And in that day thou shalt say, O Lord, I will praise thee: though thou wast angry with me, thine anger is turned away, and thou comfortest me. Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the Lord Jehovah is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation. Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation. And in that day shall ye say, praise the Lord, call upon his name, declare his doings among the people, make mention that his name is exalted. Sing unto the Lord; for he hath done excellent things: this is known in all the earth. Cry out and shout, thou inhabitant of Zion: for great is the Holy One of Israel in the midst of thee.

Word Faith? I'd rather hear a faithful Word

Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.
Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.
These things have I spoken unto you, that ye should not be offended.
They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service.
And these things will they do unto you, because they have not known the Father, nor me.
But these things have I told you, that when the time shall come, ye may remember that I told you of them. And these things I said not unto you at the beginning, because I was with you.
Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not.
Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.

>Why are we so suprized?<

Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:
But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.

>Would we rather the glory of men? or of God? and what of riches, wealth, prosperity?<
>I only prosper if my soul prospers.<


Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:
For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.
Trust not in oppression, and become not vain in robbery: if riches increase, set not your heart upon them.

Merciful, Merciful Savior

I wonder about the mercy of the Lord, and about those who wonder about the mercy of the Lord. Especially when I disregard its price, as do my fellow wonderers.

I don't refer to the wondering of those who are amazed at God's mercy and wonder how he could have saved them when they were so wretched, yet now thank Him that they are no longer wretched. It was, is, will be God's mercy that gives them any claim to holiness (without which no man shall see the Lord).

This wondering, my wondering, is not based upon an awe inspired understanding of what God has done and my capacity to walk in His accomplishments for my life, at least so thoroughly as it ought to be. For I certainly thank Him for all that He has delivered me from. But now I find sin that ought not to be in the life of a man who says he loves the Lord with all his heart, soul, mind, and strength. The sins of the mind and of the flesh are suprisingly easy for a "solid" Christian to slip into, quietly. It is only God's mercy that we would feel conviction. When we do not, we are in grave danger of being bastard children, with no Father, outside of His favor and His kingdom, destined for destruction.

My wondering is all to often based on a question: when will it be too late to access His mercy? How long will He wait? How long will He be mocked?

But Joshua, you're saved.

Whom the Son sets free is free indeed.

In-deed.

In-action.

The word indeed means "truly."

Jesus' favorite word to use when emphasizing the truth in the Gospels is the word verily.

Indeed shows the truth of the statement by its action, by what it does. The truth inherent in the claim is verifiable according to how it is acted out, observable not only in the Spirit but in this present world and in our present bodies to which we are confined.

So what about those of us who claim freedom, but are not free indeed.

You can't be saved by your works. Freedom (salvation) comes first, then works (Ephesians 2).

But if your works aren't lining up, examine yourself.

Question your Salvation.

Don't question God's ability, question your choice.

The predestination of God is divided into two categories: those who love Him and for that purpose serve Him, and those who don't love Him, but serve his ultimate purpose anyway, because He is God. He is glorified regardless. But was that your intent? I mean your true intent (not your excuse to make yourself feel justified).

We choose. He does.

He gives every one of us the option of stepping into the predestination of the redeemed, or remaining in the predestination of the damned.

Every day we have left in this world is a day where God sets before us the blessing and the curse. Choose ye this day who you will serve. If God, He will eternally bless you. If not, He will eternally punish you.

The punishment of all sin has been paid on the cross by the shed blood of Christ. This is the gift we must accept.

If we say we follow God and commit sin, then aren't we saying that the Holy Spirit has led us to sin? That is not possible. No flesh will glory in his presence, yet the flesh is that which works sin in these mortal bodies. This flesh is enmity (bitter hatred) against the Holy Spirit.

Can we serve that which bitterly HATES the Holy Spirit and still be "saved"?

That would make a mockery of the Almighty God.

Now we know that God is not mocked. Whatsoever a man sows (does), that shall he reap (receive the wage of his work). The wages of sin (any and all) is death.

God is not the minister of sin.

Therefore purge out that known sin from your mortal bodies that ye may be presented blameless at the Lord's coming.

If you're not sure, make sure. Resist unto blood if necessary striving against sin. Be blameless, unrebukeable, unreproveable, perfect in the sight of God and man, for His glory.

Lord work the same in me, and purge me in what ever way necessary to make me just like You.

In Jesus' name. Amen.


Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.

Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.

Wherefore the rather, brethren, give dilligence to make your calling and election sure:

But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.

By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the Lord men depart from evil.