The time for rest is TODAY

Today there is rest, and the gateway to it is obeying God. 

“So God’s rest is there for people to enter, but those who first heard this good news failed to enter because they disobeyed God. So God set another time for entering his rest, and that time is today. God announced this through David much later in the words already quoted: “Today when you hear his voice, don’t harden your hearts.” Now if Joshua had succeeded in giving them this rest, God would not have spoken about another day of rest still to come. So there is a special rest still waiting for the people of God. For all who have entered into God’s rest have rested from their labors, just as God did after creating the world. So let us do our best to enter that rest. But if we disobey God, as the people of Israel did, we will fall.”

Hebrews 4:6-11 NLT

http://bible.com/116/heb.4.6-11.nlt

Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now

GOD is reminding me of the core truths that bound my heart to His.

This is a paraphrase that God is using to speak directly to my heart as a reminder of how Jesus truth applies to my life.

[Jesus said,] “If God gives such attention to the appearance of wildflowers—most of which are never even seen—don’t you think he’ll attend to you, take pride in you, do his best for you? What I’m trying to do here is to get you to relax, to not be so preoccupied with getting, so you can respond to God’s giving. People who don’t know God and the way he works fuss over these things, but you know both God and how he works. Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don’t worry about missing out. You’ll find all your everyday human concerns will be met. Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don’t get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes.”

Matthew 6:30-34 MSG

 - - - -  - 

MUCH MORE

“If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith?”

Matthew 6:30 NIV

“But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and green and tomorrow is tossed into the furnace, will He not much more surely clothe you, O you of little faith?”

Matthew 6:30 AMP

“Consider the lilies of the field . . .” (6:28). They grow where they are planted. Many of us refuse to grow where God plants us. Therefore, we don’t take root anywhere. Jesus said if we would obey the life of God within us, He would look after all other things. Did Jesus Christ lie to us? Are we experiencing the “much more” He promised? If we are not, it is because we are not obeying the life God has given us and have cluttered our minds with confusing thoughts and worries. How much time have we wasted asking God senseless questions while we should be absolutely free to concentrate on our service to Him? Consecration is the act of continually separating myself from everything except that which God has appointed me to do. It is not a onetime experience but an ongoing process. Am I continually separating myself and looking to God every day of my life?"

Excerpt from Utmost for His Highest Devotional 

Stay in the Word - to be transformed

SUMMARY-RECAP : Stay continually in His Word with an open life and heart before Him, for this is the only way to be transformed progressively and continually to reflect His likeness. (Not just gain for our promotion - but reflect for His glory and to participate in the drawing of people to Him which is His  will and delight.)

- - - -  

From my bible study this morning:

“But whenever a person turns in repentance to the Lord, the veil is stripped off and taken away. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty (emancipation from bondage, freedom). And all of us, as with unveiled face, because we continued to behold in the Word of God as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are constantly being transfigured into His very own image in ever increasing splendor and from one degree of glory to another; for this comes from the Lord Who is the Spirit.”

2 Corinthians 3:16-18 AMP

http://bible.com/8/2co.3.16-18.amp

Excerpt from the devotional @YouVersion plan 'My Utmost For His Highest' 

http://bible.com/r/Cm

Transformed By Beholding

The greatest characteristic a Christian can exhibit is this completely unveiled openness before God, which allows that person’s life to become a mirror for others. When the Spirit fills us, we are transformed, and by beholding God we become mirrors. You can always tell when someone has been beholding the glory of the Lord, because your inner spirit senses that he mirrors the Lord’s own character. Beware of anything that would spot or tarnish that mirror in you. It is almost always something good that will stain it—something good, but not what is best.

... 

Never let a hurried lifestyle disturb the relationship of abiding in Him. This is an easy thing to allow, but we must guard against it. The most difficult lesson of the Christian life is learning how to continue “beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord . . . .”

"... because we continued to behold in the Word of God as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are constantly being transfigured into His very own image in ever increasing splendor and from one degree of glory to another; for this comes from the Lord Who is the Spirit.”

Jan 17 - sermon notes // respond with hymns and praises

The Bridge Church in Powhatan VA

Pastor Johnathan Whichard

Key scriptures from the sermon to meditate on and soak in ...

Sermon's central scripture: Ephesians 5:18-19 (AMP)

“And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery; but ever be filled and stimulated with the Holy Spirit."

"Speak out to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, offering praise with voices and instruments and making melody with all your heart to the Lord,”

KEY SERMON VERSE WAS 19 

Expanded context below 

Ephesians 5:19-33 AMP http://bible.com/8/eph.5.19-33.amp 

“Speak out to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, offering praise with voices and instruments and making melody with all your heart to the Lord, At all times and for everything giving thanks in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God the Father. Be subject to one another out of reverence for Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One). 

Wives, be subject (be submissive and adapt yourselves) to your own husbands as a service to the Lord. For the husband is head of the wife as Christ is the Head of the church, Himself the Savior of His body. As the church is subject to Christ, so let wives also be subject in everything to their husbands. 

Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her, So that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the Word, That He might present the church to Himself in glorious splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such things, that she might be holy and faultless. Even so husbands should love their wives as being in a sense their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself. For no man ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and carefully protects and cherishes it, as Christ does the church, Because we are members (parts) of His body. For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother and shall be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh. [Gen. 2:24.] This mystery is very great, but I speak concerning the relation of Christ and the church. However, let each man of you, without exception, love his wife as being in a sense his very own self; 

and let the wife see that she respects and reverences her husband, that she notices him, regards him, honors him, prefers him, venerates, and esteems him; and that she defers to him, praises him, and loves and admires him exceedingly.”

Cross Reference - 1 Peter 3:1-2 AMP:

“IN LIKE manner, you married women, be submissive to your own husbands, subordinate yourselves as being secondary to and dependent on them, and adapt yourselves to them, so that even if any do not obey the Word of God, they may be won over not by discussion but by the godly lives of their wives, When they observe the pure and modest way in which you conduct yourselves, together with your reverence for your husband; you are to feel for him all that reverence includes: to respect, defer to, revere him–to honor, esteem, appreciate, prize, and, in the human sense, to adore him, that is, to admire, praise, be devoted to, deeply love, and enjoy your husband.”

Pastor did not expound on marriage or husbands and wives, but the Lord drew me here.  Wives apart of and one with the husband (joint heirs and carrying the same authority of the husband), as the church is to Christ (the fullness of Him/him) yet dependent, subject, obedient, respectful and devotedly reverent.

~~~~~~

Main sermon point::

Respond to all things and all conversations and comments and situation with...

“Speak out to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, offering praise with voices and instruments and making melody with all your heart to the Lord, At all times and for everything giving thanks in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God the Father.”

Ephesians 5:19-20 AMP 

(Respond with Praise pointing ourselves and others to God in all things and circumstances)

Notes from Jan 17th Devotions

Excerpts from @YouVersion plan 'My Utmost For His Highest'. Check it out here:  http://bible.com/r/Cm

"God is saying to His people, “You are not in love with Me now, but I remember a time when you were.” He says, “I remember . . . the love of your betrothal . . .” (Jeremiah 2:2). Am I as filled to overflowing with love for Jesus Christ as I was in the beginning, when I went out of my way to prove my devotion to Him?"

"As I recall what God remembers about me, I may also begin to realize that He is not what He used to be to me. When this happens, I should allow the shame and humiliation it creates in my life, because it will bring godly sorrow, and “godly sorrow produces repentance . . .” (2 Corinthians 7:10)."

Key Scriptures from my reading and prayers 

“Has any nation ever traded its gods for new ones, even though they are not gods at all? Yet my people have exchanged their glorious God for worthless idols! The heavens are shocked at such a thing and shrink back in horror and dismay,” says the LORD. “For my people have done two evil things: They have abandoned me— the fountain of living water. And they have dug for themselves cracked cisterns that can hold no water at all!”

Jeremiah 2:11-13 NLT http://bible.com/116/jer.2.11-13.nlt

“That is why the LORD says, “Turn to me now, while there is time. Give me your hearts. Come with fasting, weeping, and mourning. Don’t tear your clothing in your grief, but tear your hearts instead.” Return to the LORD your God, for he is merciful and compassionate, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. He is eager to relent and not punish. Who knows? Perhaps he will give you a reprieve, sending you a blessing instead of this curse. Perhaps you will be able to offer grain and wine to the LORD your God as before. Blow the ram’s horn in Jerusalem! Announce a time of fasting; call the people together for a solemn meeting. Gather all the people— the elders, the children, and even the babies. Call the bridegroom from his quarters and the bride from her private room. Let the priests, who minister in the LORD’s presence, stand and weep between the entry room to the Temple and the altar. Let them pray, “Spare your people, LORD! Don’t let your special possession become an object of mockery. Don’t let them become a joke for unbelieving foreigners who say, ‘Has the God of Israel left them?’””

Joel 2:12-17 NLT http://bible.com/116/jol.2.12-17.nlt

TODAY'S TO DO LIST (Eph 4:1-3)

TODAY'S TO DO LIST 

 (Eph 4:1-3)

• Live my life as worthy of 

   the divine calling of God

   on my life as 

   His adopted child 

   and ambassador 

• Be completely humble 

   and gentle

• Be patient and 

   bear with others,

   making allowances

   for them in genuine love

• Make every effort keep 

   displaying and putting

   into practice the unity

   (harmony and oneness)

   of God's Spirit, which

   is produced and kept 

   in and between 

   God's people,

   through the bond of 

   His Peace. 

(A high calling indeed!!)

FB bible study - Ephesians 3 (NOV 16 & 17)

Ephesians 3 (NOV 16 & 17) 

(I read, highlighted, and prayed through Eph 3 yesterday, but didn't journal. Today I re-read and jotted down these thoughts.)

Note: I ran out of time to review and edit. Please excuse all the typos etc.

----------

Mystery of the good news is unity... “This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus.” Ephesians 3:6 NIV

“His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, according to his eternal purpose that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord.”  Ephesians 3:10-11 NIV

These verses 12 & 14 seem connected

“In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence."

"For this reason I kneel before the Father,” not just that Paul had freedom and confident to approach God, but clearly from the prayer that followed he wanted all to approach (draw near) to God. 

The prayer - is like so many of Pauls prayers so full. 

Vs 15:  we learn what father and family are by learning about Him - just a glimpse that family is ordained, establish by God -

Paul has been talking about all the riches, grace and power of God, but now he prays that we are strengthened in our spirit. I like the emphasis of the Amplified bible here. “May He grant you out of the rich treasury of His glory to be strengthened and reinforced with mighty power in the inner man by the Holy Spirit Himself indwelling your innermost being and personality.”

Vs 17: faith that Christ may dwell (stay, abide) - not wavering, not sometimes, but staying as ruling father in our hearts (Christ abiding takes faith)

priority and preeminence of love 

Rooted and grounded in love (love is the foundation of our relationship with God it is the thing that holds in place within that relationship) 

There is a strength needed to comprehend the immensity and far reaching impact of God's love for us personally and corporately. 

God's love surpassed knowledge (in it's value and in it's power)

Paul prays that we would be filled with all the fullness of God or as some translate this fill to all fullness (full and overflowing) with God. [All needs are met or satisfied in God. Not like a bad parent might spoil a child, in that place of understanding His love for us and being filled with His presence, likeness, character, etc, we will find peace and satisfaction no matter what our condition or how God choose to "answer" our need. 

Vs 20 our minds are so small and our souls too immature or imperfect to fully grasp how much He loves us, and we are not yet in the place of fully allowing Christ to keep house in our hearts, so Paul in his exultation seems to remind us that God is able to do exceedingly abundantly more than we can think or imagine ACCORDING TO His power at work in our lives.  - The "according to" as I understand it, esp in the context of all Paul's writings, is the measure of freedom/permission we give God to move and rule, in our lives, remembering that God will not cross the boundary of our free will. The more we say "not my will but thine" the more power we will have, the more we will be able to comprehend how big His love is and how big an impact that His love makes, than more our faith grows, the more room we make in our hearts for Christ to dwell. 

----------------------

“In Whom, because of our faith in Him, we dare to have the boldness (courage and confidence) of free access (an unreserved approach to God with freedom and without fear). ...  For this reason seeing the greatness of this plan by which you are built together in Christ, I bow my knees before the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, For Whom every family in heaven and on earth is named that Father from Whom all fatherhood takes its title and derives its name. May He grant you out of the rich treasury of His glory to be strengthened and reinforced with mighty power in the inner man by the Holy Spirit Himself indwelling your innermost being and personality. May Christ through your faith actually dwell (settle down, abide, make His permanent home) in your hearts! May you be rooted deep in love and founded securely on love, That you may have the power and be strong to apprehend and grasp with all the saints God's devoted people, the experience of that love what is the breadth and length and height and depth of it; That you may really come to know practically, through experience for yourselves the love of Christ, which far surpasses mere knowledge without experience; that you may be filled through all your being unto all the fullness of God may have the richest measure of the divine Presence, and become a body wholly filled and flooded with God Himself! 

Now to Him Who, by (in consequence of) the action of His power that is at work within us, is able to carry out His purpose and do superabundantly, far over and above all that we dare ask or think infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, hopes, or dreams– To Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations forever and ever. Amen (so be it).”

Ephesians 3:12-21 AMP