Newsletter 263 October 2, 2011
Ephesians 5:1-21
King James Version (KJV)
I am sure that we have all seen the three year old boy, dressed as like his father as is possible, and copying his father in everything. He copies his walk, his mannerisms, and his talk. We see him and we laugh and say, “how cute.” But, this is what we as Christians ought to be doing, in our relationship with God our Father. This is what Jesus did in his relationship with his father, God. He said, “He that hath seen me has seen the father.” He is our perfect example.
1 Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children;
Our text naturally divides into three parts. The first is:
WALK IN LOVE
2 And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling savor.
The world sings it’s “love songs”, meaning a totally different thing than Christian love. When Jesus said, “If you love me, keep my commandments,” God so loved the world,” “greater love hath no man than this,” he was speaking a “foreign language” to most of the world. Then he went on to define by example, what he meant. “God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten son.” This is sacrificial love, beyond comprehension to most of the world, but, so very clear to believers. God, who made all things, loves us that much!. Just to make sure that we understand, Paul goes on to show the contrast between Christians and the world.
3 But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints;
4 Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks.
5 For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.
6 Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.
7 Be not ye therefore partakers with them.
To place he bow on the parcel, consider I Corinthians 13:13, “And now abideth faith, hope, love, these three but the greatest of these is love.” This sets Christians apart. “By their love, ye shall know them.”
WALK IN LIGHT
They walk confidently, for they walk in light. They walk confidently because they are not in spiritual darkness. John 1:4-5, “In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.“
8 For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:
If you do this, you shall be fruitful. The presence of the Holy Spirit, given at baptism, when one “puts on” Christ, assures the Holy Spirit, the Spiritual guide
9 (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;)
10 Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.
11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.
Those things that may have once seemed so important, are now something to be ashamed of.
12 For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret.
13 But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light.
14 Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.
WALK IN WISDOM
We seek and study that we might gain knowledge, but wisdom is given in answer to prayer. Solomon pleased God when he asked for wisdom and not power and wealth. As long as he kept his eyes on God, he had wisdom in such quantities that he is spoken of yet as the wisest man the world has ever known. People came from afar, to consult him, but when he took his eyes off God and started looking about at the pagan gods of his many wives, he started to make more foolish mistakes. Walk not only in light, but walk wisely in the steps of the Lord.
15 See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,
Why? , because the days are evil.
16 Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
17 Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.
18 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;
19 Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;
20 Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;
21 Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.
_________
READ THE BIBLE THROUGH AGAIN IN 2011
OCTOBER
2nd. Sunday – Jeremiah 3, 4, Philippians 1:15-30, Psalm 116:1-11
3rd. Monday – Jeremiah 5, 6, Philippians 2:1-13, Proverbs 24:1-12
4th. Tuesday – Jeremiah 7, 8, Philippians 2:14-30, Psalm 116:12-19
5th. Wednesday - Jeremiah 9, 10, Philippians 3, Psalm 117
6th. Thursday - Jeremiah 11, 12, 13, Philippians 4, Psalm 118:1-16
7th. Friday – Jeremiah 14, 15, 16, Colossians 1, Proverbs 24:13-22
8th. Saturday - Jeremiah 17, 18, 19, Colossians 2, Psalm 118:17-29
__________
OUR CHRISTIAN BLOG LINKS
(With links to 792 titles)
Ctrl/click to follow these
http://searchingthescriptureswithbob.blogspot.com
Our weekly Bible Letter
http://47yearsinafrica.blogspot.com
Biographical, with photos
http://whatdoesgodsayaboutthis.blogspot.com
Questions and discussions
http://scripturegems.blogspot.com
Favorite Scripture Quotation
http://salvationtracts.blogspot.com
Representing 70 world languages
http://searchthescriptureswithbob.blogspot.com
Short Bible studies
http://bookletbiblestudies.blogspot.com
Several pages in length
http://phyllistheauthor.blogspot.com
Portions of Phyllis’ published books
http://priceless.but.free.gift.blogspot.com
__________
THIS WEEK'S SCRIPTURE
“And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.” Ephesians 4:32
__________
http://www.earchthescriptureswithbob.blogspot.com/2010/09/order-book-for-christmas
SPREAD THE GOOD NEWS ! – Forward this along to all your friends. The saved will rejoice and the unsaved need its message the most, so everyone is blessed: YOU FOR SHARING, AND ALL FOR READING.
http://www.amazon.com/P-J-Mills/e/B004KAS792/ref=ntt_dp_epwbk_0
_________
One man met some interesting people when he moved into a new apartment complex. One woman told him, “I miss my ex-husband, but my aim is getting better. “ Another women said, “Sometimes I wake up grumpy, but most of the time I just let him sleep.”
__________
A little girl became restless as the preacher’s sermon dragged on and on. Finally she leaned over to her mother and whispered, “Mommy, if we give him the money now, will he let us go?”
__________
After church on a Sunday morning, a young boy suddenly announced to his mother, “Mom, I’ve decided I’m going to be a minister when I grow up.”
“That’s okay with us,” his mother replied, but what made you decide to be a minister?”
“Well,” he said, “I’ll have to go to church on Sunday anyway, and I figure it will be more fun to stand up and yell than to sit still and listen.”
Thursday, September 29, 2011
Sunday, September 25, 2011
JUDGMENT TO COME
Newsletter 260 V September 11, 2011
2 Corinthians 5:6-16 King James Version
Satan and his host of fallen angels are making a proverbial last stand. The Bible tells us that he is like a raging lion seeking whom he might devour, Recall when he tempted our Lord, pointing out the nations of the world, that he suggested that if Jesus would just worship him, he would turn the whole world over to Him. To be able to do that, he would have had to have the entire physical world under his control. You can not give away, that which is not yours.
That world, under Satan’s power, became such a vile place that there was little hope for any faith to survive. When it had come to that, God destroyed it using the great flood, saving only Noah and his immediate family to make a new start.
Satan then led them to build the Tower of Babel, but he was defeated yet again. When he tried to take over the Spiritual world, God defeated his goal by dividing the people into nations and scattering them abroad.
Our Lord had created that world (John 1:3), and it was perfect. Satan could only corrupt it. But, let us take a look at today’s world. It certainly is not perfect. On the purely physical side a hurricane destroyed a big portion of New Orleans. Many came to Texas and stayed. Their homes were gone. Just this year alone, An earthquake and tsunami, and now a typhoon have battered Japan, Haiti suffered an earthquake; a monstrous tornado destroyed a huge swath out of Joplin, and multiple tornadoes destroyed the south-east, now a hurricane has sped up the east coast accompanied by massive flooding and an earthquake. At the present after months of record breaking heat and drought, Texas is fighting massive outbreaks of raging fire everywhere, Its cattle are dying.. These are all physical. Satan, knowing that his end is looming is making a great struggle to destroy all that he can, and to financially destroy all that survive throughout the world. You could not pay me enough to live in California where so many earthquakes are considered to be “normal.” A really big one is expected, at any time.
Still, there is safety for the faithful. The church, which is Spiritual, is our refuge, and it shall safely survive it all. Because the church is Spiritual, Satan can not destroy it from the world. We are in the world, but need not to be of the world..
IN THE WORLD, BUT NOT OF IT.
We have a physical body, but we shall leave it behind, for Christians are basically spiritual beings, “born of the water and of the spirit.” We have “put on Christ.” Satan can not destroy Christ, or His.
6 Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord:
7 (For we walk by faith, not by sight:)
8 We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.
9 Wherefore we labor, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him.
A SEPARATION IS COMING
10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.
11 Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences.
12 For we commend not ourselves again unto you, but give you occasion to glory on our behalf, that ye may have somewhat to answer them which glory in appearance, and not in heart.
13 For whether we be beside ourselves, it is to God: or whether we be sober, it is for your cause.
14 For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead:
CHRIST DIED FOR ALL MEN
If he died for all, then all were lost, whether they knew it or not. The greatest needed thing on earth is not physical, it is spiritual. Food, clothing, shelter, money, transportation, and all the contents of our homes. None of these things can go to heaven. The world’s Museums are filled with the wealth of past empires, because. they could not take it with them. It is for this reason that when I pray for the sick, I also try to remember to pray for their Spiritual well being as well, for that is why our Lord came to dwell among us.
15 And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.
16 Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more.
_________
READ THE BIBLE THROUGH AGAIN IN 2011
SEPTEMBER
11th. Sunday – Isaiah 27, 28, 2 Corinthians 11:1-15, Psalm 106:40-48
12th. Monday – Isaiah 29, 30, 2 Corinthians 11:16-33, Psalm 107:1-9
13th. Tuesday – Isaiah 31, 32, 33, 2 Corinthians 12, Proverbs 22:17-29
14th. Wednesday - Isaiah 34, 35, 36, 2 Corinthians 13, Psalm 107:10-22
15th. Thursday - Isaiah 37, 38, Galatians 1, Psalm 107:23-32
16th. Friday – Isaiah 39, 40, Galatians 2, Psalm 107:33-43
17th. Saturday - Isaiah 41, 42, Galatians 3:1-14, Proverbs 23:1-9
__________
OUR CHRISTIAN BLOG LINKS
(With links to 789 titles)
Ctrl/click to follow these links
http://searchingthescriptureswithbob.blogspot.com
Our weekly Bible Letter
http://47yearsinafrica.blogspot.com
Biographical, with photos
http://whatdoesgodsayaboutthis.blogspot.com
Questions and discussions
http://scripturegems.blogspot.com
Favorite Scripture Quotation
http://salvationtracts.blogspot.com
Representing 70 world languages
http://searchthescriptureswithbob.blogspot.com
Short Bible studies
http://bookletbiblestudies.blogspot.com
Several pages in length
http://phyllistheauthor.blogspot.com
Portions of Phyllis’ published books
httpv://priceless.but.free.gift.blogspot.com
__________
THIS WEEK'S SCRIPTURE
“If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”
2 Corinthians 8:17
__________
http://www.earchthescriptureswithbob.blogspot.com/2010/09/order-book-for-christmas
SPREAD THE GOOD NEWS ! – Forward this along to all your friends. The saved will rejoice and the unsaved need its message the most, so everyone is blessed: YOU FOR SHARING, AND ALL FOR READING.
http://www.amazon.com/P-J-Mills/e/B004KAS792/ref=ntt_dp_epwbk_0
Amazon has Cloud reader for the computer free. Phyllis’ new book, “Mary’s Letters” You will weep with her but in the end rejoice. only $ 7.69 for the “cloud” version
After church one Sunday morning, a mother commented: “The choir was awful this morning.” The father commented, “The sermon was too long.” Their seven-year old daughter asked: “You’ve got to admit it was a pretty good show for a dime.”
"MARY'S LETTERS"
ISBN 978-1-4628-9618-9, hard cover $29,99
ISBN 976-1-4628-9617-2, soft cover $15.99
ISBN 976-1-4628-9619-8, kindle $ 7.69
Order from:Kindle.com, Barnes and Noble.com, Amazon.com, Xlibris Bookstore.com, Cbookstore.com, Readers Store.com
2 Corinthians 5:6-16 King James Version
Satan and his host of fallen angels are making a proverbial last stand. The Bible tells us that he is like a raging lion seeking whom he might devour, Recall when he tempted our Lord, pointing out the nations of the world, that he suggested that if Jesus would just worship him, he would turn the whole world over to Him. To be able to do that, he would have had to have the entire physical world under his control. You can not give away, that which is not yours.
That world, under Satan’s power, became such a vile place that there was little hope for any faith to survive. When it had come to that, God destroyed it using the great flood, saving only Noah and his immediate family to make a new start.
Satan then led them to build the Tower of Babel, but he was defeated yet again. When he tried to take over the Spiritual world, God defeated his goal by dividing the people into nations and scattering them abroad.
Our Lord had created that world (John 1:3), and it was perfect. Satan could only corrupt it. But, let us take a look at today’s world. It certainly is not perfect. On the purely physical side a hurricane destroyed a big portion of New Orleans. Many came to Texas and stayed. Their homes were gone. Just this year alone, An earthquake and tsunami, and now a typhoon have battered Japan, Haiti suffered an earthquake; a monstrous tornado destroyed a huge swath out of Joplin, and multiple tornadoes destroyed the south-east, now a hurricane has sped up the east coast accompanied by massive flooding and an earthquake. At the present after months of record breaking heat and drought, Texas is fighting massive outbreaks of raging fire everywhere, Its cattle are dying.. These are all physical. Satan, knowing that his end is looming is making a great struggle to destroy all that he can, and to financially destroy all that survive throughout the world. You could not pay me enough to live in California where so many earthquakes are considered to be “normal.” A really big one is expected, at any time.
Still, there is safety for the faithful. The church, which is Spiritual, is our refuge, and it shall safely survive it all. Because the church is Spiritual, Satan can not destroy it from the world. We are in the world, but need not to be of the world..
IN THE WORLD, BUT NOT OF IT.
We have a physical body, but we shall leave it behind, for Christians are basically spiritual beings, “born of the water and of the spirit.” We have “put on Christ.” Satan can not destroy Christ, or His.
6 Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord:
7 (For we walk by faith, not by sight:)
8 We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.
9 Wherefore we labor, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him.
A SEPARATION IS COMING
10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.
11 Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences.
12 For we commend not ourselves again unto you, but give you occasion to glory on our behalf, that ye may have somewhat to answer them which glory in appearance, and not in heart.
13 For whether we be beside ourselves, it is to God: or whether we be sober, it is for your cause.
14 For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead:
CHRIST DIED FOR ALL MEN
If he died for all, then all were lost, whether they knew it or not. The greatest needed thing on earth is not physical, it is spiritual. Food, clothing, shelter, money, transportation, and all the contents of our homes. None of these things can go to heaven. The world’s Museums are filled with the wealth of past empires, because. they could not take it with them. It is for this reason that when I pray for the sick, I also try to remember to pray for their Spiritual well being as well, for that is why our Lord came to dwell among us.
15 And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.
16 Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more.
_________
READ THE BIBLE THROUGH AGAIN IN 2011
SEPTEMBER
11th. Sunday – Isaiah 27, 28, 2 Corinthians 11:1-15, Psalm 106:40-48
12th. Monday – Isaiah 29, 30, 2 Corinthians 11:16-33, Psalm 107:1-9
13th. Tuesday – Isaiah 31, 32, 33, 2 Corinthians 12, Proverbs 22:17-29
14th. Wednesday - Isaiah 34, 35, 36, 2 Corinthians 13, Psalm 107:10-22
15th. Thursday - Isaiah 37, 38, Galatians 1, Psalm 107:23-32
16th. Friday – Isaiah 39, 40, Galatians 2, Psalm 107:33-43
17th. Saturday - Isaiah 41, 42, Galatians 3:1-14, Proverbs 23:1-9
__________
OUR CHRISTIAN BLOG LINKS
(With links to 789 titles)
Ctrl/click to follow these links
http://searchingthescriptureswithbob.blogspot.com
Our weekly Bible Letter
http://47yearsinafrica.blogspot.com
Biographical, with photos
http://whatdoesgodsayaboutthis.blogspot.com
Questions and discussions
http://scripturegems.blogspot.com
Favorite Scripture Quotation
http://salvationtracts.blogspot.com
Representing 70 world languages
http://searchthescriptureswithbob.blogspot.com
Short Bible studies
http://bookletbiblestudies.blogspot.com
Several pages in length
http://phyllistheauthor.blogspot.com
Portions of Phyllis’ published books
httpv://priceless.but.free.gift.blogspot.com
__________
THIS WEEK'S SCRIPTURE
“If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”
2 Corinthians 8:17
__________
http://www.earchthescriptureswithbob.blogspot.com/2010/09/order-book-for-christmas
SPREAD THE GOOD NEWS ! – Forward this along to all your friends. The saved will rejoice and the unsaved need its message the most, so everyone is blessed: YOU FOR SHARING, AND ALL FOR READING.
http://www.amazon.com/P-J-Mills/e/B004KAS792/ref=ntt_dp_epwbk_0
Amazon has Cloud reader for the computer free. Phyllis’ new book, “Mary’s Letters” You will weep with her but in the end rejoice. only $ 7.69 for the “cloud” version
After church one Sunday morning, a mother commented: “The choir was awful this morning.” The father commented, “The sermon was too long.” Their seven-year old daughter asked: “You’ve got to admit it was a pretty good show for a dime.”
"MARY'S LETTERS"
ISBN 978-1-4628-9618-9, hard cover $29,99
ISBN 976-1-4628-9617-2, soft cover $15.99
ISBN 976-1-4628-9619-8, kindle $ 7.69
Order from:Kindle.com, Barnes and Noble.com, Amazon.com, Xlibris Bookstore.com, Cbookstore.com, Readers Store.com
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