Thursday, September 30, 2010

BREAKING OF BREAD

Friday, October 1, 2010
I Corinthians 11:23-26
For I have received of the LORD that which also I delivered unto you, that the LORD JESUS, the same night in which He was betrayed, took bread; and when He had given thanks, He broke it, and said, Take, eat; this is my body which is broken for you: do this in remembrance of me. After the same manner also He took the cup, when He had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in My Blood: this do, as often as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do show the LORD'S death till He come.

There are 4 practices in communion which are handed down through the Apostles, and are within the acts and words of JESUS. We will discuss the first three in this commentary and look at the fourth tomorrow.
1. Giving thanks to GOD
2. Remember who lived, died and rose again for our salvation
3. Remember that JESUS will come again.

When we partake of the broken bread and the cup of the New Testament in the Blood of JESUS, we are so filled with awe that the heart felt response is THANKSGIVING. When we REMEMBER the price paid by JESUS so that all might be saved, and we REMEMBER that He is coming again, we partake of the broken bread and the cup with awe filled reverence. It is vital that we remember, lest we forget the sacrifice freely offered out of extreme love. This kind of sacrificial love is rarely seen in our lifetime, but within the communion, we see clearly that kind of love right before our eyes.

In one tradition, these words are spoken at the time of giving the bread and cup to a person: The Body of our Lord Jesus Christ, which was given for thee, preserve thy body and soul unto everlasting life. Take and eat this in remembrance that Christ died for thee, and feed on Him in thy heart by faith, with thanksgiving.
The Blood of our LORD JESUS Christ, which was shed for thee, preserve thy body and soul unto everlasting life. Drink this in remembrance that Christ's Blood was shed for thee, and be thankful.

JESUS PAID IT ALL, ALL TO HIM I OWE. THANK YOU, LORD, FOR SAVING MY SOUL; THANK YOU , LORD FOR MAKING ME WHOLE; THANK YOU, LORD, FOR GIVING TO ME, THY GREAT SALVATION SO RICH AND FREE.

Wednesday, September 29, 2010

BREAKING OF BREAD

Thursday, September 30, 2010
I Corinthians 10: 16,17
The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? For we being many are one bread, and one body; for we are all partakers of that one bread.

I found a wonderful sentence in the Matthew Henry commentary on these verses: "Those who truly partake by faith have this communion with Christ, and one another; and those who eat the outward elements make profession of having this communion, of belonging to GOD and the blessed fraternity of his people and worshippers."

The practice of the breaking of bread is a statement of faith that we are part of the Body of Christ in the world. We belong to GOD and we belong to one another as a very large family, washed clean by the Blood of JESUS and knit together in love.

Those who read this WORD FROM THE WORD are part of my family. Where the LORD is, all who are in Him and commune with Him in the Breaking of Bread, are present to each other by the Holy Spirit. When we eat the bread and drink from the cup of Blessing, we are, by faith united in Him. JESUS said: "I in them and thou in me that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world might know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me." (John 17: 23).

JESUS LOVES US, THIS I KNOW, FOR THE LORD JESUS TELLS US SO.

Tuesday, September 28, 2010

BREAKING OF BREAD

Wednesday, September 29, 2010
I Corinthians 5: 7,8
Purge out, therefore, the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For Christ, our passover, is sacrificed for us, therefore, let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

COMMUNION IS AN ORDINANCE

When we gather together in fellowship with JESUS Christ and with one another, it is an ordinance for the Church to have the "Breaking of Bread", the Communion of the Church with GOD. JESUS Christ is our passover. In Exodus 12:1-28, is the account of the Passover and its meaning. This was a foreshadowing of the sacrifice of JESUS for our salvation and preservation. The communion reminds us of that great sacrifice and the price paid for our redemption.

We are to partake of the feast, not with the heavy yoke of sin, but worthily. This is a time of cleansing from sin and receiving the the "unleavened bread of sincerity and truth". This feast, with JESUS and one another, is healing to the deepest part of our spirit, uniting us to GOD in a real way.

WE ARE THE BODY OF CHRIST, FED BY HIS BODY AND BLOOD;
WE ARE THE CHURCH

Monday, September 27, 2010

FELLOWSHIP

Tuesday, September 28, 2010
1 John 1: 3;7
That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son, JESUS Christ.
If we walk in the light,as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the Blood of JESUS Christ, His Son, cleanseth us from all sin.

These two verses from 1 John give us a picture of fellowship which is both temporal and spiritual. We can best understand it as vertical and horizontal. The vertical fellowship is between us and GOD the Father and the Son, JESUS. This Spiritual relationship brings wisdom, light, understanding, strength, healing and the building up of us in His way and life. The horizontal fellowship is with one another and those with whom we associate.

When the vertical and the horizontal are in balance, they form a cross. This is the cross that we are to carry throughout our life. It is JESUS Christ in us, reaching out to the world through us, bringing hope, mercy and unconditional love as the bright light in a dark world.

The Church filled with people who are living the vertical life and reaching out to others, fulfill the great commandment: Love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. And the second is this: Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. (Mark 12:30,31)

AND THE BLOOD OF JESUS CLEANSETH US FROM ALL SIN

Sunday, September 26, 2010

FELLOWSHIP

Monday September 27, 2010
John 4:23,24
But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshipers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth; for the Father seeketh such to worship Him. GOD is a spirit; and they that worship Him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

We commented last week on fellowship as one of the practices of Truth, but there is still more depth to this very important practice. The fellowship of the table of the common meal is one part of the practice. We share our lives with each other and receive from each other the gift of love and understanding or just hearing and listening. This is the horizontal form of fellowship, people with people. There is a second form of fellowship which must happen at the same time as the horizontal; fellowship with GOD in unity by the Holy Spirit.

JESUS says very clearly in this Gospel passage that NOW is the time for union and fellowship with the Father in the spirit. This is the vertical form of fellowship. When you put together the two parts of this practice, vertical and horizontal, it forms a cross. We, as the Church must "take up that cross" and follow Him in fellowship.
The Church that practices fellowship with the Father in spirit and in truth, and practices fellowship with one another, is in true worship.

JESUS said, in John 15: 5: I am the vine, ye are the branches. He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit; for without me ye can do nothing. The Church must practice the vertical fellowship in order to accomplish anything substantial. Ideas are great, but for those ideas to succeed, they must have come from the Father first. We, as individuals, have the obligation to nurture our spiritual life, so that when we come together in horizontal fellowship, we will be in agreement with GOD. It is true that the cross beam without the verticle, falls to the ground and can not stand on its own. So, without the virtical relationship with the Father, the horizontal relationship with others will not succeed.

JESUS SAID SO


Friday, September 24, 2010

TRUTH - FOUR PRACTICES

Saturday, September 25, 2010
Acts 6:4
But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.

The fourth on-going practice of Truth is PRAYER.

At the beginning of The Acts, Chapter 6, we find that the Disciples are now overwhelmed with the task of the administration of the new Church. They had been accused of neglecting the widows. So, they appointed 7 men to do the work of Deacons, while the Disciples gave themselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word. Why did they choose to share their ministry with Deacons? Why did they choose to spend their time in prayer and ministry of the word? Why didn't they spend their time with caring for the widows and leave the prayer to another time?

The answer to the three questions is: PRAYER UNITES TO GOD and ministry is not effective and care is not powerful unless there is prayer. PRAYER IS A POWERFUL GIFT.

The Disciples had learned from JESUS that all effective ministry must come from Him and not from human affection. The power for GODLY ministry comes from the Father, through the Son and by the Holy Spirit then through the people of GOD. Prayer is the gift that links humans to GOD. Prayer and ministry of the word must agree with the Word of GOD, therefore, time must be spent in meditation on Scripture and prayer for guidance. The Disciples had been well taught, by JESUS, not to neglect prayer. So, they found others with the anointing for service to serve the widows and to keep the order in the Church. It is interesting that this order still is in practice today. Our Pastors must give themselves continually to prayer and the ministry of the word, while others must care for the poor, the sick and the needy.

MAY THE LORD BLESS OUR PASTORS AS THEY SEEK THE LORD AND CARRY HIS WORD TO THE CHURCH. MAY THE LORD BLESS THOSE WHO CARE FOR THE WIDOWS AND THOSE IN NEED

Thursday, September 23, 2010

TRUTH - FOUR PRACTICES

Friday, September 24, 2010
Luke 22: 19,20
And He took bread, and gave thanks, and broke it, and gave unto them, saying, This is My body which is given for you; this do in remembrance of Me. Likewise also the cup after supper, saying This cup is the new testament in My blood, which is shed for you.

The third on-going practice is the Breaking of Bread.

The first on-going practice of truth is the Doctrine of Truth from Holy Scripture. The second practice is Fellowship in the Gospel. The third is the Breaking of Bread.

Jesus loved His time of supper with His friends. There are many stories about JESUS in the Gospel record which center around a meal. JESUS even prepared breakfast for His Disciples after the resurrection. The fellowship around the table was very precious to JESUS. Why was this so? Because it gave him time to commune with His friends, and a time to teach the lessons of the Kingdom. The Breaking of Bread is a sign of Love and a symbol of an even deeper relationship after His death.

Holy Communion is that time for all of us to sit down with JESUS and receive from Him the Spiritual food that nourishes us for our life. His Body, given for us; His Blood shed for us is the powerful food of new and unending life in Him. When we partake of Him, He unites Himself with us in a very deep union. We are strengthened by Him in the inner man. Healing flows from Him in Holy Communion; wisdom flows; revelation blooms and we are transformed in mysterious ways.

COME TO THE TABLE OF MERCY, PREPARED WITH THE WINE AND THE BREAD; COME ALL WHO ARE HUNGRY AND THIRST, COME AND YOUR SOUL WILL BE FED.

Wednesday, September 22, 2010

TRUTH - FOUR PRACTICES

Thursday, September 23, 2010
Philippians 1: 3-6
I thank my GOD upon every remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy, for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this very thing, that he who hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of JESUS Christ.

FELLOWSHIP IN THE GOSPEL

The second practice of Truth is fellowship. Fellowship means to be of one mind and one heart. This is why it is so important that like-minded believers gather together to support one another. There can be no fellowship with unbelievers, if you are a believer in JESUS. There will be friction and, ultimately, compromise. Compromise will mean that the believer will have to give up something of his/her beliefs, in order to be in agreement with the unbeliever. This is not tolerable.

When we have fellowship in the Gospel, we have the Word of GOD, JESUS and the Bible, as our source of TRUTH. The Gospel is GOD'S word to us, keeping us in unity and harmony. The Gospel is GOD'S gift to us, so that the Body of Christ will be in one accord. We can build a Spiritual House on the firm Foundation who is JESUS Christ, the pillars of that house will be strong, rising from the foundation through the strength of the Gospel. We can instruct in sound doctrine, based on the Gospel. We can strengthen and encourage the brethren, as we fellowship in the Gospel.

As we practice sound doctrine, the doctrine of Truth, let us fellowship in the Gospel of Truth.


Tuesday, September 21, 2010

TRUTH - FOUR PRACTICES

Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Matthew 4: 3,4
And when the tempter came to Him, he said, "If thou be the Son of GOD, command that these stones be made bread." But He answered and said, "It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of GOD."

SPEAKING THE TRUTH OVER A LIE

Here is a practice that can be used by all of us, every time we hear a lie. SPEAK THE TRUTH just like JESUS did. Where do we find the truth to speak? The Word of GOD is the Word of Truth.

In the three temptations in the wilderness(Matthew 4: 3-11), JESUS spoke the Word of GOD over the lie of the devil. The devil had no answer to the Word, he just when on to the next temptation. At the end, JESUS commanded the devil to "Be gone" and the devil had to leave. We must know the Truth and practice speaking the Truth. When tempted, we must speak the truth and the lie will have to depart.


MAN SHALL NOT LIVE BY BREAD ALONE, BUT EVERY WORD THAT PROCEEDETH OUT OF THE MOUTH OF GOD

Monday, September 20, 2010

TRUTH - FOUR PRACTICES

Tuesday, September 21, 2010
II Timothy 2: 15
Study to show thyself approved unto GOD, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of Truth.

The first on-going practice of Truth is STUDY OF SCRIPTURE

We tend to shy away from the "d" word; "discipline" is oftentimes used as the opposite of freedom. This idea of discipline being restrictive, is one of the lies of the devil. Study of Scripture, hearing the Scripture taught, digging into the meaning of Bible passages, equips us for the work of GOD in every situation.

How many of us have asked this question, when faced with a problem: "What shall I do now?" Well, the Scripture holds the keys to answer that question. When we study the Scripture and learn the way of GOD, we are workmen in the field of GOD, unashamed and able to rightly divide the word of Truth. Freedom comes from knowing the way through the wilderness and who is a faithful guide. The Scripture shows the way and guides us along the path of righteousness.

Sound doctrine comes from hearing the Word of GOD continually. When we read and study the Bible we have the implanted word of GOD in our heart, before our eyes and in our ears. When we neglect the study of Scripture, we handicap ourselves and leave the door open for the enemy to deceive us with lies.
KNOW THE TRUTH AND THE TRUTH SHALL SET YOU FREE

Sunday, September 19, 2010

TRUTH - FOUR PRACTICES

Monday, September 20, 2010
The Acts 2: 41,42
Then they that gladly received his word were baptized; and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. And they continued steadfast in the Apostles doctrine and fellowship, and in the breaking of bread and in prayers.

These two verses are fundamental to the steadfastness of the Church. We saw, in last weeks commentary, that there were 4 manifestations of Truth: JESUS, who IS the Truth; Bible, which is the Word of Truth; the Holy Spirit, who leads into Truth; and the Church, which is the pillar and foundation of Truth. Now we look at the 4 practices followed by the Christian to maintain the Truth.

The first and once and for all time action of the new believer is Baptism. Jesus was Baptized, to fulfill all righteousness, and we must be Baptized as sign and symbol of our belief in the LORD JESUS Christ. Baptism does not save us from sin, only JESUS can save us. Baptism is an outward and visible sign of our new life in Christ. In Acts 2:41, the new Christian, having received the word of Truth, were Baptized as a sign of their conversion and their testimony brought others to the saving knowledge of JESUS. They, too, were Baptized. This act is a once and for all time practice in the Church.

There are 4 on-going practices found in The Acts 2: 42: Doctrine; Fellowship; Breaking of Bread; Prayers. In the Church, the foundation and the pillar of Truth is maintained by these 4 being consistent and regular. This week, we will look at each one to see how important they are to the life of every Christian.

Friday, September 17, 2010

KNOWLEDGE OF THE TRUTH

Saturday, September 18, 2010
YOM KIPPUR
Matthew 16: 16,17, 18
And Simon Peter answered and said, "Thou art the Christ the Son of the Living GOD". And JESUS answered and said unto him, "Blessed art thou Simon Bar-jona; for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but My Father, who is in heaven". And I say also unto thee, "That thou art Peter, and upon this Rock I will build my Church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it".

"Silence in heaven, silence on earth, silence within. Thy touch, O Lord, covers the din". All over the World, where the Children of Israel gather to honor GOD in this Holy Day of Yom Kippur, there is silence. Everything comes to halt as this day begins. Work stops, noise stops, streets are empty and the only sound is the breath of GOD blowing across the Universe. "Silence in Heaven, Silence on earth, Silence within." SABBATH

At the Name of JESUS we are awed into silence as we bow before His glorious presence. He is the Rock upon which the Church is built and the "gates of hell shall not prevail against Him". There are no words, or work, or sound that will be enough to express thanksgiving for our life, as we contemplate the Truth -
JESUS CHRIST IS LORD.

The silence is very pregnant, thick with praise, prayer and thanksgiving. We SEE now, and we say in our heart:
THOU ART THE CHRIST THE SON OF THE LIVING GOD
HOLY IS THE NAME OF JESUS


Thursday, September 16, 2010

KNOWLEDGE OF THE TRUTH

Friday, September 17, 2010
I Timothy 3:15,16
But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of GOD, which is the church of the Living GOD, the pillar and ground of the truth. And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness; GOD was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the nations, believed on in the world, received up into glory.

The Apostle Paul was concerned that the Truth would be watered down by churches. He was aware that "seducing spirits and doctrines of demons" (I Timothy 4:1) would lead the new Christians astray. So he instructed Timothy to keep the faith and preach the truth. The same words of Paul ring true today. We must be aware of those doctrines which are contrary to the Truth.

Where is Truth found? we might ask.
1. JESUS
2. SCRIPTURE
3. THE HOLY SPIRIT
4. THE CHURCH
When the 4 manifestations of GODLY Truth are in agreement, then we know that we are walking in the Way of Truth.

What is the Church? Schofield, in his commentary says this: The church is the "visible body of professed believers". These are believers in JESUS CHRIST and adhere to the 6 tenets of the faith: "God was manifest in the flesh (His name is JESUS), He was justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the nations, believed on in the world and received up into glory (He sits at the right hand of the Father)".

We, who believe in JESUS, the only begotten Son of GOD, who follow Him in willing obedience, are the Church; "the pillars and ground of the truth". With this mandate given to us, we must be careful not to allow "seducing spirits and doctrines of demons" to lead us astray. How do we guard ourselves from these seductions? The Holy Spirit will lead you into all truth as He teaches and reveals the Holy Scripture to the Church ( the body of believers). The Holy Spirit was sent by JESUS to instruct us in the way of Truth.

GOD IS FAITHFUL; JESUS IS LORD; HOLY SPIRIT IS OUR TEACHER;
THANKS BE TO GOD

Wednesday, September 15, 2010

KNOWLEDGE OF THE TRUTH

Thursday, September 16, 2010
John 16: 13,14,15
Nevertheless, when the Spirit of Truth is come, He will guide you into all truth; for he shall not speak of himself, but whatever He shall hear, that shall He speak; and He will show you things to come. He shall glorify me; for He shall receive of mine, and shall show it unto you. All things that the Father hath are mine; therefore said I that He shall take of mine, and shall show it unto you.

The third manifestation of Truth is the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit is called the Spirit of Truth. He was named this by JESUS, who is the first manifestation of Truth and is Truth Himself. We see in verse 15 a very important statement of the Trinity and how they function. First, The Father has "all things" and has given them to the Son, JESUS. In verse 14 we find that the Holy Spirit "shows" all things to people. To repeat simply, The Father gives to the Son and the Holy Spirit shows to us what the Father has. The Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit are ONE GOD.

The Holy Spirit only speaks what He hears from JESUS and JESUS only does what the Father does. The Father is all Truth, the Son is the Word of Truth and the Holy Spirit speaks the Truth. It remains for us to HEAR THE TRUTH. We can only hear the Truth if we LISTEN TO GOD. Then we must OBEY HIM.

HEAR, LISTEN, BELIEVE AND OBEY.

Tuesday, September 14, 2010

KNOWLEDGE OF THE TRUTH

Wednesday, September 15, 2010
I Timothy 4: 4,5
For every creature of GOD is good, and nothing is to be refused, if it is received with thanksgiving; for it is sanctified by the Word of GOD and prayer.
Psalm 119:42,43
So shall I have wherewith to answer him that reproacheth me; for I trust in Thy Word. And take not the Word of Truth utterly out of my mouth; for I have hoped in thine ordinances.

The letter "Heh" in Hebrew, means "goodness and Truth; the letter "Vav" in Hebrew means "The Word of Truth". The Rabbis understand that GOD created all things with "Heh and Vav". The Holy Name is "Heh, Vav,Heh, Yodh" reading from right to left. When you pronounce the Holy Name, it is pure breath. So, GOD created all things in "goodness and Truth by the Word of Truth". The reason that I mention this is because, in the first reference it says "every creature of GOD is good".

I am struck by the words "sanctified by the Word of GOD and prayer". This is more than "table grace" before a meal. When we pray, with thanksgiving to GOD for our food, we are "setting that food apart for GOD'S use" in our body. We are asking the LORD to make that which we eat Holy and fit to be consumed. This is true with medicine and with dietary supplements. When we receive them with thanksgiving unto GOD, the LORD sets them apart for our good, they are Holy.

We have often heard the words," out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks" (Luke 6:45c), well Psalm 119: 43 is interesting, because it asks GOD not to take the Word of Truth out of the mouth. This means that the Word of Truth must dwell in the heart first, then the mouth speaks. My prayer is: "Give me, O LORD, a voice to proclaim Your Word, Your Word is Truth"

Monday, September 13, 2010

KNOWLEDGE OF THE TRUTH

Tuesday September 14, 2010
John 17:17
Sanctify them through Thy Truth, Thy Word is Truth.

The second manifestation of the Truth, is the Word of GOD. The Holy Scripture is pure Truth, because it comes from GOD who is the Truth. The Scripture is GOD breathed and His breath remains in the Scripture. II Timothy 2:15 says: Study to show thyself approved unto GOD, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of Truth. When you study the Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit guides you into all Truth and reveals the understanding of the Scripture needed to build you up. The Scripture has endless depth and the Holy Spirit opens the depth to those who study His Word.

The verse from John shows us that the Truth "sanctifies". What does that mean? To sanctify, means to set apart for Holy use; to make Holy. JESUS was praying that the believers in Him would be set apart from the world and made Holy as He is Holy; through the Scripture, the believer is built up in Holiness.

This is awesome, we can know the Truth in this life and be able to discern truth, study the truth and be built up in Holiness, today. This is possible through the work of the Holy Spirit dwelling within us, leading us into all truth and sanctifying us in the Truth by His Word.

JESUS IS THE WAY, THE TRUTH AND THE LIFE; WALK IN HIS WAY, LIVE IN THE TRUTH AND BE TRANSFORMED BY HIS LIFE WORKING IN YOUR HEART.

Sunday, September 12, 2010

KNOWLEDGE OF THE TRUTH

Monday, September 13, 2010
John 14:6
Jesus saith unto him: "I am the way, the truth, and the life; no man cometh unto the Father but by me."
John 1:14
And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.

When Jesus stood before Pontius Pilate, he was asked, "what is truth?". Many people ask this question, but do not turn to the one who is the Truth - JESUS. Pilate was asking the right person the question, but failed to see that Truth was standing right in front of him.

There are 4 manifestations of Truth and they all agree in One. The first manifestation of truth is JESUS. He is the "Way, the Truth, and the Life". You see, Truth is a person, not an idea or a way of thinking. Truth is not relative or a composite of thoughts, it does not change with the environment or every change of the wind. Truth is universal and fixed; His Name is above all names and lives so that Truth is known. Truth became flesh and lived among us. Today, Truth lives among us and we can know the Truth and the truth will set us free.

BELIEVE ON THE LORD JESUS CHRIST AND YOU WILL KNOW THE TRUTH AND THE TRUTH WILL SET YOU FREE

Friday, September 10, 2010

JOY UNSPEAKABLE

Saturday, September 11, 2010
Romans 15: 13
Now the GOD of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit of GOD brings joy

Today, we remember 9/11, the day when our country came under attack. There has been a lot of talk recently about this time in our life, "when the walls came tumbling down", lives were lost and our friends and neighbors died a horrible death. Does this damage to the physical world, damage our Spiritual life? Do unspeakable hurt and harm cause us to loose our "unspeakable joy"? The answer to these two questions is a resounding NO.

Where then do we find this joy that does not depend on circumstances? When our world changes right before our eyes and we are left bewildered, "the GOD of Hope will fill us with all joy and peace in believing". We will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. We are transformed within by the Blood of JESUS, as we believe in Him.

When we abound in hope, peace, joy and the power of the Holy Spirit, we can do the extraordinary things. Isaiah 58: 11 and 12 tell us what we will be able to do when the LORD guides us:
The LORD shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones; and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not.
And they that shall be of thee shall build the old waste places; thou shalt raise up the foundations of many generations, and thou shalt be called, THE REPAIRER OF THE BREACH, THE RESTORER OF PATHS TO DWELL IN.

My dear friends, JESUS is our joy and through Him we give life to those who are dying and light to those who sit in darkness. We are watered gardens and springs of living water. Be a repairer of the breach and a restorer of paths to dwell in. Let the unspeakable joy from the LORD be your strength and motivate you to build the old waste places for his Holy Name Sake. Then, when we remember 9/11, we will remember the One who was with everyone, every place; bringing His comfort, Love, mercy, grace in the time of need. Everyone was kissed by the Love of GOD, not just that day, but every day.
FOR JESUS IS LORD OF ALL.

Thursday, September 9, 2010

JOY UNSPEAKABLE

Saturday, September 10,2010
Psalm 16:11
Thou wilt show me the path of life. In Thy presence is fullness of joy; at Thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.

GOD'S Presence Brings Unspeakable Joy

The right hand of GOD is extended to us today. JESUS is the right hand of GOD. That is where He sits and from Him flows all the grace, goodness, mercy, and Love of GOD. When it says in the Scripture that GOD holds us in the palm of His Hand, you can be assured that His right hand, who is JESUS, holds us securely and we can not be snatched out of it.

Since we are held in the palm of the right hand of GOD, all we have to do is ask for His presence and know that He is ever present. When we worship Him, we are enfolded into His Heart so that we hear the beat of the Sacred Heart. When we commune with Him in the Sacrament of Holy Communion, He feeds us with his Body and Blood. GOD fills us with His joy as we feast on the presence of GOD in our life, moment by moment.

I WILL LOVE THEE, O LORD, MY STRENGTH. THE JOY OF THE LORD IS MY STRENGTH

Wednesday, September 8, 2010

JOY UNSPEAKABLE

Thursday, September 9, 2010
John 15: 11
These things have I spoken unto you, that My joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.

Whose joy is it?

The verse from the Gospel according to St. John is very clear. The joy comes from JESUS. You can even go farther than that, the joy IS JESUS. This verse comes near the end of JESUS' analogy of our relationship to Him as the Vine is to the Branches. He has said that when you abide in Him and His words abide in you, you can ask what you will and it shall be done. This is so that the Father would be glorified when we bear much fruit. WELL, the fruit of the Spirit is Love, JOY, peace, patience, goodness, gentleness, meekness, faith and temperance. Joy is the essence of JESUS, it is who He is.

When we are born again and JESUS reigns in our heart, joy is ours beyond measure. It does not change due to circumstances and is not dependent on moods or feelings. GOD'S joy lives in us, just as JESUS lives in the life of all who believe in Him. It is true that everyday we can sing that wonderful song: "Joy to the World the LORD is come; Let earth receive her King. Let every heart prepare Him room, and heaven and nature sing."
REJOICE, REJOICE FROM THE INSIDE OUT.

Tuesday, September 7, 2010

JOY UNSPEAKABLE

Wednesday, September 8,2010
1 John 1:3,4
That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son, Jesus Christ. And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.

There is a song that goes,"I'm so glad I'm a part of the family of GOD; I've been washed in the Fountain, cleansed by His Blood. Joint heir with JESUS as we travel this sod; for I'm part of the family, the family of GOD." We have fellowship with GOD: Father, Son and Holy Spirit; We are part of the family of GOD. JESUS made it possible for us to be part of His family, by His precious Blood and His obedience even unto death. When we are born again, we are born into a great big family, with GOD as our Father.

I hope, as you read this little comment, that you are filled with such joy that you want to dance and sing; jump and spin around. When you know who you are in GOD, you experience in your whole being the joy that is unspeakable. Everything that belongs to JESUS belongs to us, because of JESUS. JESUS paid it all, so that we could receive it all from GOD.

SING AND REJOICE, BROTHERS AND SISTERS,
WE ARE PART OF THE FAMILY OF GOD.

Monday, September 6, 2010

TruthCasting - Player

TruthCasting - Player

JOY UNSPEAKABLE

Tuesday, September 7, 2010
Psalm 19:8
The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes.

The Word of GOD brings unspeakable joy

The word, "rejoice" means: An outward manifestation of and inward joy. When we experience the real joy of the LORD, there are no words that can describe the feeling. The radiance of the countenance of the person speaks loudly of the inward joy that can only come from GOD. You can tell when a person has been in the Word, meditating on the LORD, their eyes are filled with light and they glow from the power of GOD'S Word having found a home in them.

There is a definition of a Sacrament which has a similar ring as the definition of "rejoicing"; a Sacrament is an "outward and visible sign of an inward and Spiritual grace". The word rejoice can be defined as an "outward and visible sign of an inward and Spiritual grace, the grace of GOD". Although joy is not recognized as one of the Sacraments by the Church, it still rings with the Holy nature of the Sacraments. Joy is Holy, because GOD, who is Holy, has given it to us by His Holy Spirit.

JOY IS A PERSON. HIS NAME IS JESUS.

Sunday, September 5, 2010

JOY UNSPEAKABLE

Monday, September 6, 2010
I Peter 1: 8,9
Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see Him not yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory, receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.

There is a sense in these verses that love is amplified by joy, and this is true. Love and joy are part of the Fruit of the Spirit, therefore they amplify eachother; love amplifies joy and joy amplifies love. The question hangs in the air: Are Joy and Happiness the same thing? The answer may surprise some of us, "no" joy and happiness are not the same. Happiness is carnal and based on a response to circumstances. Happiness can change with the condition of the environment; not so with joy. Joy is Divine, it comes from the LORD and is the same no matter what the circumstances. In the case of Love, GOD is love; in the case of Joy, GOD is joy. The Fruit of GOD'S Holy Spirit is: Love, Joy, peace, patience, goodness, gentleness, meekness, faith and longsuffering. These come from GOD and are His very essence. Therefore, GOD is joy and gives joy to those who believe in Him.

There are four levels of joy: full of joy; great joy; exceeding great joy and joy unspeakable. When your joy is so overwhelming, your awe of GOD so incredible that there are no words to describe it, then you have unspeakable joy. The silence of awe-filled joy has a power and words which can not be spoken. The glow of the Glory of GOD shines around and in those who are filled with unspeakable joy. They rejoice over the majesty of JESUS and His abundant love.

The word rejoice means: outward manifestation of inward joy. This joy can't be described, it must be experienced.

THE JOY OF THE LORD IS OUR STRENGTH

Friday, September 3, 2010

HEARING THE VOICE OF GOD

Saturday, September 4, 2010
Colossians 3:15-17
And let the peace of GOD rule in your hearts, to which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful. Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly, in all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another, in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs singing with grace in your hearts to the LORD. And whatever ye do in word or deed, do all in the Name of the LORD JESUS, giving thanks to GOD and the Father by Him.

The voice of GOD is heard through prophets, through peace and by the Holy Spirit. There are many other ways in which the LORD speaks: His Word; an audible voice; dreams and visions; pictures. There is one way for us to hear, LISTEN FOR HIS VOICE. What is lacking in our culture is the discipline of listening. When we listen, the Holy Spirit carries the Word of GOD deep into our spirit and there it dwells. To dwell is to live, make a home, settle down, be at peace. That is what the Holy Spirit does with the Word of GOD; He brings the Word to dwell in us richly. The Holy Spirit then teaches us and admonishes us so that we can teach and admonish one another with grace in our hearts. Together, we become a Spiritual House, built of living stones, whose maker and builder is GOD. This place where GOD'S Word dwells can then move out into a hungry world and bring the lost to the banquet table of the LORD.
Let us repeat together the last words of the key verse for today:
Whatever ye do in word or deed, do all in the Name of the LORD JESUS, giving thanks to GOD and the Father by him.

Thursday, September 2, 2010

HEARING THE VOICE OF GOD

Friday, September 3, 2010
Job 33:15,16
In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falleth upon men, in slumbering upon the bed; then He openeth the ears of men and sealeth their instruction.
God speaks to us through dreams and visions and in pictures. When we are asleep, we are not talking either with our mouth or in our mind. GOD has our full attention and a clean slate to write His Word. HOWEVER, always ask GOD to interpret the dreams, visions and pictures. The best way to protect your sleep life from being invaded by other sources, is to fill your mind with the WORD of GOD. Before you go to sleep, meditate on the Word and GOD will bring revelation along that line during your sleep time. It is good to write down the dream, vision or picture that you receive and any interpretation of it, so that you can check it out in the Holy Scripture. No word, dream, vision or picture that comes from GOD will ever contradict the Scripture.

Dreams, visions and pictures have great depth. The Holy Spirit, who searches the mind of GOD, can give revelation along the line of the instruction of GOD. He also will seal that instruction deep within the heart and will guide you along that line, giving continual revelation. You may not see immediate fulfillment of that revelation, but wait for it, GOD has a timing for everything He gives.

Hosea 12:10 says "I have also spoken by the prophets; and I have multiplied visions, and used similitude, by the ministry of the prophets." GOD uses dreams and visions to motivate His people to walk the path He has chosen.

WAIT ON THY GOD CONTINUALLY (HOSEA 12: 6B) HE WILL DIRECT YOUR PATH

Wednesday, September 1, 2010

HEARING THE VOICE OF GOD

Thursday, September 2, 2010
Acts 9:4,7
And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, "Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou Me?"
And the men who journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man.

GOD speaks in an audible voice
The verse from Acts is only one of many in the Scripture which points to the fact that GOD speaks in an audible voice. In both the Old and New Testament, there are recorded times when GOD spoke. The most well known of these times were when GOD spoke at the Baptism of JESUS and at the Transfiguration. He said: "This is My Beloved Son in whom I am well pleased, listen to Him". Moses heard GOD in the Burning Bush and often had a dialogue with GOD. Job had a time when GOD questioned him and Job heard His voice.

Can we hear the voice of GOD today? God is always speaking words of guidance, direction, correction and instruction, the question remains: ARE WE LISTENING?

ALL THE WORDS OF GOD ARE CONFIRMED BY SCRIPTURE, HE BREATHED HIS WORD AND SPOKE IT INTO EXISTENCE