We Shall Bow down and Worship without Shame

Psalm 138:2

 I will bow down toward your holy temple and will praise your name for your love and your faithfulness, for you have exalted above all things your name and your word....

I will worship towards thy holy temple
Not the temple at Jerusalem, which was not yet built, though, when it was, the Jews in their devotions at a distance looked towards it, ( 1 Kings 8:38 1 Kings 8:40 ) ; but rather the tabernacle of Moses, in which was the ark, as Aben Ezra and Kimchi observe; and over that the mercy seat and cherubim, between which Jehovah dwelt; and this being a type of Christ's human nature, which was perfectly holy, and is called by himself a temple, and is the true tabernacle God pitched, and not man, ( John 2:19 ) ( Hebrews 8:2 ) ; he may be designed, and to him, as Mediator, should we look, and with him deal in all our devotions for acceptance with God; see ( Jonah 2:4 ) ; unless heaven itself is meant, which is the palace of Jehovah, the habitation of his holiness, his temple where he dwells, ( Psalms 11:4 ) ( Habakkuk 2:20 ) ;
and praise thy name, for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth,

Which may primarily regard the goodness and grace of God in promising David the kingdom, and his faithfulness in making good the promise, and for both which he was under obligation to praise the name of the Lord; and holds good with respect to all other promises: and it may also signify the free favor and love of God to his people, which is from everlasting, is the source of all blessings, and is better than life; and the faithfulness of God to himself, his perfections, purposes and promises, council and covenant: it may be rendered, "for thy grace, and for thy truth, which both come by Christ, ( John 1:17 ) ; grace may intend both the doctrine of grace, the Gospel of the grace of God preached by Christ, and the blessings of grace which come through him; as justification, pardon, adoption, sanctification, and eternal life, which are all of grace, and by Christ: and truth also may signify the word of truth, or solid substantial blessings, in distinction from typical ones; or the good things that come by Christ our High Priest, of which the law was only a shadow; and these are all of them things the name of the Lord is to be praised for.

Every good man is most concerned about his duty to God and his happiness in God, that the former may be faithfully done and the latter effectually secured and if indeed these are the things that our hearts are most upon, and concerning which we are most solicitous, there is a good work begun in us, and he that has begun it will perfect it, we may be confident he will, Philippians 1:6. Observe, (1.) What ground the psalmist builds this confidence upon: Thy mercy, O Lord! endures for ever. This he had made very much the matter of his praise (Psalm 13:6), and therefore he could here with the more assurance make it the matter of his hope. For, if we give God the glory of his mercy, we may take to ourselves the comfort of it. Our hopes that we shall persevere must be founded, not upon our own strength, for that will fail us, but upon the mercy of God, for that will not fail. It is well pleaded, "Lord, thy mercy endures for ever let me be for ever a monument of it." (2.) What use he makes of this confidence it does not supersede, but quicken prayer he turns his expectation into a petition: "Forsake not, do not let go, the work of thy own hands. Lord, I am the work of thy own hands, my soul is so, do not forsake me my concerns are so, do not lay by thy care of them." Whatever good there is in us it is the work of God's own hands he works in us both to will and to do it will fail if he forsake it but his glory, as Jehovah, a perfecting God, is so much concerned in the progress of it to the end that we may in faith pray, "Lord, do not forsake it." Whom he loves he loves to the end and, as for God, his work is perfect.

David's psalm of thanksgiving begins with individual praise.
Since Solomon's temple has not yet been built, David worships towards the tabernacle instead. He worships God for his steadfast love and faithfulness.

Is there something hold you back from worship today? Worship God where you are -- you don't have to wait for the "perfect" church, special place, moment or time to praise God.

The People Dispute Concerning Christ

John 7:24
Stop judging by mere appearances, and make a right judgment.

 Jesus rebuked the Jewish religious teachers who were angry with Him for "working" by healing a man on the Sabbath....
They weren't happy that the man was healed. Instead, they were jealous of Jesus power, wisdom, and the attention He was receiving from the crowds. Hypocritically, they themselves also worked on the Sabbath.

The brethren or kinsmen of Jesus were disgusted, when they found there was no prospect of worldly advantages from him. Ungodly men sometimes undertake to counsel those employed in the work of God; but they only advise what appears likely to promote present advantages. The people differed about his doctrine and miracles, while those who favored him, dared not openly to avow their sentiments. Those who count the preachers of the gospel to be deceivers, speak out, while many who favor them, fear to get reproach by avowing regard for them. 

 Every faithful minister may humbly adopt Christ's words. His doctrine is not his own finding out, but is from God's word, through the teaching of his Spirit. And amidst the disputes which disturb the world, if any man, of any nation, seeks to do the will of God, he shall know whether the doctrine is of God, or whether men speak of themselves. Only those who hate the truth shall be given up to errors which will be fatal. Surely it was as agreeable to the design of the Sabbath to restore health to the afflicted, as to administer an outward rite. Jesus told them to decide on his conduct according to the spiritual import of the Divine law. We must not judge concerning any by their outward appearance, but by their worth, and by the gifts and graces of God's Spirit in them.


 Jesus commands us to "judge with righteous judgment." Just a few verses earlier, the Jews who were watching and listening to Him had judged that Jesus had a demon! This is surely one of the most misguided judgments ever made. Why could they not make a better judgment than that? Because they were judging by wrong standards. They could not recognize and thus could not correctly relate to true godliness, even though in the person of Jesus it was lived in their presence and taught them truth.

 Jesus rebuked them by telling them to make a righteous judgment, not the wrong judgment they made based on their own jealousy and self-interest. When we judge, aren't we often motivated by our own self-interests as well?

 

The Same Was In The Beginning With God - Part 2

John 1:2
The Apostle John reminds his readers of two truths: Jesus Christ has a unique relationship with God and Jesus Christ is eternal.

 John places... these two truths side -by-side in saying that before anything was made, Jesus was with God. Being divine Himself (Colossians 1:19; 2:9 For [a]it was the Father’s good pleasure for all the [b]fullness to dwell in Him) and being involved in creation Himself (Colossians 1:16-17 For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. 17 And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist.), Jesus existed alongside God the Father.

It basically means that Jesus is eternal. He was both with God and also is God. It's describing His relationship with God the father in the trinity (father son and holy spirit). So it basically says that Jesus is God in the trinity and Him and the father made everything, but also that all things, you me and the world was made for Jesus as well!

The light aspect goes on to describe that He is life and God but when He was on Earth, the people couldn't understand how God could become a man and didn't understand His ways. The Jewish people of the time had all these notions about God as well as the prophesied messiah and many wouldn't accept that it was Jesus because God becoming a man sounded crazy. But. God loves us that much He become flesh!

All things were made by Him,and without Him was made nothing ( this means that all things were created for Jesus and with Jesus) In him was life, and the life was the light of men ( Jesus gave His Life for us, so that we if we repent and worship God correctly, will have a chance at eternal life) The light shine in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it ( Jesus is known as ''the light'', as He came upon the earth also to preach the truth, and spread spiritual light, as many in those times were being taught the wrong thing by the religious leaders ( who were in spiritual darkness). Those religious leaders, and many other people, although saw Jesus miracles, still did not recognize him, or comprehend ( understand) that He was the Son of God, and so religious leaders remained in spiritual darkness !!

John 14:9-10 Jesus *said to him, “Have I been so long with you, and yet you have not come to know Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? 10 Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father is in Me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on My own initiative, but the Father abiding in Me does His works. The Father, Son and the Holy Spirit. John 14:6. (KJV). Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. Be Blessed In Christ

In The Beginning Was The Word

 John 1:1
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

 Of all four Gospels, the Gospel of John is certainly the most unique. In fact, John Calvin made the interesting comment that if Matthew, Mark, and Luke exhibit Jesus' body, John's Gospel "exhibits his soul."
And in this exhibition, John starts off with a description of Jesus Christ in which he says four things about Him.

1) Jesus is the Word. In Greek, Jesus is the logos, the cause or reason for everything that exists.

2) Jesus existed in the beginning. Before time began, Jesus was.

3) Jesus was with God. Although Jesus is divine Himself, He exists in a Trinitarian relationship with God the Father.

4) Jesus is God. He contains all the attributes and characteristics of God the Father.

In the beginning--of all time and created existence, for this Word gave it being ( John 1:3 John 1:10 ); therefore, "before the world was" ( John 17:5 John 17:24 ); or, from all eternity.
was the Word--He who is to God what man's word is to himself, the manifestation or expression of himself to those without him. now for ever consecrated title of Christ, this is not the place to speak. It occurs only in the writings of this seraphic apostle. was with God--having a conscious personal existence distinct from God (as one is from the person he is "with"), but inseparable from Him and associated with Him ( John 1:18 , John 17:5 , 1 John 1:2 ), where "THE FATHER" is used in the same sense as "GOD" here.

was God--in substance and essence GOD; or was possessed of essential or proper divinity. Thus, each of these brief but pregnant statements is the complement of the other, correcting any misapprehensions which the others might occasion.

Was the Word eternal? It was not the eternity of "the Father," but of a conscious personal existence distinct from Him and associated with Him. Was the Word thus "with God?" It was not the distinctness and the fellowship of another being, as if there were more Gods than one, but of One who was Himself God--in such sense that the absolute unity of the God head, the great principle of all religion, is only transferred from the region of shadowy abstraction to the region of essential life and love. But why all this definition? Not to give us any abstract information about certain mysterious distinctions in the Godhead, but solely to let the reader know who it was that in the fullness of time "was made flesh." After each verse, then, the reader must say, "It was He who is thus, and thus, and thus described, who was made flesh."

In Him was life--essentially and originally, as the previous verses show to be the meaning. Thus He is the Living Word, or, as He is called in 1 John 1:1 1 John 1:2 , "the Word of Life."
the life. The light of men--All that in men which is true light--knowledge, integrity, intelligent, willing subjection to God, love to Him and to their fellow creatures, wisdom, purity, holy joy, rational happiness--all this "light of men" has its fountain in the essential original "life" of "the Word" ( 1 John 1:5-7 Psalms 36:9 ).

Shine in darkness, &c.--in this dark, fallen world, or in mankind "sitting in darkness and the shadow of death," with no ability to find the way either of truth or of holiness. In this thick darkness, and consequent intellectual and moral obliquity, "the light of the Word" shine--by all the rays whether of natural or revealed teaching which men (apart from the Incarnation of the Word) are favored with. the darkness comprehended it not--did not take it in, a brief summary of the effect of all the strivings of this unincarnate Word throughout this wide world from the beginning, and a hint of the necessity of His putting on flesh, if any recovery of men was to be effected ( 1 Corinthians 1:21 ).

Was It Worth It All To Become A Christian

 

2 Corinthians 12:10

That's why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

 

 Sometimes as believers we can be spiritual lightweights. At the first indication of a hardship or difficulty, we fold like stack of cards. We say, "I didn't sign up for this. I don't want difficulty; I just want to get along with everyone."

But if you are a true follower of Christ, there will be suffering in your life. Here is a description of what it was like for the apostle Paul: After Paul’s conversion, he disappeared into the desert for three years, during which time the Holy Spirit instructed him in the ways of God. He emerged, ready to communicate divine truth.

In order to understand Paul's personal appeal--become like me--we need to see how the entire rebuke section of the letter (1:6--4:11) establishes the background for this appeal. Paul rebuked the Galatians believers for disloyalty to the gospel (1:6). Under the influence of false teachers, they were turning from the true gospel and following another gospel which required circumcision and observance of the law for inclusion in the people of God. Paul reinforced his rebuke for disloyalty to the true gospel by telling the story of his own loyalty to the truth of the gospel (1:11--2:21).

Since he was called by God to preach the gospel to Gentiles, he firmly resisted anyone who excluded Gentiles on the basis of the law. Paul also rebuked the Galatians Christians for foolishness about the gospel (3:1-5). In their confusion they thought that works of the law were required to enjoy the blessing of God. Paul under-girded his rebuke for foolishness by an exposition of the promise to Abraham fulfilled in Christ (3:6--4:11). Since Gentile Christians were children of Abraham and included in God's promise to Abraham because they believed in Christ, they could not be excluded from the blessing of God on the basis of the law.

He is calling for the Galatians to imitate him in his loyalty to the truth of the gospel (see 2:5, 14). He is challenging them to die to the law so that they might live for God (see 2:19-20). He is pleading with them to be as free as he is from the tyranny of the law, and to enjoy with him all the benefits of the gospel (the Spirit, righteousness, blessing, adoption and inheritance of the promise) which are already available by faith in Christ (see 3:6--4:7). He is demanding that they resist the false teachers who are trying to bring them under the tyranny of the law.

I have worked harder, been put in prison more often, been whipped times without number, and faced death again and again. Five different times the Jewish leaders gave me thirty-nine lashes. Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked. Once I spent a whole night and a day adrift at sea. I have traveled on many long journeys. I have faced danger from rivers and from robbers. I have faced danger from my own people, the Jews, as well as from the Gentiles. I have faced danger in the cities, in the deserts, and on the seas. And I have faced danger from men who claim to be believers but are not. I have worked hard and long, enduring many sleepless nights. I have been hungry and thirsty and have often gone without food. I have shivered in the cold, without enough clothing to keep me warm. (2 Corinthians 11:23–27).

Like Paul, if you are going to be used of God, then you are going to be attacked. If you are a real Christian, it will cause some friction. If you are a real Christian, you will face opposition. And the Lord speaks to believers so that they will comprehend the truth, conform to the truth, and communicate the truth. These same steps form a way to discipleship. What happened during Paul’s desert years was only the beginning of a life-long process—God renewed his mind and transformed him into the image of Christ. For the apostle, that change began with connecting his rich biblical knowledge to the revelation that Jesus Christ was the Son of God.


I am not trying to paint a portrait of Christianity that is undesirable; I am just being honest as I describe what it means to follow Christ. And it's worth it all. Like Paul, you are the Holy Spirit of God's. We are ( Representative ) a student, and the knowledge you reap from Scriptures should transform your life as a Christian and make you the ultimate reason God choice you. Be like the apostle Paul in this way by becoming a disciple maker by sharing what you learn with others. Have a bless day in Jesus Christ.

Who then is Greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven?

Matthew 18:4

Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven."

 
That was the topic of discussion among the disciples one day. They asked Jesus, "Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" (Matthew 18:1). But Jesus basically bypassed the question and did something completely unexpected. He called a little child over and then set the child among them. Imagine the scene: there was a little child, probably very cute, looking around at the disciples, wide-eyed. Then Jesus said, "Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 18:3–4).

The idea Jesus was communicating was not that we should be childish, but that we should always maintain a childlike faith. There is a big difference between the two. Ephesians 4:14 tells us, "We should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine. . . . "

1 Corinthians 13:11

When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways. 1 Corinthians 13:12 For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.
We need to grow up spiritually. Yet at the same time, we want to have the humility of a child.
Thank you God for waking me up this Thursday morning, Lord you gave me another great day to praise and worship you with thanksgiving in my heart for all you have done you me. Good Morning to my family and FB friends I send my love and bless to you all, have a wonderful day and be blessed in it... Share with someone Today, " If God have been good to you"

Jesus Is Calling – Are You Listening

 John 15:15
Caller ID
I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you

 How many of us have Caller ID on our house phone, cell phone, even some of us have it where it pops up on our TV screens to identify the caller. I don’t know that number, not answering. 1-800 number not answering. Bill Collector, not answering. Ex friend, boyfriend, girlfriend, not answering. All types of reasons why we look at caller ID and decide not to answer the phone.

Well today our caller I.D. - Identifying the Devil. Wouldn’t it be great to detect the devil the same way we check the phone? Well guess what you can. The enemy’s tactics, games, lies, cunning and deceitful ways have not changed. The person he may be operating through may have changed, but he has not. He still has the same purpose he had from the beginning and that is to kill, steal and destroy! His destructive ways can come in many sizes and forms, so watch and pray! You do not want to become seduced or captivated by his sly and slick ways.

Turn on your Caller I.D (Identifying the Devil). You know that person who has never encouraged you a day in your life, but they continuously feed you garbage, negativity and gossip! You know the person who only calls when they want something; they just take, take, take and take until you are fully drained. You know that person who calls you late in the midnight hour, seeking to get into your goodies and you haven’t talked to them all day. You know the person that feeds your ego and cheers you all the time? The ones that secretly wish you would fall, fail, or give up? The ones that hug you and stab your back at the same time? It’s not them, but a spirit that’s on the inside that can’t stand what’s on the inside of you, and it seeks to kill, steal and destroy your passion, joy, love, peace, being.

Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Matthew 26:41 Turn on your Caller I.D and bypass some of those holes, tricks, hurdles; you already know what you need to do. Let us not missed the point. Jesus is calling you.
If Jesus called you by phone right now would you missed His call?

If that is how you feel God speaks, you will never hear Him speak. … If you are a christian, the most important lessons that we can ever learn is how to know when God is calling (speaking) to you. Many Christian think that God's voice is heard by a audible booming voice form the thundering skies (Heavens) Back in biblical days, God had to speak audibly from the outside, because He didn't live inside of the biblical prophets just yet. Because Jesus had not come yet.

However, after Jesus came, died, and was resurrected, God was then able to come and live on the inside of us. ... WHEN God is speaking, you must know HOW God speaks, because if you don't you will miss His voice. God inside us is called the Holy Spirit (John 14:16-17). God said those who seek me shall find me.


Have you made Jesus Christ your Lord and savior yet. You see Jesus called Mary name at the tomb and she Identified His voice. He could be calling you Today. Would you hear His voice or received that call. So I say to you if your phone ring today and you check your caller Id and see Jesus Christ name appear will you answer the call or just say I don't have time, not now, maybe, later, he'll call back, (Really You think so?) maybe your phone is on mute or maybe just send Him to voicemail ? That 's your choice how you answer that call. But He is calling your name right now. Here is the problem every time God speak to you heart and you don't respond your heart get a little harden. That why the bible “ Hebrew 3:15 ” While it is said, Today if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation. Have a blessed week men and women of God!