Tag: Christ

Is the Spirit of Truth the Holy Spirit?

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Many Christians don’t realize there is a difference between the Holy Spirit and the Spirit of Truth. The Churches do not teach this, instead they lump them both together. Maybe this is the reason their is so much issues in Churches today in regards to sin. So to fully understand the Spirit of Truth we must examine the scriptures before I give you the words He spoke. As Christians we need to understand the difference to ensure we have the Spirit of Truth along with the Holy Spirit because the Lord Jesus tells us, I am the Way, the Truth and the Life. With that said, the scriptures read;

The Spirit of Truth Scriptures
John 14:16,20 – And I will ask the Father and He will give you an Advocate to be with you forever, the Spirit of Truth. The world cannot receive Him, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him. But you do know Him, for He abides with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.

John 14:23 – Jesus replied, If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word. My Father will love Him and We will come to Him and make Our home with Him forever.

John 15:26,27 – When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father – the Spirit of Truth who proceeds from the Father – He will testify about Me. And you also must testify, because you have been with Me from the beginning.

John 16: 7 – But I tell you the truth, it is for your benefit that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you. And when He comes, He will convict the world in regard to sin and righteousness, because I am going to the Father and you will no longer see me;

John 16:13,14 – However, when The Spirit of Truth comes, He will guide you into all truth. For He will not speak on His own, but He will speak what He hears, and will declare to you what is to come. He will glorify Me by taking from what is Mine and disclosing it to you.

Romans 8:9 – You, however, are not controlled by the flesh, but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ. But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness. And if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit, who lives in you.

The Holy Spirit Scriptures
John 14:26 – But the Advocate, The Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My Name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have told you.

Can you see the difference? And ask yourself, when Jesus died what happened to His Spirit?

Paul specifically says if you do not have the Spirit of Christ than you don’t belong to Christ. The Spirit of Truth is the one who convicts us of sin. God’s Spirit will cause us to walk in His ways, but, we can choose to believe in the Lord Jesus and still live a worldly lifestyle.

This means you only have the Holy Spirit and you do not belong to Christ. How do I know? Because Jesus tells us those who love Him will keep His Word.

Something else to consider, Jesus never says they are one, nor, did He say they would come to us at the same time. Instead, he separated The Spirit of Truth from The Holy Spirit and stated we will come to you and make our home.

I believe this is why many Christians still struggle with sin, still live a worldly lifestyle and belong to man’s Church instead of God’s, because they don’t belong to the Lord Christ Jesus!

Why Christ Addressed the 7 Churches in Asia Minor

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I find myself reading the Book of Revelation often, sometimes all the way through and sometimes only parts of it. But I’ve really started focusing more on the 7 Churches to see what I could learn from them. What’s interesting is for a while now, I’ve wondered why the Lord Jesus had the Apostle John write to the seven Churches in Asia Minor and not to the Churches in Israel. Of course, I know from all my studies that Asia Minor is today’s Turkey. Which is interesting because the Apostle Paul was a Greek speaking Jew born in the city of Tarsus and often did His evangelizing in Asia Minor. We also know from the Book of Acts that those who follow the Lord Jesus Christ were first known as Christians. So knowing all of this, I was perplexed and would often wonder why the seven Churches in Asia Minor was so important.

But the Holy Spirit being true to His nature, provided the answer. Not an answer I heard audibly, nor through a prophetic dream or vision, but, through the teaching by the reading of the Word. You see, I found myself reading one of the parables known as the Parable of the Wicked Vinedressers. Now, I’ve read this particular parable many times but I was amazed what the Holy Spirit revealed to me. This parable mirrors what will happen to Christ in the coming days and really gives an insight into the hearts of those involved. But what I found very interesting is, Jesus tells the Chief Priests and elders of the people something is going to happen. And when I read it, everything made sense. Jesus tells them;

Matthew 21:43 – Therefore I say to you, the Kingdom of God will be taken from you and given to a nation bearing the fruits of it.

Once I read this statement the Lord Jesus made, I finally understood why the 7 Churches in Asia Minor is so important. This is the whole reason Christ addressed the seven Churches in the Book of Revelation to Asia Minor, because, the Kingdom of God was taken from the Jewish people and given to the Greeks (Gentiles), which was ruled by the Roman Empire, also known as Anatolia.

It’s also the reason the scriptures were written in Greek, Yeshua’s name was transliterated into Greek and then transliterated into English for the name Jesus. Because our language is composed of Latin which the Romans spoke along with Greek during Jesus time.

People, please study your Bible, read the scriptures and re-read them because God always provides the answers in His word.

Nine Virtues of a Christ-like Character

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In Galatians 5:22-23, the Apostle Paul outlines the Fruit of the Spirit. A collection of nine virtues that together make up a Christ-like character. These virtues, love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control, are the hallmarks of a life transformed by the Holy Spirit. Each attribute reflects part of Jesus’ own nature and offers a blueprint for how we are to live as His followers. Love leads us to selflessly care for others. Joy uplifts us and those around us, and peace brings harmony in our relationships. Patience helps us endure trials with grace, while kindness and goodness spur us to acts…

The Christian Kitchen Table
June 1st – Galatians 5:22-23

Miracles Happen

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Miracles happen! They happen all the time. I consider myself one, in many ways. The trouble is that the word is tossed about carelessly and used in error. You get varying numbers of how many time it is used in the Bible, depending on the version or the interpretation. Jesus is mentioned as doing thirty five but we know He did many more, so many the books could not hold them.

I have seen those whose lives were spared quite miraculously remain in unbelief that God had stepped in, one even told me that doctors made mistakes. Yes, they are fallible but this boy woke up just before they were preparing him to be an organ donor. Just like not everyone will be saved, not everyone will believe and even if they do they often attribute it to something else, a higher power or technological advancement, not the sacrifice or resurrection power of Christ.

A miracle, by definition,  is an event that is inexplicable in the natural or by scientific and physical laws. It is described as God intervening for mankind, though a lot of beliefs include them and ascribe them to different gods. I like this one from the Topical Bible.  Miracles are seals of a divine mission. That really sums up the ministry of Jesus.

Jesus replied, “I did one miracle on the Sabbath, and you were amazed. ” John 7:21

Now, of course, if you are familiar with Jewish teaching, He should not have worked on the Sabbath, but in the previous chapter, He had multiplied loaves and fishes. They had accused Him of having a demon and He answered that they were trying to kill Him, for He knew their thoughts and the intent of their hearts.  He always knows and we don’t always walk in that discernment. Sometimes, He had to walk away. Jesus told them about the bread of life and many walked away at the teaching of Communion, because they did not understand, the body and blood, and He had not been crucified of risen.

They were still following pagan laws and even the law of Moses, yet, they circumcised on the Sabbath and rescued livestock if the need arose. They were very critical of Him, and He chose not to go on to the feast of Tabernacles. He often said His time had not come. And it was the response to the first miracle at Cana, He changed water to wine for Mary but it was the same answer. He was so condemned for healing on the Sabbath…

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Blessed are the Meek

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Sometimes I really like to focus on the beatitudes because I enjoy reading what the scriptures tell me about those who believe in Christ and in God will end up. For instance, when I spoke of those who are poor in Spirit, the Scriptures state that theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven. Which for me means their home is the Kingdom of Heaven. Knowing this brings me to the next beatitude which reads;

Blessed are the meek, for
they shall inherit the earth.
Matthew 5:5

How is this important to Christians, the Church or Religion?

As part of the Church it’s important for Christians to evaluate where they stand. One of the ways I can do this is by using the Beatitudes as a type of measurement tool. But to fully understand this scripture better lets take a look at other words that could easily replace the word Meek. A few of these are, timid, shy, reserved, bashful, introverted, quite, modest, humble, obedient, peaceful, gentle, kind, softhearted, merciful, forgiving, patient, gracious, pleasant, lowly, mild, easygoing and warmhearted.

But what is the actual meaning?

The word meek is defined as someone who is patient and mild; not inclined to anger or resentment according to the American Collins Online Encyclopedia. And when you read this same scripture from the Amplified Bible, it reads;

Blessed[inwardly peaceful, spiritually secure, worthy of respect] are the gentle[the kind-hearted, the sweet-spirited, the self-controlled] for they will inherit the earth.

This particular scripture really makes me think about the Lord Jesus’s character and how it could easily be a reflection of Him and those who follow Him. So I could easily see the word gentle replaced with humble, obedient, peaceful, merciful and forgiving or even lowly. But notice what else this scriptures states, they will inherit the earth.

Can you imagine, living on earth at a time where there is no war, no disease, no hate, no famines, but, GOD’S TRUTH, LOVE, RESPECT and our KING!

May God’s Grace bless you daily,
bring you closer to the Lord Jesus Christ
and Sanctify you in God’s Truth!

OG – “Help! I Need Encouraged!”

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Help! I Need Encouraged!

If you’re breathing, you qualify.

To be discouraged is to lose courage. Find it in Christ and His Word.

Recall the old song, His eye is on the sparrow and I know He watches over me. God’s Word says; “Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies and yet not one of them is forgotten or uncared for in the presence of God. Do not be struck with fear or seized with alarm. You are of greater worth than many flocks sparrows. And in the Old Testament, “I know and am aquatinted with all the birds of the mountains.”
(Luke 12:6-7b and Psalm 50:11 Amp)

”Encourage the exhausted and strengthen the feeble, say to those with anxious heart ‘take courage, fear not.’ For the Lord knows and is fully aquatinted with the way of the righteous. You number and record my wonderings; put my tears in a bottle — are they not in Your book? Those who feared the Lord talked often one to another, and the Lord listened and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before Him of those who reverenced and worshipfully feared the Lord and who thought on His name.” Isaiah 35:3-4 Psalm 1:6 Psalm 56:8 Malachi 3:16

Be encouraged, God knows your sorrow, He is aware of the path you take…

 

Devotions for Difficult Days
OG – “Help! I need Encouraged!”

Repossess

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As a Christian, a follower of Christ, I’ve spoken many times on the depravity I see unfolding in America. The United States is being possessed by every unclean Spirit imaginable. But it hasn’t always been this way.

The United States was founded on God. Prayer was given to open Congress and the House as far back as September 1774. Then, prayer was added into the school system and children were happy, content and safe. But in 1962 the Supreme Court ruled against it citing it was unconstitutional.

With the removal of prayer from our schools it has left the United States vulnerable and empty. Today, we see mass shootings in schools, an array of mental health issues, assaults, rapes, transgender ideology being pushed, drug use, sexual immorality, along with a host of other issues. It’s truly a disgrace to our Lord and Creator, God Almighty.

But don’t be mistaken, just because we see all these things transpiring, remember, America were founded on God. And what the Holy Spirit told me was, repossess. Since the United States was founded on God, God will repossess it! It reminds me of the scriptures, which read;

Then he says, I will return to my house from which I came. And when he comes, he finds it empty, swept, and put in order.

Matthew 12:44

When God was removed from our Schools, Government offices, Employers, and even some of our churches became empty. Many have chosen to follow doctrines of demons instead of following The Way which Christ taught. But don’t forget;

Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.

Galatians 6:7,8

Reflecting Love

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Some of the most profound scriptures found in the Bible are those of love. While all of scripture is wonderful, those which speak to God’s love and how we as Christians should carry ourselves is amazing. For instance, in one of the scriptures I’m seeking to memorize, reads;

Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.
Ephesians 4:32

Although, this scripture doesn’t specifically have the word love in it, it’s the very reflection of love. Being kind to people, tenderhearted, and forgiving, shows we have God’s love within us. Unfortunately, in the world today Love is a rare commodity. Sure we may love our family members but even so, families argue, they feud. But, if we have God’s love within us, we’re able to exhibit the qualities listed in this scripture regardless of what comes our way.

Personally, this is something I’ve had an issue with and constantly battling against. I say this because in the past, I’ve been very opinionated, critical, even judgmental. And, as someone raised in the West, we’re often seen as argumentative, proud and even arrogant. While Christians are not called to quarrel and argue, we are called to reason with others and sometimes this may come across as one who likes to argue. It’s a delicate line and I admit, an area I’m still being refined in. But gracious is God’s mercy and love for us! Since God is the very essence of love, I know He will ensure through the Holy Spirit I learn this lesson along with many others.

God bless you and remember, Jesus Christ is our Hope regardless of what this world throws at us…

God Gives Eternal Life

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When I was younger I would attend Church on a regular basis. It was one of those small country Churches where many of the surrounding rural people attended. So, as I continue my journey through the Scriptures, some of the things which I’ve read in the Bible has really opened my eyes. I’ve read through the New Testament several times and when I finish, I start again. The reason I do this is because as we grow in Christ we will continue to uncover more and more. Like the scriptures which refers to the Testimony of God, it reads;

Whoever believes in the Son of God has this testimony
within him; whoever does not believe God has made Him
out to be a liar, because he has not believed in the
testimony that God has given about His Son. And this is
the Testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life
is in His Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever
does not have the Son of God does not have life.
1 John 5:10-12

As a Christian, I want to ensure this Scripture is seared into my mind. Because when difficult times come, the Holy Spirit will remind me of who I “truly” belong to.

God Bless Each of You!

Every Word

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With everything taking place within the United States it’s easy to see how Christians will fall away from the Faith. Maybe it’s due to a lack of love for God, maybe because some are luke warm, maybe they’re afraid of persecution, maybe they’re a Christian in name only, or maybe they’re just to worldly and refuse to give it up.

But, now more than ever, we need to ensure we’re following the Word of God. That we’re putting Christ and His teachings to work in us. We’re memorizing scriptures and have made peace with the knowledge that some of us may be called to give our lives for Christ, just as He did for us. But remember what Christ said;

I have told you these things so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take courage; I have overcome the world!”

John 16:33

Sexual Sins

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Scripture memorization is extremely important to me to help when I’m fighting against Spiritual Warfare, so, I try to dedicate a portion of my day to learning scripture. Tonight as I was writing down scriptures I came across a few that really made me question where our culture is today. It’s no secret within the United States sin is completely off the charts, specifically, sexual immorality and lust. But it’s not just non-believers, unfortunately, there are many Christians struggling with this same issue. Whether it’s adultery, pornography, fornication, sexually promiscuous or the issue of lusting, it’s sin and considered wickedness to God. So as I was researching this topic I came across this scripture which reads;

Flee sexuality immorality. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but
he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body. Or do you not know
that your body is the Temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God,
and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price, therefore glorify
God in your body and in your Spirit which are Gods
1 Corinthians 6:18,19

It’s extremely important to remember who God is, He’s Holy, Divine and deserves respect along with our complete loyalty. Because He loved us so much He gave His only Son, the Lord Jesus, as a sacrifice for the penalty of our sin, death. It cost Christ His life just so we could be made right with God. If you’re a Christian please stop and think before you defile the body because scripture tells us God will destroy those who defile the body.

Do you not know that you are a temple of God and that
the Spirit of God dwells in you? If anyone destroys the
Temple of God, God will destroy that person; for the
Temple of God is holy and that is what you are.
1 Corinthians 3: 16,17

Love Shatters Everything

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My dad always used to begin his day drinking hot tea in a glass mug. Sometimes, I’d tiptoe downstairs and watch him sort through paper ads, snipping and trimming deals, calmly sipping. Then one morning – CRASH. He had chosen to drink cold soda in his glass, hot out of the dishwasher. I flew down the stairs. Bits of glass sprayed across the kitchen. 

A few years later, long after the mug had been thrown away, I learned that certain artists comb the beach in search of sea glass. Sea glass originates as a useless shard of trash, but through years of physical and chemical weathering from salt water, it can become a lovely piece of frosted glass utilized by artists.

Chaos ensues whenever glass breaks. There’s usually screaming: “Be careful! How did this happen? Watch out! Bare toes!”. It’s impossible to break glass without anyone within earshot noticing. It cannot be done in a pretty or gentle way. But it can turn out beautiful.

Change is a lot like this. We often say we want to change – though grow or develop are favorable euphemisms. But change causes chaos. We must ask ourselves, “Are we willing to embrace chaos if it means we can become more like Christ?”.

Change isn’t comfy-cozy. It’s disruptive and provocative. It requires us to shed a layer of skin, becoming vulnerable and authentic. As we change, people will notice. Some like it; others don’t. 

Take boundaries, for instance. Boundaries allow us to refrain from enabling others, live restful and balanced lives, and prioritize authenticity over pleasing people and avoiding conflict. However, the recipient of our boundaries may be surprised and disappointed when we aren’t so accommodating anymore.

The Will to Wake Up
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The Gift of a Songbird

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During my walk the other morning, I heard the voice of a songbird somewhere in the midst of the bare trees hovering above me. I began to notice how every branch was a part of something bigger than itself—the trunk. The branches reminded me a lot of blood vessels. Blood vessels are channels that transport blood from the center of the body, i.e. the heart, just as tree branches are channels that transport nutrients from the center of the tree—the trunk. God’s people are like His blood vessels, we transport the Word throughout the body of Christ.

Lately I’ve been thinking a lot about purpose, specifically my purpose. I’ve been able to boil it all down to one thing, one very simple yet beautiful thing. I am God’s vessel. How empowering it is to come to this realization.

The wonderful thing about your divine purpose is it’s simplicity. Your purpose isn’t to gain likes, followers, views, nor approval. It’s my belief, your purpose isn’t even to increase the body of Christ. Being able to contribute to the growing number of believers is a good thing, but it’s not your purpose. Though your divine assignment could very well be tied to apologetics, your purpose is to simply transport the Word, ultimately bringing glory to God.

Tree branches serve a purpose to transport nutrients from the trunk to the leaves and canopy of tree. But there’s another side to this coin. The branches not only serve the outer parts of the tree; they also serve the center of the tree as well. How do they do that? As the outer parts of the tree encounter wind, it’s swaying strengthens the core of the tree, it’s trunk.

Likewise, not only do blood vessels transport blood from the heart; they make what’s known as a “loop” and transport it back to the heart. We as believers have a purpose to transport the Word outwardly which then brings glory back to God. To bring glory to our Creator is the objective of our divine purpose.

It’s the order of nature to bring glory to God— sunsets, mountaintops, stars, rainbows, and rain itself all pay homage to a Creator. Music, mathematics, the concept of morality all point to a Creator and glorify His name.

Continue Reading @ Kamille Grace
The Gift of a Songbird

Removing the Wrinkles

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Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. Ephesians 5:25-27 KJV

I heard someone share a dream yesterday and in the dream, they saw a dryer being turned to the last 20 minute cycle and turned on. As most of you probably know, the last 20 minute cycle is the one you use to get the dryer heated up in order to remove the wrinkles from your clothes so they will be ready for use. I immediately thought of the above scripture when I heard the dream and the person sharing it also referenced the scripture from the book of Ephesians.

Lately, it seems like almost everyone I know is having some type of major health crisis or someone in their family is or they are dealing with relationship problems, etc. Last week, my mother had a stroke and I have been back and forth to the hospital everyday. Thankfully, she is showing some progress and will be moved to a skilled nursing facility to try to help her get more of her mobility back.

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A Deeper Walk

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Removing the Wrinkles

Washing of Water

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While looking at an assortment of gospel tracts and reading them to ensure they align with the scriptures, one verse in particular really stood out to me. Now, I’ve read the New Testament several times, and as simple as the message is to comprehend, the Bible is very deep and complex. Personally, I believe God made the Good News simple to understand and grasp so anyone could experience salvation. But as I said, as simple as the message is, the Bible, God’s Word, is very deep. One of those scriptures is found in Ephesians 5:25,26 and reads;

Husbands, love your wives, just 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.

The reason this scripture is so important to me and really stood out is, for approximately the past month I have felt like I was being washed on the inside. The only way I can explain it is, I felt in the lower stomach toward my back area like someone was taking a hose and spraying the inside of me. I could actually feel the water and at times could hear a voice speaking.

Since I didn’t realize what was happening, I would often rebuke or even cast out unclean spirits because I thought I was experiencing Spiritual Warfare. That is, until I heard the Lord say, Robin, why are you going against me? That stopped me in my tracks and made me think and ask, how was I going against the Lord?

Through the Holy Spirit I realized what was happening to me had nothing to do with Spiritual Warfare, it was the work of Christ. But until I came across this scripture, I still didn’t understand the full weight of what was transpiring in me. After reading this scripture I now know I wasn’t being attacked, but instead, I am being sanctified by the washing of water with the Word of God.

When we read the Word of God it becomes more than just words on a page, it becomes God’s LIVING Word and begins working inside us. This reminds me of the scripture found in Hebrews 4:12, it reads;

For the Word of God is living and active,
sharper than any two-edged sword,
piercing to the division of soul and spirit,
of joints and of marrow, and discerning
the thoughts and intentions of the heart.