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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

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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Take heed lest any man deceive you

6/16/2016

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And Jesus answering them began to say, Take heed lest any man deceive you: For many shall come in My Name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. And when ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars, be ye not troubled: for such things must needs be; but the end shall not be yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be earthquakes in divers places, and there shall be famines and troubles: these are the beginnings of sorrows. But take heed to yourselves: for they shall deliver you up to councils; and in the synagogues ye shall be beaten: and ye shall be brought before rulers and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them. And the Gospel must first be published among all nations. (Mar 13:5-10)
      There are many who will come in the Name of the Lord and while affirming Jesus as the Messiah of GOD wrest the Scriptures to their own destruction and mislead many. They don't preach our Gospel, for they have another gospel which will not save them, for it is all about them and promises safety and security in this life, not eternal life. They deny many things that Jesus said and did, even while affirming the person of Jesus, but usually not His deity. They serve themselves, not our Lord, even when claiming His Name, and their destruction is coming.  We must turn to the Scriptures and see if those things we hear are true, with our Biblical glasses on, and listening to the voice of our Lord, to know His Words and obey Him.

      All will be tried and tested, only those who are truly in Christ will endure. The Lord knows those who are His and will not lose any who are secure in His hand. Many trials may come, and His people will be persecuted for our faith, but the Lord is in control. The Father has resurrected all of us who have repented of our sins and placed our faith in Him and His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary and made us to sit in heavenly places. We who have received Him by faith, knowing that we cannot save ourselves, have been made a new creatures in Christ and we hear His voice and follow Him who is our Saviour and King. When He returns we will know our Masters voice and go to be with Him.

     Until that day, He has work for us to do. We can't sit back and wait for Him to come back and get us, for we have been called to serve, commanded to love, and commissioned to evangelize the lost, until He is done with us. We are to minister to those around us who are hurting and in need as GOD provides, with the Word of righteousness and reconciliation, rightly divided and fitly spoken, and as His ambassadors, representing His Kingdom. We are to love one another as He loved us and disciple one another in the Word of GOD that we may grow in grace and in the knowledge of Him who is our Lord, Jesus Christ. We are to take the Gospel of Jesus Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit and prepared with the whole armour of GOD, 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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He taught them as one that had authority

6/14/2016

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And they come again to Jerusalem: and as He was walking in the temple, there come to Him the chief priests, and the scribes, and the elders, And say unto Him, By what authority doest thou these things? and who gave thee this authority to do these things? And Jesus answered and said unto them, I will also ask of you one question, and answer Me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things. The baptism of John, was it from Heaven, or of men? answer Me. And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say, Why then did ye not believe him? But if we shall say, Of men; they feared the people: for all men counted John, that he was a prophet indeed. And they answered and said unto Jesus, We cannot tell. And Jesus answering saith unto them, Neither do I tell you by what authority I do these things. (Mar 11:27-33)
       Jesus Christ, the Son of GOD who is GOD the Son has authority and power to judge, to exercise dominion, to speak and teach Truth, for He is the Word made flesh. He is our Creator and has every right to set His terms for our behaviour and our redemption. He is our Redeemer and has paid the sin debt we cannot pay. He is our King and not only rules in the hearts of those who submit to His authority today, but one day He will rule His earthly Kingdom and then all eternity with the Father. He, with the Father and the Spirit, is the Supreme Authority, GOD of gods and Lord of lords, over kingdoms, princes, powers, and life itself, for He is our life, and all things come from Him. He ever liveth to make intercession for His own, and to draw all who will believe to the Father.

      The scribes, and lawyers, and leaders of the Jews could not admit that His authority was from the Father because of their unbelief, nor could they condemn John, knowing the people's reaction and belief that he was a prophet from GOD. Their unwillingness, in their own pride and self-righteousness, to admit to anything and acknowledge the work of GOD led to their equivocation and acknowledging their unbelief. Pride will keep us from surrendering to GOD on His Terms and repenting of our sins, and our trust in our own righteousness and unwillingness to admit we need GOD will keep us from trusting in Jesus Christ and His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary in our place and for our Salvation.

     Those who are secure in Him and born again are to rest in that authority, not as license to sin, but His rightful demand of holiness and righteousness, as we serve our Lord and Master, fellowship with His people, and share Him with others. We are called 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 might see Christ in us, the hope of glory. We are commanded to love one another as He loved us, and to disciple one another in His Word that all may grow in grace and in the knowledge of Him who died for us. We are commissioned as His witnesses, to take the Gospel of Jesus Christ to this lost and dying world in the power of the Holy Spirit that is within us, and as we go, proclaiming the Good News of forgiveness through repentance and acknowledging our sin and reconciliation with the Father through faith in the 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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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 came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance

6/1/2016

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And Jesus said unto them, Can the children of the bridechamber fast, while the Bridegroom is with them? as long as they have the Bridegroom with them, they cannot fast. But the days will come, when the Bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then shall they fast in those days. No man also seweth a piece of new cloth on an old garment: else the new piece that filled it up taketh away from the old, and the rent is made worse. And no man putteth new wine into old bottles: else the new wine doth burst the bottles, and the wine is spilled, and the bottles will be marred: but new wine must be put into new bottles. (Mar 2:19-22)
     These words by our Lord show us several important points about history, the Christian life, and our GOD'S plan for those who put their faith in Him and His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary for Salvation. Jesus reminds us that wherever the King is the Kingdom is at hand, and that He came to bring life. But it is not our old life that Jesus came to save, but to resurrect our spirits, which had died in Adam and our rebellion against Him, and give us a brand new life in Him and through Him. We don't just turn over a new leaf, or patch up our broken lives, and try to make do with GOD, or bring GOD into our lives, but live in Him and with Him the new life in Christ we were meant to live by grace through faith.

     When we repent of our sins and receive Him by faith we are made new creatures in Christ, no longer part of this sinful world and no longer conformed to this world and its ways and thoughts, but born again into His family, His Church, His bride. that we might do His will and accomplish His work in this broken and dying world. We are no longer to live for ourselves, or simply exist, but we are to serve Him who has called us out of darkness into His marvellous light. We are translated from the world of darkness and sin into His Kingdom of light and are now servants of the Most High GOD.

    As servants of our Lord and children of the King, we are His ambassadors with the Word of righteousness and reconciliation, rightly divided and fitly spoken, that we might minister to those around us who are hurting and in need, as GOD leads us and provides for us to serve others. As His children and members one of another we are to love one another and disciple one another in His Word that we might be conformed to the image of His dear Son. As His ambassadors and witnesses of His Majesty and Glory we are to take the Gospel of Jesus Christ to this lost and dying world 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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Straightway He called them and they left and followed Him

5/31/2016

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Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom of GOD, And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the Kingdom of GOD is at hand: repent ye, and believe the Gospel. Now as He walked by the sea of Galilee, He saw Simon and Andrew his brother casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers. And Jesus said unto them, Come ye after Me, and I will make you to become fishers of men. And straightway they forsook their nets, and followed Him. (Mar 1:14-18)
      Having finished Job we will not take a journey through the Gospel of Mark, the servant Gospel. Mark will focus on the humble sacrificial service of our Lord. There is no lineage or history, because the history of a servant is not important. Mark starts right of with the ministry of Jesus and the Gospel which was, and still is, the central theme of His service. The redemption of man through the Cross of Calvary was always forefront in the mind of Christ, who willingly and humbly put on flesh, and put to death that flesh that we who believe in Him might live in and through Him.

     Jesus declared the Kingdom was at hand, because the King was there. Even though He cane to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many, He is still the King. He is the King which the Jews rejected for Caesar, and He is the King which others reject for themselves, their own gods, and their own human rulers. But for those who received Him gave He power to become the sons of GOD. Our faith in Him and His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary and our repentance of our sins which we acknowledge are an offense to a Holy GOD has led us to a right relationship with Him through grace. Not by our works but because of His service and His sacrifice in our place.

     We who are His by faith are now fishers of men, ambassadors for the Kingdom, and ministers of reconciliation, equipped with the Word of righteousness, rightly divided and fitly spoken, that others may know Him and see Christ in us, the hope of Glory.  We who are born again are now children of GOD, and members one of another, to love in fellowship and service, as we disciple one another in the Word that we may grow in Him who is our Lord. We who have been given His life are now His servants, taking the Gospel of Jesus Christ to this lost and dying world in the power of the Holy Spirit that is within us, and as we go where He sends us, proclaiming 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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Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge?

5/20/2016

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Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding. Who hath laid the measures thereof, if thou knowest? or who hath stretched the line upon it? Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? or who laid the corner stone thereof;
Canst thou bind the sweet influences of Pleiades, or loose the bands of Orion? Canst thou bring forth Mazzaroth in his season? or canst thou guide Arcturus with his sons? Knowest thou the ordinances of Heaven? canst thou set the dominion thereof in the earth? (Job 38:4-6, 31-33)
     The Lord speaks to Job and his counselors. He never answers them directly, but asks rhetorical questions which declare that the Lord, He is GOD and there is no other. The Lord's ways are righteous, they are above our ways, His thoughts are above our thoughts. His Truth is everlasting, His mercy is renewed every morning, and His judgements are true and righteous altogether. He alone is creator of all things and our maker, redeemer, and King. He made all things, from the smallest microbe to the largest galaxy. He sustains all things, holding them in His hand, and directs their ways, providing for all. He has established the foundation, and yet He has not just set the world on a shelf and forgotten His creation, for He is a personal and involved GOD who knows each and every one of us. Even though we rejected Him and rebelled against His Authority, He loves us and has not abandoned us to our fate, but gave His only begotten Son that we might have eternal life and have it more abundantly.

     Job and his friends had no idea of the fulness and majesty of GOD Almighty. Not only did they not know of the events in the spiritual realm that led to Job's testing, they really didn't understand the breadth, and depth, and length, and height of GOD and His love for all of His creation, and especially for those who have trusted Him for Salvation through repentance of their sin and faith in Him and His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary. Though Job never really gets an answer for his questions, GOD simply asks Him pointed questions to remind Job that He is GOD, and we are not, and that GOD cares intimately for His creation and for its people. Though He tests us and chastises those of us who are His, to cause us to become more like Him, He is perfect and righteous, and we can turn to Him and rest in Him who is our strength.

     We have hope in Christ because of what He has already done for us, and we can trust that every one of His promises will come true. They may not all be for us, as individuals, or for our nation, but GOD will bring us through whatever He leads us to, just as He has revealed in His Word. He calls His people to be faithful, to trust Him, not just for Salvation, but in all things, for He is Lord, and the life we now live in the flesh, we are to live by the faith of the Son of GOD who loved us and gave Himself for us. We are to be His servants, His ambassadors, with the Word of righteousness, rightly divided and fitly spoken, to minister to others who are hurting and in need. We are to be His children, loving one another as we disciple one another in His Word. We are to be His witnesses, taking the Gospel of Jesus Christ to this lost and dying world in the power of the Holy Spirit, and as we go where He sends us, proclaiming 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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