The Sabbath

"In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Madgadlene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre."

I love the verse in 1 John 2:20 "But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things." This verse is for all believers who have the Holy Spirit dwelling in them "teaching us all things(John 14:26)."  We also have the tradition of men that Christ opposed greatly because it exalts itself above the Spirit of Christ. As believers we have to agree, a big chunk of our journey has been based on tradition and not the Word of God. Why?

Let's go back a bit in the Old Testament when Yahweh instructed the children of Israel to build a tabernacle. Yahweh instructed them right down to the tee of how he wanted this tabernacle built and it's specific purpose. This was His initiation, His plan. Fast forwarding now to King David, the man after God's own heart. He wanted to build a temple for the ark, but God stated he could not because he was a man of war. However, David's son Solomon would be the one to bring this project to pass, and it came to pass. Solomon built the temple and it took him less time to do that then it did to build his own temple (just an observation), and the temple thereafter would be seized and destroyed, rebuilt, and then torn down once again with no restoration.

Using the above illustration I want to be able to bring to light the real sabbath of the scriptures. We have many well intended believers who are living under tradition of man and not scripture. Many of us (all of us) are very good at taken certain parts of scripture and building a whole concept around it. This is why the Holy Spirit is so important, He is the One who guides us into all truth. Looking at the opening scripture you can see that the sabbath was observed prior to the resurrection, it was the first day of the week that both Mary's came out to the sepulchre. No where was there any instructions for the observation of sabbath to be moved to the first day. In fact the early church continued sabbath observation throughout the whole book of Acts. It was on the sabbath that they preached and taught the Word of God, and many Gentiles would join them on this day.

Why is this important? God never, ever, instructed any of us to change the sabbath to the day of our choosing. There is only one day that He blessed and hallowed and that was the seventh day-sabbath. It was not any other day, but this one. When YAHWEH begin to establish His laws in the lives of His people He communicated to them how He wanted this day observed and the purpose for it. Now we (church), have done like David we want to add on to something that God never initiated or commanded. We see that David had the idea, but Solomon did the building, Solomon did, not God.

"Unless the Lord build the house they labor in vain who build it(Psalms 127:1). This verse implies to so many areas in our lives. We have built things and then we offer it up to God like it's pure. Our best efforts are nothing when it comes to obeying the commands and precepts of God. When He lays down a foundation, we have so many questions and objections. Then we turn around and start building our events, ministries, worship buildings, relationships, sabbaths, and then we offer it up like our way is better. Really?

If we are really desiring to see breakthrough's in our lives. If we really want to live out the abundant life Jesus came and died for, we must do it the way our God has designed. No adding to it, nor subtracting anything from it. We will never know more than our Creator, ever. If we know Truth it is because God has deemed it so. It has nothing to do with what we did, or didn't do and it never will. Whatever is revealed to us through the Holy Spirit it is our responsibility as the children of God to walk in it as the He graces us. If we are to grow and live unto Him each day we must discontinue rearranging what God has already put in place. His principles will forever be unchangeable and His Truth will never change and this does not matter how many lives come and go. Jesus the same yesterday, today and forever.

Father, we thank you for Your patience with us all as your children. We realize most of our lives has been built on tradition. You have given us Your Holy Spirit, the same Spirit that Jesus was filled with when He walked this earth, to lead and guide us into all truth. Living unto You has been and will always be counter-culture, but You still call us to walk in truth. Help us to remember O Lord, in Jesus name, that this is not about us. Not about our comforts, our rights, our way, but it is all about You. It's all about soul's that need saving, soul's that need delivering. You saved us to free us, now help us to walk in this freedom, not to change Your principles, but to live them out by the power of the Holy Spirit. In Jesus Name, Amen.

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Truth

"Jesus said unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man comes unto the Father, but by me"(John 14:6).

The world has evolved, well not really. There may be new players, but the materials of the game are very much the same. Lies, deceit, manipulation, envy, hypocrisy, pride all of it still very much used in the world today. We can't escape it. It's in our hearts, in the hearts around us. We are faced with it daily, weekly, monthly, yearly, every day it grows more and more apparent on how much we are in need of Truth. 

There was a wonderful website I visited that broke down Truth, not as a concept, but as a Person. The Person of Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ-Truth, brings to the human heart a freedom that opens up the doorway to living a life that does not involve games. This Truth is divinely given, it is divinely established in every heart that diligently seeks and obeys the One who has called them.

Truth reaches out to all of us that exists, it is not just for the rich, the poor, the well learned, or uneducated-it is for all those who believe that Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. It is Truth that forms authentic relationships, it is Truth that sets the captives free. It is Truth that establishes the right within our souls that makes us want to do right in every way. Truth lives and moves in us. We breath Truth when we connect with Him through acceptance of His gift of salvation. Without Truth the foundation of our lives can not hold the pressures of this age.

Father, Sanctify us in Your Truth Your Word is Truth(John 17:17). Your Word became flesh and dwelt among us(John 1:14). We seek this Truth, we desire this Truth, we want this Truth, and we need this Truth, to govern our lives. We ask that Your Truth will establish us and quiet us that we may live in the fullness of all that Truth (Jesus) has done for us and still does today. In Jesus Name, Amen.

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A Child Shall Lead The Way

                                                      Compliments of google images
                                                           
"And He said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven"(Matthew 18:3).

What did Jesus mean when He spoke those words? Did He mean, act clingy, dependent, too trusting, eager, believing?  Well yes to all of the above. Children posses all of these things and that is what Jesus wants most from us as we grow in Him. It's a paradox really, as we mature in Christ we are challenged to be childlike in our faith-what? 

Sin and its deceitfulness has really done us in as humans. We really believe that we can get along just fine with our independent selves. Pretending that we got it all together, until the hole in our heart becomes so large we couldn't live enough lifetimes to fill it. Yet we try and we try, until matters grow worse and even then we won't convert. Why do we do this? Why do we keep moving in the opposite direction of the road to salvation? I am glad that question has come up again-so let me try to deliberate.

The issues of this world is rooted in rebellion, it's been going on since Genesis. Our Creator and His wisdom has allowed us to go our own way and everyday we are bombarded with our rebellious choices or someone else's. When it comes to things of God we are callous, but when it comes to pleasing self we are as soft as a rose petal. That's something to think about.

God has/does pursue us through His Son. When He captures our hearts He works unceasingly in them to fashion in us childlike faith. Faith that is dependent on Him. Faith that trusts Him. Faith that clings to His love. Faith that is eager for His presences. Faith that believes every word He speaks to us. Yes, this is His desire, this is His misson.

Father, we forget sometimes what it means to even be a child, now You are calling us to become like a one? We want to do things on our own, we don't want anyone tell us what to do, let alone even think of being challenged to believe like a child-it's sounds so gullible. Yet, this is Your desire for all those who accept Your Son as their personal Savior and Lord. You want us to grow in this child-like faith. So today we ask that You will convert our hearts and make our faith like a childs. Help us to live everyday and everyway, in this faith so we can enter into the kingdom of heaven. In Jesus name, Amen.

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Are We Listening?

Ever wonder why children/teens are so skilled at tuning out adults? Yes? No? Maybe so? Well if you chose Yes, I have my submission. If you chose no, you can use my submission for a later date. Maybe so your thought? Well, I got you covered under yes and no.

Children/teens and adults are not that different, only that the adult group has more ground covered in the areas of work, renting, owning, and messing up stuff. Yet, for some reason our younger generation has the market covered for igging and using their selective hearing methods to tune out adults whose observation and listening skills has become non-existent.

Ready to find out the simple answer to why children/teens tune out adults? Too many words, no listening. We adults talk too much, and we perform way below the parental bar (speaking only of a select few of course). We do better to talk less and listen more. What is this I say, you ask without really asking? I am saying, when we talk to much without effective listening skills we lose as parents/adults each time. 

James 1:19 admonishes all believers "that we should be swift to hear, slow to speak, and slow to wrath." We must learn to listen to what our children/teen are saying, even not saying. Are we listening? I sometimes wonder when I see all the pain and anger being expressed day in and day out through our children/teens-are we listening? They need us to listen. We owe them this. This should not only be a duty, but a God-given honor.

Father, our children are hurting and they desperately need someone to hear them. Forgive us as parents/adults for neglecting this imperative need. Father, we look today to You, the perfect One who listens attentively to all of our needs and ministers so precisely to each of them. Teach us Father how to be better listeners. First by listening to You and then to the needs that surround us each and everyday, especially the need to be heard in our children/teens. Thank You that right now this need is being met through the power of the Holy Spirit. May Your name be glorified as we move where Your Spirit leads. In  Jesus name, Amen.

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Waiting-Ugh

Romans 8:25 reads: "But if we hope for that we see not, then we with patience, wait for it."

That word "wait." No one, and I mean no one likes to "wait." Especially, when we don't have a clue of what is ahead. It can be like torture(if you ever been). However, if you look closely at the above verse we see that the word "hope" brings something to the word "wait"-patience.

Patience is one of the fruits of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22) and during the "wait" period "hope" kicks in for us "patience" so we can "wait" well. Without "patience" we will fret and when we fret it can lead to evil(Psalms 37:8).  Without patience we can be tempted to lean on our own understanding, opening up ourselves to be deceived and proceed forth in error. "Hope" starts the engine of patience and "patience" sets us up to wait well.

As I observe the younger generation today and even the older adults I notice very often the missing piece of our desires, "hope." When we don't have "hope" we cannot have patience and we will do what many of us do while waiting-take matters into our own hands and mess it all up.

To "wait" is not an easy task, but to "wait" well is to have "hope." I know that the road can seem long, and the journey taunting, but if you will become a prisoner of "hope"(Zechariah 9:12), you will find that "patience" is there and when patience receive a chance to have it's perfect work, we will be complete, mature, lacking nothing(James 1:4).

Father, who likes to "wait?" When we are placed in situations were all we have to do is wait, it can seem so overwhelming, especially when we don't see an end to our troubles. However, O Lord we take courage in You today, for Jesus is our hope. What we cannot do on our own we can surely do in Him. Whatever you ask us to do today, we know that through Your Son we can. It hurts, but thank You hope is here. I can't stop crying, but thank You hope is here. Where hope is, patience abides and with this awesome pair we can wait well.

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Following Jesus Is Like...

Following Jesus is like taking natural remedies/herbal medicines instead of over-the counter medicines. Our immune systems may take a bit longer to respond to the herbs, but once our systems receives the potent and useful properties of the herbs or natural remedies, the process of building up begins. It starts to kick out junk, leaving the body cleaner and healthier and prepared for future attacks.

Over the counter medicines does not build up your body for future attacks. It just works on relieving the symptoms, leaving the junk inside of our bodies and our immune systems compromised. When the next illness comes, it just adds to the other junk that was never removed from the first attack. The body is then too often to weak to fight and our immune systems does not have what it needs to endure.

Father I pray in Jesus' name for the body of Christ. That we will take the natural remedies, which is your Spirit even if it means we may need to endure some discomfort a little longer than we would if we take the over the counter medicine, which is the way of the world. Father reminds us that even if we do take over the counter medicine, the real issue will still be there, laying dormant to come back again and often times much more stronger and deadlier.
Father I pray in Jesus' name that the body of Christ will reach for the natural remedies/herb(Jesus). Reminds us Father that the symptoms may still be felt, but the real issue is being rooted up and pushed up out of our bodies, minds, and spirits. So we will be built up, complete, lacking nothing(James 1:4). I thank You that You are our natural remedy/herb-potent, thorough, consistent, and gentle. I ask in Jesus name that the church will no longer reach for the over-counter medicine, and because I know that many of us have and many of us still do. I ask You Father that the over counter medicine will not longer satisfy us, so that we will turn to the remedy that cleanses us deep down within. Amen.

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Living above Reproach

Just finished reading 1 Timothy 5 and Paul is speaking on the treatment of widows in the church. He speaks briefly on the contrast of younger widows and the older widows. He observes that the younger widows desire to be married than really serve Christ in the same capacity as the older widows. This unmet desire to marry grows into other sinful symptoms that Paul encourages young widows to marry and get busy keeping house, rearing children, but living above reproach.

I don't consider myself a widow, but the last charge that was given by Paul to the younger widows I believe can be directed not only to widows, but to singles, and divorcees. We are to live above reproach, no matter what phase of life we are in, whether we desire to be married or not. As a child of God who happens to be divorced, I greatly depend on YHWH's mercy and goodness to follow me, keep me propped up, and moving in the right direction.  I serve as well as I allow the Savior to serve me, minister to me. The more I receive Jesus' ministry the more I grow in love and service. This thought brings me to the next two versus (1Timothy 5:24-25):

                           "Some men's sins are open before hand, going before them to judgement; and

                             some men they follow after.

                             Likewise also the good works of some are manifested beforehand; and they

                             that are otherwise cannot be hid."

"Father, I know that I am not a widow by definition, but your child who happens to be divorced. Despite my earthly status, Your love for me remains unchangeable and You still call me to higher ground. As I continue to grow into the women you have purposed me to be keep me teachable, pliable, and submissive to Your ways-In Jesus name, Amen.

Blessings,

Disclaimer:The information contained in these blogs are for reflective purposes only, and may not apply to your situation. The author, publisher, distributor and provider provides no warranty about the content or accuracy of content enclosed. Information provided is subjective, but it contains an objective source. Keep this in mind when reviewing this blog and when considering using content for other purposes outside of this blog(http://www.easywritingtemplates.com/disclaimers/sample-disclaimer-statementss/). Plagiarism is strongly discourged. Studying the scriptures is highly recommended.