Note for 2024/07/23

‭1 Peter 2:1-25 KJV‬

[1] Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings, [2] as newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: [3] if so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious. [4] To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious, [5] ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. [6] Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: And he that believeth on him shall not be confounded. [7] Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, The stone which the builders disallowed, The same is made the head of the corner, [8] and A stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed. [9] But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: [10] which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy. [11] Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul; [12] having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation. [13] Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme; [14] or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well. [15] For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men: [16] as free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God. [17] Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king. [18] Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward. [19] For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully. [20] For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God. [21] For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: [22] who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: [23] who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously: [24] who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. [25] For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.

https://bible.com/bible/1/1pe.2.1-25.KJV

In times past, I have written to you about our response to those who come against us, that we should be contrary to the world, not standing in self defense, but in forgiveness. Yes, I used the example of turning the other cheek.

Friends, what example are we as believers, if we live just as the godless and the wicked? Can the change in our hearts then be seen by others. Is forgiveness not a good work too? Tolerance, a by-product of patience, long-sufferings, compassion, mercy, grace and love? Without forgiveness, there is no end, but living by recompense to recompense, where the reward for evil remains evil continuously. In forgiveness, the opportunity to live a better life is afforded to the transgressor, just as we received in Christ. Self defense is loving yourself first, without a consideration that the offender might have a need to be shown mercy and a new way to live. It does not come naturally, but by the Holy Spirit of GOD, that pleads in us for the sakes of others, but chiefly for the will of Jesus Christ. Do not hold another ransom by his past transgressions, that is what enemies do. No, in love, each is afforded the opportunity to repent and come to his senses so his soul may be saved. Unforgiveness is like a heavy stone of burden, which will leave you in trouble, when you are judged as you have judged others. We seek forgiveness for our errors, don't we? Should we then not afford our brothers the same? The LORD is the Judge of All, He is our vengeance, the Fair Judge. The Word says that if you live by the sword, you shall die by the sword. When the entire world is set against you, do you not appreciate the one that shows you kindness? When you then show kindness to someone, will it not afford you the opportunity to minister the Word of GOD unto him who would not hear you before?

There is a better way to live, but know this; it is contrary to this world. A brute will take advantage of your meekness, but the Lord is our recompense. When Christ had the armies of heaven available to Him as He was being struck, He called not forth those in His own defense, but instead, He received it. Yes, even by His stripes are we healed. Matter will always respond to matter, unless it is restrained by the soul, even the Living Word of GOD as the Holy Spirit works in us, showing the Grace and Mercy of GOD to all who stand in witness, as a living testimony of the Love of GOD in this period of GOD'S mercy and grace unto Salvation in Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. He that repays evil for evil, does not have the Spirit of GOD indwelling him, but submit to the very same forces that are abusive towards all mankind in hate. We forgive not because the trespassers deserve forgiveness, but as we were forgiven, not deserving either, in the mercy and grace of GOD, that were on display for us upon the cross in Jesus Christ. We give, because we have received of GOD. Hence, loving our neighbor as ourselves, for we accepted Christ, so we must extend the forgiveness in Christ to others. First at home, but then, even out unto the entire world; just as Christ have done upon the cross for us, hiding our most violent acts in Him, taking it to the grave so that it may die with Him, to permit the birth of the new man to rise with Him from that grave and be transformed. Believing in Christ is to take on his business, which is salvation and healing of the soul. And by the mercy and grace of GOD, that healing may flow all the way through to effect even the flesh to be healed too, as it is severed from the old man that ruled in it before. We then take on the peace of the Lord, so too, His love and hope, extending His mercy and grace to all who will receive it. Pouring out to all, in the hope that they will receive what they need, to find their Salvation in Christ Jesus, as we did.

How will our neighbour find it, if we don't put Christ on display in us. If we don't live the life afforded to us in Christ Jesus, then the Gospel of Christ is not preached at all. Then it will be considered as a myth, a tall story that people retell to one another, with no evidence of the power of GOD that transformed us from who we once were outside Christ, to whom we have become in Christ.

So, I ask you: can you truly afford not to live with Christ in you on display? Is your salvation only a personal matter without a social responsibility? Did Christ not send the believer out into the world, even as a sheep out among wolves for this very purpose?

As we look into the world that surrounds us, seeing its decay and disorder; there is another question I should ask of you today. Who is failing in their task then? Is this the result of the Gospel, or the preaching of devils? Who then is having success? No! This world is promoting all that flows from the prince of this world, and that signifies that we are well on route to GOD'S wrath, known to us in the Word of GOD as the Day of The Lord. I ask again: who is failing in the task that they were given? Shall we be caught unawares as Israel was caught unaware not recognizing their Savior when He came to them? As the days of Noah, Christ said it would come. And I look and see how man is living as if he has some promise of tomorrow. Never repenting, but living by excuse and justification, selling a lie unto his very own soul, unto his own destruction.

When I look into the world, I see the testimony of great need and so many who claim to be believers, playing house in a worldly game of gain. Where is the love of GOD in that? Bringing unto ourselves of worldly possessions, even at the cost of others. No! There is no neighborly love in that.

So, I remind you urgently, that the Lord will come as a thief in the night, and repeat His words, will he find faith upon the earth?

Selah, Shalom.

YouVersion Verse of the Day

‭1 John 4:19 KJV‬

[19] We love him, because he first loved us.

https://bible.com/bible/1/1jn.4.19.KJV

The Image Inspiration

‭Isaiah 11:1-16 KJV‬

[1] And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots: [2] and the Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD; [3] and shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the LORD: and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears: [4] but with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked. [5] And righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins, and faithfulness the girdle of his reins. [6] The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them. [7] And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. [8] And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice' den. [9] They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea. [10] And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek: and his rest shall be glorious. [11] And it shall come to pass in that day, that the Lord shall set his hand again the second time to recover the remnant of his people, which shall be left, from Assyria, and from Egypt, and from Pathros, and from Cush, and from Elam, and from Shinar, and from Hamath, and from the islands of the sea. [12] And he shall set up an ensign for the nations, and shall assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth. [13] The envy also of Ephraim shall depart, and the adversaries of Judah shall be cut off: Ephraim shall not envy Judah, and Judah shall not vex Ephraim. [14] But they shall fly upon the shoulders of the Philistines toward the west; they shall spoil them of the east together: they shall lay their hand upon Edom and Moab; and the children of Ammon shall obey them. [15] And the LORD shall utterly destroy the tongue of the Egyptian sea; and with his mighty wind shall he shake his hand over the river, and shall smite it in the seven streams, and make men go over dryshod. [16] And there shall be an highway for the remnant of his people, which shall be left, from Assyria; like as it was to Israel in the day that he came up out of the land of Egypt.

https://bible.com/bible/1/isa.11.1-16.KJV

Listen to:

Friends, I only look at the broadcast from Mike from around the world, once I am done with quiet time and preparing the first part of the daily note to just before the “Listen to” section of the note. Imagine my response of surprise, after having made the image already, reading the title for Mike’s recording today.

07 22 2024 Exodus

By Mike from around the world of COT

Duration: 1 hour 16 minutes 35 seconds

Link:

https://soundcloud.com/ouncil1archive/07-22-2024-exodus

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