" My Heart Shall Not Fear " Psalm 27:1-3

Psalm 27:1-3  " The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear ? The LORD is the strength of my life;  of whom shall I be afraid ?  When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell.  Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear:  though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident. "

     David was in a difficult situation, and the outlook, at least from all outward appearances, seemed overwhelmingly bleak.  Yet, what David desired of his LORD in times of testing is truly extraordinary and serves as a helpful reminder to us when we find ourselves fearing future uncertainties.  The psalmist's request for spiritual mercies rather than temporal relief is a prominent theme in this blessed psalm.  Imagine what the LORD could do for us in our own time of testing if we would learn to elevate the spiritual above the physical, if we would realize that HE sometimes sends physical adversities in order to refine and strengthen our faith.  Viewed from eternity's (and the LORD's) perspective, which is more important to you: spiritual victory or temporal relief ?  David knew the answer and desired the  " plain path " (vs.11), not just the easy way out.  He also knew that GOD would guide him safely and securely along the way.

     Enemies will always oppose the righteous, yet their purposes will surely end in disappointment (vv.2-3).  Even the archenemy of our soul, who  " as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour " (1st.Peter 5:8), will one day face defeat at the hand of GOD (Rev.20:10).  David had formidable foes, and so do we.  In addition to our personal struggles, the perilous political scene today can also bring fear and doubt.  But notice David's response to pending conflict.  Was it worry or hopelessness ?  No !  " My heart shall not fear: ... in this will I be confident " (v.3).  Wherein was the psalmist's confidence ?  In HIS LORD, WHO was his light, salvation, and strength (v.1) !  We, too, can confidently say with David,  " Of whom shall I be afraid ? "  No one ! DWC

Your servant in CHRIST,

Julie

Copyright, Feature: A Daily Bible Study Guide. Used with permission.

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" Apostates / False Teachers Ahead - BEWARE ! "

     If you have spent any time at all in churches (all denominations) you may have noticed that they seem to be in disarray or prospering beyond belief. The first one you might think is a problem church and not doing what the LORD would have them to be doing and the prosperous church you might think is going gang busters for the LORD; you would probably be wrong on both counts.

     The LORD was well aware of what was going to happen almost from the moment that HE ascended back into Heaven, because HE had much to say about it especially through Paul, Peter and Jude but also in other Books of the Bible.  Wolves in sheep's clothing, wolves in the pulpits, false teachers, apostates of every kind were warned about right from the beginning of the infant church straight through today and beyond.

     Many denying the Deity of CHRIST,  the blood of CHRIST,  Salvation through CHRIST alone, the Gospel, the WORD of GOD;  all being used by the great deceiver and accuser of the brethren, the devil / Satan and his demons. These people tout the same lie that the serpent told Eve in the Garden of Eden,  " did GOD really say ? "   Doubt of GOD's love, doubt of GOD's SON, doubt, doubt, doubt ! ! !

2nd.Peter Chapter 2 speaks much about the False Teachers and the LORD calls them:  Unjust, Presumptuous, Self-Willed, like natural Brute Beasts, Corrupted, Spots and Blemishes, Adulterers (spiritual), Beguilers, Covetous, Accursed children, Wells without water, Slaves of Corruption, a Dog who returns to its own vomit, a Sow wallowing in the mire.  2nd.Peter 2:1-3 says,   " But there were also false prophets among the people even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the LORD WHO bought them and bring on themselves swift destruction. And many will follow their destructive ways because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed.  By covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words;  for a long time their judgment has not been idle, and their destruction does not slumber. "  Please read the rest of 2nd. Peter Chapter 2 for more help in identifying these False Teachers.

The Book of Jude uses nearly the same terminology and descriptions for Apostates.  Jude 3-4,12-13,16  " Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common Salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints.  For certain men have crept in unnoticed who long ago were marked out for this condemnation, ungodly men, who turn the grace of our GOD into licentiousness and deny the only LORD GOD and our LORD JESUS CHRIST."

" These are spots in your love feasts, while they feast with you without fear, serving only themselves;  they are clouds without water carried about by the winds;  late autumn trees without fruit, twice dead, pulled up by the roots; raging waves of the sea, foaming up their own shame; wandering stars for whom is reserved the blackness of darkness forever. "

" These are murmurers, complainers, walking according to their own lusts;  and they mouth great swelling words, flattering people to gain advantage. "

     Read the entire Book of Jude to get the full word on Apostates. CHRIST warned the people about those  " who were as white washed tombs full of dead men's bones. " These wolves in sheep's clothing are not only in the pulpits of many churches but they are prevalent within the congregations.  Most congregants are ignorant of what the WORD of GOD says and they are easily lead into error by False Teachers and Apostates in the pulpit.  But also, the congregation can have among them, those who have come from other churches with error galore !  It is like a little leaven leavening the whole lump little by little until the soft spoken, compliant Pastor no longer has control of those who he once ministered unto and he finds himself outside wondering what happened.

     I did this blog because I have seen much apostasy being relayed on the Internet, false teachers of all sorts, those who want to rewrite the Bible, those who want people to get saved then throw the Bible away,those who misinterpret the WORD of GOD for their own egos, those who deny that JESUS is GOD, and deny the blood of CHRIST as payment for our sins, and so on and so forth adnausium.   So if it is this bad on the Internet our churches cannot be that far behind.  So the next time you move or are out there checking into churches to become part of a local assembly for the service of CHRIST and the brethren;  be careful, be wise, check them out 6 ways from Sunday and then some. Check out their Statement of Faith word by word and ask questions;  do not be afraid to ask questions.  If you get an attitude by asking questions then a flag is being raised as to whether they are on the up and up.  Don't just look at the size of their congregation and assume that all is well. Many of the largest congregations in the U.S. are suspect at best and totally Apostate at worst.

     Just be careful and allow the HOLY SPIRIT to guide you into the congregation that is a right fit for you and your family.  GOD wants us to assemble together to do the work of the ministry;  to care for and encourage one another; especially as we see the Day approaching.  We are not to be hermits, alone. Our love for CHRIST is only to be first above our love and care for the brethren; and you cannot care for the brethren if you are not part of a local assembly of like minded believers.  So go out and do your research to find the one place that GOD has for you to be of service to HIM and to HIS children.

Your servant in CHRIST,

Julie

" NO GREATER LOVE "

     " As the FATHER loved ME, I also have loved you; abide in MY love.  If you keep MY commandments, you will abide in MY love, just as I have kept MY FATHER's commandments and abide in HIS love.  These things I have spoken to you, that MY joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.  This is MY commandment, that you love one another, as I have loved you.  GREATER LOVE has no man than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends. " John 15:9-13

     " By this we know love, because HE laid down HIS life for us, and we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. "  1st. John 3:16

     " He who has MY commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves ME. And he who loves ME will be loved by MY FATHER, and I will love him and manifest MYSELF to him. Judas (not Iscariot) said to HIM,  ' LORD, how is it that YOU will manifest YOURSELF to us, and not to the world ? ' JESUS answered and said to him,  ' If anyone loves ME, he will keep MY WORD;  and MY FATHER will love him and WE will come to him and make OUR home with him. He who does not love ME does not keep MY WORD's;  and the WORD which you hear is not MINE but the FATHER's WHO sent ME.' "  John 14:21-24

     " Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with GOD through our LORD JESUS CHRIST, through WHOM also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of GOD, and not only that, but we also glory in tribulations; knowing that tribulation produces perseverance;  and perseverance, character;  and character, hope.  Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of GOD has been poured out in our hearts by the HOLY SPIRIT WHO was given to us.  For when we were still without strength, in due time, CHRIST died for the ungodly.  For scarcely for a righteous man will one die;  yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. BUT GOD demonstrates (shows) HIS OWN love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, CHRIST died for us.  Much more then, having now been justified by HIS blood, we shall be saved from wrath through HIM.  For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to GOD through the death of HIS SON, much more having been reconciled, we shall be saved by HIS life (resurrection from the dead).  And not only that, but we also rejoice in GOD through our LORD JESUS CHRIST, through WHOM we have now received the reconciliation. " Romans 5:1-11

     " Beloved, let us love one another for love is of GOD; and everyone who loves is born of GOD and knows GOD. He who does not love does not know GOD, for GOD is love. In this the love of GOD was manifested (shown) toward us, that GOD has sent HIS only begotten SON into the world, that we might live through HIM.  In this is love, not that we loved GOD, but that HE loved us and sent HIS son to be the propitiation (payment) for our sins.  Beloved, if GOD so loved us we also ought to love one another.  No one has seen GOD at any time.  If we love one another, GOD abides in us, and HIS love has been perfected in us. By this we know that we abide in HIM, and HE in us, because HE has given us of HIS SPIRIT, and we have seen and testify that the FATHER has sent the SON as SAVIOR of the world. Whosoever confesses that JESUS is the SON of GOD, GOD abides in him, and he in GOD.  And we have known and believed the love that GOD has for us.  GOD is love, and he who abides in love abides in GOD, and GOD in him.  Love has been perfected among us in this:  that we may have boldness in the day of judgment because as HE is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love;  but perfect love casts out fear because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.  We love HIM because HE first loved us.  If someone says,  ' I love GOD, and hates his brother, he is a liar;  for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen how can he love GOD WHOM he has not seen ? '  And this commandment we have from HIM:  that he who loves GOD must love his brother also. "  1st.John 4:7-21

     " For GOD so loved the world that HE gave HIS only begotten SON, that whosoever believes in HIM should not perish but have everlasting life.  For GOD did not send HIS SON into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through HIM might be saved.  He who believes in HIM is not condemned,  but he who does NOT believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten SON of GOD. "   John 3:16-18

Above is just a tiny sampling of what the Bible says about GOD's love.  There is also the love chapter in 1st.Corinthians 13 that I could have added and many more too numerous to list.  The Bible is replete with how much GOD loves HIS creation and how much HE has done to show that love, especially in that HE sent HIS SON, the LORD JESUS CHRIST down to earth to pay the price for our sin.  GOD loves us and wants unbroken fellowship with us. Sin, the curse of sin has broken that fellowship;  but the LORD JESUS came to pay the price of our sin debt and to restore the fellowship that we once had with GOD the FATHER in the Garden of Eden.  Come, believe in the LORD JESUS for Salvation and immediately that longed for fellowship will be restored and direct access to the FATHER through HIS SON will be enjoyed for all eternity.

Your servant in CHRIST,

Julie

ONCE SAVED, ETERNALLY SECURE !

     Salvation, being Born Again, Saved, the Gospel of our Salvation, being a Christian (Christ-like-one).  Many names that point to one truth.  GOD saves and when GOD saves, HE keeps.  There are many false teachings running around these days, too numerous to go into all of them in one blog.  But the one false teaching that is running around and giving people a sad outlook for their place in Heaven is:  You can loose your salvation once you have heard the WORD of truth and the HOLY SPIRIT has done HIS work in your heart.  Such a false doctrine as this could only be, as all false doctrines are, from the pit of Hell.  What kind of security, peace and contentment can you have if you are worried every moment of every day that you have done something that made you loose your Salvation. Face it, you are a sinner and a sinner will sin til the day he dies. As a Christian, we should daily become more like CHRIST and sin less, but you will never be without sin, in this life.

     Can you imagine, just for a moment, what our SAVIOR, the LORD JESUS went through on the cross to pay our sin debt in full.  Yes, our sin debt was paid in full by the LORD JESUS CHRIST, on the cross.  Every sin that anyone has ever committed or ever will commit has been completely paid for by JESUS's death, burial and resurrection.  The FATHER's requirement for payment of our sin was satisfied and there was nothing more to be done.  The LORD HIMSELF said,  " It is finished. "   So how could there be anything that we could do to undo the payment of our debt ? ? ?

     Let us look at a few Scriptures to see about how iron clad our Salvation is and by WHOM it is GUARANTEED.  

2nd.Corinthians 1:19-21 states,   " For the SON of GOD, JESUS CHRIST, WHO was preached among you by us - by me, Silvanus, and Timothy - was not Yes and No, but in HIM was Yes.  For all the promises of GOD in HIM are Yes, and in HIM AMEN, to the glory of GOD through us.  Now HE WHO establishes us with you in CHRIST and has anointed us is GOD,  WHO also has sealed us and given us the SPIRIT in our hearts as a deposit. "

Ephesians 1:3-14  states,   " Blessed be the GOD and FATHER of our LORD JESUS CHRIST,  WHO has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in CHRIST, just as HE chose us in HIM before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before HIM in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by JESUS CHRIST to HIMSELF, according to the good pleasure of HIS will, to the praise of the glory of HIS grace, by which HE has made us accepted in the BELOVED.  In HIM we have redemption through HIS blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of HIS grace, which HE made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence, having made known to us the mystery of HIS will, according to HIS good pleasure which HE purposed in HIMSELF, that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times HE might gather together in one all things in CHRIST, both which are in Heaven and which are on earth - in HIM, in WHOM also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of HIM WHO works all things according to the counsel of HIS will,  that we who first trusted in CHRIST should be to the praise of HIS glory.  In HIM you also trusted, after you heard the WORD of truth, the Gospel of your Salvation;  in WHOM also having believed you were sealed with the HOLY SPIRIT of promise,  WHO is the GUARANTEE of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of HIS glory. "

Ephesians 4:30 also states,   " And do not grieve the HOLY SPIRIT of GOD by WHOM you were sealed for the day of redemption. "

John 10:25-30  states,   " JESUS answered them (the Jews),  ' I told you, and you do not believe.  The works that I do in MY FATHER's name, they bear witness of ME.  But you do not believe, because you are not of MY sheep, as I said to you.  MY sheep hear MY voice and I know them and they follow me.  And I give them eternal life and they shall NEVER perish;  neither shall anyone snatch them out of MY hand.  MY FATHER, WHO has given them to ME, is greater than all and no one is able to snatch them out of MY FATHER's hand.  I and MY FATHER are ONE.' "

John 14:15-18  states,   " If you love ME,  keep MY commandments, and I will pray the FATHER and HE will give you another HELPER that HE may abide with you FOREVER,  even the SPIRIT of truth WHOM the world cannot receive, because it neither sees HIM nor knows HIM;  but you know HIM for HE dwells with you  and will be in you.  I will not leave you orphans;  I will come to you. "

John 14:25-27  also states,   " These things I have spoken to you while being present with you.  But the HELPER, the HOLY SPIRIT WHOM the FATHER will send in MY name, HE will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.  Peace I leave with you;  My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled neither let it be afraid. "

     The above Scriptures are just some of those given to give us a peace that surpasses all understanding.  If you could loose your Salvation because you sinned (which all sin has already been paid for) what kind of peace would that be.  The LORD said that HE was leaving us HIS peace, not the worlds kind of peace, which can be taken away or lost at any moment.  The peace that the LORD leaves us with is SEALED in the knowledge of HIS Salvation, that our debt has been paid in full, that we are in the FATHER's hand which is also the SON's hand.  So you tell me who is strong enough to take us out of GOD's hand;  who is strong enough to take the HOLY SPIRIT ( or SEAL and GUARANTEE) out of us?

     NO ONE is strong enough to take away our promise of eternal life, of Heaven, of eternity with our LORD and SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST.  As 1st.John 5:6-13 states,

" This is HE WHO came by water and blood - JESUS CHRIST;  not only by water but by water and blood.  And it is the SPIRIT WHO bears witness, because the SPIRIT is truth.  For there are three WHO bear witness in Heaven, the FATHER, the WORD, and the HOLY SPIRIT;  and these three are ONE.  And there are three that bear witness on earth;  the SPIRIT, the water, and the blood;  and these three agree as ONE.  If we receive the witness of men,  the witness of GOD is greater for this is the witness of GOD which HE has testified of HIS SON. He who believes in the SON of GOD has the witness in himself;  he who does not believe GOD has made HIM a liar,  because he has not believed the testimony that GOD has given of HIS SON. And this is the testimony;  that GOD has given us eternal life, and this life is in HIS son.  He who has the SON has (eternal) life;  he who does not have the SON of GOD does not have life.  These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the SON of GOD, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may believe in the name of the SON of GOD. "

     Once saved, always saved may not be quite accurate. Once saved, FOREVER saved or Eternally saved goes along with the promises made by our LORD and SAVIOR, JESUS CHRIST.   So the next time someone wants to rain on your parade about loosing your Salvation, remember the strength of GOD and who could possibly be strong enough to take us out of HIS / THEIR hand !

Your servant in CHRIST, eternally,

Julie

" IMMANUEL - GOD WITH US "

     There are many who look at Christmas as a day of gifts and presents and sports and eating.  But GOD created and spoke of what and WHO would and should be the center of our Christmas celebration. Gifts are fine but we need to stress the original reason for giving those gifts. Scripture is replete with verses pointing to the coming of the ONE WHOM we should be celebrating and I feel the need to show them to you. Scripture gives us prophecies 100's and 1000's of years before the " fullness of the time had come "  for GOD to send forth HIS only begotten SON, born of a virgin, born under the law.  Let us see some of them.

Genesis 3:15   " And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her SEED, HE shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise HIS heel. "

Galatians 4:4   " But when the fullness of the time had come, GOD sent forth HIS SON, born of a woman, born under the law. "

Numbers 24:17   " I see HIM, but not now;  I behold HIM, but not near;  a STAR shall come out of Jacob;  a SCEPTER shall rise out of Israel, and batter the brow of Moab, and destroy all the sons of tumult. "

Matthew 1:2   " Abraham begot Isaac, Isaac begot Jacob, and Jacob begot Judah and his brothers. "

Genesis 49:10   " The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh comes; and to HIM shall be the obedience of the people. "

Luke 3:33   " ...the son of Amminadab, the son of Ram, the son of Hezron, the son of Perez, the son of Judah. "

Isaiah 9:7   " Of the increase of HIS government and peace there will be no end, upon the throne of David and over HIS kingdom, to order it and establish it with judgment and justice from that time forward, even forever.  The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this. "

Luke 1:32, 33   " HE will be great, and will be called the SON of the HIGHEST; and the LORD GOD will give HIM the throne of HIS father David.  And HE will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of HIS kingdom there will be no end. "

Micah 5:2   " But you, Bethlehem, Ephrathah, though you are little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of you shall come forth to ME the ONE to be RULER in Israel, whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting. "

Luke 2:4, 5, 7   " And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary , his betrothed wife, who was with child .... And she brought forth her firstborn SON, and wrapped HIM in swaddling cloths, and laid HIM in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. "

Daniel 9:25   " Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the command to restore and build Jerusalem until MESSIAH the PRINCE, there shall be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks;  the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublesome times. "

Luke 2:1, 2   " And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. "

Isaiah 7:14   " Therefore the LORD HIMSELF will give you a sign:  Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a SON, and shall call HIS name IMMANUEL. "

Luke 1:26, 27, 30, 31   " Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by GOD to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin's name was Mary .... Then the angel said to her,  ' Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with GOD. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a SON, and shall call HIS name JESUS.' "

Jeremiah 31:15   " Thus says the LORD:  A voice was heard in Ramah, lamentation and bitter weeping. Rachel weeping for her children, refusing to be comforted for her children, because they are no more. "

Matthew 2:16-18   " Then Herod, when he saw that he was deceived by the Wise Men, was exceedingly angry, and he sent forth and put to death all the male children who were in Bethlehem and in all its districts, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had determined from the Wise Men. Then was fulfilled what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying:  ' A voice was heard in Ramah, lamentation, weeping, and great mourning. Rachel weeping for her children, refusing to be comforted, because they were no more.' "

Hosea 11:1   " When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called MY SON. "

Matthew 2:14, 15   " When he arose, he took the young CHILD and HIS mother by night and departed for Egypt, and was there until the death of Herod, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the LORD through the prophet, saying, 'Out of Egypt I called MY SON.' "

     There are of course many other prophecies about the LORD but they pertain to HIS ministry and crucifixion which is not part of this study.  Mary and Joseph were both in the line of David.  JESUS will one day return and sit on the throne of David forever and of HIS reign there will be no end.  Mary and Joseph were the human vessels that GOD used to bring HIS SON into this world in human form and to care for him.  Joseph was given the responsibility of naming the boy CHILD as was the custom in those days and once JESUS was born,  Mary and Joseph came together as husband and wife to have many children (Matthew 1:25).

     Many times you hear the phrase,  " JESUS is the reason for the season " and such a truer statement is rarely heard these days. So much of what we see surrounding Christmas has very little to do with the reason and miracle of HIS coming into this world.  HE is the only BABY that was strictly born to die for the sins of ALL mankind.  HE Is the only BABY born without a sin nature.  HE is the only BABY every born that came out of the glories of Heaven and set aside HIS glory to come humbly to the foot of a Roman cross, scourged and mocked and beaten nearly to death;  because of HIS great love for you and me.

     If you have not yet taken time out of your busy schedule to think about WHO the CHRIST CHILD was and is;  then stop and drop to your knees in humble adoration of the greatest CHILD ever born;  the greatest SAVIOR WHO died and rose again for your sins;  and the ONE and only GOD WHO loved you more than HIS OWN life and comfort.  HE came and HE is the great  I  AM !

Your servant in CHRIST,

MERRY CHRISTMAS,

Julie

" A Measure of Faith "

     The LORD JESUS talked about faith with many different analogies, stories and parables.  HE referred to some faith that was as small as a mustard seed; and even at that size it could move mountains.  I was studying the other night and a phrase jumped out at me and I knew then that I was going to be doing a blog about that phrase. When the phrase jumped out at me, I knew then it was time for a new blog and it is about faith.

     The phrase I am referring to is found in the book of Romans, chapter 12 verse 3 which says,   " For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly as GOD has dealt to each one  ' a measure of faith.' "   This phrase, as I said, struck me over and over again.  I reread it and reread it ! How many times do you study Scripture and there it is, a verse that you have read, how many times and this time it jumps off the page as if to say,  " See this, I want you to really see this ! "  Well that phrase is the title of this blog and the LORD spoke to me, not with audible words, but an intense need to understand what those wonderful words really mean.

     Faith, as you might imagine, is a very large and massive subject in Scripture. There are so many areas we can look at, so many people that the LORD has written about, with their faith or lack of faith as a glaring reminder to us of our own shortcomings and strengths.  One of my favorite men of the Old Testament was Joseph. WOW !  Think about it, he had 10 stepbrothers that hated him and GOD gave him dreams and he would tell the family about them and that made things even worse for him;  so bad in fact that his brothers faked his death and sold him into slavery.  But GOD doesn't leave us and HE didn't leave Joseph either. No matter what Joseph did and where he went as a slave, in prison or in the house of Pharaoh,  " the LORD was with him;  and whatever he did, the LORD made it prosper." Nowhere in Scripture, within the story of Joseph, was there any mention of his blaming GOD, or being angry with GOD over his circumstances.  Even when he came face to face with the brothers that faked his death and sold him into slavery he had nothing but compassion on them.  They were so afraid that he would have them killed out of spite but instead he spoke to them these words,   " Joseph said to them,  ' Do not be afraid, for am I in the place of GOD ? But as for you, you meant evil against me, but GOD meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive.' "

     Joseph was a young man of about late teens to 20 years old when he was sold by his brothers as a slave.  It was nearly 20 more years before he would see them again and the LORD strengthened his faith, little by little, trial by trial. Joseph could have become bitter against GOD but as I said, nowhere in Scripture when it talks about Joseph, did he lay the blame for his situation at the LORD's feet. Joseph may have not known what the " big picture " was but he knew the ONE WHO did and that was enough for him !

     We could look at so many of the Old Testament people and their walk with GOD. Samuel, Elijah, Elisha, Job, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Noah, Abraham...... too many to name or go individually to each one and give their story in this post. But I do know of a chapter in the New Testament that summarizes the walk of faith for many of the people in Scripture.  Hebrews 11 is known as the " faith " chapter to those who study Scripture.  Let us take a look at what it has to say about faith and those who walked by it........

Hebrews 11-12:2   " Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good testimony. By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the WORD of GOD, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible. By faith Abel offered to GOD a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained witness that he was righteous. GOD testifying of his gifts;  and through it he being dead still speaks. By faith Enoch was translated so that he did not see death,  ' and was not found because GOD had translated him ', for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased GOD.  BUT without faith it is impossible to please HIM, for he who comes to GOD must believe that HE is, and that HE is a rewarder of those who diligently seek HIM. By faith Noah, being divinely warned of things not yet seen moved with Godly fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his household, by which he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith.

By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would afterward receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he sojourned in the land of promise as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise;  for he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is GOD. By faith Sarah herself also received strength to conceive seed, and she bore a child when she was past the age, because she judged HIM faithful WHO had promised. Therefore from one man, and him as good as dead, were born as many as the stars of the sky in multitude -- innumerable as the sand which is by the seashore.

These all died in faith not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. For those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a homeland. And truly if they had called to mind that country from which they had come out, they would have had opportunity to return. But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore GOD is not ashamed to be called their GOD, for HE has prepared a city for them.

By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, of whom it was said, 'In Isaac your seed shall be called,'  accounting that GOD was able to raise him up, even from the dead, from which he also received him in a figurative sense. By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come. By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and worshiped, leaning on the top of his staff.

By faith Joseph, when he was dying, made mention of the departure of the children of Israel, and gave instructions concerning his bones. By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden three months by his parents, because they saw he was a beautiful child;  and they were not afraid of the king's command. By faith Moses, when he became of age refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of GOD than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, esteeming the reproach of CHRIST greater riches than the treasures in Egypt;  for he looked to the reward. By faith he forsook Egypt not fearing the wrath of the king for he endured as seeing HIM WHO is invisible. By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of blood, lest HE WHO destroyed the firstborn should touch them. By faith they passed through the Red Sea as by dry land, whereas the Egyptians, attempting to do so, were drowned.

By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they were encircled for seven days. By faith the harlot Rahab did not perish with those who did not believe when she had received the spies with peace. And what more shall I say ? For the time would fail me to tell of Gideon and Barak and Samson and Jephthah, also of David and Samuel and the prophets:  who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness,  obtained promises,  stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire,  escaped the edge of the sword,  out of weakness were made strong,  became valiant in battle,  turned to flight the armies of the aliens.

Women received their dead raised to life again. And others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection. Still others had trial of mocking's and scourging's, yes, and of chains and imprisonment. They were stoned,  they were sawn in two, were tempted,  were slain with the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented -- of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains,  in dens and caves of the earth. And all these having obtained a good testimony through faith, did not receive the promise, GOD having provided something better for us, that they should not be made perfect apart from us.

Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight and the sin which so easily ensnares us and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,  looking unto JESUS , the AUTHOR and FINISHER of our faith, WHO for the joy that was set before HIM endured the cross, despising the shame and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of GOD. "         Hebrews 11 - 12:2

     As I said,  " faith "  is such a huge subject to study in Scripture and without faith, as we saw, it is impossible to please GOD.  As Truly Born Again Believers / Saints in the LORD, we are in grand company;  but if you are like me, I feel very unworthy of even being mentioned in the same breath with those of Scripture.  They went through so much for their walk with the LORD and we, if we get a hangnail can't seem to get ourselves to a comfy church pew. Remember I am including myself in this scenario. As we see the Day approaching of our LORD's soon return, things may get a bit messy and uncomfortable for the child of GOD. We need to get our spiritual houses and our actual homes cleaned up. Get rid of anything that would defile your testimony for the LORD. Keep short sin lists. Also remember WHO the AUTHOR of your faith truly is; even our faith in the LORD is from HIM.

     Get right and get ready for whatever the LORD has coming our way whether it is to be the home going of HIS Bride the church  or  staying here  as witnesses to HIS grace and mercy through trials and testings.  The Apostle Paul was hard pressed between the two;  whether to stay here which was more needful for the new churches or to go and be with his LORD, which would be better for him. But that is something that we need not concern ourselves with because we will be here til the LORD deems it time to go home either by death or by the rapture.  Our job is to keep and contend for the  the faith, tell people about HIM and the Gospel of Salvation, teach, rebuke, exhort'  but the future is HIS to work out.  Remember:  " Faith is the substance (realization) of things hoped for, the evidence (confidence) of things not (yet) seen. "  Hebrews 11:1

     I hope that you enjoyed this post as much as I enjoyed doing it. When I post a blog, for and about the LORD, I learn right along with you.  I am so glad that I have not yet attained perfection !  Hah, Hah, Hah, not in this life but in the one to come we will know as we are known, isn't that a grand thought !  Blessings !

Your servant in CHRIST,

Julie

" ASCENDED ! Absent from the body - present with the LORD. "

     Many years ago I came across a short Bible study that was written with verses in 2nd. Corinthians 4:16 thru 5:8 in mind.  I will give you the verses and then share with you the short study that I recently found again in an old Bible that I had gotten out to use.  The study was tucked within the pages and as I read it again, the reasons for my keeping it became apparent.

2nd. Corinthians 4:16 thru 5:8   " Therefore we do not lose heart.  Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction,  which is but for a moment,   is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory,  while we do not look at the things which are seen but at the things which are not seen.  For the things which are seen are temporary but the things which are not seen are eternal.

For we know that if our earthly house (physical body), this tent,  is destroyed, we have a building from GOD,  a house not made with hands,  eternal in the heavens.  For in this we groan,  earnestly desiring to be clothed with our habitation (new heavenly body) which is from Heaven,  if indeed,  having been clothed,  we shall not be found naked.

For we who are in this tent groan being burdened not because we want to be unclothed,  but further clothed, that mortality may be swallowed up by life. Now HE WHO has prepared us for this very thing is GOD,  WHO also has given us the SPIRIT as a guarantee.  

Therefore,  we are always confident,  knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the LORD. For we walk by faith NOT by sight. We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the LORD. "     2nd. Corinthians 4:16 - 5:8 NKJV

     We all have trepidation when it comes to death;  but the child of GOD should look at it as it is,  ' Our faith becoming sight. '   All that we have put our eternal hope into will become visual.  We will see the LORD as HE is; we will have bodies that no longer give us grief;  our loved ones who have died, in CHRIST, will be there;  our mansions will be finished;  all the saints that the LORD had written about will be there for us to meet;  and so many other things that are not written but I am sure GOD has much for us to do, and we will love every second of it for ALL eternity !

     The short Bible study that I came across was called  ASCENDED !  Here it is in its entirety:

Joseph Parker (1830 - 1902) was a beloved English Preacher in the Congregational denomination.  When his wife died,  he didn't have the customary wording inscribed on her gravestone.  Instead of the word  died  followed by the date of her death,  he chose the word  ASCENDED.

     Joseph Parker found great comfort in being reminded that though his wife's body had been placed in the grave, the  " real " Mrs. Parker had been transported to Heaven, into the presence of her SAVIOR, the LORD JESUS CHRIST. When Parker himself died,  it's no wonder that his friends made sure that his gravestone read: ASCENDED  November 28, 1902.

     When a loved one dies in the LORD,  or when we face dying ourselves,  there's great comfort in the fact that  " to be absent from the body "  is  " to be present with the LORD. "  Death for us is NOT a dark journey into the unknown. It is not a lonely walk into a strange and friendless place.  Rather,  it is a glorious transition from the trials of this earth into the joys of Heaven,  where we will be reunited with our loved ones in CHRIST who have gone on before us. Best of all,  we will enjoy the presence of our LORD JESUS,  forever !

     YES,  when a believer dies,  the body is buried but not the soul.  

It  has  ASCENDED ! -- R.W.D

                    Oh,  how blessed is the promise

                        When our spirit is set free:

                       To be absent from the body

             Means to live, O LORD, with THEE ! -- H.G.B.

     " Absent from the body and to be present with the LORD. "  Now that can come through death, but we as children of GOD are also looking for the next great thing in the LORD's timeline;  the " rapture "  of HIS Bride the church before the Tribulation period.  If this happens before death, we will be called up into the clouds by the LORD and the dead bodies of the saints will be changed and reunited with their souls and all this  " will happen in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye. "   Does anyone know how fast light makes a twinkle in the eye ? Well that is how fast the  " rapture " of the LORD's Bride, will happen and it can be any day,  even right this moment as you are reading this !

     So chin up, eyes up, spirit's up, hearts lifted, and your soul ready for the coming of the LORD;  whether by death or the rapture our  " faith will become sight. "

Your servant in CHRIST,

Julie