September 2014

Well!  The roman year is almost over!!!

Eight months under our belts.  Have you benefited from reading through the Bible?  What?  You haven't even started?

Well!  It's not too late!  Jump in...the Word of God is rich and powerful, inspiring, encouraging and uplifting.  Find an accountability partner, encourage someone else to spend time which has long lasting and eternal benefits.  May the Lord bless you as you read (and hopefully study) His word.

Nothing new...

...under the sun.  Verse reference:

Ecc 1:9  The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun.

Which came to mind when I read:

Eze 13:22  Because with lies ye have made the heart of the righteous sad, whom I have not made sad; and strengthened the hands of the wicked, that he should not return from his wicked way, by promising him life.

As much as 'things' change, they stay the same.

"Just ask Jesus into your heart."

"Say this prayer."

"Jesus loves you."

The easy (as my pastor stated it) 'pocket Jesus' promises life to people, without any real challenge to the person's life.

Having an encounter with Jesus - and I don't mean you said a prayer, walked an isle or asked Jesus into your heart - I mean a truly, my heart of flesh has been removed.  I have been given a heart of flesh.

Oh my God (not in the worldly sense, flippant and irreverent), but literally, OH MY GOD!  I am a sinner.  I have hated God, I have hated His people, I have mocked Him.  I have 'pretended' to be a Christian, I have 'said' the right stuff, I have 'behaved' the right way.  I am a fake, a hypocrite.  I crucified Jesus.

I killed the son of God.  My sin, my wickedness caused a righteous man to be beaten, nailed to a cross, to be separated from his Father.  I deserve the death He died.  I don't deserve ANY good thing at all.  Fall on your face before Him, overwhelmed by His gracious goodness in choosing (Yes, Him choosing) me.

Unworthy me, with absolutely nothing to offer.  Me, He chose me.  Took me from the kingdom of darkness and made me a child of the King.  What can I do to serve Him?  How does He act?  How does He speak?  Treat people?  Require of me?

Is that your experience?  You've changed from loving darkness and now want to walk in light?  Or are you still dabbling with the works of darkness?  How much different do you (or I) think, act and speak since we were 'converted'?

The first half of the verse above:

Eze 13:22a - Because with lies ye have made the heart of the righteous sad...

...so saints how 'sad' are we?

How distressed are we by the unsaved state?

The false gospels which are preached?

How bold for truth and it's being proclaimed rightly?

How are you dear saint?  Cold, hot or lukewarm?

Gave Up The Ghost

"So and so gave up the ghost."

I'd heard this phrase used numerous times and though I 'knew' what it meant, hadn't really paid attention to it in the Word.

This is where I FINALLY saw it:

Lam 1:19  I called for my lovers, but they deceived me: my priests and mine elders gave up the ghost in the city, while they sought their meat to relieve their souls. 

Using just the word 'ghost' is found in 109 times in 108 verses (OT/NT).  Obviously not all refer to 'gave, give, giveth, yielded up the ghost'.  :-)

Abraham 'gave' it up in Genesis 25:8.

Ishmael 'gave' it up in Genesis 25:17

Isaac 'gave' it up in Genesis 35:29

Each of these is followed with...and died.  Just to make sure we get it.

Jacob 'yielded' it in Genesis 49:33, but was 'gathered unto his people.'

His people?  Is it safe to assume his predecessors, as in Abraham, Isaac?

Job laments about him NOT giving it up in Job 3:11; 10:18; and 13:9.

In 11:20 the wicked's hope is in giving it up and reflecting on man's giving it up in 14:10.

Jeremiah laments about 'she' giving it up in 15:9.  I believe he's talking about Jerusalem.

The verse in Lamentations ends the 'ghost' sightings in the Old Testament.  The New Testament references to ghost are usually referring to the Holy Ghost.

However in Matt 27:50, Jesus 'yielded' up the ghost.

Mark 15:37 Jesus 'gave' up the ghost.

While the centurion watched Jesus 'give up the ghost' in Mark 15:39.

In Luke 23:46 Jesus commends His spirit to the Father and then 'gave' up the ghost.

John records Jesus as stating it is finished and 'gave' up the ghost in 19:30.

Interestingly those listed above do not clarify with 'died.'

In Acts 5:5 Ananias 'gave' and then Sapphira 'yielded' in 5:10 for lying.

Herod 'gave' it up in Acts 12:23 - because he didn't give glory to God.

A topic worthy of additional study.  I've pondered upon the 'giving' - I can see where Jesus may (and probably) did have power to lay down (and take up).

Joh 10:17  Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. 

However, I don't know that anyone other than He could.

Heb 9:27  And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment.

So when you are called for 'appointment' where will you be spending eternity?