ETERNAL LIFE and A QUALITY LIFE HERE AND NOW

 

John 3:16, "For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life."

JOHN 3:1-21

 The primary purpose of Jesus' coming to this earth was to give us eternal life.

Sin separated us from God so Jesus dealt with sin. However, His payment for sin was just a step toward His ultimate purpose of reconciling man to God. If someone believes that Jesus died for their sins but doesn't go on to enter into the close fellowship with God that Jesus made available, then they are missing eternal life.
When we are born again, it is of the Spirit.  Remember Christ's words:

John 3:3-7 (KJV) ³ Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. ⁴ Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?
⁵ Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
⁶ That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
⁷ Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.


Eternal life is a quality of life. Eternal life is intimacy with the Father and Jesus (Jn. 17:3). Many people have been done a disservice in being told that Jesus came to forgive us of our sins "period'. If it had been all that He did, it would have been wonderful--and much more than we deserved--but much less than what He actually accomplished.

Isaiah 53:4-9 (KJV) ⁴ Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.
⁵ But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. ⁶ All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. ⁷ He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.
⁸ He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken.
⁹ And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth.


John 10:7-11 (KJV) ⁷ Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep.
⁸ All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them.
⁹ I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.
¹⁰ The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. ¹¹ I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.
He meant here on earth.
His blessing were meant for from the time we are saved and on into eternity.
For we know that our lives will be abundant in the New Kingdom.



For poverty He has given me wealth, for sickness He has given me health, for death He has given me eternal life (2 Corinthians 8:9; Isaiah 53:5-6; John 10:10; John 5:24).



 
GOD'S PROMISES ARE TRUE, HIS WORD WILL NOT RETURN TO HIM VOID BUT WILL ACCOMPLISH ALL HE SAYS

 

(The dominion of) The Earth Belongs to the Children of Men

Psalm 115:16
"The heaven, even the heavens, are the Lord's, but the earth hath He given to the children of men."

My last post confirmed this with the scriptures from Genesis 1: 26 & 28.

So we have the testimony of God two times, stating that God had given the earth to man to rule over.

Now can we agree that God gave dominion to man over the earth and all creation therein?

But what happened to man's dominion? 

Genesis 2: 15--17" And the LORD God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it.       And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat:  But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die."

Genesis 3:1-6

 "Now the serpent was more subtle than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden? And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden:  But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die.  And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:  For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.

 And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.  And the eyes of them both were opened,"Notice that the  word says Adam was with Eve.  Adam watched the serpent (whom satan inhabited)  and heard his words and Eve's, knowing that  God had said to them both not  to eat of the tree. He had authority over the serpent, but instead of rebuking it with God's own words as Christ did when satan tempted Him in the desert, he just watched, listened and disobeyed God by eating the fruit.Now what did God do when they disobeyed Him?
 Genesis Chapter 3

14 And the LORD God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life: 15 And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.  (Here God was speaking about Jesus and satan)

The punishment God promises for mankind

16 Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee. 17 And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life; 18 Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field; 19 In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.

22 And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever: Here God is speaking to Jesus and He had to keep man from eating of the tree of life, because if man did eat of that tree man would live forever in sin. Can you imagine the world would be like if man lived forever in sin and the world was full of evil.23 Therefore the LORD God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken. 24 So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.When Adam gave satan power over man, he let satan bring evil into the world, which gave satan power to bring evil and destruction into the world. Satan then ruled the spiritual world and made havoc with the perfect creation that God had made.  It would be about 4000 years before that authority would be reclaimed by God through Christ Jesus and given to the body of Christ, His Church.

GOD CREATED WITH HIS TONGUE, AND GAVE MAN DOMINION OVER THE EARTH

Have you ever read The Book of Genesis?  I mean really read it and understood what it said?

Sometimes things seem so simple and yet we miss the even simplest things.

Let's look at Genesis Chapter 1.

 1. In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
2. And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. 3. And God said,Let there be light: and there was light.
{NOTICE GOD CREATED WITH HIS WORD/BY SPEAKING WITH HIS TONGUE}
 4. And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness.
 5. And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day.
 6. And God said, Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters.
7. And God made the firmament, and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament: and it was so.
 8. And God called the firmament Heaven. And the evening and the morning were the second day.
 9. And God said, Let the waters under the heaven be gathered together unto one place, and let the dry land appear: and it was so.
10. And God called the dry land Earth; and the gathering together of the waters called he Seas: and God saw that it was good.
11. And God said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself, upon the earth: and it was so.
 12. And the earth brought forth grass, and herb yielding seed after his kind, and the tree yielding fruit, whose seed was in itself, after his kind: and God saw that it was good.
13. And the evening and the morning were the third day.
14. And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years:
15. And let them be for lights in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth: and it was so.
16. And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: he made the stars also.
17. And God set them in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth,
18. And to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness: and God saw that it was good.
19. And the evening and the morning were the fourth day.
20. And God said, Let the waters bring forth abundantly the moving creature that hath life, and fowl that may fly above the earth in the open firmament of heaven.
21. And God created great whales, and every living creature that moveth, which the waters brought forth abundantly, after their kind, and every winged fowl after his kind: and God saw that it was good.
22. And God blessed them, saying, Be fruitful, and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let fowl multiply in the earth.
23. And the evening and the morning were the fifth day.
24. And God said, Let the earth bring forth the living creature after his kind, cattle, and creeping thing, and beast of the earth after his kind: and it was so. 25. And God made the beast of the earth after his kind, and cattle after their kind, and every thing that creepeth upon the earth after his kind: and God saw that it was good.
26. And God said Let us make man in our image*, after our likeness* : and let them have dominion~ over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.
 *{HERE WE SEE GOD TALKING TO SOME ONE WHO WAS WITH HIM IN THE BEGINNING REFER TO JOHN 1:1},

~NOTICE HERE THAT GOD GAVE MAN DOMINION - WHICH MEANS RULE-COMMAND-POWER

27. So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.
28. And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion~ over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.
29. And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat.
 30. And to every beast of the earth, and to every fowl of the air, and to every thing that creepeth upon the earth, wherein there is life, I have given every green herb for meat: and it was so.
31. And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.

Okay, so what do you think about my notes?  Have you ever relly thought about these things?  Tell me how you feel about what I said.

HE BECAME LIKE US

HE BECAME LIKE US

Luke 2:52, "And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man."

LUKE 2:52

How could it be that Jesus, who was God (Jn. 1:1; 1 Tim. 3:16), and in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge, increased in wisdom? (Col. 2:3)

God is a Spirit (Jn. 4:24). Jesus, as God, had existed as a Spirit forever.

When He came to the earth as Jesus, he was Lord at birth, but that was in His Spirit (Lk. 2:11). His Spirit didn't have to grow or increase in wisdom but His physical body did.

The Lord could have done things differently, but He didn't. Jesus came into this world in His physical body exactly as we did. He had to grow and learn.

He became just like us so that we could become just like Him (2 Cor. 5:21).

This is the great exchange. He became like us so that He could bear all our iniquities and become a mercy high priest for us (Heb. 2:14-18).

Christianity does not produce a changed life but an exchanged life. Christ does not reform us, but He transforms us through His union with us. In the same way that the Eternal Christ could come and inhabit the body of an infant and still retain all His deity, He now inhabits our bodies through the new birth in all His glory and power. Like Jesus, grow in your wisdom and understanding of who you now are in Christ.

 

Andrew Wommack Ministries Daily Devotion

www.awmi.net

Final Post of the Letter to the Ephesians

This  6th post continues and finalizes the Letter to the Ephesians Series, let me restate:
I don't know how many of you have read the Letter to the Ephesians that Paul wrote; but in order to read and study it, I decided to write it as if I was speaking to myself. I do not intend to change what Paul says, or to nullify his words, but to implant it in my mind as a personal witness to my heart of what God has given me as my inheritance through Christ Jesus. Please bare that in mind as you read it. I only hope that it blesses you.
Chapter 5:25-33 and Chapter 6:1-9  I will just repeat the KJV.

 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,  That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.  So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself.  For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church:  For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.  For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.  This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church. Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.
Eph 5:25-33 (KJV)

Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right.  Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;)  That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.  And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.  Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ; 6 Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart;  With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men:  Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free.  And, ye masters, do the same things unto them, forbearing threatening: knowing that your Master also is in heaven; neither is there respect of persons with him.
Eph 6:1-9 (KJV)




Finally, I will be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.  I will put on the whole armour of God, that I may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.  For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.  Wherefore I will take  the whole armour of God, that I may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. I will stand therefore, having my loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;  And my feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;  Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith I shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.  And I will take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:  Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel,  For which I am an ambassador, that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.  Peace be to the saints, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.  Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Amen.
Eph 6:10-24 (KJV)


Please feel free to comment on what you thought, and how you felt when you read this.
Understand that I in no way offer this as another scripture, but just my thoughts on the scripture.
I only mean to strengthen my belief and understanding and help others who are seeking more enlightenment from the word of God. I will continue to post as I continue to study the things God has gifted to us all as believers.

My future posts will relate to the Power and Authority that God has given us through Christ Jesus.
 God's blessing on you all, you are continually in my heart and prayers. With much love in Christ Jesus, Amen







 

Letter to the Ephesians part 5

This  5th post continues the Letter to the Ephesians Series, let me restate:
I don't know how many of you have read the Letter to the Ephesians that Paul wrote; but in order to read and study it, I decided to write it as if I was speaking to myself. I do not intend to change what Paul says, or to nullify his words, but to implant it in my mind as a personal witness to my heart of what God has given me as my inheritance through Christ Jesus. Please bare that in mind as you read it. I only hope that it blesses you.

Chapter 5

Be followers of God, as dear children, and walk in love, as Christ has loved us, and has given Himself for us as an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling savour.

As it becomes a saint, let not fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness,  neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting (teasing),be heard of among you, but rather the  giving of thanks; for this you know, that no whoremonger(this is an offensive term for a sexually indiscriminate man, especially one who frequents prostitutes), nor unclean person, nor covetous man, which is an idolater, has any inheritance in the Kingdom of Christ and of God.

Let no man deceive you with vain words, for because of these things comes the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.(I have to state here that this tells you that even when we are born-again saved by the blood Christians, we are still accountable for our actions and will receive recompense for them.)  Be not partakers with those who do these things.  For you were before darkness, but now you are the light in the Lord, so walk as children of light.
      For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, and righteousness and truth, proving what is acceptable unto the Lord. 
       But have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. (show your disapproval of them who do these things)
For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret.  
But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light; for whatsoever does make manifest is light.  Where for He saith, Awake you that sleeps, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give you light.

See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Wherefore be not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.  Be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess, but be filled with the (Holy) Spirit.  

 Speak to yourself in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God (in respect for God) .


that covers chapter 5 verses 1-24, tomorrow I will cover verses 25- the end of the chapter.

Please feel free to comment on what you thought, and how you felt when you read this.
Understand that I in no way offer this as another scripture, but just my thoughts on the scripture.
I only mean to strengthen my belief and understanding and help others who are seeking more enlightenment from the word of God. I will continue to post as I continue to study the things God has gifted to us all as believers. God's blessing on you all, you are continually in my heart and prayers. With much love in Christ Jesus, Amen

 

Letter to the Ephesians Part 4

This  4th post continues the Letter to the Ephesians Series, let me restate:
I don't know how many of you have read the Letter to the Ephesians that Paul wrote; but in order to read and study it, I decided to write it as if I was speaking to myself. I do not intend to change what Paul says, or to nullify his words, but to implant it in my mind as a personal witness to my heart of what God has given me as my inheritance through Christ Jesus. Please bare that in mind as you read it. I only hope that it blesses you.

Chapter 4
Paul, beseeches me that I walk worthy of the vocation that I was called to, with all lowliness and meekness, with long suffering, forbearing others in love; endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 
There is one body, and one Spirit, even as I am called in one hope of my calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in us all.

But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ, (my measure being the same as everyone else).  Wherefore Jesus said, when He ascended up on high, He led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.
Now that He ascended, what is it but that He also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?  He that descended is the same that ascended up far above all heavens, that He might fill all things.
And He gave some, apostles, and some, prophets; and some, evangelists, and some, pastors and teachers: for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ of which I am one.

Till I  come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect (wo)man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ: 
That I forever will no more be a child, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive.  But speaking the truth in love, may I grow up into Him  in all things, which is the head, even Christ, from whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplies, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, makes increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.

Paul testifies in the Lord, that I from now on should walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, they having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart: who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.  But I have not learned that of Christ; I have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is Jesus:  I put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; and I am renewed in the spirit of my mind; and I put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

So I put away lying, and speak truth  with my neighbor, for we are members one of another.  If I am angry, I will not let the sun go down upon my wrath, neither will I give place to satan. I will not steal, but I will labor with my hands the thing which is good, that I may have to give to him who is in need.

I will let no corrupt communication proceed out of my mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, in that it may minister grace unto the hearers.  I will not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, whereby I am sealed unto the day of redemption.  I will let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour and evil speaking be put away from me, with all malice; and I will be kind to everyone, tenderhearted, forgiving everyone, even as God for Christ's sake has forgiven me.



that ends chapter 4,

Please feel free to comment on what you thought, and how you felt when you read this.
Understand that I in no way offer this as another scripture, but just my thoughts on the scripture.
I only mean to strengthen my belief and understanding and help others who are seeking more enlightenment from the word of God. I will continue to post as I continue to study the things God has gifted to us all as believers. God's blessing on you all, you are continually in my heart and prayers. With much love in Christ Jesus, Amen