May 15 2016

Sacred Blessings

Acts 13: 34 - 37

Acts 

For God had promised to raise him from the dead, never again to die.  This is stated in the Scripture that says, 'I will give you the sacred blessings I promised to David.'  Another psalm explains more fully, saying, 'You will not allow your Holy One to rot in the grave.'  Now this is not a reference to David, for after DAvid had served his generation according to the will of God, he died and was buried, and his body decayed.  No, it was a reference to someone else-someone whom God raised and whose body did not decay.

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  Thoughts....

God promised to raise Jesus from the dead, never again to die.  And this wonderful gift is available to us, too, as Christians. This is confirmed by Scripture. 

In Isaiah 55:3, we hear what God said to Isaiah, which is also for all of us today,  "Come to me with your ears wide open.  Listen, for the life of your soul is at stake.  I am ready to make an everlasting covenant with you.  I will give you all the mercies and unfailing love that I promised to David.

In Samuel 7: 1-17, the Lord spoke to Nathan, the prophet, telling him to go tell David, his servant, what he, the Lord, said to him.  And here is what was historically recorded:  'When the LORD had brought peace to the land and King David was settled in his palace, David summoned Nathan the prophet.  "Look!" David said.  "Here I am living in this beautiful palace, but the Ark of God is out in a tent!

Nathan replied, "Go ahead and do what you have in mind, for the LORD is with you." 

But that same night the LORD said to Nathan,

"Go and tell my servant David, 'This is what the LORD says: Are you the one to build me a temple to live in?  I have never lived in a temple, from the day I brought the Israelites out of Egypt until now.  My home has always been a tent, moving from one place to another.  And I have never once complained to Israel's leaders, the shepherds of my people Israel.  I have never asked them, "Why haven't you built me a beautiful cedar temple?"'

Now go and say to my servant David, "This is what the LORD Almighty says:  I chose you to lead my people Israel when you were just a shepherd boy, tending your sheep out in the pasture.  I have been with you wherever you have gone, and I have destroyed all your enemies.  Now I will make your name famous throughout the earth!  And I have provided a permanent homeland for my people Israel, a secure place where they will never be disturbed.  It will be their own land where wicked nations won't oppress them as they did in the past, from the time I appointed judges to rule my people.  And I will keep you safe from all your enemies.

"'And now the LORD declares that he will build a house for you - a dynasty of kings!  For when you die, I will raise up one of your descendants, and I will make his kingdom strong.  He is the one who will build a house - a temple - for my name.  And I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.   I will be his father, and he will be my son.  If he sins, I will use other nations to punish him.  But my unfailing love will not be taken from him as I took it from Saul, whom I removed before you.  Your dynasty and your kindom will continue for all time before me, and your throne will be secure forever.'"

So Nathan went back to David and told him everything the LORD had said.'

The following is what God, THE LORD, is telling all Christians, based on what we've learned from the above references:

1. We are to be leaders

2. We are to rule over God's people 

3.  God will be with us everywhere

4.  Enemies will be destroyed

5.  Our name will be made famous throughout the earth

6.  He has provided a permanent homeland for us

7.  We have been given a secure place

8.  A place where we will never be disturbed

9.  We will own our land

10. A land where wicked nations won't oppress us as in the past 

11. We will be safe from our enemies

12. He will build a house for us - a dynasty

13. A promise upon death, a descendant will be raised up

14.  Establishment of a strong kingdom for that descendant

15. The descendant will build a house - a temple - for the LORD's name

16. Establishment of the throne of the kingdom forever

17. God will be his father and he will be his son

18. Punishment will come from other nations upon sin

19. Unfailing love will not be taken from him

20. Our dynasty and kingdom will continue for all time before him (at his feet)

21. Our throne will be secure forever

These promises are for us as well as children int he Kingdom of God which as secured for us by Jesus dying for us and being raised from the dead.

Psalm 16:10 reads, 'You will not allow your Holy One to rot in the grave.'  But right before that it says, 'You will not leave my soul among the dead.'  King David knew the promises for the coming Savior were for him, as well.  Just like they are for the rest of us. 

By Jesus' death and resurrection, God has made known to us, like to David and others, the path of life....eternal life.  And how to live our life right now, today, believing in his promises as we live out every day.

Even though those who died before Jesus went to rot in a grave, since Jesus, we now have the promise of eternal life, the promises -Sacred Blessings - given David.  

Whom will you choose to follow and let lead you?  God, Jesus, and Holy Spirit are ready to lead you onward today.  Follow them, to receive a house and kingdom that will endure forever and a throne established forever as well.

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  Let Us Pray

Praise God from whom all blessings flow.  Praise him all creatures here below.  Praise all of the heavenly hosts.  Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. 

Father God, Jesus, Holy Spirit, I praise you and thank you for sharing all that you have with me today.  I see that you have a bigger dream than I have had for myself.  I see that I have steps to take to insure I have a strong foundation in, and with, you.  That having been said, please forgive me for any sins I have committed.  As sins come to mind, I will not beat myself up, but just ask your forgiveness.  In your merciful love, you will forgive me, IF, big if, I go and sin no more.  But when I do, I know you will be there to help me, if my heart is still right with you.  And I should not judge my sins by the world's standards or choices, but by yours.  Nor should I allow others' judgements or beliefs to define who I should be or how I should live my life.  That's between you and me and what you've outlined in your Word....which I will learn from the Bible, and as you speak to my heart....my mind through your Holy Spirit.  However, I must keep in mind that the NEW Testament is the new law under which I should live to insure, I, too, can receive eternal life like Jesus. The Old Testament is documented history of how folks lived before Jesus, prophecy of what life will be like when Jesus comes, which he has, and what we can expect heaven will be like.  I must also keep in mind that as I am reading the NEW Testament, that I should pay attention to what JESUS had to say.  Not excluding the voice of others, but realizing that in their humanness, they, too, are subject to opinions and errors, that may not especially align with what God, Jesus, or Holy Spirit might intend.  Thank you for making all of that available to me, so I can learn who you are, that you are, and how wonderful you are.  Help me know how to make the right choices.  The biggest of which is to obey you to insure I am worthy to receive all your blessings and eternal life.  Jesus tells us, as historically documented in John 15, that we must remain in his love, and we do that by obeying him.  To not do so, means we can be pruned, thown away, and will be burned.  Hell is a fiery, permanent  hole.  I do NOT wish to ever see hell.  Please Father God, Jesus, Holy Spirit, lead me, guide me, and direct me, forgive me, and carry me when the going gets tough, so that I may arise into your arms on my last day.  Also, please help me in all those ways, so that I may continue to share you and your wonderful gifts with others increasing your kingdom.  It is why we are all called, you are not a selfish God.  Thank you.  If you feel I have not asked you fully into my heart, please hear me now when I say, "God, Jesus, Holy Spirit, please come into my heart fully this day.  Please forgive me of my sins.  Please heal me and make me whole, so that I can live for a very long time yet on earth, as I attempt to fulfill your will for myself, and bring you to others to help them fulfill your will in their lives as well.  'I am ready to make an everlasting covenant with you'.  I am willing to receive all your 'mercies and unfailing love.'  May I, and others, increase the kingdom of God on earth....and in heaven.  I praise you.  I thank you.  I love you....so much....I am so grateful.  Amen.          

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More love.... 

  Benediction....Blessing

Let us hear from Paul as he prays:  

When I think of the wisdom and scope of God's plan, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth.  I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will give you mighty inner strength through his Holy Spirit.  And I pray that Christ will be more and more at home in your hearts as you trust in him.  May your roots go down deep into the soil of God's marvelous love.  And may you have the power to understand, as all God's people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love really is.  May you experience the love of Christ, though it is so great you will never fully understand it.  Then you will be filled with the fullness of life and power that comes from God.

Now glory be to God!  By his mighty power at work within us, he is able to accomplish infinitely more than we would ever dare to ask or hope.  May he be given glory in the church and in Christ Jesus forever and ever through endless ages.  Amen.  Ephesians 3:14-21 NLT         

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Scroll down to read Jesus' Prayer of Thanksgiving...'The Unforced Rhythms of Grace'.

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Definition of a Christian:  Anyone who believes in God, Jesus and Holy Spirit, and accepts Jesus as Lord and Savior.  Regardless of church name or religious affiliation. 

'All who have been united with Christ in baptism have been made like him.  There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male or female.  For you are all Christians - you are ONE in Christ Jesus.'  Galatians 3: 27

  It is not how we worship, but that we worship....the Trinity!

Teach tolerance....reach in acceptance....worship as one!

Embrace....Respect....Encourage!

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Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you.  And be sure of this:

I am with you always, even to the end of the age."

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  Our Continual Cause

It is time to reach into the community and the world around you to see wherein lies the greatest need.  As you choose to focus on these areas, do so with a servant's heart.  Whether the need is for children, adults, animals, the earth, or any cause in between that will help those in need, ask God how you can best serve his needs, what path you must take, and how long you should persevere.  Sometimes we are to be in the lives of others merely as stepping stones.  Sometimes we are to touch those lives forever.  Whatever journey you are called to take, whatever team you will be a member, know this:  God is with you always...even til the end of time.  He loves you, is grateful for you, and will help you along life's way, especially if you are helping others along theirs, persevering with a servant's heart.  

Please accept my sincerest thanks....and God's....and may God richly bless you ! 

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  One last thing....

Jesus' Prayer of Thanksgiving

'The Unforced Rhythms of Grace'

"Abruptly Jesus broke into prayer:  "Thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth.  You've concealed your ways from sophisticates and know-it-alls, but spelled them out clearly to ordinary people.  Yes, Father, that's the way you like to work."

Jesus resumed talking to the people, but now tenderly.  "The Father has given me all these things to do and say.  This is a unique Father - Son operation, coming out of Father and Son intimacies and knowledge.  No one knows the Son the way the Father does, nor the Father the way the Son does.  But I'm not keeping it to myself; I'm ready to go over it line by line with anyone willing to listen."

"Are you tired?  Worn out?  Burned out on religion?  Come to me.  Get away with me and you'll recover your life.  I'll show you how to take a real rest.  Walk with me and work with me - watch how I do it.  Learn the unforced rhythms of grace.  I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you'll learn how to live freely and lightly.

Matthew 11:  25-30

  The Message

And the people said,

"Amen."

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I now write most prayers in the position of ' I ' (first person) because most people are sitting at their computer alone, not in groups, and it allows those reading and praying to personalize the prayer as coming from them going to God.  Variations may appear on holidays when families may wish to use the prayer provided.  I encourage you to pray your own prayers as well.

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Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright 1996.  Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189.  All rights reserved.

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NOTE:  I said it long ago, but let me say it again.  If you are wanting to lead a group, start a church, or are confined in an institution, or live in a country where the Gospel is not preached, and you don't know what to say or how to say it, and yet feel led to share, teach, or preach, besides just reading straight out of the Bible and sharing what God puts on your heart, please feel free to share any or all of what I've written, if it will help you, as long as you include where it comes from, due to copyright laws.  Jesus gave God's love and healing freely, as well as his message.  Our responsibility is to get the Word out to those who need to hear it.  If what I've written....by the power and direction of the Holy Spirit....or what he has said through me....has helped you, it may help others that you know.  You are welcome to share it.  God calls all of us to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ with the world.  Please share it with the fullness of love that God, Jesus, Holy Spirit....and I....have given it.  Amen!

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