah, or because GOD directs it and sends the storm to chastise and judge. He is GOD, and has the right and power to correct and chastise those that are His because of their repentance of their sin and their faith in Him and His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary. He also has the right to judge and reject those who do not repent and receive Him as the Creator of all things. He is the King of kings and Lord of lords and He will return to consummate all things and put all His enemies under His feet, including death.

      All who do not acknowledge their sin and repent and turn to GOD for forgiveness and receive Him by faith in Him and His Word will be rejected, not because GOD wants to cast them out, but because they rejected Him and His ways. GOD demands that His people live in holiness and righteousness the lives we were meant to live in and through Him. He calls His people to service as His ambassadors that we might minister to those around us who are hurting and in need. GOD calls His children to love one another and disciple one another in His Word. GOD has commissioned His witnesses to take the Gospel of Jesus Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit, where He sends us, that the saints of GOD may proclaim, as we go, the Good News of forgiveness through repentance and reconciliation with the Father through faith in His Son, that those who believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah of GOD, might have life in His Name.

     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. 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. GOD calls you to trust Him and what He has already done for you to pay your sIn debt. He has provided the only way of reconciliation with GOD, forgiveness from GOD, and Salvation through Jesus Christ, the Son of GOD who is GOD the Son, to give you a new life in Christ. Turn away from yourself and your sIn and turn to Him alone for eternal Life, now and always.

In Christ,
Jefferson Sweet
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The breath of the Almighty hath given me life

5/13/2016

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Then He is gracious unto him, and saith, Deliver him from going down to the pit: I have found a ransom. His flesh shall be fresher than a child's: he shall return to the days of his youth: He shall pray unto GOD, and He will be favourable unto him: and he shall see His face with joy: for He will render unto man His righteousness. He looketh upon men, and if any say, I have sinned, and perverted that which was right, and it profited me not; He will deliver his soul from going into the pit, and his life shall see the light. (Job 33:24-28)
     Elihu continues his response to Job and his three friends by extolling properly the Salvation of our GOD. His redemption is by grace, and His mercies are renewed every morning. His righteousness is imputed unto us by faith, our faith in Him and His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary. All our righteousness is as filthy rags and our iniquities have taken us away. Only through repentance and our trust in the blood of Jesus Christ shed in our place can we be made perfect and holy in the eyes of GOD and enter into His presence, both now and for all eternity.

     Our GOD is a righteous GOD who calls those who are His to holiness and obedience in His Word. We live this new life we have in Christ, by His power and presence, that we might glorify and worship Him who is worthy of all praise. We endure trials because He is merciful and gracious, and will bring us through. We are strong, not in our own flesh for that is weak, but in the strength of the Lord who is our strength and our song. The arm of flesh will fail us, but our GOD will never leave us nor forsake us, and through Him we can do all things He calls us to do to accomplish His will and do His work in this world.

      We are here to represent our GOD who has delivered us, to minister to those around us who are hurting and in need, with the Word of righteousness and reconciliation, rightly divided and fitly spoken, that others may see Christ in us, the hope of Glory. We are here to fellowship together, loving one another in the love of Christ and discipling one another in the Word of GOD. We are here to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ, as we go in the power of the Holy Spirit where He sends us, and to proclaim the Good News of forgiveness through repentance and reconciliation with the Father through faith in His Son that those who believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him might have life in His Name.

     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. 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. GOD calls you to trust Him and what He has already done for you to pay your sIn debt. He has provided the only way of reconciliation with GOD, forgiveness from GOD, and Salvation through Jesus Christ, the Son of GOD who is GOD the Son, to give you a new life in Christ. Turn away from yourself and your sIn and turn to Him alone for eternal Life, now and always.

In Christ,
Jefferson Sweet
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The Spirit within me constraineth me

5/12/2016

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I said, Days should speak, and multitude of years should teach wisdom. But there is a spirit in man: and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding. Great men are not always wise: neither do the aged understand judgment. (Job 32:7-9)
      Elihu recognizes that Job and his friends are elders and worthy of respect. He also declares carefully that with most, age leads to wisdom, but only when seeking the wisdom of GOD. Age may bring knowledge and experience, but the Spirit of GOD gives understanding through His Word. The same Spirit that inspired the Words of Scripture will give wisdom to those who seek Him through its pages. Its just Precepts, righteous Statutes, and living Truth bring faith to those who hear, read, study, memorize, and meditate as GOD applies its Doctrine, reproof, correction, and instruction to those that believe and obey.

      We are to search the Scriptures which speak of Christ. From the first promise of the Saviour who will redeem all who come to Him in faith, to the last soul saved by faith in His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary, the Scriptures reveal Jesus Christ, the promised Messiah, the Son of GOD who is GOD the Son, Creator, Redeemer, and King. It also reveals those who walked with GOD by faith in Him and were accounted righteous, from Abel who brought a worthy sacrifice by faith to John who faithfully transcribed the Revelation of Jesus Christ and the consummation of all things. From the foundation in Genesis to the conclusion in Revelation we have His story; our need and His provision, the nature of man and the character of GOD, and his work on behalf of His people and His interaction with all the peoples of the world.

       GOD calls His Church to service, as His ambassadors that we might minister to those around us who are hurting and in need, with the Word of righteousness and reconciliation, rightly divided and fitly spoken, and with the provision of GOD. GOD commands His people to love one another even as He first loved us, and disciple one another in the Word of GOD that we may be conformed to the image of His dear Son. GOD has commissioned His witnesses, to go with the Gospel of Jesus Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit to this lost and dying world that those who hear and believe the Good News of forgiveness through repentance and reconciliation with the Father through faith in His Son might have life in His Name.

     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. 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. GOD calls you to trust Him and what He has already done for you to pay your sIn debt. He has provided the only way of reconciliation with GOD, forgiveness from GOD, and Salvation through Jesus Christ, the Son of GOD who is GOD the Son, to give you a new life in Christ. Turn away from yourself and your sIn and turn to Him alone for eternal Life, now and always.

In Christ,
Jefferson Sweet
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In the days when GOD preserved me

5/9/2016

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I was a father to the poor: and the cause which I knew not I searched out. And I brake the jaws of the wicked, and plucked the spoil out of his teeth. Then I said, I shall die in my nest, and I shall multiply my days as the sand. My root was spread out by the waters, and the dew lay all night upon my branch. My glory was fresh in me, and my bow was renewed in my hand. (Job 29:16-20)
      Now Job goes back to his lament of how things used to be. Job ought to realize that no matter how good he was before, and no matter how things were before, the "new normal" is different than before. Job can still be all those things, or become them again, when this trial, which he has no understanding of, is over. GOD wants us to be all the things Job is claiming, and Job was, this was not idle boasting, that we might glorify Him. Job was righteous, not because of all these works, but because of his faith in GOD, which led to his service to others and the good works of GOD through him on the behalf of others. His lament goes astray in thinking sometimes, but GOD is gracious and faithful through it all.

     Those who are faithful in service to GOD serve others, not to be lauded or glorified for what we do, but for what GOD is doing through us. We serve Him, not to gain favor or His Salvation, which is given by grace,  and serve through Him to minister to others around us both to meet their needs as GOD provides and to take the Gospel to our communities, for that is the ultimate need of all mankind. We minister in this world, but not of it, that others might be receptive to the Word of GOD and be born again through repentance of their sin and faith in Jesus Christ and His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary who paid for ours sins. We don't serve because we are trying to earn eternal life, or keep that which GOD has so graciously given, but because of we are new creatures in Christ, and He lives within, through His indwelling Spirit, to guide us to accomplish His will and do His work in this lost and dying world.

      Living for Jesus does not mean we can sin all we want, or live as we please, but it does mean we are at liberty to do that which He commands, and free from our old nature, we glorify GOD through our works and His work in us until He is done with us and calls us Home to be with Him. Until that day, we serve as His ambassadors, taking the Word of righteousness and reconciliation, rightly divided and fitly spoken, to minister to those around us who are hurting and in need, that they may see Christ in us, the hope of Glory. While we are here, as the body of Christ, we humbly minister and serve one another in love as Jesus loved us and served us, and disciple one another in and through the Word of GOD that we may all grow up in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ. The mission of the Church of GOD is to take the Gospel of Jesus Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit to this lost and dying world and as we go proclaim the Good News of forgiveness through repentance and reconciliation with the Father through faith in His Son, that those who believe that He is the Messiah, the Christ of GOD might have life in His Name.

     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. 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. GOD calls you to trust Him and what He has already done for you to pay your sIn debt. He has provided the only way of reconciliation with GOD, forgiveness from GOD, and Salvation through Jesus Christ, the Son of GOD who is GOD the Son, to give you a new life in Christ. Turn away from yourself and your sIn and turn to Him alone for eternal Life, now and always.

In Christ,
Jefferson Sweet
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