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Light Unto My Feet

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There was a recent posting on a familiar blog site about how to know God’s will. It was in reference to George Mueller’s outline about how to understand, discern, or follow God’s will. In faith, once it is understood, recognized, or accepted.

How to know God’s will for you:

1. I seek at the beginning to get my heart into such a state that it has no will of its own in regard to a given matter. Nine-tenths of the trouble with people is just here. Nine-tenths of the difficulties are overcome when our hearts are ready to do the Lord’s Will, whatever it may be. When one is truly in this state, it is usually but a little way to the knowledge of what His will is.

2. Having done this, I do not leave the result to feeling or simple impression. If so, I make myself liable to great delusions.

3. I seek the Will of the Spirit of God through, or in connection with, the Word of God. The Spirit and the Word must be combined. If I look to the Spirit alone without the Word, I lay myself open to great delusions also. If the Holy Ghost guides us at all, He will do it according to the Scriptures and never contrary to them.

4. Next I take into account providential circumstances. These often plainly indicate God’s Will in connection with His Word and Spirit.

5. I ask God in prayer to reveal His Will to me aright.

6. Thus, through prayer to God, the study of the Word, and reflection, I come to a deliberate judgment according to the best of my ability and knowledge, and if my mind is thus at peace, and continues so after two or three more petitions, I proceed accordingly. In trivial matters, and in transactions involving most important issues, I have found this method always effective.

Further interest in the amazing life of George Mueller is in this podcast:

Play Audio: George Mueller’s Strategy for Showing God

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Survived by Fire

By in Theology

According to the inerrant and inspired word of the Lord, there are specific rewards for accomplishments and work done through the faithfulness of His followers. There is a spectrum of reward at the judgment seat of Christ. When his saints appear before him, their works will either become burned up due to futility, carnality, or by having no value to the glory of God. Or there will be a specific series of rewards survived as by fire according to scripture.

Judgment of the Saints

“For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.” – 2 Cor 5:10

New American Standard Bible: 1995 update. (1995). (2 Co 5:10). La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.

For no man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each man’s work will become evident; for the day will show it because it is to be revealed with fire, and the fire itself will test the quality of each man’s work. If any man’s work which he has built on it remains, he will receive a reward. If any man’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire. – 1 Cor 3:11-15

New American Standard Bible: 1995 update. (1995). (1 Co 3:11–15). La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.

Five (5) Crowns. At least that we know about. Specifically mentioned in scripture. 

  • Crown of Life
  • Crown of Righteousness
  • Crown of Glory
  • Crown of Incorruptibility
  • Crown of Rejoicing

Crown of Life

For those who have suffered for His sake.
“Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.”  -James 1:12

Crown of Righteousness

For those who loved His appearing.
“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith; in the future, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me but also to all who have loved His appearing.” -2 Tim 4:7-8

Crown of Glory

For those who fed the flock.
Therefore, I exhort the elders among you, as your fellow elder and witness of the sufferings of Christ, and a partaker also of the glory that is to be revealed, shepherd the flock of God among you, exercising oversight not under compulsion, but voluntarily, according to the will of God; and not for sordid gain, but with eagerness; nor yet as lording it over those allotted to your charge, but proving to be examples to the flock. And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.” – 1 Pet 5:1-4

Crown of Incorruptibility

For those who press on steadfastly.
“And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown, but we an incorruptible.” – 1 Cor 9:25

Crown of Rejoicing

For those who win souls. 
For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming? For ye are our glory and joy. – 1 Thes 2:19

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Moth to the Flame

By in Theology

My dad is dying. Terminal cancer and he will be gone soon. So I am closer to him and the Lord than ever before. 

“Delight yourself in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him, and he will act.” -Ps 37:4

So a few days back, I am in prayer about what is on my heart. And I recall this verse, “Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart.” Then without second thought or hesitation, the overflow of my heart was, “YOU LORD are the desire of my heart.”

Yet His blessings are abundant when the winds are strong and the uncertainty prevails day by day. So I only trust and believe. 

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Words of Life Eternal

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Here is a meaningful short video segment that follows the KJV word for word. About how to pass from death to eternal life and exist in the Lord’s kingdom without the presence of time, pain, suffering, or sin. This is a precise view of what it is to be born again. Becoming born of the Spirit is to invite Jesus into your life, admitting in truth your sinfulness and accepting the Holy Spirit to lead you all your days. Believe in Jesus, what He has said and what He has done. Call upon Him, and you will be saved. You will become born of the Spirit. His Spirit will enter into you and will begin to regenerate you (Titus 3:5-7).

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. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.” -Jn 3:4-8

He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by His grace we would be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. -Titus 3:5-7

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Follow the Light

By in Theology

Last night a delivery was made to my dad’s house. In the dark a knock at the door from a man who had a large bag which contained a supply of morphine. What is morphine? A pain medication of the opiate type which is found naturally in a number of plants and animals. It acts directly on the central nervous system. It is the latest attempt at relieving the pain associated with my Dad’s cancer that is terminal and has grown throughout his body. He has tried numerous pain suppression types to now involve a more potent form of medicine, but this is the substance to relieve trauma all the way through to his passing.

He doesn’t have long. In the past two weeks, I have been pouring into his soul through prayer, testimony, time in the word, encouragement and daily help here and there. Entering a time of hospice, he will become closer to our Lord’s kingdom. From a couple of days ago, he has approximately two months or so left. Another image of God moving into eternity toward His glory and His purposes. 

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Source of Renewal

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While reading Psalm 21 today, I came to two verses that stood out the most. While the overall chapter is about the favor of the Lord upon His king, these verses are entirely descriptive of the relationship between the two. Especially when the Lord is most glorified in the Psalm of David. Among His people and among the king’s enemies. 

“His glory is great through Your salvation,
Splendor and majesty You place upon him.
For You make him most blessed forever;
You make him joyful with gladness in Your presence.” – Ps 21:5-6 NASB

“His glory is great in thy salvation:
Honour and majesty hast thou laid upon him.
For thou hast made him most blessed for ever:
Thou hast made him exceeding glad with thy countenance.” – Ps 21:5-6 KJV

Numerous times through the day and remainder of the week, it came to mind that the source of splendor, majesty, honor is from the the LORD YHWH. I let that dwell within me while out and about to absorb and contemplate. 

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Vanishing Act

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Among all the differences between various bible translations, there are verses and phrases which are entirely missing. For the reason, “Many manuscripts do not contain this verse.” So the ESV and NIV would entirely skip verses such as John 5:4 or Acts 8:37. As amazing as it is, there is meaning among words otherwise present within the KJV or NAS.

3 In these lay a multitude of invalids—blind, lame, and paralyzed.
5 One man was there who had been an invalid for thirty-eight years.

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (Jn 5:3–5). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

3 In these lay a great multitude of impotent folk, of blind, halt, withered, waiting for the moving of the water.
4 For an angel went down at a certain season into the pool, and troubled the water: whosoever then first after the troubling of the water stepped in was made whole of whatsoever disease he had.
5 And a certain man was there, which had an infirmity thirty and eight years.

The Holy Bible: King James Version. (2009). (Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version., Jn 5:2–5). Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.

Previously, I used to accept ESV and NIV as thoroughly valid. And I still do for careful reading purposes. However, not for in-depth study or meditation. If there was a decision made about which version to center upon for a lifetime of study, begin with the NAS and the NKJV. 

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Image Bearers

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“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.  So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. 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.”

The Holy Bible: King James Version. (2009). (Ge 1:26–28). 

When Jesus commands us to love others, it had not occurred to me the reasons why. Not necessarily for their merit, work, or status per se. It is because they bear the image of God. People are a visual expression by an “appearance” in what God looks like, and how He operates or functions since the Most-High is Spirit and not in anthropomorphic form. Therefore, we love them as God’s imprint on creation and flesh made over the generations.

Love God, above all, with everything you’ve got. Love others as they are loved by God. Love them well because they are among creation and bear God’s likeness. By following this line of understanding and rationale, it is far easier to demonstrate and place thoughts of love upon others as people groups and as individuals. Even while there might be a full denial of God’s existence and rightful place in their lives. Even if they who reject YHWH as enemies, accusers, and those who are due forgiveness.

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