GBC

Wednesday Evening Service

These that have turned the world upside down! (Acts 17.6)

 

Faith

According to Webster's 1828 Dictionary, "Faith" is to draw towards anything, to believe, to obey.

According to Strong's concordance from Hebrews 11, "Faith" is also persuasion and moral conviction of religious truth or the truthfulness of God.

Of the 231 verses that contain the word "faith," only twice is it found in the old testament. (Deut 32.20 and Hab 2.4).  Indicating that before the Lord Jesus came it would seem folks only followed what they could see and what the man of God/prophet said whether personally believed or not.

However, Hebrews 11 gives testimony to Old Testament characters that "all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded...and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth."  (Heb 11.13)

What persuades you?

We are instructed in Hebrews 1.1 that "faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."

To the world, it appears that believers blindly follow ancient texts and mentally unstable "preachers."

What does "faith" do?

According to 11.3, "we understand that the worlds were framed..."

How? "by the Word of God."

Why is "faith" needed? "without faith, impossible to please (God)..." 11.6

Looking at the photo shown to illustrate faith, the question is posed, 

Would you step off a cliff to please God?

• Have you ever felt impressed of the Lord to do something you knew you were unable to do?
• Are you trusting in yourself for eternity?
• Do you depend on yourself to get a job done?  
• Do you consider who allows every breath you take?
• Are you thankful to live in His world and breath His air?

The truth is as stated, "without faith (it is) impossible to please Him:

Why?

Because, He that cometh to God MUST believe that HE IS...a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.?

Well, to put the thought to rest. One may not know the Lord God apart from His Son. (Jn 14.6)  

To know Him is to love Him. (I Jn 4.8) 

To love Him is to trust Him. (Prov 3.5, 6)

To trust Him is to have faith in His Word. (Rom 10.17)

Faith in Him is to eternally be with Him. (Jn 3.16)

What/whom is your faith in?

 

Rest

 Let us examine the word, "rest" as written in Hebrews 3.3-11. Let us explore the meaning in verse 9.  "There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God."  Believers one and all agree that "rest" is indeed a welcome state of being in this life.

Webster's 1828 defines "rest" as follows:

• cessation of motion or action of any kind
  
• quiet, free from motion or disturbance
• sleep
• peace
• place of quiet habitation

There are 265 verses that contain the word "rest" indicating we are not machines and should "stop and smell the roses" along life's way.  In other words, "don't miss the important stuff."  

Strong's Concordance (G4521) calls "rest" "the repose of Christianity."  One simply stops and "rests" the mind, body and spirit from the toils and struggles of life.  It is indeed a physical stopping of activity but also the entire body must be quiet and still.

So, rest is not simply sleeping. In the photo, the child seems to be pondering the clouds.  Maybe, she learned about bears and see's that shape.  Maybe, she is thinking of her sweet puppy and seeing his shape in the sky.  Maybe, she is wondering what her loving mother's heart looks like. Whatever is going thru her mind, she does not appear to be struggling with the thought or thoughts.  There is also a trusting manner in her pose.  She is not worried about anything or anyone disturbing her quietness.

One of this bloggers favorite verses is Hebrews 4.9.  The "rest" that is our inheritance when we trust in the Lord.  I'm not quite sure if the writer is indicating "rest" here or in the hereafter.  I do know that trust in the Lord aids in this quiet state of being. The wise preacher told us to "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding."  Prov 3.5.  In this way, we may "rest" our minds and spirit by leaning on His divine leadership, guidance and counsel.

The thing is, if "rest" in this verse means the hereafter, then we know there will be no worries when we are forever with the Lord.  If "rest" in this verse indicates what a believer can have while in this temporary life, then He covered that part too.  When we "acknowledge Him in all our ways, He (promises) to direct our paths. (Prov 3.6)

If your spirit, body and mind needs such a "rest," I have a song and another verse for you...

Colossians 3.2; "Set your affection (singular, you only need ONE focus) on things above, not on things of earth."

The song is titled 

Things that won't be there

There are so many reason's I want to go to heaven and Jesus is number one.

I've read about the streets of gold and all the songs yet to be sung.

I know everything will be perfect that's waiting in that land so fair.

But sometimes I like to think about everything that "won't be there!"

There won't be any headaches or backaches or stomachaches in that land.

No connecting the dots with these age spots on my hands.

I won't need reading glasses to see. And no arthritis will be in my knees.

Sometimes I like to think about everything that won't be there.

You'll never see me up there shoveling snow.  

There will be no poison ivy or grass up there to mow.

No mosquito's, ticks or fleas and no red ants gnawing on me.

Sometimes I like to think about everything that won't be there.

At supper time the phone will never ring with telemarketers selling me everything.

My front door will never be locked and no junk mail will be in my mailbox.

Sometimes I like to think about everything that won't be there.

There's no calories or fat grams or carb counting on that shore

and you won't have to fight those diets anymore.

No treadmill walking for me with these bunions on my feet.

Sometimes I like to think about everything that won't be there.

There will be no time in heaven it's eternity!  I will never know when April 15th will be.

So when I'm living beyond the stars I won't need to call H&R

because the IRS will NEVER hear from me!

There won't be any headaches or backaches or stomachaches in that land.

Or connecting the dots with the age spots on my hands.

I won't need reading glasses to see and no one will have to eat gluetin free.

Sometimes I like to think about everything that won't be there.

There's no kudzu on those hills and you'll never hear the sound of a dentist's drill.

Sometimes I like to think about everything that won't be there.

I won't need head and shoulders for my hair.

None of us will have to give these viruses another care.

Sometimes, I like to think about everything that won't be there!

Go to this site if you want to hear this little song.

Things that won't be there (start at 39.34)

Next time your body, mind or spirit needs a "rest," Think about everything that won't be there!  Go to His Word and recharge.  Gaze at His magnificent creation.

Rest in Him.  Sincerely, Greenland blogger, Ps 57.7

"So great salvation;" You really think you will get away with ANY sin?

1.  "Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, LEST AT ANY TIME WE SHOULD LET SLIP."
2. "For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and EVERY transgression AND disobedience received a just recompense (penalty) of reward."
3. "How shall WE (believers) escape, IF WE NEGLECT so great salvation...?"

If the life of the flesh is in the blood , and the blood that maketh atonement (is) for the soul (Lev 17.1, 14), how callous must a soul be to think so little of the life of the Lord Jesus that had to die for sin? His death (and resurrection, of course) was the ONLY way our souls and body's could get back to God. Thus the picture all thru the old testament of animal sacrifice. Hebrews 9.12-14 and 22 explains the necessity of blood atonement for sin(s). Then, do you understand, dear believer, how precious was the blood shed for you and for me? Rom 5.9, I Pet 1.19

A picture really is worth 1,000 words

Imagine, if you will the horror of a loved one injured and life-giving blood seeping from their body. Then watch as careless individuals walk thru that precious blood and leave a trail of bloody footprints in their wake.  

As difficult as this image is, that's exactly what happens when we "Neglect" scripture regarding sin and godly behavior!

Do you fully understand "without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sin" and it's cost to the Lord?  (Rom 5.9)

If you walk in His shed blood (which is exactly what your willful disobedience is) without remorse or repentance regarding your sin(s), "there remaineth no more sacrifice." (Heb 10.26)

There are those who love to highlight "free will" as a right of mankind.  So be it, the penalty is severe. "The wages of sin is death....." (Rom 6.23) 

If you operate in the truth that "will died in the garden," then you will also want His will, not yours! "The heart is deceitful wicked." (Jer 17.9) But God's will is always right! (Rom 12.2, I Thes, 5.18, Jer 29.11-13 Jn 6.38) 

Do you want others to walk thru the blood of a dear loved one as they lay dying from injury inflicted by someone else or tragedy?  How must God feel from His high, lofty, Divine, HOLY throne when He sees this exact thing of His Son?  It's been stated, "God is not sentimental, He is Holy."  A difficult subject is this bloody thought but worthy of contemplation in aiding believers to walk as upright and holily as possible. (I Pet 1.16, Ps 84.11, Ps 119.1-3)

There will come a final day of judgment.  (II Cor 5.10, Rom 2.16)  God also judges believers here to set them walking "straight and narrow way." (Mt 7.13, 14).  I would rather pillow my head at night and know that "bad things" are His way of helping me instead of judging sin. (Job 42.12, Ps 84.11)

The purpose of this entry, dear reader/believer, is to prayerfully encourage each reader/believer to keep an "upright" heart and way. (Ps 11.7, Prov 21.29)

"the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ 'our' Lord."  (Rom 6.23)  

One does not go to heaven by anything they do or don't do, it's ALL of Him!  However, the way may be sweeter when you walk in HIS way!

Prayerfully submitted...