He who overcomes.

     He who overcomes will inherit all this, and I will be his God and he will be my son.
                                                                                Rev. 21:7 (NIV)


     The true Christian, as portrayed throughout the Bible, is the overcoming Christian. There are numerous passages that attest to this. Jesus said "He who endures to the end", The writer of Hebrews speaks of holding firm our confidence to the end. Paul wrote about continuing in the faith. He said "God always leads us in triumph, in Christ Jesus".  According to John, Christians will not sin because God's seed is in them, they will walk as Christ walked, they will do right and overcome because greater is He who is in them, than he that is in the world, and it is by faith that we overcome. The book of revelation is full of encouragement to those who overcome, and warnings to those who do not.
     Many people fail to overcome. To many the temptations seem to hard, the idea of Holiness seems out of reach, some see this lifestyle of obedience as nothing more than legalism, but the truth still remains, as Paul said to the Romans, let God be true and everyman a liar!
     For every command of scripture to be Holy, to be obedient, to be God's people, there are also promises that God has given us to see these things fulfilled in our lives. Jesus gave of Himself to deliver us from sin. Not just the guilt of sin, but from the commiting of sin. Through Him, not only do we find forgiveness, but also freedom from the power of sin. Through the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit, we can overcome. We are told that no temptation is too much for us, but God will enable us to escape it. The Holy Spirit gives us a boldness that we did not have before. We are given everything that we need for life and godliness, but we need to walk in it by faith! That is where the victory lies. When we take God's word for what it is, and stand upon it in obedient faith, we overcome! This coming year let us all walk in newness of life!
    
    

Sanctification.

      I would like to share some excerpts on sanctification, taken from Adam Clarke's Christian Theology. His thoughts can be convicting, but they also can encourage us to take hold of what Christ has called us to.


     This perfection is the restoration of man to the state of holiness from which he fell, by creating him anew in Christ Jesus, and restoring to him that image and likeness of God which he has lost. A higher meaning than this it can not have; a lower meaning it must not have. God made man in that degree of perfection which was pleasing to His own infinite wisdom and goodness. Sin defaced this divine image; Jesus came to restore it. Sin must have no triumph; and the Redeemer of mankind must have His glory. But if man be not perfectly saved from all sin, sin does triumph, and Satan exult, because they have done mischief that Christ either can not or will not remove.


     A man may be said to be perfect who answers to the end for which God made him; and as God requires every man to love Him with all his heart, soul mind, and strength, and his neighbor as himself; then he is a perfect man that does so; he answers the end for which God made him; and this is more evident from the nature of that love that fills his heart; for as love is the principle of obedience, so he that loves his God with all his powers will obey Him with all his powers; and he who loves his neighbor as himself will not only do no injury to him, but on the contrary, labor to promote his best interests.



     The whole design of God was to restore man to His image, and raise him from the ruins of his fall; in a word, to make him perfect; to blot out all his sins, purify his soul, and fill him with holiness; so that no unholy temper, evil desire, or impure affection or passion shall either lodge, or have any being within him; this and this only is true religion, or christian perfection, and a less salvation than this would be dishonorable to the sacrifice of Christ, and the operation of the Holy Ghost.

Waiting for the Lord.

     Be patient, then brothers, until the Lord's coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop and how patient he is for the autumn and spring rains. You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord's coming is near.

     At this time of year we are reminded of the coming of Christ into the world. We are told that the Word became flesh and dwelled among men. We read of how Mary conceived by the Holy Spirit, and gave birth to the son of God. It is good to remember these things and to reflect upon them, but like Paul, we must forget what lies behind, and press on to what lies ahead. The truth is, Jesus is coming back. This time He will not be born in a manger, will not have to be hidden from Herod, He will not grow up to be crucified, but He is returning as the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. He is coming back as Judge.
     It is of utmost importance that we be ready for His return. Throughout the New Testament we see warnings to be ready, to watch, to stand firm. Like the example of Simeon in the Christmas story, let us live Spirit empowerd lives, standing firm on the word of God as we long for Him. Let us be in the word, in prayer, and in Christ! It is impossible for a Christian to stand still, to remain inactive, to just get by. Christ urges us on. He will not be hidden. The christian life is one of perserverance, of pressing on in the faith, continually growing, while we wait for Him. Will you be ready?
    

Now is the time!

     Seek the Lord while He may be found; call on Him while He is near. Let the wicked forsake his way and the evil man his thoughts. Let him turn to the Lord, and He will have mercy on him, and to our God, for He will freely pardon. Isaiah 55:6-7 (NIV)

      This is the time of year when the churches are full! Christmas programs, Christmas Eve services, and the like, bring many people into church. This time of year, for many is a reminder of God's grace. We are reminded that Christ came into this world to save sinners. Jesus became flesh and lived among men, for the purpose of giving Himself for us. Many come to worship Jesus with sincere hearts.
     Sadly, however many of the people are there because it is a holiday. Many have not darkened a church door since Easter. Many come just to see their kids, or grandchildren recite a verse or two. a lot of people come because there will be gifts or candy bags passed out after the service. These same individuals will not come to church again until the next big holiday.
      While many pastors are thrilled to see a large turnout, and many give a gospel presentation, yet few people come to Christ in a saving sense, at these events. Their lives go on, caught up in the business of the season. This is just another part of the Christmas tradition.
     What I want to say is this. Now is the time for salvation, today is the day! You might not have another chance. We are not guaranteed the next moment. God's Spirit will not strive with man forever. Today if you feel the drawing of the Spirit do not resist Him. You may never have another chance again. Christmas is a fun time of year, but eternity marches on! What really matters in life is knowing Christ, living for Him, letting Him have complete control of your life! Today is the day!

    

Living with no regrets.

     God has called each one of us who know Him, to be lights in this evil world. He has called some as missionaries, pastors, teachers, those who we would say had a more visible ministry. But even if you are not called to this kind of service, you are still called to be a witness for Christ, wherever you are. Everyone has a sphere of influence, whether it is in the home, or at the workplace, we all have people that we come into contact with every day. These are people who need Christ, they need to hear the message of salvation from sin, and reconciliation with God. God's word tells us that we are light in the Lord (Eph 5:8). We are to live as light, and as we live as light, we will expose the evil around us. Far too often, I'm afraid, we let the darkness around us hide the light. It may be the fear of man, how many times have we listened to filthy language, or a dirty joke at work and said nothing, maybe nervously laughing instead of telling them that that is offensive, not only to us, but to God? The Bible tells us to reprove the deeds of darkness, not for the purpose of jumping all over someone, but to show them their need for a Savior (Eph 5:11-13)!
     This passage goes on to say "Wake up O sleeper, rise from the dead!" We can get so busy with our lives that we neglect to do the things that God has called us to do. I can speak from experience. I have found myself caught up in work, and the daily routine, coming home and sitting in front of the TV, neglecting prayer, the word, and failing to be a light. Sadly, too many of us fill up our spare time with fun things for us and our families, at the expense of the lost souls around us. We do need time with our families, and I would not want to neglect them, however the Bible tells us to make the most of every opportunity that we have to share the gospel with those around us (vs 16). We may never have another chance to share with an individual again. No one is guaranteed tomorrow. Time is passing us by as many of us do nothing. Last night I was thinking about eternity, and living with the regret of failing to shine for Christ. We do not have to experience this! We can confess our sin and be forgiven, and then walk in obedience to our calling, in the power of the Holy Spirit. Today is the day to begin to redeem the time!
    

Longing for Christ.

     The Bible is silent about the four hundred year period between the close of the Old Testament, and the opening of the New. History tells us that it was a dry time spiritually. The love and worship of God had turned into a formal, external system of rituals with no meaning. The Pharisees came into power with the intent of protecting the law of God, but they soon were driven by the love of power, and the praise of men.
     There were Godly individuals at this time, as there always has been, but they were the exception. When Christ came into the world, He came into a world that was lost.
     One individual who stands out, is Simeon, who met Joseph and Mary, as they were bringing Jesus to the temple to offer the sacrifices for purification (Luke 2:25-34). The Bible tells us that he was a devout, upright man, longing for the appearing of the Messiah. In the middle of a lukewarm spiritual climate he stood out as one who loved God with all his heart. He served  God, was hungry for God, and he heard from God. We are told that the Holy Spirit was upon him, and led him to the temple where he saw Christ.
     Jesus said "Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God" (Matt 5:8). We are admonished in the scriptures to come out from among them and be separate (2Cor 6:17), not to be conformed to this world (Romans 12:2), to w ke from spiritual slumber (Romans 13:11). Now is the time to cultivate our relationship with Christ. Like Mary we should find the good thing, that is the intimate fellowship with Christ, the longing for Him, and the communion with Him. The Apostle Paul knew this well. His whole life was spent in the pursuit of Christ (Phil 3:8).  This world is not our true home! Can we say with Paul that we truly long for the appearing of our Lord (2Tim 4:8)?

Entire consecration.

     I would like to share an excerpt from the book Sanctification, by B. Carridine D.D. written in 1890. He is writing to Christians, encouraging them to be filled with the Holy Spirit, thus being enabled to live victorious, power filled lives.


     Consecrate yourself entirely to God. This is called the first step. Put everything on the altar. Make an Appomattox surrender of yourself. Become God's man by solemn covenant. Turn over everything to Christ that you are and have, and ever expect to be and have. Give Him your whole self. He will not accept a lesser gift. Christ intends giving Himself in His fullness to you, and He demands the same thing at your hands. Put every faculty on the altar; place your money there, and your reputation and ambition. Place your tongue there, and your time and your influence. If you have wronged anyone, promise God to right that wrong, and do it. If you are at enmity, first be reconciled with thy brother, then come with thy gift unto the altar.


     This is what the apostle Paul is writing of in Romans 12, when he says to present ourselves to God as living sacrifices. It is the total, complete, irrevocable devoting of ourselves to God, to be filled with Him, led by Him, used by Him, submitting to all He brings us through, all for His glory! It is a call to the life hid with Christ in God. A call to intimate fellowship with Christ, dwelling in the secret place of the Most High.

     Is your all on the altar?

Delight in the Lord.

     Delight in God implies a spirit of universal obedience to Him. This obedience creates a state of mind that inquires after what God would have us do with a fixed intention to do all His will without hesitation and to devote ourselves entirely to pleasing Him. It implies in short, that our whole being is given up to it; that we have no purpose or design, but in all things, at all times, in all places, and forever, to live wholly to Him.
-Charles G. Finney

Fire.

     For our God is a consuming fire
                                                           Hebrews 12:29(NIV)

     As I was staring into the fire this morning, watching a new log start to burn, I was struck with the fact that God desires to consume us. I thought about the many logs that had been in that fire already this morning, they were gone, and the ones in there now were slowly being consumed.
     The Bible states in Hebrews 12, that God is a consuming fire. He desires to purify, and refine us. Before salvation we all are filled with impurity. Our lives were lived in rebellion to God, and the fruit of that rebellion was seen in the sinful acts that we commited. Christ came to cleanse our hearts and lives. He not only forgives, but changes our lives from sinful, to holy. Our hearts are brought into loving submission to Him, His love is shed abroad in our hearts, we now live for Him, and the fruits of righteousness are evident in our lives.
     Just as those logs burned up in the fire, so our lives burn up in the presence of the Holy God. Whatever is not pleasing to Him, He will purge out. Everything of self must go. Things that we never thought were wrong, or displeasing to God will go. God desires a life that is a true reflection of Christ our savior. As we remain in His presence, and yield to His work in our lives, we will come forth as pure vessels for His glory.
     I love the closing lines to the hymn "Have Thine Own Way" It goes "fill with thy Spirit till all shall see Christ only always living in me." We need to be filled with the Holy Spirit, submitted to His work in our lives, no agenda of our own, only that Christ would live through each of us.

Ahab's itching ears.

     The Bible warns of a time when men will not put up with sound Biblical doctrine. People will only listen to what makes them feel good. They will find pastors and teachers who suit their fancy, nothing hard or convicting, only easy, feel good messages (2Tim 4:3-4).
     It is amazing how the stories of the Old Testament give us examples of New Testament teachings. Consider the story of Ahab, king of Israel, found in 2 Chronicles 18. Ahab wanted to go into battle against the Arameans at Ramoth Gilead. He asked Jehoshaphat, the king of Judah to go with him. Jehoshaphat agreed, but wanted to seek the Lord first. Ahab gathered his prophets and asked them what to do. With one voice they all told him to go and be victorious. Jehoshaphat asked if they could not find a real prophet of the Lord to ask. Ahab said yes, but he did not like him because he never prophesied good about Ahab.
     He was called for, and came, but before he prophesied, he was asked to prophesy the same message as the others! When he told Ahab to go and fight in verse 14, Ahab told him to tell the truth! He did, and the message was not good. Ahab would be defeated, and killed in battle.
     Instead of heeding this word, Ahab persisted and was killed. He knew the truth but did not want it! He wanted his own way, even though he knew that it would cost him his life.
     We need to be so careful that we do not fall into this same trap. The world throws everything it can at us to pull us away from our walk with Christ. We must be careful that we never compromise the message of the cross. As Christians we need to adhere to the standard God has given us in his word. Likewise as pastors, teachers, or witnesess, we must never soften the gospel as we present it to the lost. People might want their ears tickled, but in the end they will only go on to destruction like Ahab. Stand strong on the word of God!
    

What will our Children believe?

     I have two young daughters, one is four years old, the other is three. As they get older, they start to wonder about what we do at church, who Jesus is, why did He die, and other things like that. About two months ago we were talking about God, and I told them that Jesus is God. My three year old's eyes got huge as she repeated "Jesus is God?" over and over. We would be in a store, and out of nowhere she would loudly announce that Jesus is God.
     Last week, we held a thanksgiving meal in church, for the public. A single mother came in with several children who played with our girls for a while. During the course of their play one of the kids told our girls that Jesus is not God, God made Him. We did not hear this until our three year old announced it in a store!
     I quickly told her that Jesus is God, and the other little girl was wrong. I told her I knew because I read it in the Bible. Now my kids don't believe me! They are both set on believing one of their own peers.
     I realize that my girls are very young, and do not fully comprehend spiritual things yet, but this has made me think about what happens to our kids. Too many times we "let them go", we send them off to school where they hear everything but biblical truth, we send them off to play with other kids who fill their minds full of junk, sadly even many church youth groups are there to entertain more than build spiritual young people.
     We are told in the Word of God to teach our Children about God, about what He has done in the past, about what He continues to do, about His commands, about pleasing Him, and when the time comes, about His grace and mercy and the need to follow Him (Deut. 6:6-9).
     We can not depend on sunday school teachers, and youth pastors to watch over our kids. It is not their job! I thank God for every faithful Christian worker, and appreciate the hard work they do as they work with our kids, but in the end the battle is won or lost in the home! Parents, it is our job to teach our kids! It is our job to train them up. It is our job to watch over them, and protect them from outside influence! Even "kids" movies are full of new age concepts, magic, witchcraft, sensuality etc. If we want to see our children grow up and serve Christ, we must begin now to immerse them in the Word of God! We cannot afford not to!

God's written revelation.

     We have the word of the prophets made more certain...
                                                                                          2 peter 1:19a

     God has revealed Himself to us through His word. He spoke to men through His prophets (2 Peter 1:21b, Heb 1:1), and through His apostles (Eph 2:20, 2 Tim 1:13, 2 Peter 3:16), and through Jesus Christ (Heb 1:2). God used men like Moses, Samuel, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel etc. in the Old Testament, and Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Paul, Peter, in the New. Much of what was communicated through them was written down, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, and forms what we call the Holy Bible.
     We have the biblical account of creation, sin and the fall of man, the unfolding of the story of redemption, the birth, teachings, miracles, death and ressurection of Jesus, the instructions of the apostles, in short, everything that we need for life and godliness (2Peter 1:3).
     God's word reveals to us our utter sinfulness, the utter depth of the depravity that dwells in our hearts. His word shows us that He hates sin, that sin cannot dwell in His presence. We also find that He has made a way for us to be forgiven and set free from sin's power, free to live a life full of the Spirit, as we are poured out for others.
     The scriptures are the very words of God Himself (2 Tim3:16, 2 Peter 1:21). To believe them for what they really are, the words of God who cannot lie, to act upon them and put our lives in line with them, brings life and peace. To reject them, distort them, or neglect them leads one to ruin (Matt 7:26,27 2 Peter 3:16; Rev 22:18,19).
     We must be careful as christians that we test all we see and hear by the word of God. There always has been deception in the world, and it will only get worse, but there is safety found in God's word.

                                                                                     

God's revelation in His law.

     The law of the Lord is perfect.....
                                                           Psalm 19:7a

     We find that God has made a fuller revelation to man through the law. The holiness of God can be seen in the moral law, as found in the ten commandments.(Romans 7:12). In Psalm 119, the writer reflects upon the law and how wonderful it is. The goodness of the law is a direct reflection of the righteousness of the lawgiver Himself (vs.137).
     The law also reveals to us the fact that God alone is to be worshiped, and that is to be done in spirit and truth, not through the making of images. The one and only God is not to be made in the image of our vain invention.
     We can also see that He is love, and desires us to love each other. The law can be summed up in two commands, to love  God with all of our heart, soul, mind and strength, and to love our nieghbor as ourself. The golden rule sums it up well; treat others as you want them to treat you. Love is the fulfillment of the law.
      The  law is what shows us our fallen state, as it is through the law that the knowledge of sin becomes evident. Romans 7 is an excellent example of how the law works to drive us to Christ. We are made aware of what the law requires, and in our attempts to conform to it we become painfully aware that we have fallen short of it. The harder we try, the more we can see that we have failed. In fact we find ourselves sinning all the more! Our only hope is Christ!
    The moral law can be found throughout the scriptures, old testament, as well as the new. Just like the Jewish people of old, we who have the advantage of the Bible in our homes, and attending church where the word is proclaimed, are held accountable to the law, as we have seen it and heard it. Those who have never heard, are still accountable however, as the law has been written on their hearts(Romans 2:14-15). God has made sure that He is revealed to all, in one way or another, and has put a conscience into each one of us, that knows right from wrong. It is intereting to find out that people living in remote areas who have never seen a Bible, or heard the gospel message, still base the laws governing their communities on the ten commandments.
     Next post, I would like to discuss the written revelation of God.

The revelation of God.

     The heavens declare the glory of God.........
                                                                       (Psalm 19:1a)
     From the very beginning God has desired to have an intimate relationship with man. This can be seen from the very beginning of the world's history, when God used to walk with Adam and Eve in the cool of the evening. Sin , of course destroyed the intimacy that they shared. However that does not alter the fact that God desires that all mankind would come to know Him.
     We are told in Psalm 19, that the very creation itself shows us that there is a God. Paul expands on this theme in Romans 1:19, 20. He states that what may be known about God has been made plain to mankind through creation.God's invisible attributes, His eternal power, and divine nature are clearly seen in what He has created. The only right response to this revelation is to worship God with grateful hearts for who He is, the only, all powerful God. Sadly what man has chosen to worship is the creation instead, inventing a God of their own thinking, made to satisfy their own idea of what God should be like. This is what makes belief in the biblical account of creation so vital. The Bible says it is by faith we believe that God created the universe out of nothing (Heb 11:3). To reject this in favor of evolution or the big bang theory is to reject the revelation of God, in effect God himself. It is to elevate the creature above the creator (Romans 1:25).
     In my next post, I will discuss another aspect of God's revelation of Himself to man, the moral law.
    

Living sacrifices.

      In sunday shool yesterday, we were discussing some of the individuals who God has used in mighty ways in times past. Men like the Wesleys, Finney, Smith Wigglesworth etc. The question was posed, " Why don't we see God moving like that in our churches today?" The same individual who posed it, answered it by asking " Is it because we have gotten so busy in our daily lives? Our days have become so cluttered with everything we get involved in." As she was commenting on this, I was reminded of what the Apostle Paul said to Timothy, "No one serving as a soldier gets involved in civilian affairs-he wants to please his commanding officer (2Tim 2:4 NIV). As born again individuals, we are in an army, God's army! We are to be about His business, advancing His kingdom, fighting the good fight in His name and strength! What these men had in common was this. They lived for God and God alone. Everything they did was for Him and His glory. Nothing else mattered to them, only that God would be exalted. It is said that Smith Wigglesworth read nothing but the Bible, and never talked about anything but spiritual things. Many would say that he was so heavenly minded that he was no earthly good, but take a look at what God did through him!
     The comment was made that if we truly chose to live for God and do everything for His glory, and in His name, it would change much of what we did, eliminating much of the clutter in our lives. This is what Paul urges in Romans 12:1, the giving of ourselves entirely to God and His service. This is the crucified life that Paul speaks of in Galatians 2:20. This surrendured life is where the power of God is found. We may not all be called to be a Finney, Moody, Wesley, or Wigglesworth, but we are all called to something in Christ Jesus! Let's get uncluttered!

The fear of the Lord.

     Throughout the Bible, God is portrayed as a holy God. He is eternal, all powerful, knows all and sees all. He is perfect in every way, He is perfect in His love and mercy, as well as in His wrath and judgement. He is free from all sin, in fact sin cannot dwell in His presence. We see in the Old Testament how He prescribed the way in which He was to be worshiped. He was to be approached with awe, a reverent fear. It was no small thing to be a priest in the temple. There were cleansing rituals, and sacrifices to be offered, nothing could be done in a haphazard way, it was serious for God was Holy!
     The coming of Jesus ushered in the gospel age, and with it a better way to approach God. Through Christ we have forgiveness, and reconciliation with this same holy God. We can now approach Him with bold confidence, we don't need to offer sacrifices or go through a priest, It is through Christ that we come to worship.
     Some have taken the idea of freedom in Christ,as a licence to cast off what we would call reverence, the fear of the Lord. They call it legalism, saying that since Christ paid it all we can come to Him in any way. It is true that Christ is our only way to God, nothing we can do in ourselves can add to that, or better that. It also is true that God is still HOLY! Grace never changed His holiness! In Hebrews 12:28 we see the exhortation to worship God in the acceptable way, with reverance and awe! That is New Testament, not under law, but under grace.
     I have recently seen some things that shocked me. Worship services called sloshfests where the people are "toking the Holy Ghost", "smokin' baby Jesus", invitations are given for a "free buzz." Those who respond to the offer to "get high on the Most High" are considered saved. This is considered christianity by many! The individual who leads this church has written books that are sold and read by Christians!
   I understand that Paul became all things to all men to reach them, but I believe this crosses the line of finding ways to reach the lost, to disrespect of God and Holy things.
    The Bible warns us of false teachers, and people who will not accept sound teaching. We must be careful to test what we see and hear by the Word that God has given us! If we Love God, and are truly grateful for the ultimate sacrifice He gave for us, we will not find it a burden to respect Him with reverent fear, it will flow naturally from loving hearts.

Let your light shine.

   Matthew 5:13-16.
       There are several things that can be derived from this section of Christ's sermon on the mount.

          1. God has chosen to use people. Jesus said YOU are the salt, YOU are the light. It is through human beings in whom His spirit dwells, that God reaches out to the world.

           2. This light is not intended to be hidden. There is no such thing as a closet Christian. If God's spirit is active in our lives it will be evident to all around us. If we truly love Christ with all of our hearts, we will not be ashamed to let others know! In fact it will burn within us. We will let it out!

           3. Don't let fear of persecution stop you. Jesus just got done speaking about being persecuted for the sake of righteousness, and then He says to shine! Just before He was crucified he warned His disciples about coming persecution that they would face. He warned them so that they would know ahead of time, and not give up (John 16:1). Persecution has never been able to stop the spread of the Gospel. In fact the reverse is true, it spreads with more power and conviction.

          4. We must be consistent with our witness. Our walk must match our talk. Many individuals may say much about Christ and Christianity, but do not obey His word. Their witness has no power, and people are turned off to the message. We must not only be hearers of the word, but doers (James 5:22)!
     Others live good moral lives,but keep silent. They obey the word but do not tell others about Christ and what He can do for them. They think that their lives will be a witness, therefore they do not need to speak! Jesus said to let others see our good deeds so that they will glorify God! An alcoholic who has been delivered by Christ and no longer desires to drink, says no when asked to go out and party. When asked why not, he says " I don't feel like it" or " I don't like to do that any more". Where is the witness to the grace and saving power of Christ? When asked why we do what we do, and live the way we live, we should come out and say that it is because of Jesus Christ and what He has done for me! The world needs to know!

     Let's be encouraged today, to stand up wherever we are and shine. Live a life filled with the Spirit, and boldly proclaim the truth to a needy world.

The seen, and the unseen.

     By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter; choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward. By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured, as seeing Him who is invisible.
                                                                                     Hebrews 11:23-27(KJV)

     This passage of scripture shows us what motivated Moses. He had his eye on spiritual things instead of earthly things. He was willing to leave his life in Egypt, with all the adavantages he had, to join himself with the Israelites, who were slaves there. His faith caused Him to boldly confront Pharaoh, time and time again, until the slaves were freed. He was able to do this because he did not look at the world around him. The good life of Egyptian royalty meant nothing to him, because he knew that it was only temporary, and did not count for anything of spiritual good. what he looked to was eternity. Any loss he suffered here, was more than compensated for by what he would gain in the future. More than that he knew God. Though unseen, he knew that God existed, that God was more than enough for anything that he faced.
     This same faith is what moved the other Old Testament saints as well. They followed God with the understanding that this world was not there home, they were strangers in it. They had their eyes on a heavenly home (Hebrews 11:13-16).
     The Christians to whom this epistle was written were also reminded that they had suffered the loss of their posessions as a result of their faith. They had gladly endured this, because they knew that what awaited them in heaven was far better than anything they posessed on this earth (10:32-34).
     The Apostle Paul is also an example of one who had his eye on the unseen. He endured much in his Christian life, beatings, imprisonment, and hardships of every kind, however he calls them light, and momentary afflictions. He endured all this because he looked not at what was seen, the things of this earth, the trials and problems around him, but he looked at what he could not see (2 Cor. 4:16-18).
     This world will throw every thing it possibly can at us, to try to get us to turn back from following Christ. Wealth and material goods can steal our hearts, persecution can cause us to turn back to the world. What we must remember that this world is pasing away, and eternity awaits. We too are strangers here. We belong to the kingdom of heaven, we have a far better inheritance, God Himself. Fix your eyes on Jesus and run the race with endurance!

The persecuted.

     In His sermon on the mount, Jesus calls those who are persecuted blessed. When, for the sake of righteousness, we are reviled, persecuted, and slandered, we are to rejoice and be exceedingly happy!
     This can be seen in Acts 5:41, when the disciples were beaten for preaching in the temple. They rejoiced that they were counted worthy to suffer for Christ. I read something that Richard Wurmbrand wrote. He was in prison for his faith, in communist controlled Romania. He told of how they would have Bible studies in prison. This of course was forbidden, and if caught, the offender recieved a beating. He said we were happy teaching the word, the guards were happy beating us, so every one was happy!
   It is a fact that all who desire to live a Godly life will be persecuted (2 Tim. 3:12). Jesus told His followes that they would be persecuted (John 15:17-16:4). If we belonged to the world we would be accepted by the world. But as it is we are no longer of this world, we are a called out, peculiar people. There is a line drawn in the sand that we will not cross. Our life and witness will be offensive, will bring conviction, and invite persecution. Just the simple act of Jesus healing on the sabbath caused turmoil among the religious leaders of His day. It was His message that stepped on toes, people set in their ways do not like to be challenged to repent and follow God. Likewise we can expect the same as we let our lights shine in the world today. We may not go to prison, or be martyered for our faith, but if we stand for Christ we will face the scorn of this world. There is no flowery  bed of ease this side of eternity. We are either for Christ or against Him, either boldly siding with Him, or ashamed of Him and His words. Far too often the easy path is chosen out of fear, but whenever fear has been cast aside, and Christianity boldly lived out, Scripture and history has shown the fruit born!
  

Peace,and holiness

      In looking up verses on peace, I found two that kind of jumped out at me. Hebrews 12:14, and  1 Thess. 5:23. What struck me was how holiness and peace are linked together in these verses.
     In 1 thessalonians, we see God as the one who sanctifies. Many other passages bring out this fact as well. It is the work of the Holy Spirit in the lives of believers, to draw them and teach them how to walk in holiness. In simple terms, holiness is separation from living for oneself, to living for God. The Holy Spirit works in us to produce this life. We also see verses that tell us to separate ourselves, command us to be holy, verses that call to obedience. We must, on our part, yield to the will of God. As the Spirit teaches us how to live, we must obey. Without a sincere yielding on our part there is no walking in holiness, no holy life being lived, in short we are not holy.
     The thought that came to me as I contemplated these verses was this. If God, who here is called the God of peace, is the one who sanctifies us, and if we are pursuing a holy life, shouldn't our lives be filled with peace? The peace that I am thinking of here is the peace that comes from getting along with one another. God is not going to lead us into quarreling, envy, strife, dishonesty, etc. instead He leads us in the path of love, forgiveness, self sacrifice. If we are living selfishly, at odds with our neighbors, mad at each other, not getting along with one another at church, then we are not holy! We are selfish! We are on the throne instead of God! This idea is brought out in Galatians 5:16-25. Two lifeslyles are contrasted. The life lived for self, and the life lived for God. One is full of sin and destruction, the other full of love and life!  Let's follow the God of peace, as He perfects us!

The peacemakers.

     Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.
                                                                                                           Matt. 5:9 (KJV).

     In the world today there is very little peace. Nations are at war with one another, racism exists everywhere, there is political unrest, divided families, anger, suspicion, envy, and strife of every kind. As a result, few are truly happy, instead most people are filled with knotted up tension. 
    In contrast however, Jesus says that those who strive to live in peace are blessed (happy). As Christians, we are to pursue peace. As the KJV puts it, "Make every effort to live in peace with all men" (Heb. 12:14). We are the ones to take the initiative. Paul puts it this way, " As much as it depends upon you" (Romans 12:18). If someone has wronged us, we are to go to them to seek reconciliation. Don't wait for them to come and apologize first, it might never happen. If we are at fault, we must once again go first to apologize and make it right. We must do our part first, the rest depends upon the other party. Far too often we wait for the other person to move first, then we will forgive, then we will have restoration, then we will have peace, but that is not how a true peacemaker works for peace. Peacemakers take the iniative, they do whatever lies within their power, they make a diligent effort, to promote peace.
     This should be especially true within the church. Far to often we see churches weakened, and even destroyed, by discord and bitterness over things that truly have no bearing on the Kingdom of God. We are to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the BOND OF PEACE (Eph 4:3). Throughout the New Testament we see that as Christians we are to put others first, look out for each other, love each other from the heart, encourage each other, all of this, while we pursue God. We are brothers and sisters in Christ, with a common goal!
    Paul, in his letter to Timothy, desired that the Church would pray for those in authority, with the result that they would be able to live peaceful lives (1 Tim 2:1,2). In the same way we should still pray for our leaders, no matter who they are.
     If we follow after peace, we will be just like Christ who is our peacemaker (Eph 2:14-18). He gave the ultimate sacrifice to ensure peace between us and God. Let us follow His example as we seek peace with all men.
    

The pure in Heart.

     Who may ascend the hill of the Lord? Who may stand in His holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to and idol or swear by what is false. He will recieve blessing from the Lord and vindication from God his Savior. Such is the generation of those who seek Him, who seek your face, O God of Jacob.    Psalm 24:3-6 (NIV)


    Jesus said the pure in heart would see God (Matt. 5:8). Who are the pure in heart, and how did they get that way?  The Bible portrays humanity as depraved, dead in sin with hearts bent on evil (Rom. 3:10-18, Eph 2:1-3). This is true. From birth, we are selfish individuals. As we grow it gets worse and worse, just watch a child go through the "terrible twos." That may sound funny, but it is really the selfish nature within working itself out. At some point we all reach a place where we become morally accountable for our actions, a point of rebellion against God. This is the mind set on the flesh, the mind that is hostile towards God, the mind that will not submit to the law of God (Rom 8:7). Such an individual cannot see God, not now nor in the age to come.
     What is needed is a complete change. Not a change of actions, but a change of heart. A change from selfishness, and rebellion, to submission to God and His law. A mind that is now set on pleasing God, and following Him.
     God, through the working of the Holy Spirit does His part in convicting us of  sin, showing us our lost state, the depth of our depravity, and our total inability to do anything about it apart from Him. By His Spirit, He leads us to the cross of Christ, where we repent of our sin and look to Him with eyes of faith, receiving His forgiveness and being adopted as sons of God. Without repentance, there is no saving faith, and no forgiveness. We remain dead in sin. However if we repent, and surrender ourselves to Christ we are regenerated, or born again. There is now a new principle active in our lives. Instead of being hostile towards God we now long for Him. We desire to please Him. We love Him with all of our heart, soul, mind and strength. We follow Him with a faith that works by love. We are indeed a new creation, the old is gone, the new is come. We no longer live as we used to, we are ruled by a new nature that subjects itself to the law of God. We can truly say that our hearts are pure, we are not just forgiven, but truly changed from within. These are the people who see God. They see Him now with eyes of faith, they experience fellowship with Him now, and will see Him face to face on that great day. Such is the generation who seek Him!

Blessed are the merciful.

     Blessed are the merciful, for they shall recieve mercy.
                                                                                           Matt 5:7 (NASB)

      Love for one another is the characteristic that sets Christians apart from those around them. This love is shown in many ways, by bearing one anothers burdens, looking out for one anothers needs, forgiving one another, encouragement, etc. Christian love will go to extremes to help others. It is not stopped by race or color, social status, or poverty. Those who reach out with love and compassion are called blessed here, by our Lord.
     This verse poses the question; How can our reception of mercy depend upon our being merciful? Two portions of scripture come to mind. One is found in Matthew 25:31-46, the separation of the sheep and goats at the judgement. The point of separation was the love shown to others! Those who fed the hungry, clothed the naked, visited the sick and those in prison were told that they had done it unto the Lord. Those who failed to do these things were told that they had neglected the Lord. As much as they had neglected the least, most insignificant or unloveable person, they had neglected the Lord (vs 45). Our true devotion to Christ is seen in how we treat others! If we are truly born again, led by the Spirit Christians it will be shown in how we love the UNLOVEABLE!
     The other passage is found in James chapter 2, the chapter on faith and works. James is dealing with christians who were showing partiality. They treated the rich and well to do with honor and respect, but shunned the poor. In the  following verses James shows them that by doing this they were actually breaking the law. He goes on to show that even though we may keep all the law, if we fail at one point we are guilty as lawbreakers. James was showing his readers that by showing partiality they were breaking the moral law, or the law of love, by which they would be judged (vs. 12). He tells them that if they do not show mercy, they will not be shown mercy, but mercy triumphs over judgement.
     Just like the warning lights in a car, the law (ten commandments) shows us what is inside of us. Are we really right with God or not. While it is only through faith in Christ that we are forgiven and brought into relationship with God, It is also true that we are then a new creation, created to love God and each other. When we stand before God our lives will be judged by the standards set forth in His word. Thank God that He does forgive, but remember that His grace also will change our lives from the inside out!

Blessed are the hungry.

     As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God. My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God; When shall I come and appear before God?
                                                                                                                     Psalm 42:1,2  (ASV).

     And ye shall seek me and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.
                                                                                                                      Jer. 29:13 (ASV).

     And without faith it is impossible to be well pleasing unto him; For he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that seek after him.
                                                                                                                       Heb 11:6 (ASV).

     Our portion, our great reward,  the one thing needful is God himself. everything thing else pales in comparison. The greatest thing that anyone can experience is to be swallowed up by God, to take hold of what He took hold of us for (Phil. 3:12). In this passage of scripture we see the Apostle Paul in his pursuit of God. He counted all things loss for the sake of knowing Christ. His life was consumed by one thing and one thing only pressing on to the goal, following the call of God. His whole life consisted in this one thing. All he suffered, all he accomplished, all of his plans and purposes, all fit into his one great pursuit.
     To be driven in such a manner requires a strong desire, a hunger and thirst after the object of our pursuit. God has revealed Himself to each one of us, He has set eternity in our hearts (Eccl. 3:12), as the text in Psalm 42 goes on to say, deep calls unto deep, He is calling. Without His call, without the drawing of the Holy Spirit, we would not seek after Him. We are too selfish in and of ourselves. In our pursuit to find happiness, we look to the world, but never to God. Sin has blinded our eyes, and if not for the grace and mercy of God, we would remain in a blind pursuit of what can never satisfy. As the Spirit brings us to the cross of Christ, we enter into this pursuit of knowing Him, A spiritual hunger being awakened in us once again. Just as a body needs food to thrive, and live, the spirit needs God to thrive and live. A body that does not hunger does not eat, and will eventually die. In the same way a soul that does not hunger for God, will soon cease to live as well.
    We must, like Paul, press forward, there can be no standing still as the call goes forth. We must keep our eyes upon Christ. To get them off Him is to place them on the things of the world. Worldly things, like junk food, only diminish our appetites. Our pursuit of God must be all consuming. We must seek Him with all of our heart if we would find Him. We pursue hobbies, sports, jobs, careers, etc. with reckless abandon, yet spend very little time seeking God. Sadly, often when we say we seek Him, it is not Him we seek, but something we want Him to do for us. There is a huge difference between seeking the face of God, and seeking His hand. What God is calling out is "Seek Me! Don't seek things, seek Me!"
     We do not need to fear that by seeking God we will find ourselves neglected, that somehow our needs will not be met, that we won't be able to bring our requests before God. We will find that He will meet our needs as we pursue Him (Matt. 6:33), and like Paul we will find that our needs, wants and prayers will change as we count all things loss for the sake of knowing Him. And even if we had nothing at all we still have our portion, God himself.
    

True greatness.

   Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Matt 5:5(NIV).

       The world has never seen meekness as a desirable characteristic. The meek have been seen as cowards, geeks, losers. The Bible portrays meekness in a different light however. Jesus said he was gentle and humble in heart (Matt 11:29). Moses was said to be humble, It is a fruit of the Spirit (Gal 5:23).
     The idea behind meekness is one of gentleness. It involves humility, not a self abasing humility, but a humility that sees outward rather than looking in at oneself. At the very core is submission, not a doormat mentality, but a submission born of love. The Bible speaks of two types of submission. There is submission to God ( James 4:4-10), and submission to one another (1 Peter 5:5).
     First of all we must submit to God as our rightfull soveriegn. We must give Him our all and live to please Him. Without submitting first to Him we will never submit to others. Submitting to others is to put others first. It is to see the needs of others and do what we can to help them. (Phil.2:3,4). It is to bear one anothers burdens (Gal. 6:2). It is to forgive, to turn the other cheek. This can be most difficult, to set aside our anger and desire for revenge, to let it all go and forgive! Christ is our great example of this kind of submission (1Peter 2:21-24). To sum it all up, this is fulfilled by us as we love the Lord with all our hearts, and love our neighbor as ourselves (Matt. 22:37-40). It is realized by treating others as we would be treated (Matt. 7:12). It is only done by us as it is created within us by the living Christ, dwelling in our hearts by faith.

Do you grieve over sin?

     Streams of tears flow from my eyes, for your law is not obeyed.
                                                                                                                Psalm 119:136(NIV).
     Throughout Biblical history the people of God have been characterized by sorrow, flowing out of love for their God, who is rejected by the world. When God was about to bring Judgement on Jerusalem He spared the upright. Here was how they were determined to be loyal to God- "Go throughout the city of Jerusalem and put a mark on the forheads of those who grieve and lament over all the detestable things that are done in it" Ezekiel 9:4 (NIV). They loved God and did not remain indifferent to all the sin that was going on around them. They wept because sin violates the Holy God, they grieved at the hurt it caused Him as well as the pain it caused those affected by it. They were burdened by the fact that one day God's judgement would come upon those who commited sin.
     Jesus also wept over the hardness of men's hearts. Matt 23:37. He longed to gather His people to Himself, but they were not willing. He knew that these same people would hand Him over to be crucified. Jesus also confronted the religious leaders of the day. What many today might consider harsh or judgemental, was actually done to restore the truth of God's law, and show Him as Holy once again in the middle of a corrupt religious system.
     That brings me to pose some questions. How do react to the sin we see around us? When a co worker tells a dirty joke do we nervously laugh? Do we remain indifferent to all the filth around us? What about scandals in the Church? Do we gloat over fallen leaders, or grieve?
     The very root of sin is unbelief in God and His word. It plays itself out in rebellion to His authority. This rebellion and unbelief is what caused the saints of old to weep. It is what caused Christ to weep. It should cause us to weep as well. We all hurt when someone we love is hurt. In the same way we should hurt when God is hurt. Do you grieve over sin?

Godly sorrow.

     Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Matt. 5:4 (NIV).

     The Bible speaks of two kinds of sorrow (2 Cor. 7:9-11). There is the sorrow of the world that leads to death. This is the sorrow that results from being caught. It flows from selfish intent. It's main desire is to escape the consequences of the wrong action. Any repentance that flows from this kind of sorrow is insincere. God desires truth (Psalm 51:6). It is like when a man offends his wife and she gives him the silent treatment. After a while he buys her some flowers, not because he is sorry he hurt her, but because he wants her to start talking to him again. His wife can see through this and it only makes it worse.
     Often fear of punishment, whether from God or man will play on the emotions, and cause one to make a profession of faith. It is only superficial however and does not last (Matt. 13:5-6).
     There is a Godly sorrow that does lead to repentance, and this repentance is thorough. One like David in Psalm 51 must come to the point of understanding that his sin is against God, grieves, hurts, and offends God, and then confess and forsake that sin for God's sake. We no longer want to offend Him., we no longer want to hurt Him, instead of rebellion we want to submit to His authority. This must be done for Him, not for what we can get out of it. If we confess our sins, God is faithful and just to forgive us ( 1John 1:9). What pleases God more than ritual, is the sacrifice of a broken and contrite heart (Psalm 51:17).
     To be forgiven is to be brought into God's family, there is peace and safety, assurance and comfort. God has adopted us as His children, and His Spirit witnesess to us that we belong to Him. We are filled with love for Him
     We can here see why Christ begins His Sermon on the Mount with these two statements.  Jesus is our doorway into the kingdom, but without the knowledge of our utter sinfulness, and helplesness, and without a Godly sorrow that leads to repentance, we never truly enter in.

The poor in spirit.

     He opened His mouth and began to teach them, saying, "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
                                         Matt. 5:2, 3 (NASB).
     What does it mean to be poor in spirit? Jesus said the kingdom of heaven belonged to them, so I believe it is very important to grasp what it means to be poor in spirit.
     I think that we need to be brought to a place where we see the depth of our sin, like Paul who claimed in the seventh chapter of Romans that no good thing dwelled within his flesh. He had a willing mind to follow the law of God but found the law of sin working instead. He found evil present in his life instead of the good he wanted to do. At one time Paul thought he was doing quite well, until he discovered that coveting was wrong. From that point on He struggled in vain to overcome in his own strength. The Bible tells us that there is none righteous, all have sinned, all are dead in trespasses and sin, without God in the world, lost. As long as we think we have some good in and of ourselves, we will never truly look to Christ with eyes of faith.
     We also need to fully grasp that "Apart from Christ we can do nothing." (John 15:5). Jesus sets before us the concept of a vine with branches bearing fruit. In like fashion, we must remain attached to Christ through faith if we would bear spiritual fruit. Charles Finney once said that without the Holy Spirit no one would be saved, and without the Holy spirit, a believer would be unable to follow Jesus for one minute. The popular trend today is self sufficiency. Go into a bookstore and you can find a large selection of self help books on preaching, witnessing, christian living, etc. What marked the disciples and the early church however, was the power and filling of the Holy Ghost. They understood that it was impossible to rely on their own strength, and natural abilities. Something greater was required.
     We also need to let go of the material thing of this world. The rich young ruler went away sad because he had many possessions (Matt 19: 16-26). wealth and earthly posessions tend to draw our hearts away from the things of God. Two churches in Revelation, Smyrna was impoverished but rich in Christ (Rev 2:9), Laodecia was wealthy but spiritually bankrupt (Rev 3:17). Remember that all we have comes from God and belongs to God. Use it for His glory, and if it comes between you and God, get rid of it!
     God has given us all that we need for life and godliness ( 2 Peter 1:3), That is what really matters!
  

United with Christ.

     When the light of Christ dwells fully in the heart, it extends its influence to every thought, word, and action; and directs its possessor how he is to act in all places and circumstances.
     Our souls can never be truly happy till our wills be entirely subjected to, and become one with, the will of God.
                         Adam Clarke.
    
     I believe this is what Jesus refers to when He calls  out "If any one would come after Me, let him deny himself..."  This is the losing of ones life that Christ demands of those who would be His disciples ; the life of one who has died and whose life is now hid with Christ in God. This is the Apostle Paul proclaiming " I am crucified with Christ, yet I live. Not I but Christ lives in me." Christ calls us to a place where all we do, whether we eat or drink is done for His glory. Every thought that enters our minds is taken captive to the obedience of Christ. This is a place where all is done in the name of Christ, we have no will of our own. All that interests us, all that concerns us, all that excites us, all that fills us with joy is Jesus Christ and His kingdom. Jesus said not to seek after the thing that the world seeks after. He then went on to say that these things were the basic needs that we all face in life! He said to seek first the Kingdom of god, and His righteousness, and He would take care of these things for us.
     We must come to that place, by the grace of God where we are completely empty, so that His Holy Spirit can take full possession of His temple. Thus led by the Spirit our hearts will beat with His as one, so that all we desire will be Him and the promotion of His interest, not for any benefit that we can gain, but for Christ only.
     This is the place of peace, an end of stress and strife, no longer chasing shadows that we can never catch. the cares and troubles of life can not reach one who rests in the secret place of the Most High, for we no longer have any earthly concerns, for we are citizens of a heavenly kingdom. To be sure we will feel grief and sorrow when we see friends and neighbors sin against the Holy God who we love so, but this will only lead us to plead for them, and with them to be reconciled to God through Jesus Christ.
     We will know what it means to pray "Thy will be done" instead of praying " Do this if it is your will." This is the place where we will pray in the Holy Spirit at all times, alert and watchful.
     In the old testament only the high priest could enter the Most Holy Place, and that only once a year. Now in this age of grace Christ has made a way for each and everyone of us to enter through Him.
     He is looking for empty vessels to fill!

Our portion.

     You are my portion, O Lord; I have promised to obey your words. I have sought your face with all my heart; be gracious to me according to your promise. Psalm119:57,58. If Christ is truly our portion it will be Him who we desire above all else. It will be Him that we seek. It will be Him that we desire to please. We will be quick to willingly obey His word. We will love Him with all of our heart, soul, mind and strength. No matter what our circumstance in life is, good or bad, easy or difficult, we will rejoice in Him! As Paul said, I have learned what it is to be content. Phil. 4:12. Turn your eyes upon Jesus, and the things of earth will grow strangely dim!

To love the truth.

      We are all confronted throughout our lives with the revelation of God. He is revealed in His creation, as well as in His written word. That brings us to a choice with eternal consequences. There are many who suppress the truth by their wickedness, as seen in the first chapter of Romans. They take what God has revealed about Himself and ignore it, choosing to worship a god of their own invention. A similar passage in 2nd Thessalonians shows us that to refuse to love the truth leads to God sending a delusion, letting those who do so, believe a lie and being condemned, because they did not believe the truth, but delighted in wickedness. Ch. 2:10-12. However he encouraged the believers, reminding them that God had chosen them by the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit, through belief in the truth. vs. 13.  Take the time to read Psalm 119. The theme of this chapter is the law of God. Over and over you can see the reverance and love shown it. This love is shown by obedience. vs 97, Oh how I love your law! I meditate on it all day long. vs. 143, Your commandments are my delight. vs. 165, Great peace have they who love your law, and nothing can make them stumble. (NIV). The psalmist desired the word of God over riches. Let us truly love God and obey His word! Jesus Christ is the way truth and life!

The Word of God.

     Our safeguard against error is found in the written word of God. We need to judge all things by this standard. What the pastor says, what we hear from teachers, theologians, writers etc. While many people adhere to the truth, many do not. The scriptures warn us that false teachers will arise from within the church. These are people who we may know and trust. If we go to God's word and read it with a honest,open mind, willing to receive and follow what it says, God will reveal Himself to us. As it says in 1 John 4:1 " Do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see if they are from God" NIV. I have seen many people confused by what they hear, but there need not be such confusion. God's written word is the final authority!

Contending for the Faith.

     Throughout the history of the Church, error and false teaching have been a problem. You can go all the way back into the early history of Israel and see how they were led astray from the pure worship of God. However, the truth of God's word stands strongand clear. In the book of Jude we are earged to earnestly contend for the faith thar was once for all entrusted to the saints. vs.3. It is my desire to use this spot to do just that. May God bless us as we seek His truth with the end that we know Him better.