For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.
–II Cor.4:17-18
If we could see through God’s eyes, through the lens of eternity, we would know that no matter how heavy or grievous our affliction is to us now, it is light because we bear it but for a moment!
And then God piles on another promise – the light affliction we are bearing only for a moment of time is working for us a far more exceeding glory in eternity.
The fullness of this truth only dawns on us when we concentrate not on the things which are seen and are temporal, but focus our minds on the things which are not seen, which are eternal.
Showing posts with label Holy Scripture; Inspiring. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Holy Scripture; Inspiring. Show all posts
Saturday, January 23, 2010
Friday, January 15, 2010
Earthquakes
And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven. --Luke 21:11
And there were voices, and thunders and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such as was not since men were upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake, and so great. ...And every island fled away, and the mountains were not found. --Revelation 16:18, 20
The devastation wrought by the recent earthquake is breathtaking. The power of God is so evident. It is hard to believe that some people will not be humbled by God's power manifested, but will rather blaspheme Him.
As great as the earthquakes in divers places are now, according to Revelation, they pale in comparison to the final earthquake that will shake the earth in the last days.
Yet this truth remains and will continue to comfort us, "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed,and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. ." --Psalm 46:1-3
And there were voices, and thunders and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such as was not since men were upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake, and so great. ...And every island fled away, and the mountains were not found. --Revelation 16:18, 20
The devastation wrought by the recent earthquake is breathtaking. The power of God is so evident. It is hard to believe that some people will not be humbled by God's power manifested, but will rather blaspheme Him.
As great as the earthquakes in divers places are now, according to Revelation, they pale in comparison to the final earthquake that will shake the earth in the last days.
Yet this truth remains and will continue to comfort us, "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed,and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. ." --Psalm 46:1-3
Friday, January 1, 2010
Glory in Tribulations
And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;
And patience, experience; and experience, hope:
And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. --Romans 5:3-5
Do we glory in our tribulations? Or do we simply endure them?
Are we bitter or angry at God for difficulties or heartaches in our lives? Or do we rejoice because we know that these situations are working patience, experience and hope in our lives?
And patience, experience; and experience, hope:
And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. --Romans 5:3-5
Do we glory in our tribulations? Or do we simply endure them?
Are we bitter or angry at God for difficulties or heartaches in our lives? Or do we rejoice because we know that these situations are working patience, experience and hope in our lives?
Friday, August 7, 2009
Characteristics of Charity
Charity = God's love lived out among us
Charity:
--I Corinthians 13:4-8
Charity:
- Suffereth long
- Is kind
- Envieth not
- Vaunteth not itself (vaunt = to speak boastfully; brag)
- Is not puffed up (puffed up = feeling self-important; arrogant; pompous)
- Doth not behave itself unseemly (unseemly = unbecoming or indecorous in appearance, speech, conduct, etc.; inappropriate)
- Seeketh not her own
- Is not easily provoked (provoked = incited to anger, resentment or exasperation)
- Thinketh no evil
- Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth (iniquity = gross immorality or injustice; wickedness, sin)
- Beareth all things
- Believeth all things
- Hopeth all things
- Endureth all things.
--I Corinthians 13:4-8
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Characteristics of Men in the Last Days
This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
For men shall be:
1. lovers of their own selves,
2. covetous,
3. boasters,
4. proud,
5. blasphemers,
6. disobedient to parents,
7. unthankful,
8. unholy,
9. without natural affection,
10. trucebreakers,
11. false accusers,
12. incontinent, (Dictionary definition: lacking control, uncontrollable, ungovernable)
13. fierce,
14. despisers of those that are good,
15. traitors,
16. heady,
17. high-minded,
18. lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
19. having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof:
from such turn away. For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins,
20. led away with divers lusts,
21. ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.
Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also --
22. resist the truth:
23. men of corrupt minds,
24. reprobate concerning the faith.
(Reprobate: dictionary definition: shameless, unprincipled, wanton)
--II Timothy 3:1-8
For men shall be:
1. lovers of their own selves,
2. covetous,
3. boasters,
4. proud,
5. blasphemers,
6. disobedient to parents,
7. unthankful,
8. unholy,
9. without natural affection,
10. trucebreakers,
11. false accusers,
12. incontinent, (Dictionary definition: lacking control, uncontrollable, ungovernable)
13. fierce,
14. despisers of those that are good,
15. traitors,
16. heady,
17. high-minded,
18. lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
19. having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof:
from such turn away. For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins,
20. led away with divers lusts,
21. ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.
Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also --
22. resist the truth:
23. men of corrupt minds,
24. reprobate concerning the faith.
(Reprobate: dictionary definition: shameless, unprincipled, wanton)
--II Timothy 3:1-8
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Two Witnesses
And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth.
These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth.
And if any man will hurt them, fire proceedeth out of their mouth, and devoureth their enemies: and if any man will hurt them, he must in this manner be killed.
These have power to shut heaven, that it rain not in the days of their prophecy: and have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to smite the earth with all plagues, as often as they will.
And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them.
And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified.
And they of the people and kindreds and tongues and nations shall see their dead bodies three days and an half, and shall not suffer their dead bodies to be put in graves.
And they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoice over them, and make merry, and shall send gifts one to another; because these two prophets tormented them that dwelt on the earth.
And after three days and an half the Spirit of life from God entered into them, and they stood upon their feet; and great fear fell upon them which saw them.
And they heard a great voice from heaven saying unto them, Come up hither. And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud; and their enemies beheld them. –Revelation 11:3-12
Two hundred years ago, it was inconceivable how this Scripture would be fulfilled. To those who relied on mail delivery as their only means of long-distance communication, it was impossible to foresee how people of all nations could, all at the same time, see the bodies of God’s two witnesses for three and a half days. Today, of course, with mass communication, we can clearly understand how this can occur – through the Internet, webcam, TV, cell phones, etc.
Dear ones, we may very well be trembling on the brink of the fulfillment of these prophecies. Let’s exhort one another to more faithfulness and obedience to God and His Word.
And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh. –Luke 21:28
These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth.
And if any man will hurt them, fire proceedeth out of their mouth, and devoureth their enemies: and if any man will hurt them, he must in this manner be killed.
These have power to shut heaven, that it rain not in the days of their prophecy: and have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to smite the earth with all plagues, as often as they will.
And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them.
And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified.
And they of the people and kindreds and tongues and nations shall see their dead bodies three days and an half, and shall not suffer their dead bodies to be put in graves.
And they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoice over them, and make merry, and shall send gifts one to another; because these two prophets tormented them that dwelt on the earth.
And after three days and an half the Spirit of life from God entered into them, and they stood upon their feet; and great fear fell upon them which saw them.
And they heard a great voice from heaven saying unto them, Come up hither. And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud; and their enemies beheld them. –Revelation 11:3-12
Two hundred years ago, it was inconceivable how this Scripture would be fulfilled. To those who relied on mail delivery as their only means of long-distance communication, it was impossible to foresee how people of all nations could, all at the same time, see the bodies of God’s two witnesses for three and a half days. Today, of course, with mass communication, we can clearly understand how this can occur – through the Internet, webcam, TV, cell phones, etc.
Dear ones, we may very well be trembling on the brink of the fulfillment of these prophecies. Let’s exhort one another to more faithfulness and obedience to God and His Word.
And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh. –Luke 21:28
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