A question for you

  Why are there stars in the heavens?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For signs. (Gen 1: 14 and Luke 21:25)

To give light on the earth. (Gen 1:17)

For Abram to look up and count them, if he was able to count them. (Gen 15: 5)

To multiply. (Gen 22:17)

As a picture of Abram’s descendants.  (Ge 26:4)

To bow down. (Gen 37:9)

To be a great number. (Deut 1:10)

As part of the host of heaven. (Deut 4:19)

Not to be worshipped or served. (Deut 4:19)

Allotted to all the peoples under the whole heaven. (Deut 4:19)

They fight from heaven, from their courses against the enemies of God. (Judges 5:20)

They can be darkened. (Job 3:9)

A seal set upon them. (Job 9:7)

To show great height-how high the distant stars are! (cf. distance from us); that illustrates how high God Himself is in the height of Heaven. (Job 22:12)

Not pure in God’s sight. (Job 25:5)

The morning stars sang together (when God laid the foundations of the earth). (Job 38:7)

They have been ordained (Psalm 8:3)

To rule by night with the moon (reflecting that God’s loving kindness is everlasting). (Psalm 137:9)

God counts the number of the stars, He gives names to all of them. (Psalm 147:4)

To praise Him (all stars of light). (Psalm 148:3)

The stars will be darkened (Ecc 12:2) and their constellations will not flash forth their light (in the Day of the Lord). (Is 13:10)

“How you have fallen from heaven, O star of the morning, son of the dawn! You have been cut down to the earth, You who have weakened the nations!” (Is 14:12)

Not one of them is missing. (Is 40:26)

Astrologers prophesy by the stars (but they have no power to save). (Is 47:13)

They are in a fixed order. (Jer 31:35)

Some of the stars fell (will fall) to the earth and were (will be) trampled down. (Da 8:10 and Matt 24:29 and Mk 13:25 and Rev 6:13)

As an example of what those ones will be/appear like forever and ever, after their resurrection (in brightness of appearance/glory) if they have led many to righteousness. (Da 12:3)

The star of your gods (an image that was made, to be worshipped). (Amos 5:26 and Acts 7:43)

There is a nest set and built among the stars, from which height, God will bring that one down. (Obad 1:4)

His star, in the east, of where He lay (of Jesus). It appeared at an exact time. It went on and stood over the place where the child was. (Mt 2:2, 7,9)

A storm gets in the way of the appearance of the stars so that they cannot be seen. (Acts 27:20)

The stars have a glory of their own and star differs from star in glory. (1 Cor 15:41)

The morning star will arise in your hearts, when the prophetic Day dawns. (2 Peter 1:19)

Some stars wander (like people who leave the faith) and for whom the black darkness has been reserved forever. (Jude 1:13)

Jesus holds the seven stars in His right hand-that is, the angels of the seven churches. (Rev 1:16,20)

The morning star will be given to the overcomer. (Rev 2:28)

A great star called Wornmwood will fall from heaven on a third of the rivers and waters. (Rev 8:10)

A third of the stars (will be) struck after the fourth angel sounds, so that they would be darkened and the night with it. (Rev 8:12)

A star from heaven will fall to the earth after the fifth angel sounds. (Rev 9:1)

A sign…A crown of twelve stars upon a woman’s head. (Rev 12:1-2)

Another sign…The great red dragon’s tail sweeps away a third of the stars of heaven and throws them to earth. (Rev 12:3-4)

Jesus is…the bright morning star! (Rev 22:16)

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A question for you

Paul lists, 15 examples of the deeds of the flesh in Galatians 5:19-21

These were contrasted with the fruit of the Spirit, of which there are how many?

 

Answer: Just 1.

The word “fruit” is singular. It is not fruits (plural).

There are no “and’s” in between each word in verses 22-23 to separate them out.

These 9 ‘parts’ of the same fruit occupy the one ‘space’ to create the whole.

This then has implications about how we show forth this fruit and how each ‘part’

must be interconnected in some way with the other parts, to make the whole.

We don’t show forth it in part, but in the whole of it. So it behooves us to allow the Holy

Spirit to bring forth the all that He has for us; not lacking in any good thing.

 

Let’s remember that this one whole fruit is “of the Spirit”- that is, it belongs to Him, is from Him and is of Him, the Holy Spirit, so it stands to reason that the Spirit Himself has this one expression of “fruit”. He doesn’t have 9 different fruits to give out here and there, but just the one fruit, to be expressed in the believer in these many ‘ways’, but only in the believer who shuns (“crucifies”) the flesh, (v24), which wars in opposition to the Spirit.

Verses 13 and 14 describe who this fruit is for and how it shows itself. It is in being free, to serve one another through love. For the whole law is fulfilled in one word. “You shall love your neighbour as yourself”. Against the fruit of the Spirit there is no law. Therefore, we are free to serve through love, and thus exhibit the wholesomeness of the whole, single fruit….of the Spirit.

 

 

 

A Question for you

How is it that we make comparisons between the fruit of the Spirit and the gifts of the Spirit,

When the apostle Paul makes contrasts between the fruit of the Spirit and the deeds of the flesh?

Is there something we don’t want to talk about here?

Gal 5:19-23

Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatory, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who pracitice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

 

A Question for You

Do you have a LOVE/HATE relationship?

If not, why not?

Psalm 45:7 You have LOVED righteousness and HATED wickedness.

Psalm 97:10 HATE evil, you who LOVE the Lord.

Psalm 119:113 I HATE those who are double-minded, but I LOVE your Law.

Psalm 119:163 I HATE and despise falsehood, but I LOVE your Law.

Is 61:8 For I the Lord LOVE justice. I HATE robbery in the burnt offering.

Amos 5:15 HATE evil. LOVE good.

Mt 6:24 (Of the two Masters; God or Mammon)… HATE the one, LOVE the other.

Heb 1:9 You have LOVED righteousness and HATED lawlessness.

LOVE and HATE occupy the same territory but their lines are firmly drawn!

And what of your life?

Jn 12:25 He who LOVES his life loses it and he who HATES his life in this world, will keep it to life eternal.

Does this mean it is okay, even right to HATE people?

No. Do not HATE your enemy. LOVE your enemies and pray for those who persecute you. (Matthew 5:44)

HATE evil, NOT the person.

HATE-have a strong aversion to, an aversion from, a disregard for, an utter disgust for, and intolerance for all forms of EVIL.

Because of what it does to people and where it takes them.

Do you have a LOVE/HATE relationship?

If it follows after truth, then you are LOVING and HATING. Not just the one or the other. But both.

LOVE and HATE are two extremes; one is fully FOR something, the other fully AGAINST.

They are each filled with passion.

We cannot be found to be LUKEWARM, just somewhere in the middle.

That is the only quality that makes God sick. (Rev 3:16)

Can you say, “I HATE evil and LOVE good?”

 

 

 

 

A Question for You

Acts 20:31 Therefore (because savage wolves will come in among you) be on the alert, remembering that night and day for a period of three years I (Paul) did not cease to admonish each one with tears. 

 

What is it like to cry for THREE YEARS straight?

NIGHT and DAY?

Over others?

Certainly, this was no pity-party of Paul’s.

These were tears of birthing,

Tears of seeing Christ formed in EACH ONE.

Tears of rejoicing

Of

Urging

Reminding

Cautioning

Advising

Counseling

Warning

Instructing

EACH sheep in the flock.

EACH lamb.

Drenching himself with love for the brethren.

O that this love would be shed abroad in our hearts for each one.

The Lord sees and collects your tears in a bottle.

I think maybe many bottles for Paul’s.

How about you?

Psalm 126:5 Those who sow in tears shall reap with joyful shouting.

A Question for You

Acts 2:38 Peter said to them ‘Repent and each of you be baptised in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the PROMISE is for you AND YOUR CHILDREN and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God will call to Himself.

Q & A:

Question: What was the “PROMISE” being referred to?

Answer: Acts 1: 4-5 The baptism with the Holy Spirit.

Question: Who had made the promise?

Answer: The Father

Question: Who did the apostles hear this from?

Answer: Jesus

Question: By what agency did these orders come?

Answer: By the Holy Spirit.

Question: Which group of people is included in this baptism promise as highlighted in the above verse?

Answer: (Your) children. “For the promise is for you AND your children.”

Children don’t need to wait to become adults to receive the Holy Spirit, do they? It is for them too, is it not, as “children”, NOW? That’s what Peter said.

They believe in Jesus when young. So, where is the more? Where is the baptism?

Question: Where are the children in our meetings when the annointing falls?

Question: Where are the children when the Word comes forth to come and be filled with the Holy Spirit? (Mt 19:14)

Question: Where are the children or babes in Christ from out of whom flows praise? (Psalm 8:2)

Question: Where are the children who can witness and testify to the miracles and signs and wonders God is doing in our midst? (Acts 5)

Question: Where are the children who can lay their hands on the sick and see them healed? (Mk 16:18)

Question: Where are the children who can see the mature and can expect to follow in their footsteps and do likewise? (Jer 33:3)

Statement: Loose the children to come unto Jesus, to be filled with His Spirit, to run and leap in the House of God, to speak prophetically, to describe the angels, to tell of heaven’s mysteries, to make mention of revelation. To cry out to God. To repent. To weep. To be all that Jesus has for them to be. As CHILDREN and on into adulthood. Let us not hold them back. Nor push them forward. But release and encourage and bless them and let God do what He wants to do, and what He is able to do, through them, with them, in them.

Children are not just young minds with immature bodies and playful souls, but ready and willing spirits. For it is from Spirit to spirit.

Question: Where are your children?

If YOUR ‘child’ is still away from the Lord…hold onto and remind the Father of His promise….that it is for you AND your children! Even though they may be older now.

But Jesus said, “Let the children alone, and do not hinder them from coming to Me; for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”

 

A Question for You…

                              

 

 

 

 

 

 

Question 1: What is in the left hand above?

Question 2: What is in the right hand above?

Answer 1: There is a $100 bill in the left hand. (That is correct)

Answer 2: Did you answer, “There is nothing in the right hand.” Or, words to that effect?

Come on now, don’t change your answer!

Do you know what’s coming?

The better answer is, “I do not know what is in the right hand, because I cannot see it!”

Do you see the difference between the responses?

Our almost immediate, initial response is to “see” nothing and assume there is “nothing.”

We ‘perceive’ with what our eyes see, physically. Yet, it is limiting.

To ‘perceive’ means to become aware of something, using our senses, and the sense we use readily is the sense of sight, to see the physical about us.

But there is a better answer still; in fact the best answer, and it is,”I DO know what is in the right hand, even though I cannot see it, but I perceive it!”

This is what it means to live by faith or to access or live in the glory realm, where the Word of the Lord reveals to us an aspect of Truth and we can “see” it and believe it.

Try it out now! Look! What is in that right hand..?

Can you now “see” the seven stars Jesus holds in His right hand? (Rev 1:16)

How about that “blessing”, do you see it, that is there, ready to be laid upon your head, with the right hand of another? (Gen 48:13)

And here comes that deliverance for you right now, with the outstretched right hand! (Ex 14:27)

Do you see the blood of dedication and service on the thumb of the right hand? (Ex 29:20)

Wow! Do you see that trumpet there placed in your right hand, ready to blow and declare, “A sword for the Lord and for Gideon!” (Judges 7:20)

Look! The mighty men at David’s right hand! (2Sa 16:6)

Hey! Do you see him there at your right hand? It’s the Lord! He is at your right hand. You will not be shaken! (Psalm 16:8)

Take refuge now at His right hand. (Psalm 17:7)

His right hand upholds you. (Psalm 18:35)

But Job tells us there is one thing we cannot do with our own right hand, and that is, we cannot save ourselves! (Job 40:14)

But there is One who can! Whose nail prints in both His outstreched hands proves His love for you, and Who saves you! (John 3:16)

His right hand embraces you. Do you feel Him? (Song of Song 2:6)

And He has taken hold of your right hand. See! (Psalm 73:23)

And now, at the Father’s right hand, Jesus sits in power, ever living to make intercession for you. (Mk 16:19)

Continue to live for Him here with all that you have, as later, in His right hand, are pleasures for evermore! (Psalm 16:11)

Do you “see” it now?

Do you perceive it?

Do you believe it?

Walk by faith and not by sight!

Therefore, if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above where Christ is…(Col 3:1)