Sunday, July 24, 2016

Travel with the Holy Spirit

What comes to my mind about travel and the Holy Spirit:

The Heavenly Hope

Hebrews 11: 13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them,[c] embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. 14 For those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a homeland. 15 And truly if they had called to mind that country from which they had come out, they would have had opportunity to return. 16 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.

Christ Our Cornerstone

Ephesians 2:19 Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20 having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, 22 in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.

Our Citizenship in Heaven

Philippians 3:17 Brethren, join in following my example, and note those who so walk, as you have us for a pattern. 18 For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping,that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: 19 whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame—who set their mind on earthly things. 20 For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself.

Jesus Promises Another Helper

John 14:15 “If you love Me, keep[d] My commandments. 16 And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever— 17 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. 18 I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.

Indwelling of the Father and the Son

19 “A little while longer and the world will see Me no more, but you will see Me. Because I live, you will live also. 20 At that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you. 21 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.”

The Gift of His Peace

25 “These things I have spoken to you while being present with you. 26 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. 27 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. 

Acts 1:7-9New King James Version (NKJV)

And He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority. But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me[a] in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

Jesus Ascends to Heaven

Acts 1:9 Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight.
Acts 2: 38 Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.”

A Vital Church Grows

Acts 2: 40 And with many other words he testified and exhorted them, saying, “Be saved from this perverse generation.” 41 Then those who gladly[g] received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them. 42 And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. 43 Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles.44 Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, 45 and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need.
46 So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church[h] daily those who were being saved.

Basically I believe we are citizens of heaven bought by the blood of Jesus and are passing through this world. The power of the Holy Spirit was given to us to be able to endure hardships and promote the spread of the gospel. For it is by faith you are saved and that not of your own doing it is a gift from God Ephesians 2. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God Romans 10. Without faith it is impossible to please God Hebrews 11.  Therefore as I travel through this world I must Preach the word in season and out ready to give every man an answer for the hope that lies within me with gentleness and respect 2Tim.4. And Let my light so shine that men might see my good deeds and glorify my Father in Heaven Matthew 5:16. When Jeffrey died these truths were made crystal clear to me. Tomorrow is not promised to us and we must walk in the light as He is in the light John 12,  and do the works of God while it is still day because the night is coming when no man can work John 9. So as I travel through this fallen sinful world I hold on to the truths of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and rejoice in the God of my salvation. He has given us His Word, His Spirit, His sacraments and His people to encourage and strengthen us along the way. To God be the glory now and forever. Amen

Tuesday, December 1, 2015

Jesus Is The Rock

There is only one Rock in scripture. The new testament is the old testament prophecies of Jesus fulfilled. The old testament refers to God as a Rock. Jesus said if you see me you have seen the Father who sent me. Jesus made himself equal with God. Jesus is the Rock the church is founded on, Peter's confession of who Jesus is confirms this. Isaiah 42:8 “I am the Lord; that is my name! I will notyield my glory to another or my praise to idols." Jesus is the chief cornerstone the Rock that the builders have rejected. Jesus is a rock of offense and stumbling. He founded His church on all who believe in Him,3:16 God so loved the world that whoever believes in Him shall never perish but have eternal life. . John 5:43-45
43 I (Jesus) have come in my Father’s name, and you do not accept me; but if someone else comes in his own name, you will accept him. 44 How can you believe since you accept glory from one another but do not seek the glory that comes from the only God[a]? Jesus confirms He is the foundation of the church in parables in the wise and foolish builder. The wise one builds on the rock the foolish on sand Matt 7:25, Luke 6:48. Paul confirms Jesus as the Rock Romans 9:33 As it is written: “See, I lay in Zion a stone that causes people to stumble and a rock that makes them fall, and the one who believes in him will never be put to shame.” 1 Corinthians 10:4 and drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ. 1 Peter 2:7-9
7 Now to you who believe, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe,
“The stone the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone,”[a]
8 and,
“A stone that causes people to stumble
and a rock that makes them fall.”[b]
They stumble because they disobey the message—which is also what they were destined for.
9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Peter is not the Rock referred to in the Old Testament Jesus is. Isaiah 42:8 “I am the Lord; that is my name! I will not yield my glory to another or my praise to idols. OT ROCK-- 1 Samuel 2:2 [Full Chapter]
“There is no one holy like the Lord; there is no one besides you; there is no Rock like our God. Deuteronomy 32:4 He is the Rock, his works are perfect, and all his ways are just. A faithful God who does no wrong, upright and just is he.
Deuteronomy 32:15 Jeshurun grew fat and kicked; filled with food, they became heavy and sleek. They abandoned the God who made them and rejected the Rock their Savior. Deuteronomy 32:31 For their rock is not like our Rock, as even our enemies concede. 2 Samuel 22:32 For who is God besides the Lord? And who is the Rock except our God? 2 Samuel 22:47 “The Lord lives! Praise be to my Rock! Exalted be my God, the Rock, my Savior! Psalm 19:14 May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer. Psalm 62[a]
For the director of music. For Jeduthun. A psalm of David.
1 Truly my soul finds rest in God;
my salvation comes from him.
2 Truly he is my rock and my salvation;
he is my fortress, I will never be shaken.
Psalm 78:35 They remembered that God was their Rock, that God Most High was their Redeemer. Psalm 89:26 He will call out to me, ‘You are my Father, my God, the Rock my Savior.’ Psalm 92:15 proclaiming, “The Lord is upright; he is my Rock, and there is no wickedness in him. (Peter was a sinner like the rest of us, only Jesus was sinless and the Rock of salvation). Psalm 95:1 [ Psalm 95 ] Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation. Isaiah 26:4 Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord, the Lord himself, is the Rock eternal. Isaiah 44:8 Do not tremble, do not be afraid. Did I not proclaim this and foretell it long ago? You are my witnesses. Is there any God besides me? No, there is no other Rock; I know not one.”

Thursday, November 27, 2014

The Power Of The Tongue

This is part of my song " The Power Of The Tongue". The entire song is bible verses. margiewongmusic.com/music 

1 Peter 3:8-4:6New King James Version (NKJV)

Called to Blessing

Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous;[a] not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing. 10 For
“He who would love life
And see good days,
Let him refrain his tongue from evil,
And his lips from speaking deceit.
11 Let him turn away from evil and do good;
Let him seek peace and pursue it.
12 For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous,
And His ears are open to their prayers;
But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”[b]


Wednesday, November 26, 2014

1Peter 2:18-23

18 Servants, be submissive to your masters with all fear, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the harsh.19 For this is commendable, if because of conscience toward God one endures grief, suffering wrongfully. 20 For what credit is it if, when you are beaten for your faults, you take it patiently? But when you do good and suffer, if you take it patiently, this is commendable before God. 21 For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us,[a] leaving us[b] an example, that you should follow His steps:
22 “Who committed no sin,
Nor was deceit found in His mouth”[c]
23 who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committedHimself to Him who judges righteously; 24 who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed. 25 For you were like sheep going astray, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer[d] of your souls.

Thursday, October 30, 2014

Graces of the Heirs of Grace

Remind them to be subject to rulers and authorities, to obey, to be ready for every good work, to speak evil of no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing all humility to all men. For we ourselves were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another. But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
This is a faithful saying, and these things I want you to affirm constantly, that those who have believed in God should be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable to men.

Avoid Dissension

But avoid foolish disputes, genealogies, contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and useless. 10 Reject a divisive man after the first and second admonition, 11 knowing that such a person is warped and sinning, being self-condemned.
Titus 3:1-11

Tuesday, October 7, 2014

Hope

New Heavens and a New Earth

17 “See, I will create
    new heavens and a new earth.
The former things will not be remembered,
    nor will they come to mind.
18 But be glad and rejoice forever
    in what I will create,
for I will create Jerusalem to be a delight
    and its people a joy.
19 I will rejoice over Jerusalem
    and take delight in my people;
the sound of weeping and of crying
    will be heard in it no more.
Isaiah 65:17-19

I want to always remember this, that this world we will remember no more. No matter how good or bad times get we will not remember any of it because the glory of God will eclipse all the good and erase all the bad. What a joy, what a hope to have in our Redeemer who lives. That all that we go through here is but for a short time yet all eternity we will be rejoicing and every tear wiped away never to return. 

Wednesday, October 1, 2014

Isaiah 57:1New International Version (NIV)

57 The righteous perish,
    and no one takes it to heart;
the devout are taken away,
    and no one understands
that the righteous are taken away
    to be spared from evil.