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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

He is alive

6/21/2016

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And very early in the morning the first day of the week, they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun. And they said among themselves, Who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the sepulchre? And when they looked, they saw that the stone was rolled away: for it was very great. And entering into the sepulchre, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a long white garment; and they were affrighted. And he saith unto them, Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: He is risen; He is not here: behold the place where they laid Him. (Mar 16:2-6)
     Our Lord, having paid our sin debt, yet without sin, Himself was not subject to death. The grave could not hold Him. Death could not keep Him, for He is life. He has paid for our sins, and satisfied the Father’s wrath, and all who receive Him by faith in Him and His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary are no longer under condemnation but free. We free to free to live in Him the life we are meant to live through Him and free to live a life of holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord.

     The stone was not rolled away to let Him out, but that His disciples and followers would see in, and know that He had risen, that He was alive, and would see them just as He said. The angel was sitting, no longer covering the mercy seat, but now at rest, just as we rest in Him who is our life, our peace, and our rest, because He has fulfilled the Law, made a way for us to have peace with GOD through His sacrifice and given us victory over sin, death, and the grave. We have victory in Him, not to live as we please, or to do as we will, but to accomplish His will and do the work He has for us to do in this broken and sinful world.

     The Lord Jesus has called His redeemed Church to serve Him as His ambassadors, with the Word of reconciliation and righteousness, rightly divided and fitly spoken, and to minister to those around us who are hurting and in need with that which GOD provides. Our GOD and Saviour has commanded us to love one another as He first loved us and gave Himself for us, and to disciple one another in His Word that we might grow up into the full measure of Him who commended His love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Our Master has commissioned us into His service to take the Gospel of Jesus Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit 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 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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Could you not, keep watch with Me, but one hour?

6/17/2016

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And saith unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful unto death: tarry ye here, and watch. And He went forward a little, and fell on the ground, and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from Him. And He said, Abba, Father, all things are possible unto Thee; take away this cup from Me: nevertheless not what I will, but what Thou wilt. And He cometh, and findeth them sleeping, and saith unto Peter, Simon, sleepest thou? couldest not thou watch one hour? Watch ye and pray, lest ye enter into temptation. The spirit truly is ready, but the flesh is weak. And again He went away, and prayed, and spake the same words. (Mar 14:34-39)
      Jesus was approaching His final hours on this earth before the Cross and His heart was heavy with the burden of sin that would be thrust upon Him for our sake and in our place. All the while He humbled Himself and did His Father's will that the purposes of GOD to redeem all who would repent of their sin and receive Him by faith in His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary would be accomplished. Even with the burden of death and sin that would be placed upon Him, who knew no sin but became sin for us that we might become the righteousness of GOD in Him, He always did the will of the Father and all that His Father gave Him to do.

     His disciples, being up late and into the early morning hours of that fateful day, were weary and fell asleep. Not realizing the full impact of what was to come, despite His teachings about being turned over to the authorities and offered for sin and a ransom for many, they did not watch and pray as He desired. How often we let the cares of this world and our physical limits interfere with what GOD would have us to do. He tells we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us, and that is not talking about doing our will, or fulfilling our desires and lusts, or meeting our agenda or for our glory, but accomplishing His Will and all that He calls us to do in service, in discipleship, and in evangelism, that He might be glorified in us. He is our life, our strength, and our protection, against the attacks of this world, the weakness of the flesh, and the temptations and sin which would steal our joy, kill our relationships, and destroy our testimony and ministry, as we work for Him and do all that He calls us to do.

      Our Lord has sent us as His servants and ambassadors of His Kingdom into this world, not to be conformed by it and its ways, but with the mind and heart of Christ, to minister to those around us who are hurting and in need, with the Word of righteousness and reconciliation, rightly divided and fitly spoken, as GOD provides, that others might see Christ in us, the hope of Glory. GOD has commanded us to love one another in fellowship, as members one of another, and to disciple one another in His Word until we all grow up into the full measure of Him who loved us and gave Himself for us. We have been commissioned into the army of the Lord to take the Gospel of Jesus Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit that is within us, and as we go to this lost and dying world, 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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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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Doth not He see my ways, and count all my steps?

5/10/2016

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Terrors are turned upon me: they pursue my soul as the wind: and my welfare passeth away as a cloud. And now my soul is poured out upon me; the days of affliction have taken hold upon me. My bones are pierced in me in the night season: and my sinews take no rest. By the great force of my disease is my garment changed: it bindeth me about as the collar of my coat. He hath cast me into the mire, and I am become like dust and ashes. (Job 30:15-19)

     Job continues his lament over his condition, and lashes out at his so called friends for their harsh words, and others that abused his condition. He is right in that they were not to kind in their explanations, especially since they were wrong about most of what they had to say. Job and his "counselors" were unaware of the spiritual battle and the trial Job was experiencing because he was righteous in the eyes of GOD and his faith and obedience to the Lord was being tested. They did not or would not acknowledge that even in times of trouble, GOD is good and right and just, because they didn't see it themselves.

     We too need to trust GOD, for He is good and right, and He does not change. That trust and faith is not blind, for he has revealed Himself to us, first in His creation, and then through the pages of His Word, the Holy Scriptures, that we might know Him and His righteousness. He has the right to expect righteousness and holiness from His people, and has revealed to us our need of Him. Our righteousness comes through Christ and our faith in Him and His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary, not to sin all we want but to live in and through Him the life we were meant to live. In Christ we have received forgiveness which brings liberty, not to sin, but to become more like Him as He works in us to conform us to Himself for our good and His glory.

     We are here, in this broken and dying world but not of it, as ambassadors of His Kingdom, with the Word of reconciliation and righteousness, rightly divided and fitly spoken, to do His will and accomplish His work in this lost and sinful world. We are to serve Him as we minister to those around us who are hurting and in need as He provides. We are to love one another as He loved us and disciple one another in the Word of GOD that we may grow thereby. We are to take the Gospel of Jesus Christ as we go, in the power of Holy Spirit who guides us and sends us as He will, and 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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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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These are parts of His ways

5/4/2016

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Hell is naked before Him, and destruction hath no covering. He stretcheth out the north over the empty place, and hangeth the earth upon nothing. He bindeth up the waters in His thick clouds; and the cloud is not rent under them. He holdeth back the face of his throne, and spreadeth his cloud upon it. He hath compassed the waters with bounds, until the day and night come to an end. The pillars of Heaven tremble and are astonished at His reproof. He divideth the sea with His power, and by His understanding He smiteth through the proud. By His Spirit He hath garnished the heavens; His hand hath formed the crooked serpent. (Job 26:6-13)
      Nothing is hid from our GOD and He is outside of time, so accomplishes His will in His own time. He created all things and established their ways and courses. The natural processes that are in place, were set in motion by our Creator and will continue until He concludes all things and puts all under His feet. Our all powerful GOD maintains this world, even in its sinful and broken state until all who will come to Him are redeemed. All creation stands in judgment before Him and there is nothing He does not know or see.

      Our sin is exposed for the darkness it is, our transgressions are as visible as the noonday, and our iniquity is ever before us, but our GOD is Just and merciful. He forgives those that repent and turn from their wicked ways through His Son and chastises and corrects those that are His. Those that acknowledge their sin for what it costs Him and and repent, trusting in Him and His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary for His great Salvation are born again and made new creatures in Him. We are free, from sin and death, from the curse of the Law, not to sin all we want to, but to live in Him the life we were meant to live. We are now His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus who is our life, to do His will and accomplish His work in this lost and dying world while He conforms us to His image.

      Our GOD saves sinners, not for our glory, but for His, and that His people might do those things He has called, commanded, and commissioned us to do. Our Lord has called His children to service, to minister to those around us who are hurting and in need with those things they have need of, and with the Word of righteousness and reconciliation, rightly divided and fitly spoken, as GOD provides. GOD has commanded us to love one another as members one of another in the family of GOD and to disciple one another in the Word of GOD that we may be equipped for the work of GOD as we become more like Him and grow in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. He has commissioned all who are His to take the Gospel of Jesus Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit who dwells within to this lost and dying world, and as we go where He sends that we proclaim the Good News of forgiveness through repentance and reconciliation with the Father to those who believe that Jesus is the Christ, that in believing 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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Can a man be profitable unto GOD

4/28/2016

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Acquaint now thyself with Him, and be at peace: thereby good shall come unto thee. Receive, I pray thee, the law from his mouth, and lay up his words in thine heart. If thou return to the Almighty, thou shalt be built up, thou shalt put away iniquity far from thy tabernacles. Then shalt thou lay up gold as dust, and the gold of Ophir as the stones of the brooks. Yea, the Almighty shall be thy defence, and thou shalt have plenty of silver. For then shalt thou have thy delight in the Almighty, and shalt lift up thy face unto God. (Job 22:21-26)
     Eliphaz tries to make an argument that contradicts what Job actually has said. Job was not trying to hide anything, and certainly knew that the Almighty could see his pain and suffering. His question was why it was happening and why GOD was, as he thought in his mind at the time, punishing him when as far as he knew he had done what was required to be righteous. GOD had called him His righteous and faithful servant, and allowed the test, but Job was not aware of that part of the conversation, and neither was Eliphaz. Eliphaz insisted that Job must be trying to hide his sin and rebellion from GOD and needed to return to GOD.

      Since this test was not punishment for egregious sin, nor was it the every day calamities that befall all of us who live in this broken and dying world, Eliphaz was in error and his admonishment to Job was misdirected. We would do well to take his words to heart if we are away from GOD or hiding from Him who sees and knows all.  For those that are secure in Christ and made righteous through repentance of our sin, and our faith in Him and His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary, we are held in His hands and no matter what comes our way we are safe. That is not a license to sin, for sin is still a reproach and rebellion against GOD, but our sins are and continue to be forgiven, and we are at liberty to live in and through Him the life we were meant to live.

     That life is a life of service, love, and commitment to His will and His work in us and by us for His glory. We minister to those around us who are hurting and in need, as His ambassadors, with the Word of reconciliation and righteousness, rightly divided and fitly spoken, as He provides that we might be a blessing to others and they might see Christ in us, the hope of Glory. We love one another as members one of another and children of the King, and disciple one another in His Word that we may grow thereby until we are all grown into the full measure of Him who is our Head. We take the Gospel of Jesus Christ with us as we go in the power of the Holy Ghost that is within us, and proclaim His Good News of forgiveness through repentance and reconciliation with the Father through faith in Him that those who believe in 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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