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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

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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Thou teachest the way of GOD in truth

6/15/2016

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And Jesus answered and said, while He taught in the temple, How say the scribes that Christ is the Son of David? For David himself said by the Holy Ghost, The LORD said to my Lord, Sit Thou on My right hand, till I make Thine enemies Thy footstool. David therefore himself calleth Him Lord; and whence is He then His son? And the common people heard him gladly. And he said unto them in his doctrine, Beware of the scribes, which love to go in long clothing, and love salutations in the marketplaces, And the chief seats in the synagogues, and the uppermost rooms at feasts: Which devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayers: these shall receive greater damnation. (Mar 12:35-40)
      While the common people heard His message gladly and received His Word, the religious authorities did not, for they were threatened by His authority, knowledge, and proper application of the Scriptures which they misinterpreted for the people and yet said they believed. They looked for the adulation of the crowd and the recognition that came with their offices and titles, but didn't care for the people or their problems. Jesus spoke Truth and gave the people hope, while the scribes and elders who had the Truth spoke pious platitudes and dismissed the people, while taking from them.

     We must be on guard against those who use their position and seeming authority to speak outside the Scriptures. We must search the Scriptures daily to see if those things are so, with our Biblical glasses on, and the guidance and teaching of the Holy Spirit that is within us, that we may know the Truth and the Truth shall make us free. The Son of GOD who is GOD the Son who became a descendant of David after the flesh has given Himself for our sins, and when we repent and receive Him by faith in His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary in our place we are born again and have a new life to live in and through Him who is our life. We don't have to fear this world, nor do we look to any other authority but GOD for our Salvation and deliverance. He alone can save to the uttermost, for He alone is GOD our Saviour, our Creator, Redeemer, and King.

      Until the day when He calls His own unto Himself and we depart this life and are ushered into His presence in the next, either by death or by the rapture of His saints, we are to be about our Father's business. We are called to be His servants, ministering to those around us who are hurting and in need with the Word of righteousness and reconciliation, rightly divided and fitly spoken, that they may 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 we may grow into the full measure of Him who is our Master, Jesus Christ. We are commissioned into His army of witnesses, not with weapons of the flesh and this world, but with the Gospel of Jesus Christ, having on the full armour of GOD, and in the power of the Holy Spirit, as we go 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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How is it that ye do not understand?

6/9/2016

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And when He had called the people unto Him with His disciples also, He said unto them, Whosoever will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for My sake and the Gospel's, the same shall save it. For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of Me and of My words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when He cometh in the Glory of His Father with the holy angels. (Mar 8:34-38)
      Our life in Christ is one of surrender and submission. Surrender to His will and submission to His ways, which are above ways and not our own, makes us free. Free to live the life in Christ we were meant to live for GOD. The same repentance and dying to self that brought us to the Cross of Calvary by our faith in Him and His finished work of redemption in our place and for our sins is the same repentance and surrender to Him on His terms we are to exercise daily as we walk by faith in the Spirit and not in the flesh. We are not to go our way, or do our thing, or live as though GOD didn't exist until things get bad, and then expect GOD to clean  up our mess. Our GOD is not a genie to give us all we want, or the butler that corrects our mistakes and cleans up after our failures.

      Our GOD is Holy, and our perfect Father, and He requires Holiness and righteousness in His people. He calls us to live in Him and to walk in Him and will chastise those who disobey, He will correct those that stray, and will test us that we may grow in Him through His Word and the gifts that He has given to us because He loves us. There is nothing in this world, with its lusts, desires, and pride that is worth missing the blessing of GOD and His great Salvation. This world will not last, all that has been made will decay, be destroyed, or in the end be burned up, and only that which is safe and secure in Christ will be regenerated, renewed, and remade according to His purposes. Our faith and trust must be in Him who is our Creator, Redeemer, and King, not just Sunday, but all the time and in every situation, for He is Lord of all.

      Our Lord calls His people to represent Him in this broken and sinful world, not of it or conformed to its ways, but conformed to Christ, ministering to those around us who are hurting and in need, with the Word of righteousness and reconciliation, rightly divided and fitly spoken, that they might see Christ in us, the hope of Glory. Our Lord commands His children to love one another as He loved us and to disciple one another in His Word that we may grow up into the full measure of Him who gave Himself for us. Our Lord has commissioned His Church to take the Gospel of Jesus Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit, and as we go where He sends us we are to proclaim the Good News of forgiveness through repentance and surrender, and reconciliation with the Father through faith in His Son, that those who believe that He 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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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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Touching the Almighty, we cannot find Him out

5/18/2016

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Behold, GOD exalteth by His power: who teacheth like Him? Who hath enjoined Him His way? or who can say, Thou hast wrought iniquity? Remember that thou magnify His work, which men behold. Every man may see it; man may behold it afar off. Behold, GOD is great, and we know Him not, neither can the number of His years be searched out. (Job 36:22-26)
      Elihu continues with his comments toward Job and his friends, this time exalting GOD and proclaiming His attributes in worship and praise. Elihu might not have had every thing right, but of all Job's counselors, and Job himself, Elihu seems to be the closest to trying to explain God, His wisdom and righteousness, His holiness and understanding, all from their human experience. Job and his friends, even Elihu, had no idea about what was going on in the spiritual realm, nor did any of them really know and understand the wisdom and character of the Almighty GOD whose ways are past finding out.

     We cannot know GOD apart from His revelation of Himself, for His way are above our ways, His thoughts are above our thoughts. He is far past our understanding, and our sin has corrupted our knowledge of the Holy. Because GOD loves us He has given us not only the general revelation in creation that He is, but also the specific revelation in His Word, that which was written down which reveals Him, and when He became flesh and dwelt among us. The Scriptures speak of Jesus Christ, the Son of GOD who is GOD the Son, and our Lord, who spoke all the worlds into being, has given us His Word that we might know Him.

    Those who are born again, who have repented of our sins and trusted in His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary for Salvation, are called to serve, not at the will of men or conformed to this world, but doing His will and accomplishing His work in this sinful and broken world we sojourn in. We are to take the Word of righteousness and reconciliation, rightly divided and fitly spoken, to this lost and dying world as His ambassadors and minister to those around us who are hurting and in need. We are to love one another as members one of another and disciple one another that we may grow in Him and be transformed by the renewing of our minds. We are to go with the Gospel of Jesus Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit and as we go where He directs we are 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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All flesh shall perish together

5/16/2016

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Therefore hearken unto me, ye men of understanding: far be it from GOD, that He should do wickedness; and from the Almighty, that He should commit iniquity. For the work of a man shall He render unto him, and cause every man to find according to his ways. Yea, surely GOD will not do wickedly, neither will the Almighty pervert judgment.
For His eyes are upon the ways of man, and He seeth all his goings. There is no darkness, nor shadow of death, where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves. For He will not lay upon man more than right; that he should enter into judgment with GOD. (Job 34:10-12, 21-23)
      Elihu continues to speak against those who pervert the nature and character of GOD without wisdom or knowledge of His Sovereignty and Justice. GOD is not a man that He should do wickedly, nor is His justice capricious or petty. GOD always does right. We may not know His plans, or understand His purposes, or even agree with what He allows to happen in this sinful and broken world, but His ways are perfect and His thoughts are righteous. They are above our ways and our thoughts for ours are of the flesh, of the world, and temporary. He is eternal, and sees the beginning and the ending, and is working all things to bring lost people to Himself and His own closer to Him and conformed to the image of His dear Son.

     Tragedy and calamity may come, but we ought to trust GOD even in the loss of that which is dear to us. Those who are in Christ are present with Him when we leave this life, and material things in this world are temporary. All must go the way of all the earth, but only those who are secure in Christ go to be with Him. GOD wants all to come to Him and find safety and the new life in Him which He has already paid for through His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary. He wants every person to be born again through repentance and faith in Him, no to live as they please, for that is sin, but to serve the living GOD. We cannot trust ourselves, our religious activity, nor any other means besides faith in Jesus Christ through His Spirit and His Word to save us and provide eternal life.

     His is the only Name under heaven whereby we are saved, and those who are His are to take His message of hope in this life and the next by faith, peace with GOD through repentance, and the love of the Father to this lost and dying world. His people are to be on mission for Him, serving our Lord as we serve those around us who are hurting and in need, with the Word of reconciliation and righteousness, rightly divided and fitly spoken, that they may know Him and see Christ in us, the hope of Glory. His children are to love one another as members of His family, and disciple one another in His Word that we may grow thereby into the full measure of Him who first loved us. His saints, servants and witnesses of GOD, are to take the Gospel of Jesus Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit as we go, and proclaim to every one every where 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 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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Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom

5/6/2016

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But where shall wisdom be found? and where is the place of understanding? Man knoweth not the price thereof; neither is it found in the land of the living. The depth saith, It is not in me: and the sea saith, It is not with me. It cannot be gotten for gold, neither shall silver be weighed for the price thereof.
GOD understandeth the way thereof, and He knoweth the place thereof. For He looketh to the ends of the earth, and seeth under the whole heaven; (Job 28:12-15, 23-24)
     Job, in a series of questions which declare the power of GOD over His creation, asks a pointed question about true wisdom. Only in understanding His judgments, character, and reverencing our Holy and Righteous GOD through His Word can we know, not the wisdom of this world which is of the flesh, but the true wisdom of GOD which is spiritual. It cannot be bought but must be learned and received from GOD. It is not in this world but mined in the pages of His revelation of Himself, the Holy Scriptures. The Spirit of GOD giveth understanding and teaches us all things that we may know Him and trust Him.

       The natural man, one who has never repented of their sins and receive Jesus Christ by faith in Him alone and His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary can never understand or receive the spiritual things of GOD, unless the Spirit gives him understanding that he might repent and believe. GOD desires all to come to Him and be born again, and then to live in Him the brand new life that man was meant to live. We are not to live as a friend of this world, nor be conformed to it, but transformed by His Word and His Spirit through the renewing of our minds into the new man He has made us to be when He made us a new creature in Christ.

       Living for Jesus this new life He has given His people is not a license to sIn, nor to do our will or seek our ways, but to live in Him and that His will may be done as we accomplish His work in this world. We are His workmanship, and are called to service and missions, to minister to those around us who are hurting and in need, with the provision of GOD and the Word of righteousness, reconciliation, and Truth, rightly divided and fitly spoken, as GOD leads us. We are His family, the body of Christ, and are commanded to love one another as He first loved us, and to disciple one another in His Word that we may all grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. We are His people, saints and soldiers in the army of GOD, and have been commissioned to take the Gospel of Jesus Christ to this lost and dying world in the power of the Holy Spirit, that as we go where He sends us, we may proclaim the Good News of forgiveness through repentance and reconciliation with the Father through faith in His Son, that those who believe that Jesus Christ 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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