The radiance of God's glory and the counsellor

“David himself, speaking by the Holy Spirit, declared: "‘The Lord said to my Lord: "Sit at my right hand until I put your enemies under your feet."’ {Psalm 110:1}” (Mr 12:36 NIV)

   “they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’" {Psalm 91:11,12}” (Lu 4:11 NIV)

   “At that time Jesus, full of joy through the Holy Spirit, said, "I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this was your good pleasure.” (Lu 10:21 NIV)

   “And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.” (Lu 24:27 NIV)

   “He said to them, "This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms."” (Lu 24:44 NIV)

   “and said, "Brothers, the Scripture had to be fulfilled which the Holy Spirit spoke long ago through the mouth of David concerning Judas, who served as guide for those who arrested Jesus—” (Ac 1:16 NIV)

   “Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear.” (Ac 2:33 NIV)

   “how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him.” (Ac 10:38 NIV)

   “They disagreed among themselves and began to leave after Paul had made this final statement: "The Holy Spirit spoke the truth to your forefathers when he said through Isaiah the prophet:” (Ac 28:25 NIV)

   “In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways,” (Heb 1:1 NIV)

   “The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.” (Heb 1:3 NIV)

   “So, as the Holy Spirit says: "Today, if you hear his voice,” (Heb 3:7 NIV)

   “For, "Whoever would love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from deceitful speech. He must turn from evil and do good; he must seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil." {Psalm 34:12-16}” (1Pe 3:10-12 NIV)

   “For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.” (2Pe 1:21 NIV)

  “But the Counsellor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.” (Joh 14:26 NIV)

   “I have told you this, so that when the time comes you will remember that I warned you. I did not tell you this at first because I was with you. "Now I am going to him who sent me, yet none of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’ Because I have said these things, you are filled with grief. But I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counsellor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. When he comes, he will convict the world of guilt {Or will expose the guilt of the world} in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment: in regard to sin, because men do not believe in me; in regard to righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer; and in regard to judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned. "I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.” (Joh 16:4-13 NIV)

   “until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen.” (Ac 1:2 NIV)

   “I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it; rather, I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ.” (Ga 1:12 NIV)

   “which was not made known to men in other generations as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to God’s holy apostles and prophets.” (Eph 3:5 NIV)

   “because our gospel came to you not simply with words, but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and with deep conviction. You know how we lived among you for your sake.” (1Th 1:5 NIV)

   “And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others.” (2Ti 2:2 NIV)

  “that is, the mystery made known to me by revelation, as I have already written briefly. In reading this, then, you will be able to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, which was not made known to men in other generations as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to God’s holy apostles and prophets. This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus. I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God’s grace given me through the working of his power. Although I am less than the least of all God’s people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things. His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, according to his eternal purpose which he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord. In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence.” (Eph 3:3-12 NIV)

   “I have become its servant by the commission God gave me to present to you the word of God in its fulness— the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the saints.” (Col 1:25-26 NIV)

   “We are from God, and whoever knows God listens to us; but whoever is not from God does not listen to us. This is how we recognise the Spirit {Or spirit} of truth and the spirit of falsehood.” (1Jo 4:6 NIV)

  “He told them, "The secret of the kingdom of God has been given to you. But to those on the outside everything is said in parables” (Mr 4:11 NIV)

   “No, we speak of God’s secret wisdom, a wisdom that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began. None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. However, as it is written: "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him"— {Isaiah 64:4} but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God.” (1Co 2:7-10 NIV)

   “The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own brothers. You must listen to him. For this is what you asked of the LORD your God at Horeb on the day of the assembly when you said, "Let us not hear the voice of the LORD our God nor see this great fire any more, or we will die." The LORD said to me: "What they say is good. I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brothers; I will put my words in his mouth, and he will tell them everything I command him. If anyone does not listen to my words that the prophet speaks in my name, I myself will call him to account.” (De 18:15-19 NIV)

   “Jesus answered, "It is written: ‘Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’" {Deut. 8:3}” (Mt 4:4 NIV)

   “He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your fathers had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD.” (De 8:3 NIV)

   “Jesus answered, "It is written: ‘Man does not live on bread alone.’" {Deut. 8:3}” (Lu 4:4 NIV)

   “Jesus answered him, "It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’" {Deut. 6:16}” (Mt 4:7 NIV)

   “Do not test the LORD your God as you did at Massah.” (De 6:16 NIV)

   “Jesus said to him, "Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’" {Deut. 6:13}” (Mt 4:10 NIV)

   “"You shall have no other gods before {Or besides} me. "You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me,” (Ex 20:3-5 NIV)

   “Do not worship any other god, for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God.” (Ex 34:14 NIV)

   “Fear the LORD your God, serve him only and take your oaths in his name. Do not follow other gods, the gods of the peoples around you;” (De 6:13-14 NIV)

   “Fear the LORD your God and serve him. Hold fast to him and take your oaths in his name.” (De 10:20 NIV)

   “Jesus answered, "It is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.’" {Deut. 6:13}” (Lu 4:8 NIV)

   “Jesus replied, "You are in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God. At the resurrection people will neither marry nor be given in marriage; they will be like the angels in heaven. But about the resurrection of the dead—have you not read what God said to you, ‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? {Exodus 3:6} He is not the God of the dead but of the living." When the crowds heard this, they were astonished at his teaching. Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: "Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" Jesus replied: "‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ {Deut. 6:5} This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’ {Lev. 19:18} All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."” (Mt 22:29-40 NIV)

   “He went away a second time and prayed, "My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done."” (Mt 26:42 NIV)

   “About the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, "Eloi, Eloi, {Some manuscripts Eli, Eli} lama sabachthani?"—which means, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" {Psalm 22:1}” (Mt 27:46 NIV)

   “"But at the beginning of creation God ‘made them male and female’. {Gen. 1:27}” (Mr 10:6 NIV)

    “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.” (Ge 1:27 NIV)

   “the LORD God formed the man {The Hebrew for man (adam) sounds like and may be related to the Hebrew for ground (adamah); it is also the name Adam (see Gen. 2:20).} from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.” (Ge 2:7 NIV)

   “So the man gave names to all the livestock, the birds of the air and all the beasts of the field. But for Adam {Or the man} no suitable helper was found. So the LORD God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, he took one of the man’s ribs {Or took part of the man’s side} and closed up the place with flesh. Then the LORD God made a woman from the rib {Or part} he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man. The man said, "This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called ‘woman’, {The Hebrew for woman sounds like the Hebrew for man.} for she was taken out of man."” (Ge 2:20-23 NIV)

   “"Abba, {Aramaic for Father} Father," he said, "everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will."” (Mr 14:36 NIV)    “And at the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, "Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?"—which means, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" {Psalm 22:1}” (Mr 15:34 NIV)

  “"Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done."” (Lu 22:42 NIV)

   “When the Lord learned of this, he left Judea and went back once more to Galilee.” (Joh 4:3 NIV)

   “By myself I can do nothing; I judge only as I hear, and my judgment is just, for I seek not to please myself but him who sent me.” (Joh 5:30 NIV)

   “For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me.” (Joh 6:38 NIV)

   “After Jesus said this, he looked towards heaven and prayed: "Father, the time has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you.” (Joh 17:1 NIV)

   “Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.” (Joh 17:3 NIV)

   “Jesus said, "Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet returned to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am returning to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’"” (Joh 20:17 NIV)

   “so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Ro 15:6 NIV)

   “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort,” (2Co 1:3 NIV)

   “The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, who is to be praised for ever, knows that I am not lying.” (2Co 11:31 NIV)

   “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.” (Eph 1:3 NIV)

   “I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit {Or a spirit} of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better.” (Eph 1:17 NIV)

   “You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions by anointing you with the oil of joy." {Psalm 45:#6,7}” (Heb 1:9 NIV)

   “Then I said, ‘Here I am—it is written about me in the scroll—I have come to do your will, O God.’" {Psalm 40:6-8 (see Septuagint)}” (Heb 10:7 NIV)

   “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,” (1Pe 1:3 NIV)

   “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.” (Re 2:7 NIV)

   “Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your deeds complete in the sight of my God.” (Re 3:2 NIV)

   “Him who overcomes I will make a pillar in the temple of my God. Never again will he leave it. I will write on him the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which is coming down out of heaven from my God; and I will also write on him my new name.” (Re 3:12 NIV)    

For text and comments in Dutch, please see Dutch version with Nieuwe Bijbel Vertaling/ Nederlandse versie met commentaren en NBV aanhaling > De uitstraling van God en zijn pleitbezorger
English / Dutch = Engels met Nederlandse versie met Naardense Bijbel Vertaling > Revealed Truth

The manager and Word of God

By reading the Bible thorough we can take it up in us. We can let the Word of God work in us, penetrate in us, and even let it change us.  In our everyday surroundings it can accumulate in us and let us take other actions then most of the world would take. As the Mind of God can inspire and lead us.  So God can even to come to live in us through the Holy Spirit and change us from inside out.  The Spirit in us produces fruit.  That is: tolerated love, joy, peace, kindness and goodness, belief, gentleness and self-control.  These beautiful qualities can we, as we let that belief work in us, also let to work in on others. When we are managers or bosses we do not have to be the dictators or the person in charge who does not take into account the human social relations and conditions. Our attitude, the way we treat the people under our management, has to show others that we are followers of the Master Teacher Jesus Christ, and that we are all children of God, or God's creation.

In Naargelang gelovige of niet gelovige baas I talk about the findings of managers of different beliefs and how they treat their workers.

In het Nederlands kan u een artikel vinden over het Verschil tussen protestantse managers en katholieke en niet-christelijke leidinggevenden
> Naargelang gelovige of niet gelovige baas

Christ begotten through the power of the Holy Spirit

Christ was begotten by the Father through the power of the Holy Spirit. Unlike human beings, He had no physical father. What we can glean from this event, however, is that the Holy Spirit is the means by which the Father begets His sons. Just as Christ was begotten by the Father, Christians also are begotten by Him. The only difference is that Christians are begotten outside the womb. We do not possess the Holy Spirit until after baptism (Acts 2:38). Once we are baptised and receive the Holy Spirit, we become begotten sons of God.

It is through the power of the Holy Spirit that God teaches us: “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, [it] shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you” (John 14:26). “Howbeit when [it], the Spirit of truth, is come, [it] will guide you into all truth…” (John 16:13).

A mind without the Holy Spirit cannot comprehend spiritual things and has no hope of understanding God’s Word — the Bible. It is only through the indwelling of the Spirit that one is able to understand the mind of God. Take a moment to read 1 Corinthians 2:9-16.

The above scriptures, including 1 Corinthians 2:9-16, can be summarized in the following way: Those who are being guided by the Holy Spirit can understand spiritual things, and those who are not being led by the Holy Spirit cannot understand — it is impossible! Just as you cannot know the thoughts and ways of another man, neither can you know the thoughts and ways of God. If one could somehow “project” his spirit into the mind of another person, then he could know that person’s thoughts. In a sense, it could be said that the “projection” of God’s Spirit into our minds is what allows us to comprehend “the things of God.”

The Holy Spirit also strengthens Christians in a number of important ways. It describes how God’s Spirit directly empowers — strengthens — those who have it: “That He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might by His Spirit in the inner man; that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; and to know the love of Christ, which passes knowledge, that you might be filled with all the fullness of God. Now unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us…” (Ephesians 3:16-20).

Christ gives His servants the strength needed to overcome what could be called the three “S’s”—self, Satan and society, which are the three things that produce a fourth “S,” sin. All real overcoming is done by the power of the Holy Spirit. Just as Christ could only overcome by the Father dwelling within Him through the Spirit, it is through that Spirit dwelling within a person, that overcoming anything spiritual is made possible.

Clearly the Spirit is not a person, but it is the action and the power. You must be willing to admit that the realm of traditional Christianity (and the world in general) has remained ignorant of what the Holy Spirit is. Naturally, this has directly contributed to why the nature of God so completely escapes their comprehension.

Dutch version / Nederlandse versie > Christus verwekt door de Kracht van de Heilige Geest

True riches

The coming days lots of people will chant “King of kings and Lord of lords.”. They praise themselves lucky, happy and rich in the gift we received. We are rich in that we have received the gracious gift of a Saviour whom ’s birth many people are going to remember these days.

Brother D. Pickering gave this exhortation:

TRUE RICHES

Who was or who is the richest man ever to live on this earth?

Abraham, King Solomon perhaps? Or nearer our life time, Rockafella, Carnegie or perhaps an oil Sheik or Russian billionaire? No, none of these, it is no other than the Lord Jesus Christ whom we are once again calling to remembrance in the emblems of eternal life.

 The Apostle Paul identifies Him as recorded in 2Corinthians 8: 9

 “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich.”

 
Yes, our Lord was greater and richer in every respect than King Solomon and all the other rich men past & present. As Yahweh’s only begotten son, our Lord Jesus had all the wealth of the earth available to Him but more importantly he had the True Riches from His God and Father, namely The Holy Spirit of God given to Him abundantly without measure.

A quick look at any English Dictionary at the words rich, or riches, we find the meanings given for these as wealthy, abounding in money and possessions, having plenty or opulent. Obviously these definitions refer to worldly wealth and possessions. We note that Christ Jesus, although He could have been rich in worldly possessions more than any man born on earth, He became poor instead, so that one day we could become spiritually rich through His sacrifice.

He had no estate or house to call His own, no flocks or herds of animals like Abraham once had, no enormous treasury of gold and precious things like King Solomon had, no wardrobe of clothing to choose from like the High Priests of Israel. All he had were the clothes he stood up in and even these were stripped from Him at His crucifixion.

Yet although He became poor in worldly possessions, He not only had Yahweh’s Spirit in abundance, God along with this, promised Him Eternal Life including an incomparable future both of riches and glory, plus a name and titles higher than any other living being.

The highest of the titles being, Word of God, King of Kings and Lord of Lords: 

“His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself.  He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses. Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.” Rev: 19:12-16

 Through Him we can share in His riches & also reign with Him on earth, so Paul writes:

“I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” Phil. 3:14.

What is this high calling? John supplies the answer

“They sang a new song, saying: "You are worthy to take the scroll, And to open its seals; For You were slain, And have redeemed us to God by Your blood Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation,  And have made us kings and priests to our God; And we shall reign on the earth." Rev: 5: 10

So for a short while we shall consider a few examples from Scripture to encourage us to seek spiritual riches rather than worldly riches and how to properly use any worldly riches that we have been blessed with in the service of the Lord Jesus Christ to Yahweh’s glory.

While there is nothing intrinsically wrong with riches as such, we are counselled to focus our attention rather on God given riches of grace and righteousness.  Our lord states just that in His Sermon on the Mount:

“But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” Matthew 6: 33 (NIV)

Yes, God is aware of all our needs and provides for each of us according to His Grace and undeserved kindness. God uses riches to both bless and to test us.

The first example I have chosen from many in the Bible is Abraham. Abraham was a pillar of faith, and is held out to us as a tremendous example of strong unwavering faith, trust, and unreserved obedience to Almighty God. At the direction of Yahweh he left his home and was uprooted from his dwelling place to go to a land that was unknown to him.

From that time onwards he became a permanent tent dweller of no fixed abode. However Abraham was very wealthy and had many possessions including servants and huge herds of live-stock. Never the less he put obedience to God first in his life. This is an example of how to use what God provides us with, for His praise and for His Glory. This we must do with a trusting, loyal, grateful attitude in faithful, humble service.

Paul’s record regarding Abraham is as follows:

“By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as an inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. By faith he made his home in the Promised Land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God” Hebrews 11:8-10 (NIV)

Next we consider Moses.  Moses was adopted into Pharaoh’s household in Egypt and as a prince he was in line for vast wealth, property, land and immense power. However just like our Lord Jesus who lived centuries later, he also chose to be poor, choosing to serve the Living God and creator of the universe, Yahweh. He, like Jesus did this at risk to his own life. It is of note that Egypt is used also in Scripture as a figure for the world and a symbol for its ways, riches and vices.

Paul refers to Moses like this:

“By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. He chose to be ill treated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a short time.  He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward. Hebrews 11:24-26

We now turn to King Solomon who in his days was of course notorious for his vast possessions, riches and power, as well as his God given exceptional wisdom knowledge and understanding. Among his inspired sayings worthy of our attention are the following:

“A good name is more desirable than great riches, to be esteemed is better than silver or gold. Rich and poor have this in common Yahweh is the maker of them all.” Proverbs 22:1-2 (NIV)

“Do not wear yourself out to get rich, have the wisdom to show restraint. Cast but a glance at riches, and they are gone, for they will surely sprout wings and fly off to the sky like an eagle.” Proverbs 23:4-5 (NIV)

“Whoever loves money never has money enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with his income. This too is meaningless. “  Ecclesiastes 5:10 (NIV)

Solomon’s attitude to the love of wealth, power, and possessions is summed up in his famous words of wisdom, meaningless; all is vanity, a chasing after the wind.  His closing words in Ecclesiastes are:

“Now all this has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter, Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil.” Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 (NIV)

The large book of Job is of course an account of a man who also had vast riches, power and possessions, lost everything including his children and his health but later because of his total faith and trust in Yahweh received back twice as much as he lost. His wise words are excellent guidance for us, and just like Solomon’s words perfectly summarise the correct attitude we should have regarding worldly riches:

“Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I shall depart. The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; may the name of the LORD be praised.” Job 1:21 (NIV)

There is wise counsel from Yahweh recorded in the book of Jeremiah:

“This is what the LORD says; Let not the wise man boast of his wisdom or the strong man boast of his strength or the rich man boast of his riches, but let him who boasts boast about this that he understands and knows me, that I am Yahweh who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight, declares the LORD.” Jeremiah 9:23-24

Before we move on to consider the Apostle Paul who enjoyed a measure of the world’s riches and goods, we will hear some wise and timely inspired advice from James another of God’s servants: 

“For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant, its blossom falls and its beauty is destroyed. In the same way, the rich man will fade away even while he goes about his business.”  James 1:11

“Listen, my dear brothers. Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom He promised those who love Him.”   James 2:5

Now we will also hear Paul on this matter of riches:

“For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many grief’s.” 1Timothy  6:10

These words are frequently misquoted as “Money is a root of all evil” whereas Paul warns against THE LOVE OF MONEY, not money itself. So here are just two more quotations from Paul’s writings expressing his correct attitude towards riches:

“But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things, I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ.”  Philippians 3: 7-8

“Although I am the least of all God’s people, this grace was given me, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ.”   Ephesians.3: 8

We cannot conclude this subject of true riches before we consider some words from the one we have once again gathered to remember and share the emblems of Eternal life with. The Lord Jesus taught about True Riches throughout His short ministry on earth. Listen to what He says when He was asked to arbitrate and divide up an inheritance between two brothers:

“Watch out!  Be on your guard against all kinds of greed, a mans life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.”

Then Jesus told the people a parable:

“The ground of a certain rich man produced a good crop. He thought to himself, ‘What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.’ Then he said, ‘This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there, I will store all my grain and my goods. And I will say to myself, “You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take life easy, eat, drink, and be merry” But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’ This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich towards God.” Luke 12:16-21

In another parable the Lord Jesus spoke about a dishonest servant, who although being dishonest was shrewd when it came to dealing with material riches. Here is the lesson our Lord teaches:

“Whoever can be trusted with very little can be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with True Riches.” Luke 16: 10-11

Later a rich young ruler approached Jesus and asked what he should do to inherit eternal life. Asked if he had kept Yahweh’s commandments, he replied that he had kept them since he was a boy. To which answer Jesus said, “You still lack one thing. Sell everything that you have and give it to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” When the rich man heard this he became very sad, because he was a man of great wealth. So Jesus looked at him and said, “How hard it is for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God. Indeed it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”

The lesson is clear the love of worldly riches can exclude us from Yahweh’s Kingdom. True Riches are those spiritual riches stored in heaven where they cannot be corrupted or removed from God’s safe keeping. They are held in trust for us as part of our inheritance in Yahweh’s kingdom on earth. These are riches that cannot fade or be stolen. Jesus encouraged His disciples saying:

“Do not be afraid little flock, for your Father has been glad to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will not be exhausted, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is there your heart will be also.”                                 Luke 12:32-34

We have been exhorted from scripture this morning to use this world’s material riches and possessions wisely, whether we are blessed with a little or with much.

We are to help the poor and afflicted ones in The Household of Faith, and help with the preaching work to further Yahweh’s purpose on earth.

We are to follow the example of Christ Jesus who shunned worldly wealth to become the richest man to walk the earth when He was raised to Life Eternal. It is Jesus who commands us that we are to, “Seek first Yahweh’s kingdom & His righteousness.”

 Yes, true riches are spiritual riches, founded on God’s love in and through Christ Jesus. The Apostle Paul lists them for us:

 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” Galatians 5:22-23

He also instructs us as to what our attitude should be, as we once again, and yet once less, partake of the emblems and call to remembrance our Saviour. Paul first reminds us about the greatness and humility of Christ Jesus:

“who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name.”

And then Paul tells us what our reaction must be:

“that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Philippians 2:6-11

So it is time now to bow before the Lord Jesus and confess Him as both Lord and Christ to the glory of Yahweh. Further words from Paul conclude this morning’s preparation, before we share the bread and the wine together in Christ’s presence to remind us of our hope:

“And my God will meet all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus.”  Philippians4:19

(Bro D. Pickering)

Followers with deepening

“On the other hand, the Pneuma’s fruitage is–compassionate affection, contented joy, peaceful harmony and tranquility, patient tolerance, loving kindness, moral virtue and goodness, trusting faithfulness,” (Galatians 5:22 MHM)
“Because of this Jesus told his disciples: “If anyone wishes to follow me they must disown ‘self’, heft a personal cross, and then keep following me constantly.” (Matthew 16:24 MHM)

“However, every person who is a contestant must exercise self-control in everything. These run so that they might receive a corruptible crown. We run so that we might receive an incorruptible crown. So I am not running without purpose. I am not boxing at empty air. But rather, I beat my forehead black and blue and lead my body as a slave so that, somehow, having preached to others, I become the very person disapproved.” (1 Corinthians 9:25-27 MHM)

“For we are not daring to rank ourselves, or equate ourselves, with some who recommend themselves. But they–in measuring themselves with their own standards, and comparing themselves by a self-evaluation–are without understanding.” (2 Corinthians 10:12 MHM)

“Having rejected irreverence and worldly desires He is instructing us to live in soundness of mind and righteousness and reverence during this present period of time. We continue to await that blessed hope of the glorious Appearing of the great God and our Savior, Jesus Christ.” (Titus 2:12-13 MHM)


““But let the person boasting, boast in YHWH.” Because, the person approved is not the one who recommends himself, but rather the one the Supreme Being recommends.” (2 Corinthians 10:17-18 MHM)

“Until we all might attain the oneness of the faith and an elevated knowing of the Son of The God. This results in attaining perfect manhood unto the measure of stature of the fullness of Christ.” (Ephesians 4:13 MHM)

“But rather, maintaining honest love keep growing into him in everything. He is the one who is the head, Christ.” (Ephesians 4:15 MHM)

“Also, do not keep getting drunk with wine–a course filled with wastefulness and riotous excess. Instead continue to be filled spiritually.” (Ephesians 5:18 MHM)

“So, then, let us not continue to sleep. But rather, let us stay awake and remain sober.” (1 Thessalonians 5:6 MHM)

“For the ground produces by itself: first the blade, then the stalk, and finally the full head of grain.” (Mark 4:28 MHM)

“All of these are mere shadows of future things, but the framework belongs to Christ. So do not allow anyone deprive you of the Prize–those who insist on self-mortification and angel worship–‘taking his stand on his own visions’ –puffed up by vanity in his fleshly mind, and no longer clinging to the Head, from whom the entire Body is bonded together by means of its joints and ligaments–nourished and unified–and continuing to grow with the growth of God.” (Colossians 2:17-19 MHM)

“And so, beloved, in awaiting these things hurry to become spotless and unblemished, found with Him in peace,” (2 Peter 3:14 MHM)

Dutch version / Nederlandse versie > Volgelingen met de vrucht van verdieping

2013 update:

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• Mystery of the Cross
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• 2 Corinthians 8:9 For your sakes he became poor.
• We Can Do Nothing Against the Truth
• 36 Amazing Things
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How do trinitarians equate divine nature

2 Peter 1:4: 

⁴For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent ^(A)promises, so that by them you may become ^(B)partakers of the divine nature, having ^(C)escaped the ^(D)corruption that is in ^(E)the world by lust.   (NASB)

The conservative Evangelical definition of the Trinity is the standard, the
orthodox doctrine. They are:

a.. Separate in person
b.. Equal in nature
c.. Submissive in duty
Nicene Creed of 325, which basically teaches that:

* the Son (Jesus) is God
* the Father is God
* the Holy Spirit is God -

yet -

* the Son (Jesus) is not the Father
* the Father is not the Holy Spirit
* the Holy Spirit is not the Son

All three persons distinct individuals, yet all equally God. They are of the
same substance (homoousia).

They are separate persons, all holding the position of being God, but one being.
There are three persons in one being.
There is also the Oneness trinity - which says that Jesus is God, and that Jesus
is also the Father. There are no distinct personages in the Oneness version.
Jesus is everything in that version.

The mistaken view is that there are three persons, but one person, for this
would be self-contradictory.
If Peter says that those with the heavely hope aquire such divine nature, does that mean that these individuals will be part of the godhead? How do trinitarians equate this scripture in relation to the godhead once those in heaven aquire this divine nature?

The Soul not a ghost

From

BIBLE VS. TRADITION (1853):

THE SOUL NOT A GHOST. 17 

without measure." The same reasoning would show that 
man himself, as existing in this life, is a ghost, for God is 
called a man, Exo. 15 : 3, " The Lord is a man of war." 
The same principle of false reasoning would convert a 
man's heart and eyes, as well as the heart and eyes of 
beasts into so many ghosts, for they are called by the 
same name as the eyes and heart, hands, and feet of God. 
And a tree must have sense and feeling, because it is said 
to have life as well as men. But what sort of theology 
is this ? Cannot God possess an attribute that may be 
entirely spiritual, yet called by the same name as one in 
man that may be entirely corporeal ? If he cannot, then 
how shall he be able, out of these stones, to raise up 
children unto Abraham ? Matt. 3 : 9. Surely the souls 
of these children would be corporeal, if made out of stones. 

Again, God's soul cannot be separated from himself; 
for if it can, then is he two Gods. " But to us there is 
but one God." 1 Oor. 8 : 6. Allow God's soul to be him- 
self as nephesh when applied to God, is twice translated. 
Jer. 51 : 14, " The Lord of hosts hath sworn by his ne- 
phesh" (by himself). Also in Amos 6:8; or him, as in 
Pro. 6 : 16. " These six things doth the Lord hate, yea, 
seven are an abomination of his (nephesh,) of him ;" and 
we obtain the correct idea. As nephesh, the soul, com- 
prehends the whole being of God, so does the same term 
comprehend the whole being of man ; and never means a 
principle that can live independently of the man or beast, 
to both of which the term nephesh is indiscriminately ap- 
plied ; and is twenty -five times correctly translated " them- 
selves." Let two examples suffice for the present. " He 
teareth (his nephesh) himself in his anger." Job 18:4. Did 
Job tear his immaterial and immortal ghost ? u Back- 
sliding Israel hath justified herself, (her nephesh) more 
than treacherous Judah." Jer. 3:11. Has a nation a 
ghost ? 

Nay, but every nation has a being. Here, then, the 
arguments of Luther Lee, and those of like (" ptrecious .?") 
faith, are overthrown by the translators themselves, though 
they were believers in the immortal-soul theory. It is 
vain to endeavor to array the soul, which is the man him- 
self, with the attributes of independent conscious existence, 
spirituality, immateriality, and immortality, against the 
plainest declarations of God's Word. 


> BIBLE VS. TRADITION: IN WHICH THE TRUE TEACHING OF THE BIBLE IS 
MANIFESTED, THE CORRUPTIONS OF THEOLOGIANS DETECTED,
TRADITIONS OF MEN EXPOSED BY AAEON ELLIS 
SECOND EDITION. PUBLISHED AT THE OFFICE OF BIBLE EXAMINER. 1853  

How do you keep people from stealing your joy?

"Q: How do you keep people from stealing your joy?
A: Give it to them"
- Joshua deKoning


"May the God of hope fill you with all joy
and peace as you trust in him,
so that you may overflow with hope."
Romans 15:13


I know that the Kingdom of The God not eating and drinking is
but righteousness and peace and joy united in holy Pneuma.
Dear God give that I can have a positive attitude
and that I shall be full of joy
and thankful for all the blessings I can enjoy
and let me share them with others
in Christ his name,
amen.

Dutch version / Nederlands > Hoe houd je mensen van het stelen van uw vreugde?

Give your tears to God

"We can give our tears to God because He is our COMFORTER
Our disappointments because He is our CONFIDENCE
Our pains because He is our HEALER
Our stress because He is our PEACE
Our heaviness because He is our JOY"
- Roy Lessin

"Sorrow may bring us to the earth, and death may bring us to the grave,
but lower we cannot sink, and out of the lowest of all we shall arise to the highest of all."
- C.H. Spurgeon

"Often the clouds of sorrow
reveal the sunshine of His face."
- Hilys Jasper

"Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy.
He who goes out weeping, carrying seed to sow,
will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with him."
Psalm 126:5-6

"The steps of a man are established by the LORD, And He delights in his way.
When he falls, he will not be hurled headlong, because the LORD is the One who holds his hand."
Psalms 37:23-24

"Therefore, having been justified by FAITH,
We have PEACE with God through our Lord Jesus Christ…
And REJOICE in the HOPE of the GLORY of GOD."
Romans 5:1-2

Comfort me, heal me, give me strength and confidence.
Give that I grow everyday and come closer to you,
finding peace and joy,
in Jesus name, Amen..

Dutch version / Nederlands > Geef je tranen aan God
+++
2013 update:

Related articles

• Fruit of the Spirit
• Psalm 119: Thy Word is a Lamp unto My Feet
• God Will Provide
• Psalm 37:4
• Saved by God's Grace. It is only by God's grace that you have been saved!
• The Secret Place of the Most High : The Veil and the Holy of Holies (Holy Place) - Prayer
• "Where do you put your trust?" by Pastor Johanna Mukhavhuli, Wednesday Service, the 23rd of January 2013.

Chief means by which men are built up

The Bible applied to the heart by the Holy Spirit, is the chief
means by which men are built up and established in the faith,
after their conversion.

      -- J. C. Ryle

Hope does not disappoint us

And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.

Romans 5:5, New International Version

Dutch version / Nederlands > Hoop zal niet worden beschaamd

---

    Hope has become such a "wimpy" term in modern vocabulary. It hardly qualifies as an adequate translation of the meaning in most New Testament passages. Hope is the assurance that what we believe will happen. We could call it spiritual confidence. We have that spiritual confidence because more than just a wish, more than just an emotion, more than just a belief rests in our hearts; God himself lives in us through his Holy Spirit. When we become Christians, Jesus pours out the Spirit upon us (Titus 3:3-7) as God's gift to us (Acts 2:38; 5:32) to cleanse us (1 Cor. 6:11), make us part of the same Body (1 Cor. 12:12-13), and live inside us (1 Cor. 6:19-20). Paul adds one more thing to that list of blessings from God's presence within us -- God's love. We don't just have it; God keeps refreshing it through the Holy Spirit, just as Jesus had promised (John 7:37-39).

    Holy and Almighty God, awesome in power and majestic in holiness, thank you for not only coming to us, but thank you also for living in us through your Spirit. Please pour your love into my heart so that the fruit of your grace may flow from me to those around me and everyone around me will know of your grace. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen. 

+++

2014 January update:

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• Looking for True Spirituality 5 Fruitage of the Spirit
• Many forgot how Christ should be our anchor and our focus
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• The Holy Spirit
• Take Your Healing
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• 2nd Timothy 1:6-14 Appeal for Loyalty to Paul and the Gospel