1 Cor 2: 9-16 The Mind of Christ

The challenge and the rewards!

1 Corinthians 2: 9-16

9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.

All God's perfect gifts are accessible to man through His Love for us. In fact they are "prepared" for them that Love Him!" Prepared to be received, owned, experienced. They are not fables or old wives tales, they are Holy Promises from "the Lord God Almighty." Beyond imagination, never seen, nor heard, neither entered into the heart of man are these incredible "things".

10 But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. 11 For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. 12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. 13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.

Here we see that they can only be revealed "by God's Spirit." Only the Holy Spirit can know the "deep things of God" man's spirit can only know the things of man. Because we have received God's Spirit we can "receive freely" the things given/promised us of God.These things we should boldly speak, but not in the words that man's wisdom teacheth, but that the Holy Spirit teaches, "spiritual things."

14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. 15 But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man. 16 For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.

This verse sets things straight........If you have not the Holy Spirit you have not the "Mind of Christ" and you cannot receive the things of God no matter how much you study. You must first have the Holy Spirit to receive of the "deep" things of God.

God has sealed His Wisdom away from the "mind of man" and into His Spirit for revelation to be received by His Body (us) so that no man can boast of whence his wisdom comes from.

Simply put: if you are a believer in Christ Jesus the Mind of Christ is yours to "seek and find", search and be rewarded, experience and be blessed, Love and receive.

Let God's Word challenge you by its Truths and reward you for your faithfulness.

Love

Jerry and Elise

Merry Christmas: A gift from us to you!

Our Christmas gift to you!

Love Unconditionally.

Love Fervently.

Love Deeply.

Love even if not returned.

Love without reason.

Love without knowing.

Love surpasses all time.

Love surpasses all human gifts.

Love surpasses all spiritual gifts.

It outlasts hope and faith.

Love forgives.

Always and without reason.

Love never fails.

God is Love.

We are His children.

So should we Love as He does.

Loving as God does brings us joy.

Joy is spiritual.

Joy is not controlled by feelings.

Joy is centered in God.

Be spiritual, be joyful, be in God!

Merry Christmas

May you be filled by Love, Joy and Peace in the Holy Spirit.

Love

Jerry and Elise

What's plaguing the Church in these end times!

This post is odd to my normal sharing of revelation with those who read them.
My heart is deeply troubled "in these end times", (let there be no doubt that they are upon us), and the passive condition of the Body of Christ in general. So as not to "blanket" all Christianity with a cover of "futility" I will state at this time that there has always been a "remnant" of believers who have not succumbed to the "doctrines of man" in other words the "lies of the devil". I will also state at this time that many, (most, except for the aforementioned remnant), have gladly and comfortably sat back and accepted these weakened doctrines and teaching do to the "lack of experiencing" the gifts of the Holy Spirit made available to all who believe. Those "promised" gifts which come from above, are given to PROVE that the Word of God is True, (the Gospel), and to do so Divinely so as to show the Supreme power and hand of God are not of man but of God Himself!!! This is His plan to prove the Truth of His Word both to the believer and non believer. To the believer so that he might be encouraged and convinced that the Gospel is Divine and True, and to the unbeliever so that He would be speechless to comment otherwise having "SEEN" the Divine manifestation of God. 
For those who would argue in there heads right now let me make this clear:
Faith in the Gospel (Jesus's death and Resurrection) is the only way one can be saved. Period!
"And", like it or not "THESE SIGNS SHALL FOLLOW".
Mark 16:15-18

 “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. 16Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. 17And these signs will accompany those who believe: In My name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues;b 18they will pick up snakes with their hands, and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not harm them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will be made well.”

As we see in the Scripture above the Gospel is a finished work for Salvation but not a finished experience for the one who is saved. Hence the "practice" of "I'm saved so that's it" falls short of both the Truth and life experience of what is written and promised of those in His service. I have read the Bible and agree with all that it says, completely, questioning nothing, but embracing all of it's Words as the very Words of God. 

When you strip away all the promises due us through salvation, you strip away all the "God given excitement" out of the Christian "EXPERIENCE" that was put there by our "all knowing Father", which was meant to make walking by faith a daily new experience. Giving us joy and expectation in our hearts of Emmanuel "God with us", watching and praying daily for Him to "glorify" His name locally and in all the earth. 
Faith is the key to keeping God alive in our hearts thereby keeping Christ alive in our lives, actions, words, motives and attitudes that are witnessed by all around us. 
I again say Faith, not carnal understanding! Faith gives us the hope of experiencing God in the very real sense that He meant us to as shown in Scripture. We must "walk by faith", we must "live by faith", we must "season every conversation with salt by faith", in the hope of seeing the evidence of faith being manifested in it's "promised substance". 
Faith is the fundamental "necessity" of our Christian experience, some having forsaken and by so shipwrecking their potential as "witnesses" for Christ. 
It's by faith we are saved, it is by faith we embrace the Sovereign Truth of His Word, it is by faith we lay hold of every precious promise of God to us ward in Christ Jesus. Remember that anything outside of faith is sin! Sin! That element of Christian service that robs us of our precious intimacy with our Father in Heaven. Sin, which causes us to loose excitement about Emanuel "God with us" because it blinds us from the Truth "which sets free", free indeed. 
God's design for "His people" was to experience and walk in the "full measure" of His Salvation, (Jesus Christ). The full measure, not partial measure, the distinct fullness and power of the "Living God" so we can be seen as "set apart", a "holy priesthood", a "peculiar people", a representation of faith, hope, and power like no other people exhibited before. So let me set this in stone: faith is the doorway to the most unimaginable joy and excitement that one can experience in this life. The word Salvation is not just limited to "a ticket to the golden streets", a guarantee of a heavenly home, it is a promise to receiving "ALL" that the Scripture holds for the believer. It is obvious that those who do not give Scripture full place in their hearts by faith, will struggle with what they base their beliefs on and try to find some other way to secure Scriptures validity. We are the "living" proof that God's Word is True because of the change He made in our lives through Salvation in Jesus Christ. And this is an effortless manifestation on our part as we "by faith" follow His commands written in His Word. If you lack the followup that God has promised by faith then what you believe about Scripture is wrong! Scripture is not wrong, you are wrong, you have believed a lie and will go searching for some other way to validate scripture. 

Note: Scripture needs no validation because it is Truth, Truth so powerful that it sets free. Free from the need of our help to prove it's True. Free from the need of our explanation. God said it and that should be enough. Needing to add more to prove it outside of "more Scripture" weaken's "Who" it is; the very deity of God. Paul said something like "in that our gospel did not come to you merely in words, but in power and in the Holy Spirit and with deep conviction", and "For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power." Just speaking the Word of God by faith is all that is needed to bring God's power to witnesses. By saying this lets make it clear that the Word of God can be preached without faith even doubting that it will have any effect at all. This is why God set it's redeeming power with this Word: "my Word will not come back void until it has accomplished what I have sent it to do." (Paraphrased). How does this happen? When a preacher doesn't "wait on the Holy Spirit" for a "Word" for that time, instead he looks up someone else's sermon that sounds good.  The Scriptures say "today is the day if you hear my voice harden not your hearts". Yesterdays messages were meant for yesterday, "today is the day" to hear His voice and speak the given Word to the people given for them that are present. We are to "walk by faith" today! We are to "season every conversation with salt" today! We are to "speak as though speaking the very Word of God" today! "Today is the day, "IF"you hear my voice". I find it very challenging that word "if". Do you think that the "all wise Father" knew the slim possibility that we would want to hear? Never a word so powerful as the way this "if" is used. Explains a lot doesn't it? Reveals a lot doesn't it? Says a lot, yes? 

The deception and lie in many church's today is that half truths and incomplete Scriptures used in doctrines are a standard now in many cases. Why? Because as society has become more sensitive to being offended so has believers. Many believers today are contentious about what the Scriptures say about the Baptism in the Holy Spirit. They believe that they have received it as part and parcel with Salvation but argue about the proof that it has taken place. Like it or not there are proofs that you have received the baptism in the Holy Spirit: Tongues is one of them, prophesy is another, gifts of healing is another, being endued with "power from on high" is another, great boldness is another, and yes mighty rushing winds or tongues of fire have happened too. Whether you like it, accept it, believe it or not, your thoughts don't count here. Jesus said: “O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I bear with you?" and this to His disciples! Are we looking in a mirror here? God's Word commands us but we debate as to whether or not we should do it. Sorry brothers and sisters. No I'm not! Wake up. If we claim Salvation through Christ then we have claimed the entire Word of God to be as True as the Salvation we claim. In fact the very Word which opens the door to our salvation is the same Word that became flesh for our Salvation. If we claim one, by nature we claim it all. God cannot be divided. He is whole, complete, True. If you are saved then you have already received every precious promise that God has for us in Christ all we have to do is embrace them. Doing so "glorify's our Father" and proves the power of His redemption. To not embrace and employ them is to embrace a "half truth" and makes us liars by our incomplete lives. To not preach these gifts is to rob believers of the God ordained power promised them. To not challenge their activity in the believers lives is to encourage lethargy over time and lack of excitement, even failure, in their walk/faith. For we "walk by faith" brings a looking/excitement for God manifesting His promises in our lives so that we will "ask for things above what we can think or imagine", knowing that God has the power and heart to answer those seemingly impossible prayers. We seem to forget that it was mentioned in the OT that God told "His people" that when the peoples of other lands see the great provisions that God has given them they will say: "who's god is like unto their God"? Nothing has changed. We are still his people and He is still God like no other only needing a chance to "manifest" that Truth. We either give or deny this longing for God to "call all men unto Himself. That's His purpose isn't it? "That none should perish" is His goal? If that be so lets "lay aside" all vain jangling and old wives tales along with weak or false doctrines of man, then once again pick up the "joy of our salvation" with the expectation of actually seeing God move in and through us that others will believe with hope also inspired by our faith.

Stick to the Word. Prove everything that is said to be Scripture by searching the Word itself. Don't let anyone deny you the experience, joy, and expectation that are promised you "with power" from the Scriptures. 

These are evil days, but rejoice that Jesus has already given us the victory if we walk by faith. Only by faith can these be the best time to live in.

"Redeem the time for the days are evil!"

Love

J&E

Love, Joy and Peace with my wife.

From the heart for my wife Elise A. Cavasin!
The visage of my wife has always been a great place to "rest my eyes". Lovely, peaceful, inviting. But I noticed that she always seems to be exceedingly radiant when our children and grandchildren are around. It reflects that inner joy that comes from being the loving Mother, dedicated to serving her family whenever she has the chance to. She always "melts" into that glow in their presence, and it's always a little dimmer when they leave. Everyday as I count my blessings "I count her twice". She has added a deeper degree of Love, Joy, and Peace to my life more than I have ever known. What's remarkable about this is the fact that it is a daily growth, consistent over the decades we have shared and extending into the future till death do us part. It's easy to wake up joyful and thankful every morning when I look to my left and see her rousing. her smile says it all.
Learning about love with her as my partner/teacher has been my best class in the school of life. I await each new dawning of the day to see what will be that days instructions. How by her thoughts, words and actions she will inspire me. After 47 yrs of marriage we still never fail to rally to "conversation" for hours every morning as we make time "for each other." When we are near to each other my heart overflows with love and appreciation. When we are apart I count the minutes till we are again in one another's presence.
Aside from Jesus Christ there has been no single life event that has had a greater impact on me then the day we said "I do." She didn't have to "change or adjust" for me. All I ever wanted for her was to "be herself" and share her zeal for life with me. She was what I was missing in my heart and adding her to my life completed me. Neither of us had to change because Love filled in the differences to make us both whole.
She is the most precious gift that God has given to me aside from Jesus Christ. She is more important to me than wealth, health, the ownership of things, and anything that this world can bring to me.
She is "priceless" to my heart and soul.
I honor her body, soul, and heart.
This is what I believe to be a reflection of a Biblical marriage in the working. A goal to be worked toward. And an unending effort to be made......."till death do us part."
God bless and keep.
Love
J&E in Tn

Importance of decisions

About 3-5 times a week we have a conversation around the breakfast table that normally focuses around some sort of Biblical instruction. These are special times for me as they generally open up the doorway to "the Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation" in the answering of them. Always good to hear the "we small voice" and marvel at how Scriptural applications come alive. We think that this is a "normal" expectation from Scripture and the receiving of one of the precious promises of God. We Truly believe in "Emmanuel" God "WITH" us and in us by faith.
As stated in earlier posts, at the present time, we have been seeing many of the prayers from our early years of conversion coming to pass in a landslide effect. Prayers that were asked with passion 30-38 yrs ago are now "manifesting" their answers, with all such answers being "yes and amen." We are sure that the answers were yes when they were prayed, (in God there is no time), but manifest "in our time" as we have very specific times living in this creation, and so even though no answer came at their origin, answers were right on time (our time) in their answering, God's will being done. Because of this we would "instruct, encourage and command" the praying of all prayers with gravity and passion knowing that placing them in the "timeless" God's hands will secure a redeeming, willful answer in His (more so our) time. The Holy Spirit being faithful (as we have found) to remind us of the very memory of when they were prayed and the fervent passion behind them.
With that being said we shall commence with the body of this post: Decisions!
Jesus said in Matthew 19:8
"He saith unto them, Moses, because of the hardness of your hearts, suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so!" This post is not about divorce but decisions, divorce is a topic I will dispel at another time.
Jesus set the example of going back to "the beginning" to find Scriptural answers for difficult questions. Thus it is the same for "all Biblical Truths" when Scripture needs verification as to application.
Biblical decisions, for all applications, need to be made rooted and grounded in Love, recognizing that God is Love and His Word is Truth, so thereby all our decisions "must" be made with Scripture as it's base and guide. This is not subject to "our own opinions" lest we miss the leading of the Holy Spirit and then they become only "doctrines of man." At best: weak, misleading, and sinful. Deceiving many and rendering the Body of Christ powerless. Much the case today, like with the Pharisee's and priests, along with other "religious" leaders of their time, in the time leading up to and including the life of Christ. Hundreds of years of downhill backsliding until their applications turned from the service of Love to the craving of lust. No longer the help meets for God's chosen people but task masters over them. As I have said "the same happening since Christ and leading up to our time."
Lets make clear this point which is relevant to all mankind since creation till now: "Do not be deceived God will not be mocked", the devil is a liar and has been trying to usurp authority over man in place of God, since man came out of the earth and God breathed breath into him. The devil tried this first in heaven when he led the rebellion against God and was cast down. Now he is here and we are his intended targets to show God we cannot abide in His Love and that our hearts are turned against Him in rebellion. Oh the depths of Unconditional Love that binds God by His decision to love us, both His chosen people by law, and His bought people by Christ the law of Love as long as this creation shall exist.
The only Being that has always existed is God, the Trinity or God Head. God the father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit, one God, three presentations so that we can have a basis to comprehend (by His Spirit) who He is. This 3 in 1 presentation has always existed because God is without time and He always knew (Omniscience) that He would put His plan into creation (reality) so that we, (His created), would be able to recognize, (with His Spirits help) the who, what, when, where, how and why of the Divine Revelation of Emmanuel "God with us." This also has the application that, just by looking at creation itself (our proof that "God is") we might "seek after Him and find Him when we seek with all our hearts." Finding Him is the passion and directive of our lives as long as we are in His creation. Knowing Him, not by sight but by faith, not by study (for who carnal can understand the mind of God but the Holy Spirit), but by "revelation", not by imagination but by "experience", thereby God holding on to His deity to bless those who seek with all their hearts with the wonderful "revelation" of Himself, in all wisdom and understanding by His Spirit.
So we can see, and be encouraged, that by that one decision made by God in eternity He has set the course for our creation to be blessed. Of all His creation man is the only one that He lavished with His love by giving us a soul, (already knowing the wickedness that would exist in our hearts), and already having Jesus (the Word, His Son) always present with Him to accomplish the redemption sacrifice He fore knew that we would need. I pray that the Holy Spirit would give you His Spirit of wisdom and revelation so that you can comprehend the depth, width, length, and height of this eternally existing plan set in the for knowledge that He knew our rebellion from beginning (of creation), till the end of days. Set the thought that He set all this in motion knowing the many billions of men, women and children would reject His deity, Love, commands, and blessings to have their own way during their lifetimes, even rejecting the Lord Jesus Christ, His Son, the "free" offering of complete forgiveness and the promise of eternal reunion with Him for all eternity. That's what makes His Love "Unconditional!" In all of Biblical recorded history no sacrifice so great has ever made mankind so valuable as to be redeemed. "Such Love, such wondrous Love!"
The big picture would be made clearer by the fact that from the time "in the beginning" was first penned by Moses the theme of "blood redemption" was set in place. From then on all of Biblical records assert the unchangeable need for a "blood redemption" to reunite mankind back with our Heavenly Father both Old Testament  and New.  The New Testament ushered in the "final" sacrifice of Jesus Christ to accomplish the True Remission of sin that would last forever, wherein we enter into His sacrifice by faith holding onto our "free reward" of eternal life. More amazingly this remarkable "redemption" is offered (needed by all) to the most vile offender or to the most pure of heart.
A good start for a look at "the importance of making Biblical decisions", the first one being expressed by God toward us. Notice the fact that it was shown in eternity, a never ending promise, as "ours should be!"
So where do we come in this "decision making" with this starting example?
First thought: Scripture absolutely "must" be our basis for making decisions. God's Word is His instruction book for our lives during our span in His creation. We need to know it like the back of our hand. We are commanded (just like salvation) to receive by faith all that the Bible says, (commands may be a better, more accurate, word than says.) Scripture was written by holy men led by the Holy Spirit and all it's Words are True. COMMANDS, NOT SUGGESTIONS! They "demand" obedience not just a place for consideration. Like it or not, personal affront or not, your opinion doesn't matter. "Let God be True and all men liars." Jesus even set the "intensity of severity" about how important this is by showing that obedience proves our love for Him whether or not it is "felio" or whether or not it is "agape." "If you Love me you will obey my (His, Jesus) commands, and my commands are not grievous." What does "not grievous" mean? It means the benefactor who receives the promises/blessings of obeying the commands did not partake in the action that it took to establish said command, in this case the brutal carnage that Jesus paid on the cross to take upon Himself the "sins of the world" from the beginning to the end. And to top it off we only have to believe by "faith" to enter in to the blessed promise of eternal life, and then to receive all the other blessings and promises God has ordained/promised us to inherit. Everything God has for us in Christ Jesus is "free by faith" if we ask, seek and knock with all our hearts. God awaits our obedience so He can freely bless, empower, and direct our paths to glorify Him, Jesus, and the Truth of His "deliverance" manifested through His Word. This is why we must have "His Word en-grafted into our hearts." If we Love Jesus we will Love His Word as Jesus is the "Word that became flesh and dwelt among us." The Holy Spirit will come alongside and "guide us into all Truth" as His mission is to "remind us of all things Jesus said and done." Love of God and Christ opens the door of our hearts to better know Scripture with the power of the Holy Spirit to "bring to recall" the very "Words of Christ."
So what are some of the other "Biblical decisions" we are commanded to observe?
Lets take the first Scriptures that "lump" many of the (commands) together and spoken by Jesus Christ before His Resurrection:
Mark 16:14-20
14 "Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen Him after He was risen.
15 And He said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the Gospel to every creature.
16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name "shall they" cast out devils; "they shall" speak with new tongues;
18 "They shall" take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; "they shall" lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.
19 So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, He was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God.
20 And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the Word with signs following. Amen.
Some call this "the Great Commission", sure, but thus far how has this "Great Commission" motivated you to perform it??? Are you "having at it" yet? With vigor? With passion? So we have been "robed" with this "Commission" do you know what it really demands? Do you know what it really "COMMANDS"?
What I find most fascinating about Scripture is that so many read it like they were reading just another book, not recognizing that this is the Pure True Word of the Lord God almighty to us, you, me, everyone, with "eternal life saving" information which "must" be attended to. Must, Must, Must!
Take this Scripture in Mark 16:14-20. "Go ye into all the world, and preach the Gospel to every creature" that is about as far as the sermon goes. Then it's off and running about just that one statement. But then Scripture sets forth "how and what will follow."
The following is just a reprint of the above:
Believe, be baptized, AND these signs SHALL FOLLOW them that believe, "they shall" cast out devils, (not maybe, not possibly), simply "they shall", "they shall" (like it or not) speak with new tongues, "they shall" (it happened to Paul) take up serpents, AND drinking of any deadly thing shall not harm them, (this could describe the type of death True Believers might suffer for the faith), "they shall" lay hands on the sick and they "shall" recover!
These are "COMMANDS" within (part of) the "Great Commission." You cannot believe the one part "Go" without the other verses "they shall". Believe it or not, like it or not, "so is it written." We are not talking about some novel, this is the "All Powerful, Eternal, Never Changing, Word of God spoken by His Son Jesus Christ as the last thing that He said before ascending up to sit on the right hand of God. It couldn't be more emphatic than that! The last Words He gave to His disciples, His closing statement to be written then obeyed by all coming believers till the end of time. Well thought out and to the point Powerful.
I am sure that these latter verses have sent many a congregation a run'n to a safe or cry room as we call them today. When we say we are "believers" in the Lord Jesus we are saying we are believers in God's Word that became flesh "Jesus." No small confession. Lives have been at stake for believing that and are still today.
This posting so far reveals to us just how important "decisions" are that we make. Every decision has consequences throughout our "journey", here, now, with effects following in our progeny and those around us.
Our decisions to "believe" the entire Word of God by faith, without the need to understand everything immediately is just part of the Great Commission. Notice that the "signs following", those "they shall" commands are God's part to do, not ours, but they follow our "obedience" in striving to satisfy by grace the Great Commission. As always in Scripture: God commands, we obey, He performs, His promises and His Word cannot be broken. The performance of His Word by us through faith, then His power is "ONE" Word. There is no pick and choose, it's all or nothing. That's why some believers have little or nothing of the manifestation of God in presence or power. "Faith is the substance of things hoped for the evidence of things unseen." The lack of obedience leaves our Christian lives fruitless and after many years of disobedience to His Word and lack of faith we feel "uninspired", tired, asking "is this what it's supposed to be like?" Well no it isn't. The Book of Acts was placed where it was between the Gospels and the Epistles to recount what normal Christianity was portrayed as. If it wasn't True God wouldn't of put it there. Lets face it God has put up (by Unconditional Love) with this application by His people (both OT and NT) of lack of faith simply because we refuse to believe His whole Word. Do you not recall Scripture says that not one dot of the i or one cross of the t can be missed of His Word? If anything can be argued that is has stopped being valid in Scripture for today then God has changed and salvation is on the chopping post as to whether is is still relevant today.
I can assure you that God's Word is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow, and salvation through Jesus Christ is still the only True and Living way into God's presence and heaven its self.
Other Biblical decisions to be addressed with agreement by faith:
Prophesy, tongues, revelation by the Holy Spirit, Word of Wisdom, Word of Faith, Word of Knowledge, dreams, visions, multiplication of food, changing water to wine, raising the dead, the healing of the sick, anointing with oil, in fact Jesus said that "these things I do ye shall do also and greater because I go to my Father in Heaven." And it was said of Him by John 21:25 "And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world could not contain the books that should be written. Amen."
These verses represent the depth of the promises that God promised to us through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.
You will not receive any of them unless you, by faith, believe the whole Word of God. Believing does not mean that you know every detail of the written Word of God, but it means that you "know the Word of God, Jesus" and believe on Him (all of Him) and His promises to be received.
Fully believing in Jesus at my Salvation experience opened the door to Unconditional Love, and many manifestations that I was not even familiar with in Scripture yet. When I prayed for Salvation I immediately set my heart fully on Jesus and from that second on heard and knew God's Holy Spirits we small voice and received all of His benefit for myself and others. God teaching me daily what I needed to know and setting in me the decision to by faith participate in His Great Commission for my life.
Where will your decisions lead you from here on out?
Lets find out. Read Scripture (not books about Scripture) and believe that the Words written in there where written just for you...........
Love
Jerry and Elise

"Be ye angry and sin not!"

Ephesians 4:26,27

26 Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:

27 Neither give place to the devil.

John 2:13-17 King James Version (KJV)

13 And the Jews' passover was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.

14 And found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting:

15 And when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers' money, and overthrew the tables;

16 And said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father's house an house of merchandise.

17 And his disciples remembered that it was written, The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up.

Some things of note:

In Ephesians the verse clearly presents "sinful anger gives place to the devil." But as Jesus was the example "sinless anger for the sake of zeal for God does not." 

Jesus was, is, and will ever be zealous for the things of God! The temple at the time of the passover was full of "helpful merchants" just trying to "make available" those necessary products to satisfy the law for the feast. It might be added "at profit" for the convenience of "one stop preparations." They failed to realize that the help that they were providing turned into the desecration of the temple. They had lost the "zeal" for the temple and its purpose....worship! 

Jesus did not. His "zeal" for the temple, (which He was), has always been present and "active." He knew that what was going on at the time would be reproduced over and over again by "His people" after the "Law of commandment" would be replaced by the "Law of Love" with His death and resurrection. The leaders of that time "prophesying" what will take place in the future when followers (believers) will "Have a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof." 

The disease was the same then as it is today: Lack of love, zeal, toward the Father, "if you Love (agape) me you will obey my commands, and my commands are not grievous." And "they worship me with their lips but their hearts are far from me." 

They had lost the "zeal/motivation" to obey "all things that I have said or taught" and thereby lost all the "manifestation proofs" of their office. They became bored with their "religion" so they sought after "carnal stimulation" money, power and control. Instead of representing the "Glory and proof of God", their perversions of the "faith of Abraham and the Law of Moses" denied them the power to "fully" manifest the Truth and reality of the "One True God." Leading the "children of God" astray  and lowering the expectation of "Hope" in God's provision, protection and most of all "Participation" in His Children's lives!

Like I said: "Prophetic"!

Jesus was well aware of the "priests" actions and how it would carry into the future, with all of it's ramifications through the "end times", when He would right all the wrongs committed during this creation. Yet in all that He (then, now and in the future), "sinned not!" He simply cleared the temple, (problem), and then went about His business being "Savior and Master".

"How can we ignore such a great witness" Are we going to be the ones to break this prophesy? If you get angry then afterward cannot "put it to rest with Love (agape)" then you are "giving place to the devil". Period. The need for contention in anger, is usually a good sign that the devil is "seeking to destroy" your testimony of the Gospel to whomever is involved or watching the matter. Remember we are to live to "Glorify our Father in heaven" His testimony is of greater value then our need to "lord it over someone else" with anger. 

How do we stop in this matter?

Speak as though speaking the very Words of God.

Make righteous judgments.

Guard what comes out of our mouths.

Be quick to listen slow to speak and slow to wrath.

Season every conversation with Salt.

Bring every thought into submission of Christ before we speak.

Be filled with the Holy Spirit and sensitive to His "we small voice."

Remember that "as a man thinks in his heart so is he"!

If the Gospel of Love is going to come out of your heart it has to reside there already.

May the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ reside in your hearts richly producing the fruits of the Spirit so we can "manifest His glory".

Love

Jerry and Elise

Man, wife, cleaving, Loving each other, becoming one. Condensed version.

This is a condensed version of Biblical Love man and woman/wife with a few comments as the text reads clearly for itself. "Be ye doer's of the Word not just hearer's."

Genesis 2:23-25 King James Version (KJV)

23 And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.

24 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.

God took man's help meet out of his side. She was "part" of him in the beginning, and now he is to cleave to her and once again become one! Ever think of that? Your wife was "grafted" back into you as soon as you cleaved to one another, having "left your parents" and become one. Remember, Jesus always said when there was confusion with the law, "in the beginning", then quoted the Truth to clear up the matter. So it is the same today. "In the beginning" gives clarity and Truth in the matter.

Colossians 3:18,19

18 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord.

19 Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them.

Now here in this verse's above is two very key phrases used to "give" warning and clarity. Did you ever notice them before? Can you see them now? Number one: as is fit in the Lord" and two: "be not bitter against them!" 

As "fit in the Lord", what does that mean? It means that they are only to submit to the husbands demands "as in the Lord" meaning if God (and He is) was present there, he would approve of all the husbands "thoughts, words, and deeds/actions" towards the husbands help meet. And then the second (mostly ignored) phrase "be not bitter against them" warns of an attitude that if they don't agree on what is being desired of her because it doesn't fit "as in the Lord" then the husband shouldn't be bitter against the wife's refusal. Husbands should realize that the wife is safeguarding her spirit and responding to whether or not the request is out of Unconditional Love or self seeking control or desire. 

Ephesians 5:32-33 King James Version (KJV)

32 This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.

33 Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.

The reason "as in the Lord" applications are so important is because of verse 32 directly above says "concerning Christ and the Church." When others look at your "becoming one" they judge whether or not "who you represent" Christ, is faithful to His bride on the same scale. They don't even have to know you are a Christian because the marriage of Christ and His Church is a universal concept "from the beginning." The fact that the Christian community has equal or more divorce in it than the "unbelievers" is common knowledge. A fact that is a poor representation of His Unconditional Love. This gives the unbeliever just another reason to believe that Christianity is weak or useless. If we cannot offer hope of a better marriage then "how will salvation" be viewed by them?

Now lets tackle "see that she reverence her husband." Notice that it didn't say "love her husband!" Only the husband is "COMMANDED" to love his wife, she is commanded to "reverence" her husband, Why????? Because as the husband learns to "die to himself and let Christ arise in him" he will be less bitter against his wife and more "as in the Lord" with his treatment of her. Now we all know that "as in the Lord" is the best way to be treated and embraces the most loving expectations. Reverence your husband will then become "love" your husband in return for being honored, lifted up, appreciated, and truly cherished. Now doesn't that sound like a response to Unconditional Love? The absences of that "WILL" end up in health robbing bitterness or divorce or both.

James 1:19-20

19 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:

20 For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.

You just "heard" through Scripture, as the above verses have stated in James so what are you going to do? "Are you swift to hear" and practice or will you reap the whorl wind of "wrath" which will never work the righteousness of God?

Deuteronomy 30:19

I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:

Love 

Jerry and Elise

My first vision

I believe that my first vision was this Psalm by the hand of an angel after my salvation experience. It was at lunch time and I was working at a stainless tubing plant in Mich. My spirit was restless and burdened for more of God. I went to sit by myself outside and pray and seek God. I wept to be receive "more of Him." My soul ached to have His presence and to receive some intimacy that would describe my longing. That's when the vision happened. All vision of the body ended and I seen a blue field with a robbed arm descending. It was the arm of an angel holding an open book that was gold gilded both the covers and the pages. The book was open to a writing which was not numbered. I didn't know where it came from in the Bible. I was told to read it and that when I was done it would be taken away from me. As I started to read I told myself not to finish it until I had read it at least 3 times, this I did. As soon as I started I broke down and wept. It described my longing perfectly. I was satisfied in it's Words.
I never knew where it came from till a couple of years later when I was teaching a Bible study and was led to this page by the Spirit to read it to the participants. As soon as I started to read it I broke down and wept reminiscing the vision all over again. As we read the Psalm we all ended up weeping having one heart and one purpose which the Psalm expressed so beautifully. This longing has never left my heart from day one till today.
Please read it and pray this will always be the condition of your heart.
Love in Christ
Jerry and Elise

Psalm 63 King James Version (KJV)

63 O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is;

2 To see thy power and thy glory, so as I have seen thee in the sanctuary.

3 Because thy lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise thee.

4 Thus will I bless thee while I live: I will lift up my hands in thy name.

5 My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness; and my mouth shall praise thee with joyful lips:

6 When I remember thee upon my bed, and meditate on thee in the night watches.

7 Because thou hast been my help, therefore in the shadow of thy wings will I rejoice.

8 My soul followeth hard after thee: thy right hand upholdeth me.

What guides your faith in God?

Consider this simple question:
What is your faith in God built on?
Really, be honest.
Is it the Holy Spirit? Or is it your study's or the teachings of man?
There is a difference..........
The one (the Holy Spirit) knows all Truth, reminds us of all Truth (the Words of Jesus), and cannot lie or deceive.
The other, man or his teachings, are subject to his thinking and applications. He can lie, and he is swayed by the vanity and prowess that many times that position brings.
If the Holy Spirit is teaching, leading, guiding, there will be a deep sense of humility and rejoicing as the Truth sets you free. If it is of man or a man that is not "filled with the Holy Spirit" then you will only gain earthly wisdom, facts and tradition. When you stray from the Holy Spirit as the lead in your growth/faith, you will try to fill that void with books and teachings aside from the Bible wherein the danger lays. It is good if your so inclined to read about the lives and ministries of other "men of God" but the best "men of God" to read about made it into the Bible. Of which none can do so now. These are the men that God saw and made fit to be the example of what He requires of us and what He wants us to avoid.
The common denominator of all that are "born again" is to have this experience of being "filled" with the Holy Spirit. Not maybe, not "I think I am," not "I am saved so I am filled", NO! It is a completely separate experience which could happen at the time of salvation or shortly there after. There are "signs" that this has happened that are common to all who partake. Some may have to "tary" for it, some may have to "seek it with all their hearts", some may only have to be told that it is a part of  "salvation" to receive Him. But one thing for sure, anyone that is in leadership with in the church, must be "Spirit filled" to perform any duties, deacon, elder, bishop, teacher, pastor ect. Not a problem according to "design" as all who are saved must be filled. That is the Biblical pattern not to be broken. One cannot "Glorify our Father in Heaven" without the "moving of the Holy Spirit."
Are you joyful and grateful where you are with your relationship with God? If not, why not? Does Christianity seem rather dry and uneventful to you? I you are making the best with what you got then you don't have enough. When you have the Holy Spirit teaching and reminding you no matter what situation you have going you will have victory and "joy in the morning." Try being beaten and thrown in prison like Paul, then sing enough praises to "bring the house down." That is real strength which only comes from the Lord.
Only because of the baptism in the Holy Spirit have we been able to, with joy, over 38 yrs, wake up every morning with a song in my heart of praise or worship unto Him. Every morning when we get up and all day long we "EXPECT" God to move is some mighty way to glorify Himself  "in Jesus name." We look for it to happen!  He is our comforter, counselor, instructor, companion through this life time, in Him do we Trust.
The Holy Spirit is the first and only instructor for the "Body of Christ" by God's design whether by the we small voice or by the man led by Him to instruct.
I have never been bored with my walk of faith because "God is my Father" and He manifests Himself to those who seek Him, even daily.
God bless and keep.
In Christ's Love
Jerry and Elise

Great Sunday start

BEST SUNDAY MORNING SINCE THE LAST ONE.

Started out by waking up in time to sit for a few minutes and watch my wife sleeping, thinking that I am blessed beyond belief. That followed a night of prayer and praise spending much time in fellowship with the Holy Spirit as He reminded me of all things Jesus had said and done. I marveled that all those precious promises were God's to preform and mine to posses. What little sleep was given was more than enough because God was pouring out the addition to the Revelation of Jesus Christ which He started at salvation. These times are especially exciting when they are attended by dreams and visions. When these promises are present in ones walk then revival is on going and continuous embraced by a hungry heart that desires more of Jesus.

I hope that your day started this way, if not better get with the program as "time's a wast'n."

He is returning for those who "love and look for His return."

Just a thought.

Love

J&E in Tn