I remember (decades ago, lol) when I was in high school I had to dissect a frog in biology class. Not a pretty sight or memory for that matter except that I learned a lot about the anatomy of a frog. Well, this study intends to give us insight about how man is made up. Jesus had a discussion with some scribes during which He gave man’s blueprint.
“And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.” (Mark 12:30)
Jesus told the scribe something dynamic about man when He told him the greatest commandment. Jesus painted an accurate picture of man, consisting of four essentials: heart, soul, mind and strength. Let us examine these four to get a better look at the picture of man.
The heart
Heart (Greek—KARDIA, pronounced kär-dē'-ä) here refers to the core of man or the middle, central or innermost being. It is both the vigour and sense of the physical life (Luke 21:34; Acts 14:17) as well as the center and seat of the spiritual life (Romans 10:9; Galatians 4:6).
The soul
Soul (Greek—PSYCHE, pronounced psü-khā') consists of the feelings, desires, affections and aversions and is listed in numerous scriptures synonymous with these (Luke 2:35; II Peter 2:8; III John 2). It is also referred to as breath or the vital force which animates the body (Acts 20:10).
The mind
Mind (Greek—DIANOIA, pronounced dē-ä'-noi-ä) consists of the faculties of understanding, feeling, desiring and thinking (including imagination), inherent within the heart (compare it to the 'spirit' (Greek—PNEUMA) of man in I Corinthians 2:11, as well as the ‘spirit’ (Hebrew—NESHAMAH) of man in Proverbs 20:27).
The strength
Strength (Greek—ISCHYS, pronounced ē-skhü's) refers to force, strength, power and might having to do not only with the physical body and its five senses but to one’s ability (I Peter 4:11) or propensity to be strong.
The scribe answered Jesus and agreed with Him on all points except one: the mind. In his response the scribe substituted ‘the mind’ for ‘the understanding’. The scribe was speaking from his limited knowledge and this was a reflection of his unregenerate condition.
“And the scribe said unto him, Well, Master, thou hast said the truth: for there is one God; and there is none other but he: And to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbour as himself, is more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.” (Mark 12:32-33)
The understanding
Understanding (Greek—SYNESIS, pronounced sü'n-e-sēs) refers to something flowing together as in two rivers, but in this scripture speaks to the mind in so far as it simply understands (without any other function).
This was a very different meaning from the one Jesus intended when He mentioned the mind. The word used by Jesus (DIANOIA) established that the mind consists of the understanding along with feeling, desiring and thinking as well as imagination and that all are inherent within the spirit.
The word used by the scribe (SYNESIS) differs in that the understanding stands alone, thus it is limited since it is without feeling, desiring and thinking as well as imagination.
We have two images here:
DIANOIA—that of a man who is connected to God; and
SYNESIS—that of a man who is separated from God.
I sincerely hope that you are connected to God through your belief in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. If you are separated from God just believe in your heart that Jesus Christ died for your sin, tell someone that you believe and decide to stop practicing things that separate us from God. Also find someone to study the Bible with or find a church where the Holy Bible is being taught by the Holy Spirit, so that your newborn spirit can get the milk of the Word of God.
God Bless You.
About Me
- S. Morgan
- Fukuoka, Japan
- Christian blogger, KJV Bible apologist, legal researcher, teacher, learner, family man, writer, entrepreneur, born Jamaican, son of the soil, traveler... it's complicated. "For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, [are called]: But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, [yea], and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: That no flesh should glory in his presence." 1 Corinthians 1:25-29 (KJV)
Saturday, June 11, 2011
Thursday, June 9, 2011
SOUL-SLEEP IS NOT SCRIPTURAL
I THESSALONIANS
The Apostle Paul wrote this first letter to the Thessalonians to confirm the young disciples in the fundamental truths that they had already learned. He was urging them to continue in Holiness and was also comforting them about those who had already died in the faith.
In 1 Thessalonians 4, a reference is made to those that are 'asleep' (v.13). The Greek word used here for 'asleep' is koimaō, pronounced koi-mä'-ō. It literally means to sleep, to still, calm or quiet and to die. It is also used in verses 14 & 15 when talking about those who sleep in Jesus. Bodies die but all souls are eternal, even the ones that are separated from God.
"But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words." (Verses 13-18)
In context, a parallel is drawn with those who 'sleep in Jesus' and the 'dead in Christ'. They are the same. The word 'dead' (v.16) comes from the Greek nekros, pronounced ne-kro's. It refers to one who has literally breathed the last breath, making the body lifeless. The initial focus of the scripture is on those who sleep and the second reference is on the dead. This scripture is therefore saying that those who 'sleep in Jesus' are also 'dead in Christ'.
ACTS
The scripture says that David went to sleep and saw corruption but Christ did not because God raised Him from the dead. The scripture here is talking about the bodies of the two. Surely no one can say that this refers to David's soul because that would mean that David’s soul saw corruption. Moreover, Christ's soul or spirit did not need rising from the dead but his body did. He would have gone back to God if His body had not been raised.
"God hath fulfilled the same unto us their children, in that he hath raised up Jesus again; as it is also written in the second psalm, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee. And as concerning that he raised him up from the dead, now no more to return to corruption, he said on this wise, I will give you the sure mercies of David. Wherefore he saith also in another psalm, Thou shalt not suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. For David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God, fell on sleep, and was laid unto his fathers, and saw corruption: But he, whom God raised again, saw no corruption." Acts 13:33-37
The same two Greek words above (koimaō and nekros) are used in this scripture as well. Christ's body did not see corruption because God raised Him from the dead but David’s corpse lay rotting, awaiting the resurrection.
The scripture says the body without the spirit is (nekros) dead (James 2:26).
“For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.”
You may read the entire study by clicking the link "SOUL-SLEEP IS NOT SCRIPTURAL" under OTHER STUDIES to the right near the top of this page.
God Bless and Keep You!
The Apostle Paul wrote this first letter to the Thessalonians to confirm the young disciples in the fundamental truths that they had already learned. He was urging them to continue in Holiness and was also comforting them about those who had already died in the faith.
In 1 Thessalonians 4, a reference is made to those that are 'asleep' (v.13). The Greek word used here for 'asleep' is koimaō, pronounced koi-mä'-ō. It literally means to sleep, to still, calm or quiet and to die. It is also used in verses 14 & 15 when talking about those who sleep in Jesus. Bodies die but all souls are eternal, even the ones that are separated from God.
"But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words." (Verses 13-18)
In context, a parallel is drawn with those who 'sleep in Jesus' and the 'dead in Christ'. They are the same. The word 'dead' (v.16) comes from the Greek nekros, pronounced ne-kro's. It refers to one who has literally breathed the last breath, making the body lifeless. The initial focus of the scripture is on those who sleep and the second reference is on the dead. This scripture is therefore saying that those who 'sleep in Jesus' are also 'dead in Christ'.
ACTS
The scripture says that David went to sleep and saw corruption but Christ did not because God raised Him from the dead. The scripture here is talking about the bodies of the two. Surely no one can say that this refers to David's soul because that would mean that David’s soul saw corruption. Moreover, Christ's soul or spirit did not need rising from the dead but his body did. He would have gone back to God if His body had not been raised.
"God hath fulfilled the same unto us their children, in that he hath raised up Jesus again; as it is also written in the second psalm, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee. And as concerning that he raised him up from the dead, now no more to return to corruption, he said on this wise, I will give you the sure mercies of David. Wherefore he saith also in another psalm, Thou shalt not suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. For David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God, fell on sleep, and was laid unto his fathers, and saw corruption: But he, whom God raised again, saw no corruption." Acts 13:33-37
The same two Greek words above (koimaō and nekros) are used in this scripture as well. Christ's body did not see corruption because God raised Him from the dead but David’s corpse lay rotting, awaiting the resurrection.
The scripture says the body without the spirit is (nekros) dead (James 2:26).
“For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.”
You may read the entire study by clicking the link "SOUL-SLEEP IS NOT SCRIPTURAL" under OTHER STUDIES to the right near the top of this page.
God Bless and Keep You!
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
ANGELS IN OUR MIDST
The Holy Bible tells us that angels are a little more than messengers. They are ministering spirits who are sent to minister for those who shall be heirs of salvation (Hebrews 1:13-14).
"But to which of the angels said he at any time, Sit on my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool? Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?"
The word ‘ministering’ here comes from the Greek leitourgikos, pronounced lā-tür-gē-ko's. It literally refers to the performance of service by one whose duty it is to minister, specifically to angels who obey God’s commands.
The scripture says that we should not forget to ‘entertain’ strangers because some have ‘entertained’ angels without knowing it (Hebrews 13:2).
“Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.”
This is saying that we must be hospitable and show love to strangers because some have hospitably but unknowingly received strangers as guests who were angels. This means that angels take on human form and also means that they can take on any human form.
I accepted Christ when I was twelve years old and always feared God even though I was rebellious. When I was fifteen years old my family moved to the United States from Jamaica. I was taking the school bus to school and was sitting in the only vacant seat on the bus. This guy, who happened to be white and thought he was tough, had been suspended from school and I had been sitting in the seat where he usually sat.
The day he returned to school he called me the ‘n’ word and took a swing at me on the school bus. Needless to say he missed, lost his balance and fell between the seats. He issued a challenge for me to meet him at the park to settle the matter of his wounded pride. I was headstrong, rebellious and fearlessly foolish so I took on the challenge and rode my friend’s bicycle to the park to fight this guy.
When I got there, I was the only one there for about five minutes. I then saw a car approaching slowly. It stopped and this guy and three other muscular looking white guys got out with baseball bats. My heart was drumming in my head like the drummers in a marching band. Then I saw my salvation. There was a man, or what I perceived to be a man, jogging towards us.
The best way to describe this man is that he was as tall as a basketball player, as big as a football player and he was my color. He was jogging so slowly it looked like he was bouncing. The next thing I knew he had his hand on my shoulder and was asking in a deep voice: “You alright little man?” I was looking straight up at his face, which I can’t seem to remember now even though I remember that my head was tilted so far back that it seemed as if I was looking up in the sky.
I don’t remember my answer but I clearly recall hearing the scuffle to get back in the car, the doors slamming and the car speeding off. The man who I believe was my angel just jogged off in the same slow pace he had approached in. I rode my bicycle home thinking about what had happened. The scripture says that the angel of the Lord surrounds those that fear God and delivers them (Psalm 34:7).
This is just an excerpt from my study on ANGELS. Go to the link ANGELS IN OUR MIDST under OTHER STUDIES to the right of this HOME page to find the full study. Feel free to download it.
"But to which of the angels said he at any time, Sit on my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool? Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?"
The word ‘ministering’ here comes from the Greek leitourgikos, pronounced lā-tür-gē-ko's. It literally refers to the performance of service by one whose duty it is to minister, specifically to angels who obey God’s commands.
The scripture says that we should not forget to ‘entertain’ strangers because some have ‘entertained’ angels without knowing it (Hebrews 13:2).
“Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.”
This is saying that we must be hospitable and show love to strangers because some have hospitably but unknowingly received strangers as guests who were angels. This means that angels take on human form and also means that they can take on any human form.
I accepted Christ when I was twelve years old and always feared God even though I was rebellious. When I was fifteen years old my family moved to the United States from Jamaica. I was taking the school bus to school and was sitting in the only vacant seat on the bus. This guy, who happened to be white and thought he was tough, had been suspended from school and I had been sitting in the seat where he usually sat.
The day he returned to school he called me the ‘n’ word and took a swing at me on the school bus. Needless to say he missed, lost his balance and fell between the seats. He issued a challenge for me to meet him at the park to settle the matter of his wounded pride. I was headstrong, rebellious and fearlessly foolish so I took on the challenge and rode my friend’s bicycle to the park to fight this guy.
When I got there, I was the only one there for about five minutes. I then saw a car approaching slowly. It stopped and this guy and three other muscular looking white guys got out with baseball bats. My heart was drumming in my head like the drummers in a marching band. Then I saw my salvation. There was a man, or what I perceived to be a man, jogging towards us.
The best way to describe this man is that he was as tall as a basketball player, as big as a football player and he was my color. He was jogging so slowly it looked like he was bouncing. The next thing I knew he had his hand on my shoulder and was asking in a deep voice: “You alright little man?” I was looking straight up at his face, which I can’t seem to remember now even though I remember that my head was tilted so far back that it seemed as if I was looking up in the sky.
I don’t remember my answer but I clearly recall hearing the scuffle to get back in the car, the doors slamming and the car speeding off. The man who I believe was my angel just jogged off in the same slow pace he had approached in. I rode my bicycle home thinking about what had happened. The scripture says that the angel of the Lord surrounds those that fear God and delivers them (Psalm 34:7).
This is just an excerpt from my study on ANGELS. Go to the link ANGELS IN OUR MIDST under OTHER STUDIES to the right of this HOME page to find the full study. Feel free to download it.
Monday, June 6, 2011
ARE YOU GOOD GROUND?
Jesus was sitting by the sea side and great multitudes of people gathered together on the shore. Jesus went into a ship and sat down and the people remained on the shore while He began to speak. He told them a parable about a planter (sower) who went to plant (sow) some seeds.
"And he spake many things unto them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow; And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up: Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth: And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away. And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them: But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold." (Matthew 13:3-8 KJV)
Jesus said that the sower began to sow the seeds and some of the seeds fell on the road where the sower was travelling. He said the birds came and ate those seeds. Some of the seeds fell upon the ground where there were a lot of rocks and very little arable land. These seeds sprung up quickly because there was no deepness of dirt and when the sun came up it scorched them because they had not taken root and they withered away. Some seeds fell among the thorns and the thorns rose up above them and suffocated them. But some seeds fell into good, arable ground and brough forth fruit. Some produced fruit by the 100's, some by the 60's, some by the 30's.
Jesus then had a discussion with His disciples and proceeded to explain the parable to them. He said:
"Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower. When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side. But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it; Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended. He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful. But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty." (Matthew 13:18-23 KJV)
The seed is the Word of God and the sower is anyone who preaches, teaches, ministers or evangelises. He said that when anyone hears the Word and does not understand it, the devil comes, seizes the word and carries it off by force after it has been sown in the heart. He said this is the person who received the seed by the roadside.
Jesus also said that when anyone hears the Word and receives it with joy but the Word does not strike deep root and sprout with the intention of producing fruit, this is the same as a person who receives the seed into stony places. He said that this person holds the Word for a while even though there is no root. When tribulation or persecution rises like the sun this person becomes (offended) displeased and usually stumbles by beginning to distrust and desert God.
Jesus further explained that when a person hears the Word but allows the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches to stifle the Word, this person becomes unfruitful. He said this is the same as a person who receives the seed among thorns. The thorns are the cares and the deceitfulness of the riches of this world, which suffocate the young sprout and it bears no fruit.
Jesus lastly explains that the person who hears the Word and understands it will bear fruit and bring forth fruit multiplied by the 100's, 60's and 30's. He explained that this is a person who receives the seed into good ground.
I have had to examine myself, to see which one of these explanations from the parable above fit me. My family is currently mourning the passing of our beloved Patriarch. We are all deeply grieving even though we know he is with the Lord. I had been standing in faith for his complete recovery but he passed nonetheless. My heart is broken but I know that God's divine will is being accomplished to GOD's glory. I am good ground and I hope you all are as well. Pray that we all will understand the Word of the Lord, that it will strike deep root, spring up above the thorns and bring forth fruit multiplied by the 100's, 60's and 30's.
God Bless You!
"And he spake many things unto them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow; And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up: Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth: And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away. And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them: But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold." (Matthew 13:3-8 KJV)
Jesus said that the sower began to sow the seeds and some of the seeds fell on the road where the sower was travelling. He said the birds came and ate those seeds. Some of the seeds fell upon the ground where there were a lot of rocks and very little arable land. These seeds sprung up quickly because there was no deepness of dirt and when the sun came up it scorched them because they had not taken root and they withered away. Some seeds fell among the thorns and the thorns rose up above them and suffocated them. But some seeds fell into good, arable ground and brough forth fruit. Some produced fruit by the 100's, some by the 60's, some by the 30's.
Jesus then had a discussion with His disciples and proceeded to explain the parable to them. He said:
"Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower. When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side. But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it; Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended. He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful. But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty." (Matthew 13:18-23 KJV)
The seed is the Word of God and the sower is anyone who preaches, teaches, ministers or evangelises. He said that when anyone hears the Word and does not understand it, the devil comes, seizes the word and carries it off by force after it has been sown in the heart. He said this is the person who received the seed by the roadside.
Jesus also said that when anyone hears the Word and receives it with joy but the Word does not strike deep root and sprout with the intention of producing fruit, this is the same as a person who receives the seed into stony places. He said that this person holds the Word for a while even though there is no root. When tribulation or persecution rises like the sun this person becomes (offended) displeased and usually stumbles by beginning to distrust and desert God.
Jesus further explained that when a person hears the Word but allows the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches to stifle the Word, this person becomes unfruitful. He said this is the same as a person who receives the seed among thorns. The thorns are the cares and the deceitfulness of the riches of this world, which suffocate the young sprout and it bears no fruit.
Jesus lastly explains that the person who hears the Word and understands it will bear fruit and bring forth fruit multiplied by the 100's, 60's and 30's. He explained that this is a person who receives the seed into good ground.
I have had to examine myself, to see which one of these explanations from the parable above fit me. My family is currently mourning the passing of our beloved Patriarch. We are all deeply grieving even though we know he is with the Lord. I had been standing in faith for his complete recovery but he passed nonetheless. My heart is broken but I know that God's divine will is being accomplished to GOD's glory. I am good ground and I hope you all are as well. Pray that we all will understand the Word of the Lord, that it will strike deep root, spring up above the thorns and bring forth fruit multiplied by the 100's, 60's and 30's.
God Bless You!
Friday, June 3, 2011
Believers can TELL GOD!!!
The Prophet Isaiah told Cyrus some things that God said (Isaiah 45).
God said He was going to use Cyrus. This explains why God chose him (v.1). God called Cyrus by name and even gave Cyrus a surname. The Hebrew text explains that God meant that He called Cyrus gently even though Cyrus did not know Him. God called Cyrus to use him for a specific purpose, for the children of Israel (v.4).
God further said that even though Cyrus did not know Him, Cyrus' calling was so that the children of Israel would know that HE was Yehovah - The Existing One and that there was no other God (v.6).
God then cautioned Cyrus about contesting HIM. GOD asked Cyrus if the clay could ask the potter what he was making with it or what purpose he was making it for (v.9).
God then did something completely revolutionary with this man Cyrus who did not know Him. God told Cyrus (a non-believer) to question Him about the Israelites and what HE was doing with them and to COMMAND Him.
"Thus saith the LORD, the Holy One of Israel, and his Maker, Ask me of things to come concerning my sons, and concerning the work of my hands COMMAND YE ME." (v.11)
I love it. THIS MEANS EXACTLY WHAT IT SAYS. If God can tell "CYRUS" to do this, how much more are we (born-again believers, children of the Most High, heirs and joint heirs with Christ) able to do this???
We know that Cyrus became God-minded because God said that He raised Cyrus up in righteousness and that HE would direct all of Cyrus' ways. History (and the Bible) teach us that Cyrus freed the Israelites ( v.13) and used Ezra to rebuild the temple (Ezra 1:1-6).
I AM TELLING YOU that God says that we should ask him about the future of his children and about the works that HIS hands make. HE said we should command HIM. Tell HIM what to do. The scripture uses the same Hebrew word "command" in verse 11 as it does in verse 12 where God said He "commanded" creation.
Isaiah went on to declare other things that are yet unfulfilled (v.14-25).
God is so awesome and has given us, His children, the authority to utilize the same creative word power He uses, to tell Him what to do. Profound revelation. I LOVE YOU LORD. Praises Father.
God said He was going to use Cyrus. This explains why God chose him (v.1). God called Cyrus by name and even gave Cyrus a surname. The Hebrew text explains that God meant that He called Cyrus gently even though Cyrus did not know Him. God called Cyrus to use him for a specific purpose, for the children of Israel (v.4).
God further said that even though Cyrus did not know Him, Cyrus' calling was so that the children of Israel would know that HE was Yehovah - The Existing One and that there was no other God (v.6).
God then cautioned Cyrus about contesting HIM. GOD asked Cyrus if the clay could ask the potter what he was making with it or what purpose he was making it for (v.9).
God then did something completely revolutionary with this man Cyrus who did not know Him. God told Cyrus (a non-believer) to question Him about the Israelites and what HE was doing with them and to COMMAND Him.
"Thus saith the LORD, the Holy One of Israel, and his Maker, Ask me of things to come concerning my sons, and concerning the work of my hands COMMAND YE ME." (v.11)
I love it. THIS MEANS EXACTLY WHAT IT SAYS. If God can tell "CYRUS" to do this, how much more are we (born-again believers, children of the Most High, heirs and joint heirs with Christ) able to do this???
We know that Cyrus became God-minded because God said that He raised Cyrus up in righteousness and that HE would direct all of Cyrus' ways. History (and the Bible) teach us that Cyrus freed the Israelites ( v.13) and used Ezra to rebuild the temple (Ezra 1:1-6).
I AM TELLING YOU that God says that we should ask him about the future of his children and about the works that HIS hands make. HE said we should command HIM. Tell HIM what to do. The scripture uses the same Hebrew word "command" in verse 11 as it does in verse 12 where God said He "commanded" creation.
Isaiah went on to declare other things that are yet unfulfilled (v.14-25).
God is so awesome and has given us, His children, the authority to utilize the same creative word power He uses, to tell Him what to do. Profound revelation. I LOVE YOU LORD. Praises Father.
GRACE & PEACE x GRACE & PEACE
2 Peter 1:2-3 (KJV) "Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord, According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that [pertain] unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:"
The Apostle Paul wrote to the Apostle Peter. This was a very personal second letter. He was very emotional and he carefully chose his words. He was under the influence of the Holy Spirit. He was saying that the EPIGNOSIS or the precise and correct knowledge of God and Jesus is the medium by which Grace and Peace would be multiplied to Peter.
This scripture is literally saying:
I declare that Joy, delight, pleasure, sweetness, charm, loveliness, good-will, lovingkindness, favour as well as harmony, safety, security, national tranquility and the exemption from the rage and havoc of war, be increased and multiplied TO YOU, in, by and through the EPIGNOSIS (precise and correct knowledge) of God.
He went on to say that the divine or Godly inherent power, which resides in Jesus Christ our Lord has given US (ALL BELIEVERS) each, every, any, all, the whole, everyone, all things, some of all types of things, which pertain to the God-Life (ZOE) and Godliness or Godly reverence and respect. He re-emphasized that all of this was through the Epignosis (precise and correct knowledge) of HIM who called us to glory and virtue.
I could preach a sermon on these verses but please, read them for yourselves and let the EPIGNOSIS of God and our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ penetrate your inner being. Praise God from whom all blessings flow. Praise Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
The Apostle Paul wrote to the Apostle Peter. This was a very personal second letter. He was very emotional and he carefully chose his words. He was under the influence of the Holy Spirit. He was saying that the EPIGNOSIS or the precise and correct knowledge of God and Jesus is the medium by which Grace and Peace would be multiplied to Peter.
This scripture is literally saying:
I declare that Joy, delight, pleasure, sweetness, charm, loveliness, good-will, lovingkindness, favour as well as harmony, safety, security, national tranquility and the exemption from the rage and havoc of war, be increased and multiplied TO YOU, in, by and through the EPIGNOSIS (precise and correct knowledge) of God.
He went on to say that the divine or Godly inherent power, which resides in Jesus Christ our Lord has given US (ALL BELIEVERS) each, every, any, all, the whole, everyone, all things, some of all types of things, which pertain to the God-Life (ZOE) and Godliness or Godly reverence and respect. He re-emphasized that all of this was through the Epignosis (precise and correct knowledge) of HIM who called us to glory and virtue.
I could preach a sermon on these verses but please, read them for yourselves and let the EPIGNOSIS of God and our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ penetrate your inner being. Praise God from whom all blessings flow. Praise Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
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