Tag: Flesh

His Throne Forever

“Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of godliness: He was manifested in the flesh, vindicated by the Spirit, seen by angels, proclaimed among the nations, believed on in the world, taken up in glory.”

“May his name endure forever, his fame continue as long as the sun! May people be blessed in him, all nations call him blessed!  Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, who alone does wondrous things.  Blessed be his glorious name forever; may the whole earth be filled with his glory!”

Psalms 45:6  Your throne, O God, is forever and ever. The scepter of your kingdom is a scepter of uprightness

Psalms 89:29   I will establish his offspring forever and his throne as the days of the heavens.

Psalms 89:36  His offspring shall endure forever, his throne as long as the sun before me.  Like the moon it shall be established forever, a faithful witness in the skies.”

Psalms 93:2    Your throne is established from of old; you are from everlasting.

Psalms 145:13   Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures throughout all generations. [The LORD is faithful in all his words and kind in all his works.]

Daniel 2:44    And in the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that shall never be destroyed, nor shall the kingdom be left to another people. It shall break in pieces all these kingdoms and bring them to an end, and it shall stand forever,

Luke 1:32  He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David,  and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”

Hebrews 1:8   But of the Son he says, “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever, the scepter of uprightness is the scepter of your kingdom.

Isaiah 9:6  For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.  Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this.

Jeremiah 23:5  “Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and he shall reign as king and deal wisely, and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land.  In his days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell securely. And this is the name by which he will be called: ‘The LORD is our righteousness.’

These scriptures surely give us a glimpse of everlasting throne of God, His plan to call unto Himself a people, and security in trusting in Him.  What we see and understand now is hampered by our sinful nature, but there is coming a time when we will be raised with new bodies that will never die and will be in the presence of God securely, forever, without end.  This is is promised to all who believe in, rely on, cling to, and trust in the redeeming work of Jesus Christ on the cross.  For this reason we humbly serve, follow, honor and glorify Him, waiting for reuniting with Him forever.  It is hard for us to imagine being imperishable, having a new body that will never die, and live in His presence where there is no more pain, death, or worries.  In Isaiah He tells us that He will create a new heaven and earth.  Live for Him now.  Follow and serve Him now.  This is our purpose this side of eternity.

Momentary affliction

“For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison,”

Psalms 38:1   O LORD, rebuke me not in your anger, nor discipline me in your wrath! For your arrows have sunk into me, and your hand has come down on me. There is no soundness in my flesh because of your indignation; there is no health in my bones because of my sin. For my iniquities have gone over my head; like a heavy burden, they are too heavy for me.  My wounds stink and fester because of my foolishness, I am utterly bowed down and prostrate; all the day I go about mourning. For my sides are filled with burning, and there is no soundness in my flesh.  I am feeble and crushed; I groan because of the tumult of my heart.  O Lord, all my longing is before you; my sighing is not hidden from you. My heart throbs; my strength fails me, and the light of my eyes—it also has gone from me. My friends and companions stand aloof from my plague, and my nearest kin stand far off.

Hebrews 12:5  And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons? “My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by him.  For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.”  It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline?  If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons.  Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live?  For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness.  For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.

Proverbs 15:10   There is severe discipline for him who forsakes the way; whoever hates reproof will die.

We do not have to walk long on this path with God to experience His hand in our life.  Blessings, one after another.  I wonder if we count His discipline as a blessing.  We should but sometimes we have wondered away and He loves us so much that He disciplines us to get us back on path.  Staying close to God is always a blessing.  What is it that is pulling you away from this closeness?

Mind set on the Flesh

“For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot.”

Psalms 34:21  Affliction will slay the wicked, and those who hate the righteous will be condemned.

Psalms 35  I have seen a wicked, ruthless man, spreading himself like a green laurel tree.  But he passed away, and behold, he was no more; though I sought him, he could not be found. But transgressors shall be altogether destroyed; the future of the wicked shall be cut off.

Psalms 94:23   He will bring back on them their iniquity and wipe them out for their wickedness; the LORD our God will wipe them out.

Isaiah 3:11   Woe to the wicked! It shall be ill with him, for what his hands have dealt out shall be done to him.

Luke 19:41  And when he drew near and saw the city, he wept over it,  saying, “Would that you, even you, had known on this day the things that make for peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes.  For the days will come upon you, when your enemies will set up a barricade around you and surround you and hem you in on every side  and tear you down to the ground, you and your children within you. And they will not leave one stone upon another in you, because you did not know the time of your visitation.”

John 21 But all these things they will do to you on account of my name, because they do not know him who sent me. If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have been guilty of sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin.  Whoever hates me hates my Father also.

2 Thessalonians 1:9   They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might,

Job 22:17  They said to God, ‘Depart from us,’ and ‘What can the Almighty do to us?’

Job 21:14  They say to God, ‘Depart from us! We do not desire the knowledge of your ways.

Psalms 10:4   In the pride of his face the wicked does not seek him; all his thoughts are, “There is no God.”

Psalms 10:11  He says in his heart, “God has forgotten, he has hidden his face, he will never see it.”

There are many reasons man can come up with that leave no room for God.  Do any of these sound familiar; “He does not exist.  If He does exist I am good enough.  There are multiple ways to God/heaven. I am too busy.  I will focus on God when I am older.  I have plenty of time to get right with Him.  When I compare myself against others I am much better than most…….”  Man can find host of reasons but none hold true.  All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.  There is no other work man can do to be right in the eyes of God than to believe in the redemptive work of Jesus Christ, acknowledge their sin, repent, and humbly serve, honor and obey God.  Believing in Jesus Christ is relying on, clinging to, and trusting in Him.  How are we to grow in our understanding of Him and His purpose for us each day if we are not culturing a heart deep desire each day?  Spend time in His word each day.

New mercies every morning

“Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.”

“If it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay.”

“It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD.”

Psalms 31:19  Oh, how abundant is your goodness, which you have stored up for those who fear you and worked for those who take refuge in you, in the sight of the children of mankind!

Psalms 36:7-10  How precious is your steadfast love, O God! The children of mankind take refuge in the shadow of your wings.  They feast on the abundance of your house, and you give them drink from the river of your delights.  For with you is the fountain of life; in your light do we see light.  Oh, continue your steadfast love to those who know you, and your righteousness to the upright of heart!

Psalms 73:1 Truly God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart.

Psalms 73:24-26  You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will receive me to glory.  Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you.  My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

Isaiah 64:4   From of old no one has heard or perceived by the ear, no eye has seen a God besides you, who acts for those who wait for him.

Lamenations 3:21  But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end;  they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. “The LORD is my portion,” says my soul, “therefore I will hope in him.” The LORD is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him. It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD.

Habakkuk 2:3    If it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay.

Colossians 3:2-4  Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.  For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.  When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

Setting your mind on things above, knowing new mercies are coming with every new day, having a pure heart seeking God, and waiting quietly does not always seem to be the path we take.  Our minds get focused on what we see and perceive immediately in front of us.  This is not by faith but by sight.  It takes faith and hope in God to seek and know God is in control.  It is in His sovereign power and good timing that we trust and wait. When it seems you are lost in the confusion and darkness this world has to offer, seek the light of the world, God!

Chosen Portion

“I have set the LORD always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices; my flesh also dwells secure.”

 

Psalms 16:5
The LORD is my chosen portion and my cup; you hold my lot. The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance. I bless the LORD who gives me counsel; in the night also my heart instructs me.  I have set the LORD always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices; my flesh also dwells secure.  For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol, or let your holy one see corruption. You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

Lamentations 3:24
“The LORD is my portion,” says my soul, “therefore I will hope in him.”

Psalms 23:5
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.

Psalms 73:26
My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

Psalms 119:57
The LORD is my portion; I promise to keep your words.

Psalms 142:5
I cry to you, O LORD; I say, “You are my refuge, my portion in the land of the living.”

Wow, what words of encouragement and hope when He is chosen, relied on, trusted in, and desired.  Listen to how men of God humbly talked about and described God in their life: My portion, my strength, my refuge, my hope, my joy, my instructor, my security, my counsellor. Is it possible we have so many distractions that it keeps us from a deep desire to know and serve Him more each day.    We all go through times of busyness yet there are those who seem to have found a way to keep God first in the midst of all of it. What distracts you from seeking and walking with Him? Whatever it is – make a mental decision and choice to begin new today with a heart desire to honor, glorify, serve, and obey God – place these first over all the other things of this life that can distract you.

Behold it was corrupt

“And God saw the earth, and behold, it was corrupt, for all flesh had corrupted their way on the earth.”

 

Psalms 12:1
Save, O LORD, for the godly one is gone; for the faithful have vanished from among the children of man.  Everyone utters lies to his neighbor; with flattering lips and a double heart they speak.

Psalms 6:4
Turn, O LORD, deliver my life; save me for the sake of your steadfast love.

Psalms 54:1
O God, save me by your name, and vindicate me by your might.

Proverbs 20:6
Many a man proclaims his own steadfast love, but a faithful man who can find?

Genesis 6:12
And God saw the earth, and behold, it was corrupt, for all flesh had corrupted their way on the earth.

Isaiah 1:9
If the LORD of hosts had not left us a few survivors, we should have been like Sodom, and become like Gomorrah.

Matthew 24:12
And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold.

Isaiah 59:4
No one enters suit justly; no one goes to law honestly; they rely on empty pleas, they speak lies, they conceive mischief and give birth to iniquity.

Job 22
They said to God, ‘Depart from us,’ and ‘What can the Almighty do to us?’

At times we feel alone and like the only one who is in need of God, who trusts Him, who calls out to Him.  We don’t hear many speak of the fact that they call out to God in their distress/trouble/issues.  What we do hear is how they have reached out to everyone or anything but God in search of help.  What would our lives look like if we continually reached out to God first and then patiently waited for Him.  Would we speak of how we cried out to Him?  Would others be encouraged to seek God?  Would we find our path and issue more of a blessing than a curse?  I am thankful for how David calls out to God and that God’s word tells us what others think and do apart from Him.  They do not think God exists, or if He does He does not have any control, power, or strength over the situation.  We can be the one that proclaims His love, mercy and grace to a lost world, but first we must believe it, grow in it, and obey it.

Be diligent

“But what fruit were you getting at that time from the things of which you are now ashamed?”

Judges 16:1
Samson went to Gaza, and there he saw a prostitute, and he went in to her. The Gazites were told, “Samson has come here.” And they surrounded the place and set an ambush for him all night at the gate of the city. They kept quiet all night, saying, “Let us wait till the light of the morning; then we will kill him.” But Samson lay till midnight, and at midnight he arose and took hold of the doors of the gate of the city and the two posts, and pulled them up, bar and all, and put them on his shoulders and carried them to the top of the hill that is in front of Hebron.
After this he loved a woman in the Valley of Sorek, whose name was Delilah.

Judges 16:17
And he told her all his heart, and said to her, “A razor has never come upon my head, for I have been a Nazirite to God from my mother’s womb. If my head is shaved, then my strength will leave me, and I shall become weak and be like any other man.”
When Delilah saw that he had told her all his heart, she sent and called the lords of the Philistines, saying, “Come up again, for he has told me all his heart.” Then the lords of the Philistines came up to her and brought the money in their hands. She made him sleep on her knees. And she called a man and had him shave off the seven locks of his head. Then she began to torment him, and his strength left him. And she said, “The Philistines are upon you, Samson!” And he awoke from his sleep and said, “I will go out as at other times and shake myself free.” But he did not know that the Lord had left him. And the Philistines seized him and gouged out his eyes and brought him down to Gaza and bound him with bronze shackles. And he ground at the mill in the prison.

Proverbs 14:12
There is a way that seems right to a man,
but its end is the way to death.

Romans 6:21
But what fruit were you getting at that time from the things of which you are now ashamed?

Romans 7:5
For while we were living in the flesh, our sinful passions, aroused by the law, were at work in our members to bear fruit for death.

These are quotes from an article I was reading recently and go hand in hand with the scripture today.  Sampson lead for twenty years and then for some reason he lost focus on God and more on what he wanted for himself.  A good thing to remember to keep us diligent at staying in scripture and living each moment of each day in the spirit.
1. “there are consequences when people open up a doorway to evil into their lives”

2. “Religion is viewed as outdated and not very exciting. So evil can be invited in directly or indirectly”

3. ”If the house has been swept clean but no place has been made for God, the condition can become much worse”

4. “There is still an emptiness within us that is being filled with addictive behavior such as drugs and pornography”

“The decline in faith goes hand in hand with the rise in evil”

 

Set Your Mind on Things Above

We see, we hear, and we want. The temptation to keep our eyes on what we can see is always before us.  It is understandable.  Yet God wants us to see with our heart open to what His word is telling us. He wants us to listen to His leading (that quiet small voice speaking light into our life). He wants us to want (desire) Him.  This world would tempt/tell us that life is about us and getting what we want here.  God tells us that we are just passing through this world and there is a place in heaven for those who choose, in this life, to live to honor and glorify Him – denying self and humbly serving/following Him.

Matthew 16:23
But he turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man

Romans 8:5
For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace

Philippians 3:18
For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things

Colossians 3:2
Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.