SMILE, because . . . . .
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Jesus has shown us by His own example that a person cannot take up his cross unless he first chooses to deny himself. The soul will not lightly suffer, yet a loving son delights in obedience (John14:15). Therefore Jesus says,“Father if thou art willing, remove this cup from Me; yet not My will, but Thine be done” (Luke 22:42). The cross means obedience (Philippians 2:8), in a willingness to suffer in the flesh (1 Peter 4:1). It means, “Not my will, but Thine be done.” The cross is the place where Christ laid down His life for the sin of the world. Therefore it is a place of death and an end to life.”If anyone wishes to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, follow Me”. We cannot live for ourselves and live for God. We cannot serve two masters. We will love the one and hate the other, or cling to the one and despise the other (Luke 16:13). We cannot store treasure in heaven and on earth. “He who loves his life loses it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it to life eternal.” (John 12:25). The Greek says, ο φιλων την ψυχην (soul) αυτου απολλυει αυτην και ο μισων την ψυχην αυτου εν τω κοσμω τουτω εις ζωην αιωνιον (life eternal) φυλαξει αυτην. It is only when the Lord returns that eternal life becomes visible. Therefore it is at this time that the obedient soul enters into the joy of the Lord. This is the first resurrection and the time when all the Lord’s servants are judged. The first outworking of that judgement is the issue of the kingdom itself.
The gift of eternal life is freely given to those who put their faith in Jesus and receive Him as their Saviour. Eternal life can never be merited. If we are able to believe by faith that eternal life is a gift given by God without repentance on His part, then the question we must ask ourselves is not shall we perish, but are we worthy of the Lord of Glory? No man who ever lived can be considered worthy of the Lord in respect of being worthy of the Lord’s death. Nevertheless worth is an important issue. For example, there is the worth of the saints, (Romans 16:2) as well as a saint being counted worthy to suffer shame for Christ’s name (Acts 5:41). Paul entreats the Ephesians to walk in a manner worthy of their calling (Ephesians 4:1), and to the Thessalonians Paul says, “to this end we pray that God may count you worthy of your calling.” Paul identifies the persecution of the Thessalonian saints as a “plain indication of God’s righteous judgement so that they might be counted worthy of the Kingdom of God”, (2 Thess 1:4,11). And in Revelation 3:4 the Lord Jesus says of the overcomer in the church at Sardis that they will walk with Him in white because they are worthy.
We see in these few verses a clear call for God’s people to deny themselves so that they may be counted worthy of the Lord at His coming (Matthew10;37-38). We also see that to be counted worthy of the Kingdom or to walk with Christ in white in the Kingdom, refers to a believer’s walk here and now and not simply to the fact of believing in the Lord Himself. Suffering for the sake of the Kingdom to the Thessalonians was obedience. For the Ephesian saints, to walk in a manner worthy of their calling was a command to love one another.
One may well ask how loving one another can be reckoned as worthy. The answer is truly heart breaking. There is no more a harmful man than the one who says ‘brother’ and then sets about to devour you. There is no more a hypocrite than the one who says, be blessed and then curses you. Such is the work of many who take the name of the Lord. By the hands of the brethren are the brethren more injured than by the hands of evil unbelieving men. In that circumstance to love your brother is indeed a worthy attitude because it requires a willingness to suffer for the sake of the Lord. So if that is your portion then walk in it. But if you intend to make a gift of prophecy a basis for directing the children of God also then it will be the prophetic ministry in the semblance of Elijah that will eventually tear that down in the sight of the churches because the churches are filled with harm and injury and no claim to being a loving sister will remove that effect.
The church in the US has already gone beyond the point of recovery. In Europe on the shores of the Great Sea we have to look into the face of the man who is come to declare himself Christ. Do what you will do and say what you will say - but the churches and the body politic in the US is coming under a terrible judgement before the time of the tribulation as a visible warning to all those who have foolishly made self worth a thing to boast in and being oneself a claim to godliness. They that then see the beast will break their necks as they turn from the East to the West as they suddenly fathom that they ate poisoned sweets as they played childrens' games when they ought to have been dressing in readiness.
Rhomphaeam
The gift of eternal life is freely given to those who put their faith in Jesus and receive Him as their Saviour. Eternal life can never be merited. If we are able to believe by faith that eternal life is a gift given by God without repentance on His part, then the question we must ask ourselves is not shall we perish, but are we worthy of the Lord of Glory? No man who ever lived can be considered worthy of the Lord in respect of being worthy of the Lord’s death. Nevertheless worth is an important issue. For example, there is the worth of the saints, (Romans 16:2) as well as a saint being counted worthy to suffer shame for Christ’s name (Acts 5:41). Paul entreats the Ephesians to walk in a manner worthy of their calling (Ephesians 4:1), and to the Thessalonians Paul says, “to this end we pray that God may count you worthy of your calling.” Paul identifies the persecution of the Thessalonian saints as a “plain indication of God’s righteous judgement so that they might be counted worthy of the Kingdom of God”, (2 Thess 1:4,11). And in Revelation 3:4 the Lord Jesus says of the overcomer in the church at Sardis that they will walk with Him in white because they are worthy.
We see in these few verses a clear call for God’s people to deny themselves so that they may be counted worthy of the Lord at His coming (Matthew10;37-38). We also see that to be counted worthy of the Kingdom or to walk with Christ in white in the Kingdom, refers to a believer’s walk here and now and not simply to the fact of believing in the Lord Himself. Suffering for the sake of the Kingdom to the Thessalonians was obedience. For the Ephesian saints, to walk in a manner worthy of their calling was a command to love one another.
One may well ask how loving one another can be reckoned as worthy. The answer is truly heart breaking. There is no more a harmful man than the one who says ‘brother’ and then sets about to devour you. There is no more a hypocrite than the one who says, be blessed and then curses you. Such is the work of many who take the name of the Lord. By the hands of the brethren are the brethren more injured than by the hands of evil unbelieving men. In that circumstance to love your brother is indeed a worthy attitude because it requires a willingness to suffer for the sake of the Lord. So if that is your portion then walk in it. But if you intend to make a gift of prophecy a basis for directing the children of God also then it will be the prophetic ministry in the semblance of Elijah that will eventually tear that down in the sight of the churches because the churches are filled with harm and injury and no claim to being a loving sister will remove that effect.
The church in the US has already gone beyond the point of recovery. In Europe on the shores of the Great Sea we have to look into the face of the man who is come to declare himself Christ. Do what you will do and say what you will say - but the churches and the body politic in the US is coming under a terrible judgement before the time of the tribulation as a visible warning to all those who have foolishly made self worth a thing to boast in and being oneself a claim to godliness. They that then see the beast will break their necks as they turn from the East to the West as they suddenly fathom that they ate poisoned sweets as they played childrens' games when they ought to have been dressing in readiness.
Rhomphaeam
So....did you find a reason to SMILE that you would like to share with us? 
I seem to recall the disciples REJOICING after being beaten and persecuted by RELIGIOUS LEADERS....
Acts 5:40-41
King James Version
40 And to him they agreed: and when they had called the apostles, and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.
41 And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.
I seem to recall the disciples REJOICING after being beaten and persecuted by RELIGIOUS LEADERS....
Acts 5:40-41
King James Version
40 And to him they agreed: and when they had called the apostles, and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.
41 And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.
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So....did you find a reason to SMILE that you would like to share with us?
I seem to recall the disciples REJOICING after being beaten and persecuted by RELIGIOUS LEADERS....
Acts 5:40-41
King James Version
40 And to him they agreed: and when they had called the apostles, and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.
41 And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.
I seem to recall the disciples REJOICING after being beaten and persecuted by RELIGIOUS LEADERS....
Acts 5:40-41
King James Version
40 And to him they agreed: and when they had called the apostles, and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.
41 And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.
Have you found a reason to SMILE yet that you would like to share with all of us that would be an encouragement to us?
In the darkness there was a light.
Sudden moment of despair, comprehending all.
Father! Father! I cried, and in an instant saved.
Great Mercy laid hold of me, and bore me up.
At once was I giddy, rising high upon His train.
I laughed, and shouted His name to the heavens.
He did with all joy carry me to His fold.
My feet He set upon the Rock, and understanding gave.
I saw Him. He bore the wounds to tell of it.
I wept of Him.
Forgive me Lord? I asked.
Forgiveness all He spake.
Rhomphaeam
Lol been snooping or researching an avatar,which i know you've not made a secret of.
Rhomphaeam Latin a dead language means spear or javelin.
What is the nblm church?
A pastor,you did say your name Mr. Chisholm.
Your pic is your own you say,is your hair really like middle earth Gandalf? Btw we do have an avatar named Gandalf the White.
English hmmmm could explain the proper stuffiness of your post. Professor? History? Literature? A writer,perhaps?
No offense is intended but I'm very much a sleuths.
Love mysteries and your name is certainly catchy.
Rhomphaeam Latin a dead language means spear or javelin.
What is the nblm church?
A pastor,you did say your name Mr. Chisholm.
Your pic is your own you say,is your hair really like middle earth Gandalf? Btw we do have an avatar named Gandalf the White.
English hmmmm could explain the proper stuffiness of your post. Professor? History? Literature? A writer,perhaps?
No offense is intended but I'm very much a sleuths.
Love mysteries and your name is certainly catchy.
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Et angelo Pergami ecclesiæ scribe: Hæc dicit qui habet rhomphæam utraque parte acutam:
Rhomphaeam does not mean a spear or a javelin. Rhomphæam in its ligature only appears once in the bible. I have quoted it above.
I am also not English - but I am presently live in England. The proper stiffness of my posts as you have it - is entirely to do with refusing a misuse of words or to mistakenly fall into a cultural folly that hides truth. That may be simply because emotional language often detracts from any stated meaning that requires a spiritual thought process and not an emotional emphatic one.
Middle earth Gandalf is a fiction and mysteries often lead to error when it would be better to state things plainly if one intends to be understood. If not - then English is a perfect vehicle. for removing offence and yet expressing truth that is offensive when a cultural meaning is not adhered to that demands emotional language.
English is no more a living language than Latin is dead. It rather depends on whom one is speaking to and whether you intend to communicate a meaning that understandably produces distress when it is stated plainly. English can kill emotion dead without removing the prophetic meaning. So I also write poetry that is full of an emotional charge and does not detract from spiritual realities.
As to your being a sleuth then I posted what was needful in my very first post into this forum.
Hello! May name is Robert
I also identified myself in my full name here #3,040 and here #438.
Why does it matter to you to express your sleuthing?
No offence taken.
Rhomphaeam does not mean a spear or a javelin. Rhomphæam in its ligature only appears once in the bible. I have quoted it above.
I am also not English - but I am presently live in England. The proper stiffness of my posts as you have it - is entirely to do with refusing a misuse of words or to mistakenly fall into a cultural folly that hides truth. That may be simply because emotional language often detracts from any stated meaning that requires a spiritual thought process and not an emotional emphatic one.
Middle earth Gandalf is a fiction and mysteries often lead to error when it would be better to state things plainly if one intends to be understood. If not - then English is a perfect vehicle. for removing offence and yet expressing truth that is offensive when a cultural meaning is not adhered to that demands emotional language.
English is no more a living language than Latin is dead. It rather depends on whom one is speaking to and whether you intend to communicate a meaning that understandably produces distress when it is stated plainly. English can kill emotion dead without removing the prophetic meaning. So I also write poetry that is full of an emotional charge and does not detract from spiritual realities.
As to your being a sleuth then I posted what was needful in my very first post into this forum.
Hello! May name is Robert
I also identified myself in my full name here #3,040 and here #438.
Why does it matter to you to express your sleuthing?
No offence taken.
You are mistaken when you say that I have taken offence. As to whether you see my post is a matter for yourself is it not?
Try answering a question before you require answers yourself when someone goes to the trouble of giving you answers which you have no authority to ask. Who's laughing, brother? Not this man and it seems hardly likely that anyone can miss that fact. Isn't that the thread header? You chose this thread yourself so live with your choice.
I won't be changing my mind.
Try answering a question before you require answers yourself when someone goes to the trouble of giving you answers which you have no authority to ask. Who's laughing, brother? Not this man and it seems hardly likely that anyone can miss that fact. Isn't that the thread header? You chose this thread yourself so live with your choice.
I won't be changing my mind.
The JOY of the Lord is my strength......
God loves the soul but hates the sin that binds.
We have zero power in ourselves to be rid of sin but Jesus took our sins and nailed them to the cross.
There MUST be a change in a soul that is born again.
You cannot continue to commit abominations against God,nor his creation and still be born again!
He says for us to come out of the carnal nature of the flesh which is death and live in the Spirit which is life and freedom.
Proverbs 3:13 Happy is the man that findeth WISDOM , and the man that getteth UNDERSTANDING.
This is the reason to smile,God loves you and gave his son in your place for your sins.
God loves the soul but hates the sin that binds.
We have zero power in ourselves to be rid of sin but Jesus took our sins and nailed them to the cross.
There MUST be a change in a soul that is born again.
You cannot continue to commit abominations against God,nor his creation and still be born again!
He says for us to come out of the carnal nature of the flesh which is death and live in the Spirit which is life and freedom.
Proverbs 3:13 Happy is the man that findeth WISDOM , and the man that getteth UNDERSTANDING.
This is the reason to smile,God loves you and gave his son in your place for your sins.
. . . life is too short and God is too good for me to waste my time on Earth being sad and miss His goodness!
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