LOVED VERSES; LIKE LOOKING FOR TREASURES,

  • Christian Chat is a moderated online Christian community allowing Christians around the world to fellowship with each other in real time chat via webcam, voice, and text, with the Christian Chat app. You can also start or participate in a Bible-based discussion here in the Christian Chat Forums, where members can also share with each other their own videos, pictures, or favorite Christian music.

    If you are a Christian and need encouragement and fellowship, we're here for you! If you are not a Christian but interested in knowing more about Jesus our Lord, you're also welcome! Want to know what the Bible says, and how you can apply it to your life? Join us!

    To make new Christian friends now around the world, click here to join Christian Chat.
J

jkalyna

Guest
1 JOhn 4:8

He that loveth not has not yet known God.
We all want that perfect face, perfect fiqure, and that perfect checkbook fiqure too, but
These things could buy things, but only God could give us Peace that passeth
understanding.
Everyone strives to come out from behind the wall, the shell, the scars, and fears.
Trained people could help people.
But when the rubber meets the road in life, where your traveling,
it takes something like a warrior, and a trained skilled person to be able to cope when the
day turns into a avalanche of troubles.
A crutch to constantly lean on someone for help, was like the story of the Dr. when his patient came to him, and said, sigh well Doc, his friend was going to jump the bridge, the Doc, said, call him tell him to wait for him he was going with him.
People are not super beings. We could tell them things but only God could DO Things.
Hurts came, and gone, but Trust has never stayed around long for some.
Trust needs to be in the faithpot as we read the word, prayer, and bring our petitions before our God.
Things that we think we do will bring us closer to know the LOrd, are not and is not
what he is asking. Obedience
is what he wants. It is self discipline where you say, I love the Lord, God and I am going to do this, and not going to do that, because it displeases him.
"To Obey is better than to sacrifice"
How does anyone know what to obey, LIke not opening a refergerator, you don't know what there is to eat.
NOt opening the Word is like
You don't know what to do to be
Obedient.





 

Attachments

A

abbiejean

Guest
Thoroughly enjoyed this thread. What a wonderful way to start the day. Will continue to visit. Blessings to each of you that posted. Much of what was shared has blessed both my heart and my spirit. Many of the passages of scripture bore witness to my spirit. Love how God does that.

In the Name above ALL Names,

Jesus
 
J

jkalyna

Guest
TITHING TODAY - TITHING IN THE OLD [TABLE="width: 750"]
[TR]
[TD][TABLE="width: 100%"]
[TR]
[TD]THE LEVITES

Levite - A descendant of the tribe of Levi.

The Levitical order consisted of all the descendants of Levi's three sons, and Aaron and his decendents constituted the priestly order.

Numbers 3:11-13 (NIV):
[SIZE=-2]11
The LORD also said to Moses,
[SIZE=-2]12 [/SIZE]"I have taken the Levites from among the Israelites in place of the first male offspring of every Israelite woman. The Levites are mine,
[SIZE=-2]13 [/SIZE]for all the firstborn are mine. When I struck down all the firstborn in Egypt, I set apart for myself every firstborn in Israel, whether man or animal. They are to be mine. I am the LORD."

Numbers 4:46-49 (NIV):
[SIZE=-2]46 [/SIZE]So Moses, Aaron and the leaders of Israel counted all the Levites by their clans and families.
[SIZE=-2]47 [/SIZE]All the men from thirty to fifty years of age who came to do the work of serving and carrying the Tent of Meeting
[SIZE=-2]48 [/SIZE]numbered 8,580.
[SIZE=-2]49 [/SIZE]At the LORD'S command through Moses, each was assigned his work and told what to carry. Thus they were counted, as the LORD commanded Moses.

Numbers 8:5-8 (NIV):
[SIZE=-2]5 [/SIZE]The LORD said to Moses:
[SIZE=-2]6 [/SIZE]"Take the Levites from among the other Israelites and make them ceremonially clean.
[SIZE=-2]7 [/SIZE]To purify them, do this: Sprinkle the water of cleansing on them; then have them shave their whole bodies and wash their clothes, and so purify themselves.

Numbers 8:23-26 (NIV):
[SIZE=-2]23 [/SIZE]The LORD said to Moses,
[SIZE=-2]24 [/SIZE]"This applies to the Levites: Men twenty-five years old or more shall come to take part in the work at the Tent of Meeting,
[SIZE=-2]25 [/SIZE]but at the age of fifty, they must retire from their regular service and work no longer.
[SIZE=-2]26 [/SIZE]They may assist their brothers in performing their duties at the Tent of Meeting, but they themselves must not do the work. This, then, is how you are to assign the responsibilities of the Levites."

Some say that today's ministers or church workers have taken the place of the Levites and therefore can receive the tithe. But the scriptures are clear. The Word of God says that only male Levites could work in the temple, only after they had gone through a cleansing ritual, and only after they reach the age of 25, and not after they reach the age of 50.

Numbers 18:1-19 is where The Lord gives to Aaron and his sons and daughters all the offerings.

Numbers 18:20 (NIV):
[SIZE=-2]20 [/SIZE]The LORD said to Aaron, "You will have no inheritance in their land, nor will you have any share among them; I am your share and your inheritance among the Israelites.

Now let's continue to The Levitical Tithe - Advanced by clicking here.
[/SIZE]
[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]
[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]


[HR][/HR]Scripture quotations taken from the HOLY BIBL
 
Last edited:
J

jkalyna

Guest
The HOly Bible says, "my people perish for lack of knowledge." JIm jones who told his people a lie, they believed it and died drinking poison. Another pastor told people recently in the news to eat grass, and they did, and became violently ill. Pastors have racked up millions of dollars just only to end up using it for golden toilet handles, Royal Royals, and wasted it like toilet paper, when people sold their houses, wedding bands and lifes savings to give someone because he said, if you tite you will so and so goes the old story. Witchcraft has entered the church. Controlling people's finances against their will, making threats, and teaching slothfullness not to pay bills, so social services will come and take the children away, because the title had to go first. This is satans deception and lie. Don't buy yourself clothes to keep warm, or have a poor self esteem working all week, just to support some body's bills.
This is contrary to the word of God, and this is why. A man went to the home of another, and knocked on the door, he was cold, hungry, and in need. The man woke up from the sleep and said, God bless you go your way. It goes on to say,, "How dwelleth the Love of God, when another dosn't care if your bills are paid, and you have food. Paul said, they never asked anyone for any money, because they did not want to put a burden on anyone. Wonder why God spoke to Paul, then on the way to Damascus. He knew his heart, it was changable and teachable, also determined, a soilder. Trained and disciplined. How dwelleth the love of God to say, go your way, be warm and fed. Tithing if you read the scriptures and click on the bottom to finish reading will set you free from condemnation, and being decieved. There are those in the church's who use witchcraft and threats against blood washed believers, to cast fear into them. The spirit of evil has made it's way to the altar, and money has become an idol, idolatry. Jesus said, "my house shall be called a house of prayer, and you have turned it into a robber's den, of selling and buying, and overturned the tables. The focus on money, is not to be in the house of the Lord. This is false teaching. It is saying you give and you will be blessed, what about those who are disabled and never work, are they not to be blessed. Jesus said, we are already blessed. Abraham is called the father of faith, because he took his son up the mountain. He is not and was not called someone who loved God with all his heart and was obedient, as he didn't obey God, but inclined his ear to his mortal wife, instead of God. Though he could of offered tites, what did and what does God say about all this. "It is better to obey than to sacrifice." Abraham didn't obey God, and probably made many sacrifices through out this whole thing. As we are told not to put our confidance in the arm of flesh, for those who do will be cursed. There is no line where love is drawn in the sand, so to say, or cut off at ten percent. If you want to give , give it ALL. Not just 10, it is not a action of love, but an action of a traditional order, as the knowledge in the article says. I pray that those who make threats against God's people, that it is a sin to buy food, and pay your bills, or go on a vacation, or buy your spouse a gift, saying it is sin to do these things, becasue you need to pay up. This satanic condemnation is just from satan. Jesus said, to us born again believers, there is no condemnation to those in Christ Jesus. Jesus taught "you tithe and fast, but you've forgotten the greater part, of this, to be mercifull, and Love. So those of you who are following my threads to find fault, follow Jesus, and his teaching. There is no greater freedom, no greater life, no greater rest, no greater, Love, and Peace, and you will not buy it with your ten percent or money. Your money will go into the pocket of your pastor, your love will go into a harvest of sowing and reaping things that are not of this earth, as God's love, his peace, and his Honor will rest upon you, Psalm 91:15. Children listening to these threats against people if they do not pay, are being traumitized in the church. REad the word, it says to you men of leadership, if you don't have a job, or work to support your own family, you are worse than an infidle, and have denied the real faith of God. The real God, not the God of money that has become an IDOL. The Pharisees and those who didn't want to hear the truth, stoned STephen as they were taking money but not helping the widows, and those in need. God will destroy and remove people from the churches because of this idolatry. He did it in the wilderness, where they made themselves a golden calf as their GOd. They died. The whole generation as God wanted the rebellious and the Idol worshippers to be destroyed. There is time to repent. Your sins will fall upon your own family. For the sins of the parents are handed down to their own. Have you not read the story last week of the possessed children. The mother was the one who had opened the doors to evil, and they went onto the children, and the personel ,social workers, police, witnessed the demons in these kids. The mother said after she was delievered that 7 demons had left. Hadn't the bible said, that if you know the Lord, but open a door to bring unclean spirits into your life, they will go to you and your state of mind, will be worse than you were before you knew the Lord. Don't make money your Idol, the church is not to talk about money, and make threats, it is as the Jesus the Holy Son of God said, a house of prayer. You will reap what you are sowing, cursing the people with threats, fear, and making them homeless, slotfull in not paying their bills, this will come back upon your own family. This is the word of the Lord, Jesus said, many wos, and calls you a broad of vipers, washed tombs on the outside but full of dead mens bones on the inside. You've been warned. If more pastors would bless their congregations, and love them build them up with words, and create a loving atmosphere, it will come back upon you, therefore what so every you sow you will reap. this is the word of the Lord. I bind all witchcraft from my life, and my family, for no weapon formed against us will prosper, no tongue risen in judgement shall prevail. In Jesus name. amen
 
J

jkalyna

Guest
John 15

7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. 8 Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples. 9 As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love. 10 If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love. 11 These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full. 12 This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. 13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
14{ Ye are my friends,} if ye do whatsoever I command you. 15{ Henceforth I call you not servants;}
for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth:{ but I have called you friends;} for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.
16 Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit{ should remain:} {that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.}
17 {These things I command you,} {that ye love one another.} 18 If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. 19 If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. 20 Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also. 21 But all these things will they do unto you for my name's sake, because they know not him that sent me. 22 If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no cloke for their sin. 23 He that hateth me hateth my Father also.

24 If I had not done among them the works which none other man did, they had not had sin: but now have they both seen and hated both me and my Father.
25 But this cometh to pass, that the word might be fulfilled that is written in their law, They hated me without a cause. 26 But when the Comforter is come,{ whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth,} which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:
 
J

jkalyna

Guest
Yesterday, I was praying for something.
I want to share this as the HOly Spirit was quick as the blink of an eye to reply,
He is gentle, and when you ask him to teach you, or you don't understand how to get the answer your praying for he will help you.
The Lord, quickened these words to me, { I say Lord as Jesus is Lord } but the HOly Spirit dwells within us, and reveals all things, so how ever you say it, they are one.
He said to me {bear fruit}. We all struggle with this I believe, as it is always the flesh that gets the upper hand, but I cried and told the Lord I don't understand this, show me.
Next words were "seeds" 'prayer"
The Lord wants us to dig deep into his light to find the hidden things that are called a
mystery to the human mind.
The light of understanding started to be revealed. If we take the seeds, which is faith, and plant the seeds to produce the fruits, into good soil, cultivated, cleansed, prepared, plowed, for a harvest. We need to be in prayer, lest we fall into temptations, of the flesh, anger, everything opposite of the 9 Holy Fruits.
Water is needed, and the LOrd said, to stay in his word, for it is the Living Waters, and that
Jesus is the light that makes us grow.
I did not know where this scripture was, and it was late, and just found it today.
After this understanding. The words "Remain in me, and ye shall ask what you will and it shall be given."
We go to church all our life maybe, but what really is vital is to read the word for ourselves,
We don't need to play the blame game. Who's really to blame. Us, if we don't remain in the Lord, no one is to blame but ourself.
So I read the chapter, and it says exactly this, let your FRUIT REMAIN.
This also is a COMMAND
I said, I have not been a good follower, or a responsible one to not follow the commands of the Lord.
Yes, we strive to achieve it here and there, and maybe for the day, week, or year, but He said, {Let your fruit REMAIN, and then we shall ask, and it be done."
This is true, We must represent the nature of God, and his character.
Almost like being vigilant and wanting to live for him, follow him and obey his command.
It's not to be 50 flesh, oh I will do this and yell and break that, and 50 the other, No,
it must be 100%. Spiritually Edible.
It is possible, for nothing is IMPOSSIBLE WITH GOD, so don't let the adversary lie that we
cannot do it.
We have all we need to do it.
Love, the Word, Jesus the Light of the world,
We grow with the light of Jesus, we remain in God's Love.


 

Toska

Senior Member
Nov 16, 2013
1,857
22
38
Psalm 37:7-11

7 Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him; do not fret because of him who prospers in his way,
because of the man who brings wicked schemes to pass.
8 Cease from anger, and forsake wrath; Do not fret--it only causes harm.
9 For evildoers shall be cut off; But those who wait on the Lord, they shall inherit the earth.
10 For yet a little while and the wicked shall be no more; Indeed you will look carefully for his place,
But it shall be no more.
11 But the meek shall inherit the earth, And shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.

I love this. The waiting part is hard, seeing so much evil in the world. But, knowing that the Lord is there for us who love Him and have faith in Him is very comforting to me.
 
J

jkalyna

Guest
article by Don Hooser
Jesus Christ taught important spiritual lessons regarding the "fruit" of our lives. What are those lessons, and how well are we applying them? Our eternal life depends on this understanding! At the mention of fruit, what are your first thoughts? A snack? A dessert? Your favorite fruits? The Bible refers to literal fruit—such as olives, grapes and figs—many times. More frequently the biblical Hebrew and Greek words translated "fruit" have a symbolic sense.
All crops are considered "fruit of the earth." Children are called the "fruit of the womb." A man's words are "the fruit of his mouth."
In ancient and modern times, people have used "fruit" to mean results, products, outcomes, accomplishments and achievements. An employee must be productive to be worthy of his wage. He must work hard, work fast and work smart to get jobs done and done right. In Scripture, "fruit" has similar meanings. Defining "good" fruit The Bible at times likens people to fruit trees or grapevines and portrays God as the owner of the orchards and vineyards. The Master knows our character by our spiritual fruits, just as "a tree is known [identified] by its fruit"—either good or bad (Matthew 12:33 ). God's number one concern is for all fruit to be good —"the fruit of righteousness" (James 3:18 ).
In fact, Jesus warned, "Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and is thrown into the fire" to be destroyed (Matthew 7:19 ).
And what is good? Only God has the supreme authority to define good and evil. Jesus went on to say, "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven" (Matthew 7:21 , emphasis added throughout). And what is God's will for our lives? It is revealed throughout His Word and is summarized by the two great commandments and the Ten Commandments
(Matthew 22:36-
19:17). We must aim high to reach the highest goals. To produce the best fruit requires work, time, patience and perseverance (James 5:7-11). We are to be fruitful Closely following God's desire for good fruit is His desire for us to produce a lot of it—to be highly productive .
Jesus said, "This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples" (John 15:8 ,
Notice, bearing abundant fruit glorifies God and identifies Christ's disciples! Later, Jesus states the purpose of our calling: "You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit —fruit that will last" (John 15:16 , Hence we must be oriented toward eternal goals and work with all our hearts to bring them to fruition! The following parable is quite instructive:
"A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it and found none. Then he said to the keeper of his vineyard, 'Look, for three years I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree and find none. Cut it down; why does it use up the ground?' But he answered and said to him, 'Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and fertilize it. And if it bears fruit, well . But if not, after that you can cut it down'" (Luke 13:6-9     ). The keeper of the vineyard asked for another year, during which time he would fertilize the soil to encourage growth. This illustrates God's patience with us—how He is "not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance" (2 Peter 3:9 ). A fruitless fruit tree, however, will eventually be "cut down." Professing without producing is no good. We are to grow The similar parables in Matthew 25:14-30 and Luke 19:11-27

illustrate God's emphasis on spiritual growth and accomplishment. In each story, two servants obediently invested the master's money to earn a profit for him. But the third servant merely hid the money for safekeeping. Fear of failure was his excuse for not even trying. The parable shows that we must obey God with faith and courage even when it may be humanly frightening. The fearful servant is called "unprofitable" and "wicked and lazy" (Matthew 25:30 , 26). To each of the profitable ( fruitful ) servants, the master said, "Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord" (Matthew 25:21 , 23). May this be what we hear when Christ returns to reward His servants! We can't bear fruit without God During His life on earth, Jesus Christ said of His miraculous acts, "The Son can do nothing of Himself" (John 5:19 ). He explained, "The Father who dwells in Me does the works" (John 14:10 ).
Neither can we, acting on our own, produce spiritual fruit! It requires a miracle of God through Christ. Let's carefully read and ponder what Jesus explained to His disciples the evening before His arrest. He said: "I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit" (John 15:1-2 ).
"Pruning" includes the Father's loving discipline to correct our faults (Hebrews 12:5-11). "Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing" (John 15:4-5 ). Rely on God and great things will happen! "If anyone does not abide in Me," Jesus continued, "he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you" (verses 6-7). Abiding in Christ includes learning and applying God's Word. And a major key to bearing fruit is praying for help! Abiding in Christ also includes abiding in His Church, "the body of Christ," as numerous scriptures show (1 Corinthians 12:12-14 , 27; Ephesians 1:21 4:12). The essential role of God's Spirit Jesus said we can bear fruit only if He "abides" in us.
How is this possible? It is through the gift of God's Holy Spirit dwelling in us. How do we receive this gift? Peter said, "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" (Acts 2:38 ).
God's Spirit does many things. It imparts spiritual understanding (1 Corinthians 2:10-14      ). It imparts a willingness to obey—to be like Christ who said, "Nevertheless, not My will, but Yours, be done" (Luke 22:42 ).
It imparts an ability to obey and love far above human ability. It is the Spirit "of power and of love and of a sound mind" (2 Timothy 1:7 ). The power to bear fruit With the Holy Spirit, one becomes spiritually alive, beginning a new life! God's Spirit is like the life-giving sap that flows up the trunk of a tree to all its branches so they can yield fruit! Notice God's beautiful portrayal of His people as flourishing fruit trees:
"Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, and whose hope is the Lord. For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters, which spreads out its roots by the river, and will not fear when heat comes; but its leaf will be green, and will not be anxious in the year of drought, nor will cease from yielding fruit" (Jeremiah 17:7- compare Psalm 1:3 ).
The apostle Paul said in Galatians 5, "Walk in the Spirit . . . If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit" (verses 16, 25). God's Spirit enables us to act according to God's principles—to live a godly life! Without God's Spirit, we are merely mortal flesh, and the fruits of raw human nature are called the "works of the flesh" in verses 19-21. After listing these sinful "works," Paul warns that "those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God" (verse 21). With the help of God's Spirit, however, we produce something far different: "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering [or patience], kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control" (verses 22-23). That is truly good fruit! God wants us to bear much of this fruit! Spirit-led people have these wonderful virtues of godly character as the result of God's Spirit acting from within. The credit for this fruit belongs to God and Jesus Christ who supply that Spirit. And God will let us bear this fruit only when we are trying to give of ourselves to others. This fruit is manifested in relationships. God's Spirit is like a river (John 7:38 ). It will flow into us only when it is also flowing out to others. In a series of future articles we will examine each of the special aspects of the fruit of the Holy Spirit listed in Galatians 5—to thoroughly understand them, to see how we can cultivate them and to see how we can use them in serving God and one another. We will get a good taste of each one. As we do that, let's remember to focus on Christ's overall lesson regarding the fruit of our lives: Bear good fruit and much fruit!
 
J

jkalyna

Guest
article by Don Hooser
Jesus Christ taught important spiritual lessons regarding the "fruit" of our lives. What are those lessons, and how well are we applying them? Our eternal life depends on this understanding! At the mention of fruit, what are your first thoughts? A snack? A dessert? Your favorite fruits? The Bible refers to literal fruit—such as olives, grapes and figs—many times. More frequently the biblical Hebrew and Greek words translated "fruit" have a symbolic sense.
All crops are considered "fruit of the earth." Children are called the "fruit of the womb." A man's words are "the fruit of his mouth."
In ancient and modern times, people have used "fruit" to mean results, products, outcomes, accomplishments and achievements. An employee must be productive to be worthy of his wage. He must work hard, work fast and work smart to get jobs done and done right. In Scripture, "fruit" has similar meanings. Defining "good" fruit The Bible at times likens people to fruit trees or grapevines and portrays God as the owner of the orchards and vineyards. The Master knows our character by our spiritual fruits, just as "a tree is known [identified] by its fruit"—either good or bad (Matthew 12:33 ). God's number one concern is for all fruit to be good —"the fruit of righteousness" (James 3:18 ).
In fact, Jesus warned, "Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and is thrown into the fire" to be destroyed (Matthew 7:19 ).
And what is good? Only God has the supreme authority to define good and evil. Jesus went on to say, "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven" (Matthew 7:21 , emphasis added throughout). And what is God's will for our lives? It is revealed throughout His Word and is summarized by the two great commandments and the Ten Commandments
(Matthew 22:36-
19:17). We must aim high to reach the highest goals. To produce the best fruit requires work, time, patience and perseverance (James 5:7-11). We are to be fruitful Closely following God's desire for good fruit is His desire for us to produce a lot of it—to be highly productive .
Jesus said, "This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples" (John 15:8 ,
Notice, bearing abundant fruit glorifies God and identifies Christ's disciples! Later, Jesus states the purpose of our calling: "You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit —fruit that will last" (John 15:16 , Hence we must be oriented toward eternal goals and work with all our hearts to bring them to fruition! The following parable is quite instructive:
"A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it and found none. Then he said to the keeper of his vineyard, 'Look, for three years I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree and find none. Cut it down; why does it use up the ground?' But he answered and said to him, 'Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and fertilize it. And if it bears fruit, well . But if not, after that you can cut it down'" (Luke 13:6-9     ). The keeper of the vineyard asked for another year, during which time he would fertilize the soil to encourage growth. This illustrates God's patience with us—how He is "not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance" (2 Peter 3:9 ). A fruitless fruit tree, however, will eventually be "cut down." Professing without producing is no good. We are to grow The similar parables in Matthew 25:14-30 and Luke 19:11-27

illustrate God's emphasis on spiritual growth and accomplishment. In each story, two servants obediently invested the master's money to earn a profit for him. But the third servant merely hid the money for safekeeping. Fear of failure was his excuse for not even trying. The parable shows that we must obey God with faith and courage even when it may be humanly frightening. The fearful servant is called "unprofitable" and "wicked and lazy" (Matthew 25:30 , 26). To each of the profitable ( fruitful ) servants, the master said, "Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord" (Matthew 25:21 , 23). May this be what we hear when Christ returns to reward His servants! We can't bear fruit without God During His life on earth, Jesus Christ said of His miraculous acts, "The Son can do nothing of Himself" (John 5:19 ). He explained, "The Father who dwells in Me does the works" (John 14:10 ).
Neither can we, acting on our own, produce spiritual fruit! It requires a miracle of God through Christ. Let's carefully read and ponder what Jesus explained to His disciples the evening before His arrest. He said: "I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit" (John 15:1-2 ).
"Pruning" includes the Father's loving discipline to correct our faults (Hebrews 12:5-11). "Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing" (John 15:4-5 ). Rely on God and great things will happen! "If anyone does not abide in Me," Jesus continued, "he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you" (verses 6-7). Abiding in Christ includes learning and applying God's Word. And a major key to bearing fruit is praying for help! Abiding in Christ also includes abiding in His Church, "the body of Christ," as numerous scriptures show (1 Corinthians 12:12-14 , 27; Ephesians 1:21 4:12). The essential role of God's Spirit Jesus said we can bear fruit only if He "abides" in us.
How is this possible? It is through the gift of God's Holy Spirit dwelling in us. How do we receive this gift? Peter said, "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" (Acts 2:38 ).
God's Spirit does many things. It imparts spiritual understanding (1 Corinthians 2:10-14      ). It imparts a willingness to obey—to be like Christ who said, "Nevertheless, not My will, but Yours, be done" (Luke 22:42 ).
It imparts an ability to obey and love far above human ability. It is the Spirit "of power and of love and of a sound mind" (2 Timothy 1:7 ). The power to bear fruit With the Holy Spirit, one becomes spiritually alive, beginning a new life! God's Spirit is like the life-giving sap that flows up the trunk of a tree to all its branches so they can yield fruit! Notice God's beautiful portrayal of His people as flourishing fruit trees:
"Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, and whose hope is the Lord. For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters, which spreads out its roots by the river, and will not fear when heat comes; but its leaf will be green, and will not be anxious in the year of drought, nor will cease from yielding fruit" (Jeremiah 17:7- compare Psalm 1:3 ).
The apostle Paul said in Galatians 5, "Walk in the Spirit . . . If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit" (verses 16, 25). God's Spirit enables us to act according to God's principles—to live a godly life! Without God's Spirit, we are merely mortal flesh, and the fruits of raw human nature are called the "works of the flesh" in verses 19-21. After listing these sinful "works," Paul warns that "those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God" (verse 21). With the help of God's Spirit, however, we produce something far different: "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering [or patience], kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control" (verses 22-23). That is truly good fruit! God wants us to bear much of this fruit! Spirit-led people have these wonderful virtues of godly character as the result of God's Spirit acting from within. The credit for this fruit belongs to God and Jesus Christ who supply that Spirit. And God will let us bear this fruit only when we are trying to give of ourselves to others. This fruit is manifested in relationships. God's Spirit is like a river (John 7:38 ). It will flow into us only when it is also flowing out to others. In a series of future articles we will examine each of the special aspects of the fruit of the Holy Spirit listed in Galatians 5—to thoroughly understand them, to see how we can cultivate them and to see how we can use them in serving God and one another. We will get a good taste of each one. As we do that, let's remember to focus on Christ's overall lesson regarding the fruit of our lives: Bear good fruit and much fruit!
This is like a metaphor a very good illustration, and comparison. We are given a command by Jesus, and it is the nature/character of our Lord that needs to be displayed in our lives. He said LET YOUR FRUIT REMAIN, AND YOU SHALL ASK AND IT SHALL BE GIVEN. This is the real secret of getting our prayers answered from our Abba Father, Do what he says, Be Obedient.
 
J

jkalyna

Guest
1 Samuel 15:22

To obey is better than to sacrifice
And to heed is better than the fat of rams.

I want to share an insight into this from my point of view on it.
Abraham was told that he was going to have a son with his wife Sarah, she laughed
in time Abraham could of doubted, or maybe God could of forgotten, could of said Sarah.
God is God, he is not a man that he would lie, this is said, in the scriptures.
Though he offered 10th of the crops, and continued to sacrifice offerings,
The day came when God's plan was put into place.
Was it then because of the sowing and reaping, principal that came back to him
Abraham, to obey is better than to sacrifice.
He did not obey, now was going to reap what he was sowing, sacrificeing his own son.
It must of destroyed, and devastated him on the way to Mt. Moriah, he was just a man, disobeyed God once, doubted that it would ever come to pass, and now God is putting the knife to the fire.
Sacrifice your son.
He wanted, or Sarah wanted that son so bad, that it became an idol, instead of Loving the Living God First.
God dosn't want our offerings as sacrifices, he wants us to love him first
to obey him. The same thing with Cain and Abel, Cain's heart wasn't right because of some kind of dishonor of God.
Abraham reaped what he was sowing.
I just think of the pain that was going through his heart.
If we love God, we obey his words.

 
J

jkalyna

Guest
1 Corinthians 13:8

If I have all knowledge and not love I am nothing.

Heavy artillery against evil.
Sometimes it's like banging your head against something,
thinking your missing something to be just right with the Lord
Don't get a headache trying to find the missing piece of the puzzle.
It's within us.
Peace.
Little children don't have much, nothing they buy anyways, but they have much
Trust,
and teach us to love
with their hugs,
smiles, and
laughter
Go for the Gold
Don't be cold
Love
4 God is Love
:)
 

Attachments

p_rehbein

Senior Member
Sep 4, 2013
30,200
6,546
113
Psalms 39:7) And now, Lord, what wait I for? my hope is in thee.
8 .) Deliver me from all my transgressions: make me not the reproach of the foolish.
9 .) I was dumb, I opened not my mouth; because thou didst it.
10 .) Remove thy stroke away from me: I am consumed by the blow of thine hand.
11 .) When thou with rebukes dost correct man for iniquity, thou makest his beauty to consume away like a moth: surely every man is vanity. Selah.
12 .) Hear my prayer, O LORD, and give ear unto my cry; hold not thy peace at my tears: for I am a stranger with thee, and a sojourner, as all my fathers were.
13 .) O spare me, that I may recover strength, before I go hence, and be no more.
 

p_rehbein

Senior Member
Sep 4, 2013
30,200
6,546
113
Mark 2:15) And it came to pass, that, as Jesus sat at meat in his house, many publicans and sinners sat also together with Jesus and his disciples: for there were many, and they followed him.
16 .) And when the scribes and Pharisees saw him eat with publicans and sinners, they said unto his disciples, How is it that he eateth and drinketh with publicans and sinners?
17 .) When Jesus heard it, he saith unto them, They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.
 
Feb 15, 2014
86
7
8
Luk 12:7 But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows.
 

p_rehbein

Senior Member
Sep 4, 2013
30,200
6,546
113
Matthew 18:10) Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven.
11 .) For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost.
12 .) How think ye? if a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray?
13 .) And if so be that he find it, verily I say unto you, he rejoiceth more of that sheep, than of the ninety and nine which went not astray.
14 .) Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish.

childsprayer.jpg
 

p_rehbein

Senior Member
Sep 4, 2013
30,200
6,546
113
[h=1]Psalms
5[/h]
1 .) Give ear to my words, O LORD, consider my meditation.
2 .) Hearken unto the voice of my cry, my King, and my God: for unto thee will I pray.
3 .) My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O LORD; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up.
 

p_rehbein

Senior Member
Sep 4, 2013
30,200
6,546
113
Romans 3:24-25 “Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;”

chains01.jpg

 
J

jkalyna

Guest
Psalm 91
I luv this alot, the word of God, that is, and the verse, that we shall dwell under the shadow of the almighty, is awesomely powerful.

In his love
nothing lacking
nothing missing
He has us covered.
:)





 
Feb 21, 2014
5,672
18
0
Psalm 91
I luv this alot, the word of God, that is, and the verse, that we shall dwell under the shadow of the almighty, is awesomely powerful.

In his love
nothing lacking
nothing missing
He has us covered.
:)





I think Elizabeth Elliot got her title of her book about Jim Elliot from Psalm 91.

Blessings.
 
W

ww_21

Guest
d54553e4bf9a00b34f53eaa963417ea8.jpg

...........................