glory

IN THE VERSES PRIOR TO JAMES MENTIONING THE PERFECT LAW, HE SPEAKS A WHOLE LOT ON THE TOPIC OF NOT JUST HEARING BUT DOING THE WORD. IN OTHER WORDS, OBEDIENCE IS NOT JUST HEARING BUT DOING. JESUS ALSO SAID, IF YOU LOVE ME YOU WILL OBEY ME. IN OTHER WORDS, YOU WILL HEAR AND DO. SO I BELIEVE THIS LAW JAMES IS SPEAKING ABOUT IS THE LAW OF LOVE. I DEFINE THIS LAW AS WALKING OUT THE LOVE OF CHRIST IN US IN A PRACTICAL WAY. RIGHT AFTER JAMES TALKS ABOUT THE PERFECT LAW, HE SPEAKS OF VISITING ORPHANS AND WIDOWS IN THEIR DISTRESS. FOR 33 YEARS OF MY LIFE I WAS UNSAVED AND LIVED SELFISHLY. I TRIED BEING GOOD BY HELPING OUT MY FAMILY AND FRIENDS HERE AND THERE BUT LIFE WAS ALL ABOUT ME. NOW THAT THE LOVE OF CHRIST HAS BEEN SHED ABROAD IN MY HEART BY THE HOLY SPIRIT, I AM A CHANGED PERSON.I DEPEND ON HIM TO FILL ME DAILY WITH HIS AGAPPE LOVE SO I CAN BE A BLESSING TO OTHERS. I THINK BOTH LAWS ARE BASICALLY THE SAME.THEY BOTH SPEAK OF WALKING IN LOVE BY DOING SOMETHING.THEY BOTH SPEAK OF LOVING AND HELPING OTHERS. TO LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF AND VISITING ORPHANS AND WIDOWS IN THEIR DISTRESS.SO WHEN WE HEAR THE WORD WE ARE TO GO AND DO SOMETHING WITH IT. IT BRINGS LIBERTY IN THE SENSE THAT WE ARE NO LONGER SELF- CENTERED AND SELF- SEEKING BUT WE BECOME MORE LIKE CHRIST IN THAT WE ARE PUTTING OTHERS FIRST. LOVE SENT JESUS TO THE CROSS; LOVE IS A SACRIFICE. OUR LOVE MUST BE SACRIFICIAL. WE MUST LEARN TO LOVE THE UNLOVELY LIKE CHRIST DID.WHEN WE WALK IN THE SPIRIT OF LOVE WE ARE FREE LIKE JESUS. HE ALWAYS WALKED IN LOVE AND THUS HE WAS FREE FROM HATRED, ANGER, BITTERNESS, STRIFE, ETC.AFTER ALL, WHAT CAN YOU DO WITH LOVE? GOD BLESS........

FROM THE TIME WE WERE LITTLE, WE WERE SENT TO SCHOOL TO ACQUIRE KNOWLEDGE AND GAIN AN EDUCATION SO WE COULD ONE DAY HAVE A GOOD CAREER.WHEN WE ARE BORN AGAIN, UNLESS OUR MINDS ARE RENEWED TO THE WORD OF GOD, WE ARE CONFORMING TO THE WORLD'S WAY OF THINKING.SO INSTEAD OF GOING TO CHURCH WITH THE INTENTION OF HEARING THE WORD AND THEN DOING IT AS A LIFESTYLE, WE SOMETIMES GO, TAKE NOTES, FEEL GOOD ABOUT OURSELVES, BUT WE DONT DIGEST THE WORD AND SO WE BEAR NO FRUIT . WE ARE JUST FILLED WITH HEAD KNOWLEDGE, AND KNOWLEDGE PUFFETH UP. TEACHING TAPES IN ITSELF IS GOOD BUT TO LIVE OUT A RIGHTEOUS LIFE BEFORE GOD THE HEART MUST BE RIGHT WITH GOD. I THINK THE NATURE OF SELF DECEPTION STARTS IN THE HEART WHEN WE BELIEVE A LIE.THE PROPHET JEREMIAH SAYS THE HEART IS DESPERATELY WICKED, WHO CAN KNOW IT? ONLY THE HOLY SPIRIT CAN REVEAL WHAT'S IN THE HEART. FOR THE LONGEST WHILE I COULD SEE NO FAULT WITH MYSELF. ONLY AFTER GOING THROUGH A MAJOR TRIAL AND ASKING THE LORD TO CHANGE ME DID I SEE THE SINS IN MY HEART..WE CAN BECOME VERY LEGALISTIC AND RELIGIOUS LIKE THE PHARISEES, WANTING TO BE SEEN GOING TO THE HOUSE OF GOD EVERY SUNDAY YET OUR HEARTS CAN BE FILLED WITH HATRED, BITTERNESS, UNFORGIVENESS..ETC...BUT THE MORE WE SURRENDER OUR HEARTS TO JESUS AND YIELD TO HIM, HE WILL SHOW US THE SINS OF THE HEART SO WE CAN REPENT AND TURN AWAY FROM THOSE SINS..IT'S REALLY NOT ABOUT LEARNING MORE SO MUCH AS IT IS ABOUT COMPLETE SURRENDER TO GOD....GOD BLESS..

I THINK WE ARE GIVEN SPIRITUAL BIRTH BY THE WORD OF TRUTH WHEN WE HEAR AND RECEIVE THE WORD OF GOD WITH FAITH IN OUR HEARTS . JESUS TOLD NICODEMUS YOU MUST BE BORN AGAIN, NOT OF THE FLESH BUT OF THE SPIRIT.WELL, FOR NICODEMUS TO RECEIVE SPIRITUAL BIRTH, HE HAD TO HEAR THE WORD OF TRUTH SPOKEN BY JESUS AND RECEIVE IT IN HIS HEART IN ORDER TO BE SAVED. SPIRITUAL LIFE HAS EVERYTHING TO DO WITH THE WORD,I BELIEVE .THE WORD IS GOD, THE WORD IS LIVING, THE WORD WAS MADE FLESH, THAT IS THE WORD BECAME A MAN....JESUS CHRIST... AND DWELT AMONG US.WITHOUT THE WORD OF GOD MY SPIRITUAL LIFE WOULD BE EMPTY..THE WORD IS SPIRITUAL FOOD ...THE WORD OF GOD FEEDS MY SPIRIT MAN SO THAT I CAN BE STRONG TO FACE THE BATTLES OF THIS LIFE....PROVERBS SAYS THE WORD IS LIFE TO THOSE WHO FIND IT AND HEALTH TO ALL THEIR FLESH...WE NEED TO DO LIKE JEREMAIH SAYS...EAT THE WORD...GOD BLESS...

GOD PROMISES TO GIVE WISDOM GENEROUSLY TO ALL WHO ASK OF HIM, AND HE GIVES IT GENEROUSLY WITHOUT REPROACH. THE CONDITION IS TO ASK IN FAITH WITHOUT DOUBTING.FOR WHEN WE DOUBT, WE CANT RECEIVE FROM THE LORD THE WISDOM NECESSARY FOR OUR SITUATION. SO, IN ORDER TO HEAR HIS VOICE CLEARLY, WE MUST COME IN AN ATTITUDE OF FAITH BELIEVING THAT HE IS SPEAKING TO US THE ANSWERS TO THE CHALLENGE WE'RE FACING. TRIALS HAVE HELPED ME TO RECEIVE GOD'S WISDOM BECAUSE IT SEEMS THAT ONLY WHEN I'VE BEEN DESPERATE I TURNED TO GOD FOR HIS HELP. I USED TO THINK I WAS CAPABLE OF HANDLING THINGS ON MY OWN, BUT I HAD TO LET GO OF PRIDEFULNESS AND HUMBLE MYSELF BEFORE THE LORD. THE RESULTS HAVE BEEN AMAZING. NOT ONLY HAVE I REALISED HIS WISDOM IS BETTER THAN MY PUNY EFFORTS BUT I'VE REALISED HE IS CAPABLE AND I CAN TRUST HIM MORE AND MORE.....PRAISE GOD FOR HIS INTEGRITY AND FAITHFULNESS...GOD BLESS....

IN THIS LIFE YOU WILL HAVE TRIALS, BUT CHEER UP FOR I HAVE OVERCOME THE WORLD, JESUS SAID. JAMES SAYS A DOUBLE MINDED MAN IS UNSTABLE IN ALL HIS WAYS AND SHALL RECEIVE NOTHING FROM THE LORD. IF WE'RE DOUBLE MINDED THEN WHEN WE GO THROUGH TRIALS WE DONT REALLY GO TO GOD IN FAITH BELIEVING FOR THE WISDOM TO KNOW HOW TO DEAL WITH THE PROBLEMS. TRIALS HAVE HELPED ME TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE CHARACTER OF GOD THROUGH PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE.THE MORE I LEARN THAT I CAN RELY ON HIM BECAUSE HE'S STABLE AND TRUSTWORTHY; THE MORE I LEAN ON HIM AND DRAW CLOSE TO HIM , THE MORE DOUBLE MINDEDNESS AND DOUBT HAS TO FLEE FROM ME. THEREFORE THE MORE MY MIND IS STAYED ON HIM OR FIXED ON HIM, THE MORE PEACE I HAVE AND LESS WAVERING. TRIALS HAVE HELPED ME TREMENDOUSLY IN MY FAITH WALK WITH THE LORD IN THAT IT HAS HELPED ME TO GROW AS A CHRISTIAN. MY FAITH HAS BEEN MANY TIMES TESTED AND TRIED BUT THE LORD HAS ALWAYS GIVEN ME THE STRENGTH TO OVERCOME.I CAN HONESTLY SAY MY FAITH HAS BEEN STRETCHED TO A LEVEL I DID NOT EVEN KNOW ABOUT. I'VE HAD TO LEARN TO SUBMIT TO GOD, RELY ON HM MORE AND MORE, AND DEPEND ON HIM FOR EVERYTHING. THAT WAS THE HARDEST THING IN THE WORLD FOR ME TO DO; TO GIVE UP CONTROL. BUT I'M LEARNING THE MORE I YIELD AND SURRENDER TO HIM , THE MORE I TRUST HIM WITH MY VERY LIFE AND ALL THE TRIALS I'VE HAD TO GO THROUGH, THE MORE I REALISE THAT HE IS A VERY PRESENT HELP IN TIMES OF TROUBLE. TRULY A FRIEND THAT STICKETH CLOSER THAN A BROTHER.........GOD BLESS....

GOD IS A SOVEREIGN GOD AND AS CHRISTIANS WE SOMETIMES EXPECT HIM TO KEEP ALL EVIL ATTACKS AWAY FROM US, NOT REALISING THAT IN EPHESIANS 6 WE ARE TOLD BY THE APOSTLE PAUL TO PUT ON THE WHOLE ARMOR OF GOD DAILY CAUSE WE'RE IN SPIRITUAL WARFARE. WITHOUT UNDERSTANDING WARFARE, IT CAN BE SO EASY FOR PEOPLE TO BLAME GOD FOR EVERY NEGATIVE CIRCUMSTANCE IN THEIR LIFE. GOD DOES NOT TEMPT US WITH EVIL; HOWEVER WHEN THE TEMPTER WHO IS SATAN BRINGS WICKED THOUGHTS OR DESIRES, THE HOLY SPIRIT WHO LIVES WITHIN US IS RIGHT THERE HELPING US TO OVERCOME THE ATTACKS USING THE WORD OF GOD AS OUR WEAPON JUST LIKE JESUS DID IN THE WILDERNESS. BUT WE MUST ASK FOR HIS HELP; HE IS OUR HELPER. GOD DOES NOT TEMPT SINFUL PEOPLE WITH EVIL. RATHER IT IS HIS DESIRE TO SEE EVERY MAN COME TO REPENTANCE AND TURN FROM THEIR WICKED WAYS. GOD ALLOWS PEOPLE TO SIN BECAUSE GOD ALLOWS CHOICES.FROM THE BEGINNING, WHEN SATAN WAS THE ARCHANGEL LUCIFER IN HEAVEN HE HAD A CHOICE TO WORSHIP GOD OR REBEL; HE REBELLED AND THE REST IS HISTORY.THEREFORE IT'S SO IMPORTANT TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT ATTITUDE DAILY AND TO CHOOSE TO DO RIGHT ACCORDING TO HIS WORD. WITHOUT EVIL IN THIS WORLD WE'D ALL BE WORSHIPPERS OF GOD BUT NOT BY OUR CHOICE, BUT BECAUSE WE HAD NO OTHER CHOICE. WE'D BE LIKE ROBOTS PROGRAMMED TO DO GOOD BECAUSE WE WERE FORCED TO.GOD LOVES US ENOUGH TO ALLOW CHOICES. HE RESPECTS OUR DECISIONS TO CHOOSE HIM OR NOT;HE WONT FORCE US. GOD BLESS....

TO BE QUITE HONEST, THE TRIALS IN MY LIFE RECENTLY HAS MADE ME STRONGER AND STRENGTHENED MY FAITH IN GOD, HOWEVER I HAVENT EXACTLY BEEN COUNTING IT ALL JOY. TRIALS HAVE MADE ME TO BE COMPLETELY DEPENDENT ON GOD AND I REALLY STRUGGLED WITH THIS FOR A WHILE BECAUSE I DIDNT WANT TO GIVE GOD FULL CONTROL OF MY LIFE. I WANTED TO HELP HIM BUT NOW I REALISE HE JUST WANTED ME TO SURRENDER ALL AREAS OF MY LIFE AND RELATIONSHIPS TO HIM. NO, I HAVE NOT AND WILL NOT ALLOW SATAN TO DESTROY ME WITH TRIALS.I WILL KEEP ON FIGHTING THE GOOD FIGHT OF FAITH AND SUBMIT TO GOD'S AUTHORITY, I WILL RESIST THE DEVIL UNTIL HE HAS TO FLEE.GOD HAS ALREADY GIVEN ME ALL THE WEAPONS I NEED TO FIGHT THE BATTLES IN LIFE. I AM IN THE PROCESS OF LEARNING HOW TO ALLOW GOD TO REFINE ME. IT HURTS. IT'S PAINFUL BEING ON THE POTTER'S WHEEL AND ALLOWING HIM TO REFINE ME AND MAKE ME TO BE WHOM HE WANTS ME TO BE BUT I KNOW IT'S NECESSARY THAT I CONFORM TO THE IMAGE OF CHRIST AND TAKE ON GODLY TRAITS IN LIFE. I HAVE ALREADY SEEN SOME POSITIVE CHANGES IN MY LIFE AND I'M LOOKING TO SEE SOME MORE. I WANT TO SEE THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT OPERATING IN MY LIFE.. LOVE, PEACE, JOY, ETC. TRIALS AND SUFFERING CAN BE SO OVERWHELMING AT TIMES . THERE'S SOME I WENT THROUGH THAT I HAD NO NATURAL ABILITY TO OVERCOME. MY HELP WAS COMING ONLY FROM HIM AND I GIVE HIM ALL THE GLORY....I LOVE YOU JESUS!!!!!!!!!!! GOD BLESS....

THE LAMB IS WORSHIPPED ALONGSIDE HIM WHO SITS ON THE THRONE BECAUSE THE LAMB IS THE SON OF GOD, JESUS CHRIST HIMSELF. THE LAMB IS GOD SINCE JESUS IS ALSO GOD.GOD THE FATHER AND GOD THE SON ARE ONE. JESUS TOLD HIS DISCIPLES IF YOU'VE SEEN ME THEN YOU'VE ALSO SEEN THE FATHER WHO SENT ME FOR I AND THE FATHER ARE ONE. PRAISE GOD FOR THIS WONDERFUL SACRIFICE GOD GAVE TO US THROUGH HIS SON JESUS CHRIST...GOD BLESS...

I THINK THE SIGNIFICANCE OF US REIGNING ON THE EARTH IS SO THAT OUR LIGHT CAN SHINE INTO THE DARKNESS AND CAUSE OTHERS TO WANT THE LORD JESUS CHRIST. JESUS GAVE US DOMINION OVER THE EARTH AND GAVE US THE POWER OVER ALL THE POWER OF THE ENEMY..(LK 10;19), THEREFORE WE SHOULD BE REIGNING ON THE EARTH AS CHRISTIANS BY PRAYING AND STANDING IN THE GAP ON BEHALF OF THE LOST. AS WE WALK IN OBEDIENCE TO THE LORD AND LIVE THE CHRISTIAN LIFE IN FRONT OF OTHERS, I BELIEVE IT CREATES A HUNGER IN OTHERS TO KNOW MORE ABOUT OUR FAITH IN CHRIST. WE AS CHRISTIANS CAN BE PRIESTS UNTO GOD IN THE SENSE THAT WE CAN GO DIRECTLY TO THE THRONE ROOM OF GOD WITHOUT HAVING SOMEONE ELSE GO ON OUR BEHALF. BECAUSE OF THE BLOOD OF JESUS WE CAN APPROACH GOD WITH ALL CONFIDENCE. I THINK NOT ONLY ARE WE TO REIGN NOW BUT ALSO LATER BECAUSE WHEN JESUS COMES BACK TO SET UP HIS EARTHLY KINGDOM, I BELIEVE WE'RE GOING TO REIGN WITH HIM ...GOD BLESS.

THE LAMB IS TRIUMPHANT AND THUS WORTHY TO TAKE THE SCROLLS AND OPEN ITS SEALS BECAUSE HE WAS SLAIN, THEREBY PURCHASING FOR GOD WITH HIS BLOOD PEOPLE FROM EVERY TRIBE AND TONGUE AND NATION. THIS GIVES HIM ALONE THE AUTHORITY TO OPEN THE SEALS, FOR NO ONE IN HEAVEN, ON THE EARTH , OR UNDER THE EARTH IS ABLE TO OPEN IT OR LOOK INTO IT.I'M ETERNALLY GRATEFUL FOR WHAT HE DID ON CALVARY...FOR SHEDDING HIS PRECIOUS BLOOD FOR ALL MANKIND SO THAT ALL OUR SINS HAVE BEEN FORGIVEN AND WASHED AWAY BY HIS BLOOD TO BE REMEMBERED NO MORE, PRAISE GOD !!!! GOD BLESS...

THE LAMB ITSELF REPRESENTS JESUS CHRIST, THE SACRIFICIAL LAMB GIVEN FOR OUR SINS BY GOD ALMIGHTY. STANDING AFTER BEING SLAIN INDICATES VICTORY OVER DEATH; RESURRECTION POWER!!!! HORNS REPRESENT ALL AUTHORITY AND ALL POWER OVER ALL THINGS..THAT IS-- OMNIPOTENT. EYES REPRESENT ALL SEEING , ALL KNOWING GOD...OMNISCIENT. NUMBER SEVEN CARRIES THE IDEA OF PERFECTION AND COMPLETENESS; WHOLENESS. THUS THE LAMB HAS THE QUALITIES OF BEING VICTORIOUS, OMNIPOTENT, OMNISCIENT AND PERFECT.....GOD BLESS.

THERE ARE SO MANY FACETS TO GOD THAT IT WOULD PROBABLY TAKE ALL OF ETERNITY TO COME TO A FULL UNDERSTANDING OR REVELATION OF JUST WHO HE IS AND HOW POWERFUL HE IS. ASIDE FROM BEING OUR SAVIOUR, HEALER, DELIVERER JOHN IN REVELATION IS REVEALING TO US ANOTHER FACET OF OUR LORD; THE LAMB WHO IS SEEN AS A LION FROM THE TRIBE OF JUDAH, JUST AS JACOB HAD PROPHESIED. ISAIAH PROPHESIED OF HIM AS BEING THE ROOT OF DAVID. THUS HE FULFILLED THE PROPHESIES ABOUT HIM; THAT HE WOULD COME FROM THE TRIBE OF JUDAH AND A DESCENDANT OF DAVID. BOTH THESE TITLES SIGNIFY HIS AUTHORITY AND POWER OVER EVERYTHING AND EVERYONE..THAT IS HE IS OMNIPOTENT AND WORTHY OF ALL PRAISE FOR THERE IS NO ONE MORE POWERFUL THAN HIM THAT WAS EVER BORN OR CREATED.....GOD BLESS.

JESUS IS OUR HEAVENLY BRIDEGROOM WHO EXCITEDLY AWAITS THE RETURN OF HIS BRIDE.HE PROPOSED TO US ALL AND FOR THOSE OF US WHO HAVE ACCEPTED HIM THERE IS GOING TO BE A WONDERFUL TIME OF REJOICING AT THE MARRIAGE SUPPER OF THE LAMB. ALL OF HEAVEN WILL REJOICE AS WE BEHOLD THE FACE OF OUR ONE TRUE PASSOVER LAMB OF GOD WHO WAS SLAIN BEFORE THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD WAS LAID. EACH CELEBRATION OF THE LORD'S SUPPER REMINDS ME THAT ONE DAY WE'LL SIT IN THE PRESENCE OF JESUS AND TOGETHER PARTAKE OF A FINAL PASSOVER MEAL OR MARRIAGE SUPPER WHERE WE CELEBRATE OUR LOVE AND THANKFULNESS TO HIM FOR ALL HE'S DONE FOR US...GOD BLESS....

HIS BLOOD WAS POURED OUT FOR FORGIVENESS OF ALL MY SINS; THUS I'M ETERNALLY GRATEFUL. HOWEVER HE DID NOT DESERVE TO DIE SUCH A CRUEL DEATH ON THE CROSS. HE WAS THE SINLESS LAMB WHOSE LIFE WAS CUT SHORT FOR US. I'VE CRIED MANY TIMES WHEN I REALISED HOW HORRIBLE THE SUFFERINGS AND BEATINGS WERE THAT HE ENDURED. ON THE OTHER HAND, I'M JOYFUL BECAUSE OF WHAT HE DID BECAUSE IT MAKES IT POSSIBLE FOR SOMEONE LIKE ME TO STAND BEFORE HIM WITH ALL SINS FORGIVEN AND WASHED AWAY BY HIS BLOOD. I CAN STAND BEFORE GOD IN THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF JESUS, FOR I HAVE NONE OF MY OWN. JESUS CHRIST TRULY IS THE ANSWER TO THE SIN PROBLEM IN THIS WORLD.....GOD BLESS.......

SOME PEOPLE IN THIS WORLD HAVE BEEN HURT BADLY; ABUSED WHETHER VERBALLY OR PHYSICALLY; SOME MOLESTED ;SOME REJECTED AND ABANDONED BY FAMILY AND LOVED ONES.WHETHER THE PAIN IS PHYSICAL OR EMOTIONAL, WE ALL HAVE BEEN HURT BY OTHERS AND OTHERS HAVE HURT US AS WELL. WITHOUT THE POWER OF FORGIVENESS WE WOULD BE FILLED WITH BITTERNESS, HATRED AND ANGER TOWARD THOSE WHO HURT US. UNFORGIVENESS CLOGS UP YOUR SPIRIT AND KEEPS YOU IN BONDAGE TO THE ENEMY.FORGIVENESS SETS ME FREE FROM MY ABUSERS.THEY MAY NOT DESERVE IT; THEY CANT DO ANYTHING TO EARN IT; BUT WHEN I CHOOSE TO FORGIVE I'M BEING JUST LIKE JESUS, MY HEAVENLY FATHER.ONLY WHEN I FORGIVE CAN I TRULY WALK IN LOVE TOWARD OTHERS. BEFORE TAKING THE LORD'S SUPPER WE MUST EXAMINE OUR HEARTS. HOW CAN WE GO BEFORE THE LORD AND RECEIVE FORGIVENESS FOR OUR SINS DAILY AND REFUSE TO FORGIVE A PARENT WHO HURT US?IN ORDER TO RECEIVE HIS FORGIVENESS WE HAVE TO EXTEND FORGIVENESS ALSO. IT WORKS BOTH WAYS.FOR THESE REASONS THE LORD'S SUPPER AND UNFORGIVENESS ARE INCOMPATILBLE; IF I WANT MY SINS FORGIVEN , I'VE GOT TO CHOOSE TO FORGIVE NO MATTER HOW DIFFICULT IT IS. I MUST LET GO OF PAST HURTS AND PAINS SO I CAN WALK IN THE PRESENT WITHOUT HINDRANCES......GOD BLESS....

THE LORD'S BODY WAS BROKEN SO OURS COULD BE PUT BACK TOGETHER.. ie..FOR OUR HEALING AND HIS BLOOD WAS SHED FOR REMISSION OF SINS. THUS THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE LORD'S SUPPER IS NOT ONLY DONE IN REMEMBRANCE OF HIM TILL HE COMES AGAIN, BUT IT BENEFITS US TO TAKE COMMUNION REGULARLY. I THINK THIS ACT SIGNIFIES TO ME JUST HOW LOVING AND MERCIFUL JESUS IS TOWARD US.THIS IDEA WAS RADICAL TO THE JEWISH PEOPLE BECAUSE BLOOD WAS FORBIDDEN TO DRINK. THEY HAD TO DRAIN THE BLOOD OF THE ANIMAL BEFORE THEY COULD EVEN PREPARE TO EAT IT.THAT'S HOW OFFENSIVE BLOOD WAS TO THEM.I GUESS IT CAN ALSO BE RADICAL TO US IN THE SENSE THAT WE ARE FIGURATIVELY DRINKING THE BLOOD OF OUR LORD JESUS THOUGH IT'S OFFENSIVE TO MANY....GOD BLESS...

THE PASSOVER MEAL WAS EATEN TO CELEBRATE FREEDOM FROM BONDAGE AND CAPTIVITY THAT THE CHILDREN OF GOD HAD TO ENDURE AT THE HANDS OF THE EGYPTIAN. TODAY WE MAY NOT BE IN BONDAGE TO PHARAOH LIKE THEY WERE, BUT MANY OF US ARE IN A DIFFERENT TYPE OF BONDAGE; THAT IS TO SIN. THEREFORE WE CELEBRATE THE LORD'S SUPPER IN REMEMBERANCE OF WHAT HE ACCOMPLISHED AT THE CROSS FOR US; THAT IS THE FORGIVENESS OF ALL SINS SO WE CAN BE FREE FROM BONDAGE!!!! THE SIMILARITIES ARE BOTH CELEBRATIONS REPRESENT FREEDOM FROM BONDAGE. ONE DIFFERENCE IS THAT THEY HAD PASSOVER MEAL ONCE A YEAR WHEREAS WE CAN TAKE COMMUNION WITH OUR LORD DAILY AT HOME OR AS OFTEN AS IT'S OFFERED IN CHURCH; AS LONG AS WE DO SELF- EXAMINATION FIRST AND BE SURE OUR HEARTS ARE RIGHT WITH THE LORD....GOD BLESS....

A) WHEN GOD'S PEOPLE OBEYED HIS COMMAND TO APPLY THE BLOOD OF THE ANIMAL TO THE DOORPOSTS OF THEIR HOMES, THEY WERE ALL PROTECTED AS OPPOSED TO THE EGYPTIANS WHOSE FIRSTBORN WAS SLAIN.THEREFORE THE BLOOD OF THE ANIMAL PROVIDED PROTECTION BECAUSE THEY WERE OBEDIENT TO APPLY IT IN FAITH SO THE DESTROYER HAD TO CROSS OVER. B)SO TOO TODAY, WHEN WE APPLY THE BLOOD OF OUR PASSOVER LAMB (JESUS) BY FAITH AND OBEDIENCE TO GOD'S WORD, WE TOO ARE PROTECTED FROM EVIL.IT'S INTERESTING TO NOTE THAT THERE'S NO MAGIC POWER IN THE BLOOD OF ANIMALS--THEY WERE ONLY PROTECTED BECAUSE THEY PLACED IT ON THEIR DOORS BY FAITH!!!IF THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL HAD DISOBEYED MOSES'S COMMANDS AND WERE OUTSIDE THE HOUSE WHEN THE DESTROYER PASSED, THEY WOULD HAVE BEEN SLAIN ALSO. THEY HAD TO STAY UNDER THE BLOOD TO BE SAFE FROM SATAN. WHEN JESUS WENT TO THE CROSS AND SHED HIS PURE , PRECIOUS , SINLESS BLOOD TO ATONE FOR OUR SINS, THAT WAS HIS WAY OF OFFERING PROTECTION TO US FROM THE WILES OF THE DEVIL. TODAY WE DONT APPLY BLOOD LITERALLY TO OUR HOMES BUT BY FAITH WE CAN ASK THE LORD TO COVER AND PROTECT US, OUR FAMILIES AND POSSESSIONS FROM THE DESTROYER. BUT THE BLOOD OF JESUS WILL ONLY WORK FOR US IF WE ARE IN OBEDIENCE TO THE WORD. REMEMBER , IF THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL WERE NOT OBEDIENT TO STAY IN THEIR HOMES WHEN THE DESTROYER PASSED, THEY WOULD HAVE BEEN SLAIN,OBEDIENCE IS TRULY BETTER THAN SACRIFICE....GOD BLESS........

WE HAVE BEEN SET FREE FROM BEING SLAVES TO SIN BY THE PRECIOUS BLOOD OF THE LAMB WHO DIED TO TAKE AWAY THE SINS OF THE WORLD. THEREFORE WE ARE NO LONGER SLAVES TO SIN BUT BONDSERVANTS OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, ACCORDING TO THE APOSTLE PAUL. HOWEVER, WE ARE IN A WAR AND THE BIBLE CLEARLY TELLS US IN EPHESIANS 6 THAT WE ARE NOT WRESTLING WITH PEOPLE( FLESH AND BLOOD) BUT PRINCIPALITIES AND WICKED SPIRITS .WITHOUT THE HELP OF THE HOLY SPIRIT WE COULD NEVER FIGHT THIS BATTLE WITH DEMONS AND THUS WE'D NEVER BE FREE.BUT NOW, PRAISE GOD FOR THE COMFORTER AND HELPER WHO DWELLS WITHIN US.WE ARE MORE THAN CONQUERORS THROUGH CHRIST WHO LIVES IN US AND GUIDES US INTO ALL TRUTHS.THE HOLY SPIRIT SHOWS US HOW TO USE THE WORD OF GOD TO FIGHT BACK THE ENEMY WHEN ATTACKS COME AGAINST US WHETHER IN OUR HEALTH, MARRIAGE, FINANCES; ETC...THE BEST GIFT I GOT AFTER SALVATION WAS THE GIFT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT...I LOVE HIM......GOD BLESS....

A) ACCORDING TO THE SLAVE RANSOM ANALOGY, MANKIND IS THE SLAVES WHO NEEDED TO BE REDEEMED BY THE BLOOD OF JESUS. B)WE ARE ENSLAVED BY SIN BECAUSE OF THE FALL IN THE GARDEN .THUS WE WERE BORN IN SIN AND SHAPED IN INIQUITY. C)JESUS IS THE ONLY PURE, SINLESS ONE WHO COULD HAVE OFFERED A RANSOM FOR US AND THANK GOD HE DID!!!!. D)JESUS TOOK THE RANSOM TO THE FATHER. HEBREWS SAYS WITH HIS OWN BLOOD HE ENTERED INTO THE MOST HOLY PLACE .THE FATHER SENT HIS SON TO PAY THE RANSOM ON OUR BEHALF...THE SON CAME AND SHED HIS BLOOD AND TOOK HIS BLOOD BACK TO THE FATHER, SO TODAY WE ALSO CAN GO BEFORE THE FATHER BOLDLY BY THE BLOOD OF JESUS.I THINK THE RANSOM HAD TO BE PAID BY JESUS TO GOD THE FATHER.WE NEVER BELONGED TO SATAN; WE WERE BLINDED FROM SEEING JESUS AS GOD BY THE DEVIL; BUT HE NEVER OWNED US. E)I'M NOT SURE WHY THE ANALOGY ISNT SPELLED OUT COMPLETELY IN THE NEW TESTAMENT. MAYBE IT WAS LEFT TO US TO COME TO A CLEARER UNDERSTANDING WITH THE HELP OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.....GOD BLESS....

GOD GAVE HIS BEST FOR US WHEN HE SENT JESUS TO BECOME SIN FOR US AND BE PUNISHED FOR US.AS A RESULT , WE WERE BOUGHT BY A GREAT PRICE. THEREFORE, WE IN TURN SHOULD GIVE HIM OUR BEST BY KEEPING HIS WORD BECAUSE WE LOVE HIM AND WANT OTHERS TO SEE CHRIST IN US.BUT IT'S IMPOSSIBLE FOR ME TO LIVE THIS CHRISTIAN LIFE WITHOUT THE HELP OF THE HOLY SPIRIT- THE COMFORTER.I RELY ON HIM TO HELP ME IN MY CHRISTIAN WALK, AND WHEN I MISS THE MARK, I ASK HIS FORGIVENESS AND CONTINUE WALKING WITH HIM. WE MUST LIVE IN SUCH A WAY THAT OTHERS SEE OUR GOOD WORK AND GLORIFY NOT US BUT OUR HEAVENLY FATHER; WE MUST LIVE GODLY, HOLY LIVES FOR HIS WORD SAYS BE YE HOLY AS I AM HOLY.....GOD BLESS...

SLAVERY WAS VERY COMMON BACK IN THE BIBLE DAYS.SOME WERE BORN INTO SLAVERY; SOME SOLD INTO SLAVERY BECAUSE OF UNPAID DEBTS, ETC.. EITHER WAYS IT WAS AN EMPTY WAY OF LIFE; NO WAY OUT; TRAPPED UNLESS YOU COULD MEET THE REQUIREMENTS FOR FREEDOM. I BELIEVE JESUS'S BLOOD PAID THE RANSOM PRICE FOR ALL HUMANS THEN AND NOW. JESUS USED THIS ANALOGY BECAUSE IT MADE IT SIMPLE FOR PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND.SINCE THEY WERE FAMILIAR WITH SLAVERY IT WAS EASY FOR THEM TO UNDERSTAND THE CONCEPT OF A RANSOM HAVING TO BE PAID; IN THIS CASE WE NEEDED A RANSOM TO BE PAID FOR OUR SOULS!!!!. FROM THIS ANALOGY, I'M ABLE TO SEE HOW DEEPLY I WAS IN BONDAGE TO SIN AND HOW DESPERATELY I NEEDED A KINSMAN REDEEMER TO SET ME FREE TO BE WHO I WAS CREATED TO BE...A CHILD OF THE MOST HIGH GOD...PRAISE YOU JESUS...SPOTLESS LAMB OF GOD WHO TOOK AWAY THE SINS OF THE WORLD...GOD BLESS......

FOR ME , ACTS 8:32-35 IS SO REMARKABLE IN THAT IT QUOTES AN IMPORTANT PART OF ISAIAH 53:8. FOR JESUS TO HAVE SUFFERED THE WAY HE DID; SLAUGHTERED AND PUNISHED ON MY BEHALF SEEMS SO WRONG SINCE HE DIDNT DESERVE IT. YET HIS LIFE WAS TAKEN FROM HIM;HE WAS CUT OFF FROM THE LAND OF THE LIVING;HE TOOK DEATH UPOM HIM SO I NOW HAVE THE GIFT OF ETERNAL LIFE. IN ACTS 8 , PHILLIP WENT ON TO EXPLAIN TO THE EUNUCH THAT THE ONE WHO WAS HUMILIATED AND DEGRADED WAS JESUS OF NAZARETH.I CHOSE THIS SCRIPTURE BECAUSE I THINK IT SUMS UP ISAIAH 53 REALLY WELL..I'M GRATEFUL FOR HIS SUFFERING AND HIS ENDURANCE TO THE END FOR ME....LOVE YOU JESUS....GOD BLESS.

WHEN JESUS DIED ON THE CROSS,HE WAS BEING PUNISHED FOR EVERY LIED I'D EVER TOLD,FOR EVERY WRONG I'D EVER DONE, OR WOULD DO.HE TOOK ALL SINS OF MINE-- PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE UPON HIMSELF FOR SOMEONE WHO DIDNT DESERVE IT.HOW VERY UNSELFISH AND MERCIFUL IS OUR LORD.I THOUGHT I WAS A PRETTY GOOD PERSON TILL I MET JESUS CHRIST AND FOUND OUT THERE IS NO ONE REALLY GOOD EXCEPT HIM..I'M SO THANKFUL HE'S BEEN SHOWING ME THE JUNK IN MY HEART SO I CAN HONESTLY REPENT AND HAVE A CLOSER, DEEPER WALK WITH HIM...GOD BLESS.

JESUS TOOK ON THE ROLE OF AN INTERCESSOR ON THE CROSS, STANDING IN THE GAP ON OUR BEHALF SO WE COULD BE REDEEMED BY HIS PRECIOUS BLOOD.HE WHO KNEW NO SIN BECAME SIN FOR ME; HE WENT TO hell IN MY PLACE AND TRANSFERRED SICKNESS, DISEASES AND EVEN DEATH BACK TO SATAN'S KINGDOM SO THAT WE HAVE POWER OVER hell, DEATH AND THE GRAVE BECAUSE OF HIM.PRAISE GOD FOR OUR HEAVENLY BRIDEGROOM WHO LOVES US SO MUCH HE GAVE HIS VERY LIFE FOR US...GOD BLESS...