The Incarnation of the Word of Life... ~ 1 John 1

We proclaim to you the one who existed from the beginning,whom we have heard and seen. We saw him with our own eyes and touched him with our own hands. He is the Word of life. This one who is life itself was revealed to us, and we have seen him. And now we testify and proclaim to you that he is the one who is eternal life.

He was with the Father, and then he was revealed to us. We proclaim to you what we ourselves have actually seen and heard so that you may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. We are writing these things so that you may fully share our joy.

This is the message we heard from Jesus and now declare to you: God is light, and there is no darkness in him at all. So we are lying if we say we have fellowship with God but go on living in spiritual darkness; we are not practicing the truth. But if we are living in the light, as God is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from all sin.

If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth. But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness. If we claim we have not sinned, we are calling God a liar and showing that his word has no place in our hearts.

Battling for His Kingdom and Winning that Battle...

Winning that Battle is ~ The Call to Endurance!

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off every encumbrance and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with endurance the race set out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.…Hebrews 12:1-2.

What is absolutely necessary to win that battle? We must throw off every encumbrance and the sin that so easily entangles... This special time of year as we draw close to the birth of our Lord, we may want to more than ever reach out to people so in need of spiritual food, the kind that does not perish. Especially as we see many so encumbered by sin and the darkness of it that we may not be able to reach them or even speak to them about the saving grace of Jesus Christ.

We can approach those in darkness in simple ways that speak to their hope for a better life and their desire for love and joy in finding it. In that hope and desire for love, they really do seek a way out of that darkness. We can say things like " "What do you hope for this year?" "I bet you have someone who loves you or what joy it is to love someone!" Even atheists hope for something and desire love.

You can say, "You know, hoping for things unseen that are not yet manifest really demonstrates faith doesn't it?" Or, "don't you just feel the love in the air this time of year?" Whether they say yes or no... both give you an opportunity to open the door to God's Word the Bible.

If you know a single mom who is not saved and has concern for her children, you can say, "What would you like to give to your child?" If you know an unsaved widow, homeless person, bus driver, garbage collector or teacher... there is always opportunity to share the Word of God this season! Give it a try. Bring the light of the world to someone, after all we are called to such saving ministry. This is a  simple way to battle for His Kingdom!

The difficult task though when it comes to battling for His Kingdom is that along side the hope and love we find and share in God's Word, there is also pain as we and those whom we share the Word with experience conviction. But, you know the Holy Spirit helps us to endure that pain as much as to accept it for what it is and in that we discover true joy.

In this way, we can finish the battle for His Kingdom with the aim of winning the race. To run faster, run better and longer, we must throw off every encumbrance and sin that so easily entangles... this way, we can run with endurance the race set out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus!

Battling for His Kingdom... Understand scoffers will come!

The battle for His Kingdom, our battle here in this fallen world, is not and will not be easy; as we can read in 2 Peter 3: 3-18...

Above all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. They will say, “Where is this ‘coming’ he promised? Ever since our ancestors died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation.” But they deliberately forget that long ago by God’s word the heavens came into being and the earth was formed out of water and by water.

By these waters also the world of that time was deluged and destroyed. By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly.

But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare.

Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells.

So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him. Bear in mind that our Lord’s patience means salvation, just as our dear brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom that God gave him. He writes the same way in all his letters, speaking in them of these matters. 

His letters contain some things that are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the other Scriptures, to their own destruction.

Therefore, dear friends, since you have been forewarned, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of the lawless and fall from your secure position. But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen.

Declare today Jesus Christ is Lord! "If you declare with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved" ~ Romans 10:9.

Battling for His Kingdom ~ battling against those who practice evil...

The new age movement has taken flight. It started back in the 60-70s but then got quiet through the 80-90s. Today, it has taken flight essentially since 2012.  And, such 'new age' has seeped into the church. What does that look like? It looks like everything that is anti-Christ. It is observed in those who practice pagan disciplines, i.e. labyrinth walking, yoga/chanting and fortune telling. Those who think there is one god who is the same for everyone just different for each person...

Sadly, they are women who have fallen out of God's grace as they usurp male authority in public and male authority in the church. They are especially women who do not take questions of scripture to their husbands and seek answers among other fallen women. They claim to hold Bible study but rather its a coffee and gossip club where they pray for each other's prosperity and the demise of those who appear to stand in their way.

They are especially women who think that their decision is the best because they follow their instincts... So often today you hear people say to follow your own instincts. Really? "Don't be an unreasoning animal, a creature of instinct, born only to be caught and destroyed, for like animals they too will perish" ~ 2 Peter 2:12.

They are women who train up their sons and daughters to be 'gender free' and or free of godly social norms. They are women who refuse their godly role as wife and mother. They worship the creation rather than the Creator, claiming that mother earth is god. They think that they can be their own savior just by 'evolving spiritually'. Are you one of those? I pray for your salvation. Turn to the Lord God who is Jesus Christ! Give your life to Jesus right now!

John 1:18
No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is Himself God and is at the Father's side, has made Him known.
John 3:16
For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that everyone who believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.
John 3:18
Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe has already been condemned, because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son.

Men and Women ~ We live to declare the Works of the Lord!

The Bible is the infallible Word of God; this is our only solid truth in this fallen world. So...Yes, we live to declare the Works of the Lord. Though, He holds all things together there is yet a a battle to be fought which is the battle for His Kingdom come!

We don't live for ourselves as Christians. We live through Him the Creator of heaven and earth because He Jesus Christ is God and as His Children we live to declare the Works of the Lord. This applies to both men and women. Once you grasp this truth you can begin to live a godly life. What should you be doing? The disciples asked Jesus this very same question.

"Do not work for food that perishes, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For on Him God the Father has placed His seal of approval.” Then they inquired, "What must we do to perform the works of God?"  Jesus replied, “The work of God is this: to believe in the One He has sent." ~ John 6:27-29.

This is where we all begin our faith walk with God as men and women...created in the image of God. God created male and female. From the beginning of creation, 'God made them male and female.' ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife,…Mark 10:6-7.

God ordained a social hierarchy for man and woman in this fallen world. It is essentially for our own good and the good of His Kingdom Come! It is sad that today many women fall in with this corrupt world seeking their own good rather than the good of His Kingdom. Just look around. Men too have fallen short of their godly duties. Society in general is sinking deeper and deeper into self righteous relativist opinions touting themselves as their own savior.

It is not easy for such a society to then read 1 Corinthians 7 and for them to understand its purpose. Let us take time to review especially that which concerns married life keeping in mind that men and women are God's creation.

Now for the matters you wrote about: “It is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman.” But since sexual immorality is occurring, each man should have sexual relations with his own wife, and each woman with her own husband. The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband.  

The wife does not have authority over her own body but yields it to her husband. In the same way, the husband does not have authority over his own body but yields it to his wife. Do not deprive each other except perhaps by mutual consent and for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control. I say this as a concession, not as a command. I wish that all of you were as I am. But each of you has your own gift from God; one has this gift, another has that.

Now to the unmarried  and the widows I say: It is good for them to stay unmarried, as I do. But if they cannot control themselves, they should marry, for it is better to marry than to burn with passion.

To the married I give this command (not I, but the Lord): A wife must not separate from her husband. But if she does, she must remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband. And a husband must not divorce his wife.

To the rest I say this (I, not the Lord): If any brother has a wife who is not a believer and she is willing to live with him, he must not divorce her. And if a woman has a husband who is not a believer and he is willing to live with her, she must not divorce him. For the unbelieving husband has been sanctified through his wife, and the unbelieving wife has been sanctified through her believing husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but as it is, they are holy.

But if the unbeliever leaves, let it be so. The brother or the sister is not bound in such circumstances; God has called us to live in peace. How do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband? Or, how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife?

Nevertheless, each person should live as a believer in whatever situation the Lord has assigned to them, just as God has called them. This is the rule I lay down in all the churches... Each person should remain in the situation they were in when God called them ~ 1 COR 7:1-20.

For those of my readers who are unmarried, take time to read 1 COR 7:25-40. You may ask what is God's purpose for the unmarried? The same for the married ~ Live and declare the Works of the Lord! Obviously, the unmarried have more time than the married.  The battle for His Kingdom is at hand and the Lord has called us, we are His elect and must give Him our all. The best way for men and women to do that is to love God with all their heart, soul, mind and strength! Mark 12:30.

Women take Inspiration from Ruth and Deborah...

Why Ruth and Deborah? Because, one was humble and one was bold; yet each used by the Holy Spirit and performed according to the Will of God. Ruth by submitting... laying at the feet of Boaz and Deborah by supporting Barak who was instructed by God to take a position. We as godly women can be called to either of these roles in relation to men in context of God's Kingdom.

Ruth's act of submission was a for us a demonstration of God's hierarchy as much as Deborah's taking the lead when called to do so. But neither of their recorded acts stand as God's single expectation ad or role for women in everyday life.  A Proverbs 31 wife has many household responsibilities. And, husbands are to treat their wives with respect ~ 1 Peter 3:7. And, to never be harsh with them ~ Colossians 3:19.

Once more, it is not that we should always lay at the feet of husbands having no say (taking abuses) or that we should take over the God given authority that husbands have especially if it is already in place and working according to God's Will and social hierarchy. Again, there are times when women must be both humble and brave. In either situation, give all the glory to God so that His Kingdom Come!

Be mindful also that... "by His divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence. And because of his glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires.

In view of all this, make every effort to respond to God’s promises. Supplement your faith with a generous provision of moral excellence, and moral excellence with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with patient endurance, and patient endurance with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love for everyone.

The more you grow like this, the more productive and useful you will be in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But those who fail to develop in this way are shortsighted or blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their old sins.

So, dear brothers and sisters, work hard to prove that you really are among those God has called and chosen. Do these things, and you will never fall away. Then God will give you a grand entrance into the eternal Kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Therefore, I will always remind you about these things—even though you already know them and are standing firm in the truth you have been taught. And it is only right that I should keep on reminding you as long as I live. For our Lord Jesus Christ has shown me that I must soon leave this earthly life, so I will work hard to make sure you always remember these things after I am gone.

For we were not making up clever stories when we told you about the powerful coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. We saw his majestic splendor with our own eyes when he received honor and glory from God the Father. The voice from the majestic glory of God said to him, “This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy.” We ourselves heard that voice from heaven when we were with him on the holy mountain.

Because of that experience, we have even greater confidence in the message proclaimed by the prophets. You must pay close attention to what they wrote, for their words are like a lamp shining in a dark place—until the Day dawns, and Christ the Morning Star shines  in your hearts. Above all, you must realize that no prophecy in Scripture ever came from the prophet’s own understanding, or from human initiative. No, those prophets were moved by the Holy Spirit, and they spoke from God".

Reading ~ 2 Peter 1:3-21, NLT
  


*Christian Households: Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them. Children, obey your parents in everything, for this is pleasing to the Lord ~ Colossians 3:18-20.

Instructions to Women from the Word of God...

Berean Study Bible ~ Instructions to Women

A woman must learn in quietness and full submissiveness. I do not permit a woman to teach or exercise authority over a man; she is to remain quiet.…1 Timothy 2:11-12.

Cross References BSB:

1 Corinthians 14:34
women are to be silent in the churches. They are not permitted to speak, but must be in submission, as the Law says.

1 Timothy 2:10
but with good deeds, as is proper for women who profess to worship God.

Titus 2:5
to be self-controlled, pure, managers of their households, kind, and subject to their own husbands, so that the word of God will not be discredited.

Commentary ~ Women have yet to fully grasp what we are called to be/do. The Bible is the Word of God and yet we want to rewrite it to make ourselves feel/look good in our sin! God's social hierarchy (what we should adhere to and strive to fulfill) has its purpose/order (for women) and that is to deliver us from sin and death.

Be Content with what you have...

I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want ~ Philippians 4:12.

Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, for God has said: “Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you.” So we say with confidence: “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?”…Hebrews 13:5-6.

The problem with the world especially in America is that the 'world' (which is fallen) sells us discontent. Yes, even though you think advertising is good because it shows you what is on sale or what you should have or deserve to live better... its just the world's way of telling you that you don't really have what you need ~ Jesus Christ!

Be strong in the Lord, Trust in the Lord your God for He alone is your provider. He alone is Lord over your life. No matter where you are, what you face... be content that He is God and because He so loved the world, He sent His Son to deliver us from sin and death.

Reading from Hebrews 12 ~ 14-25. Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many. See that no one is sexually immoral, or is godless like Esau, who for a single meal sold his inheritance rights as the oldest son. Afterward, as you know, when he wanted to inherit this blessing, he was rejected. Even though he sought the blessing with tears, he could not change what he had done.

You have not come to a mountain that can be touched and that is burning with fire; to darkness, gloom and storm; to a trumpet blast or to such a voice speaking words that those who heard it begged that no further word be spoken to them, because they could not bear what was commanded: “If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned to death.” The sight was so terrifying that Moses said, “I am trembling with fear.”

 

But you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly, to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God, the Judge of all, to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.

See to it that you do not refuse him who speaks. If they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, how much less will we, if we turn away from him who warns us from heaven?

We Demonstrate 'Living by Faith' and Not by Sight!

As Children of God, we cannot be prideful... not proud of what we did or do; and certainly, we cannot be proud of our children for what have they done. Ask yourself, what could ever compare to Christ's work in our/their lives in context of His Work on the Cross.

We live and our children live to declare the works of the Lord! That is our and their spiritual battle ...always has been. What we do in the flesh should be only that which enables our spiritual battle. Why?  Because the Word of God, which is the Truth of who we are and why we were created, must be true in every human life no matter where they are. 

If we boast about what we did/do or our children did/do, we cause others to stumble... all are children of God (adults too). Our boasting causes others to stumble by making them feel bad in the place where they are and hopeless even. To them it appears as though human works count more than Christ's.

Just being Americans selling our 'motto' of freedom to others can cause them to think and feel that they are somehow less than we are and that the place they live in is somehow wrong/bad. Why else do they stream into this country... to get that 'kind' of freedom which we sell like its candy. 

We like to justify doing that on many grounds. We often claim that the women/children are being oppressed or that those people over there cannot worship freely... as if they have no freedom to believe in the One True God where they live. Or maybe we tell them that they don't really worship God correctly and that is oppressive. As if we here in this country have got it right in every instance. 

You know, Jesus was very simple about what we are called to do: Believe in the One who Sent Him ~John 6:29... to Love God, Love our neighbor ~ Mark 12:30-31; baptize in the name of the Father/Son/Holy Spirit ~ Matthew 28:19; and to offer reconciliation ~ 2 COR 5:18.

As for freedom to worship and baptize, Jesus said, do not stand in the synagogues or on the street corners... go into your pray closet. And, so anyone can baptize in their own home. In this sense, any believer in the One true God can practice their faith wherever they are. 

They can love God with all their heart, soul, mind and strength and they can love their neighbor and even baptize. Moreover, in times of trouble or hardship they can give their testimony and demonstrate to others their faith by forgiving others even those who may be the cause for their hardship (for they know not what they do). If they continue to do that... then they/you are a living an example of the One true God.

...that is living by faith

God needs nothing built by human hands...

We know that God needs nothing built by human hands... He is everything and owns everything as the Creator of all things seen and unseen. But, being made in His image, we have a desire to create. But, in a fallen world we must be wise about that activity so as to not become prideful which is sinful. So, the Lord asks us to make it our goal to live a quiet life, minding our own business and working with our hands ~ 1 Thessalonians 4:11. We cannot think that by our own works we are saved, but by His!

God's Children an Elect few??

The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children... And if we are children, then we are heirs: heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ~ Romans 8:16-17. 

God's children are often thought of as His elect. Are God's Children a select few? Who are God's elect? Are they all those He created that somehow have prior knowledge of Him from the very beginning? Are they those who have always known who their Creator is and that death is a lie for those who want to be saved?

God so loved the world, He sent His son ~ John 3:16. Are the elect those who love the Lord with all their heart, soul mind and strength are His, right? Mark 12:30. 

There are some who say that God's elect are only certain people pre-selected by God. This view is monergism. Others say that man has a choice... a synergism view. 

What is true is that God sent His Son because God so loved the world. He is the Creator of Heaven and Earth, of all things seen and unseen ~ COL 1:16. All those that are His elect are those that He created.

Every created person whether or not they come to the realization of the truth of Jesus Christ does not negate the fact that God sent His Son because He so loved the world. God does not create a rock He cannot lift. 

Ah, but if God does not create a rock he cannot lift doesn't that mean that all His creation are His elect? God does not create anyone He cannot save. But that does not mean those He wants to save... want to be saved by Him.  
 
Are there those that may never declare Christ is Lord? It may seem that way to us as we observe and sadly judge... but, we cannot know they never will. And, there are those that may fall away too... rejecting the Creator. Many are called but few are chosen ~ Matthew 22:14. 

Those that are His elect always have been His elect. This does not mean that they will accept being His elect. "For many are invited, but few are chosen." ~ Matthew 22:14. God calls 'draws/elects/invites' many but few are chosen from those called/invited because only a few 'show' up to the wedding feast... party/banquet. Somehow they just didn't believe it was true when He called them.

Rest assured...  all who are drawn/called/invited are His and His forever and do not ever risk losing God's Grace/Love. If you heard His call and answered then you have been chosen. Be at peace that you are His elect... and know that You can never slip through the fingers of Jesus Christ... Rest in His Love and go forward that He holds you in the grip of His hands and will never let go of you.

Proverbs 31: A Wife of Noble Character...

The Wife of Noble Character

A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies. Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value. She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life.

She selects wool and flax and works with eager hands. She is like the merchant ships bringing her food from afar. She gets up while it is still night; she provides food for her family and portions for her female servants. She considers a field and buys it; out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.

She sets about her work vigorously; her arms are strong for her tasks. She sees that her trading is profitable, and her lamp does not go out at night. In her hand she holds the distaff and grasps the spindle with her fingers. She opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy. When it snows, she has no fear for her household; for all of them are clothed in scarlet. She makes coverings for her bed; she is clothed in fine linen and purple.

 

Her husband is respected at the city gate, where he takes his seat among the elders of the land. She makes linen garments and sells them, and supplies the merchants with sashes. She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come. She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue. She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: “Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all.”

 

Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised. Honor her for all that her hands have done, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.