everything is going to change some more!

 ~ everything is going to change some more! ~  

subtitled: Diversity and Differences in God’s Universe and University

(Please send thoughts, suggestions and corrections/edits to comment box)

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Part One:

It is Unity Month at Faith Christian Fellowship. In February many churches in Baltimore celebrate Black History Month as do many in secular circles. Someone asked our pastors years ago why we did not celebrate it. They said "Good question!" Today and for some few years our church has celebrated February as Unity Month to promote Christian unity and reconciliation between diverse peoples. Our congregation has as many or more blacks as whites (I think) and not a few Asians and at least two Hispanic families I know of. Race is a touchy subject, and can be so even at our church! (And FCF is a very politically diverse too!) I have not been favorably disposed to participating in the sunday school in February, or the annual conference. Only this year have I wanted to embrace Unity Month at FCF church, and only because God has done such a deep work of grace and agape in me which makes me want to love others as He loves us. Thanks, Jesus. I needed that more that I knew, much more!!! Here are some observations have been welling up in the mind God has been transforming in me:

1 John 3:2

Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

• Why am I a christian? What do I want to be, to do, to get, to give, to happen because I am a christian?
• What does God want me to be, to do, to get, to give, to happen because I am a christian?
• Why are we christian? What do we want to be, to do, to get, to give, to happen because we are christian?
• What does God want us to be, to do, to get, to give, to happen because we are christian?
• What is a Christian? 
• What is FAITH? Hebrews 11:1; and 6 “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. ~ But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” 
• What is a fellowship? (Recently I learned that in Hebrew parlance fellowship carries with it the strong content of partnership. That leads me to think about covenant relationship.)

And so as a christian, and a member of Faith Christian Fellowship, hey! What’s it all about?

God is different from us, or why should John have written the scripture I quoted just above? Yet and BECAUSE God is different from us He calls and commands us to become like His Son who is like Him!!! Jesus is so much like God He is God!

We see ourselves as different than each other, but God sees us by our faith and by His Son's blood as ALL just like Jesus!

Being like Jesus we forgive all as He forgave all those who broke His Holy Perfect heart! Yes?

Men and women without believing, without trusting Christ cannot become like Him. But being born again IN Christ, and trusting Him is the key opening the door to the school of the Holy Spirit where we learn of Him (Matthew 11:28 to 30) and do in realty become just like Him! Flawlessly? Not yet, although Jesus in us is capable of producing a change in us, and even more so in this life in our flesh and blood than we can imagine!

So the we ought, ought we not, to ask for that which we cannot imagine, and that we would daily trust Him to bring us to a more complete likeness of Him, Jesus, God’s Son, who died and rose redeeming us from sin and from the power of sin, from the slave market of satan and from hell.

1) Did I confess my sins last Sunday?

2) Did God forgive me then?

3) Have I sinned since then?

4) If I ask God to forgive me NOW, will He forgive me NOW?

5) What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid.

How big is God?
Is God, are Dios Themselves diverse? (“trick” question! Dios being Spanish for God!))

Am I different than God? Than Jesus? Than the Holy Spirit? Am I diverse from God?

A young Africam American neighbor of mine in my “hood” asked me one day what color Jesus was. It was not the first time I had been asked that by a “black” person who was firmly persuaded Jesus was a “black” man. It is not an easy question to answer, for I wasn’t living when Jesus walked among men. It is almost pointless to say He was a Jewish man and likely olive skinned. But on this occasion the Lord dropped an answer into my mind which startled me a bit but quickly gave me great joy, and I was able to tell Him the color of Jesus is holy! I pray you see that as from God. Essentially it takes the issue of color and race out of the picture and places God in the Light of His being different than fallen sinful men of any and all colors. 

John 1

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

2 The same was in the beginning with God.

3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.

4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.

5 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.

6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.

7 The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe.

8 He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.

9 That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.

The Light is Holy, yes? So is holy a color? You dear one may be the judge!

Romans 12:1-3 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, 

• present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 
• be not conformed to this world: 
• be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may 
• prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. 
• do not think of [your]self more highly than [you] ought to think;
• think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.

 And being beseeched by Paul and by God, ought we not, being beseeched, go on to submit to the transforming power of God’s Word and Spirit? WE ARE called and commanded to become holy and perfection. To have the mind of Christ! Philippians! We can HAVE the mind of Christ! 1 Corinthians 2!  Ought we not to also beseech each other?

1. Love: good, kind, merciful, generous, Agape, LOVE, God!
2. Holy: Everywhere, Knowing everything(one),  Governing everything(one) He is Righteous in all His judgment, “that they may KNOW that I am the Lord.”
3. Perfect: He is Righteous in all His judgment, and perfect in all His Ways. (flawlessly!) 

• 
  

1. We will love like Jesus loves. 
2. We will be forever joined to God who is Holy, we will be holy. 
3. We will be perfect. 

• 
  

1. We can love like Jesus loves when we walk in His Holy Spirit
2. We can be holy like Jesus is when we walk in His Holy Spirit
3. We can be perfect like Jesus is when we walk in His Holy Spirit
   

The ability to love as God loves is hampered by the fall: by human frailty, the world, and by temptation; holiness and perfection are likewise hampered. The implication(s) of holiness are still above my pay grade, but I accept the command to be holy and trust the Lord to make me holy. Likewise to be perfect. Yet perfection is misunderstood to mean flawless. We are flawlessly perfect in God’s sight now but only by grace through faith in Christ under His blood, having flawlessness imputed to us as an inheritance future. Two greek words are used in the NT which we translate “perfect.” 1) plēroō / πληρόω and 2) telioos / τέλειος~  The gist of them is to be complete, full, finished! See Col 2:10; Acts 6:8; Hebrews 12:2 and others.

Hence we are transformed in Christ, and being transformed by the Holy Spirit, and to be like Him, we now can walk with Jesus on the narrow way of His Love!

We ARE the church God is building; we are building materials, living stones. God is Holy and what He builds is holy. [1 Peter 1:13-16; Matthew 5:1-48]

“Warriors tear down and destroy, FATHERS BUILD” (Douglas MacArthur).
Jeremiah 1:4-10   

1 Peter 2:5

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.

John 17: “Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee:

As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him. And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do. And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was. I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me; and they have kept thy word. Now they have known that all things whatsoever thou hast given me are of thee. For I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came out from thee, and they have believed that thou didst send me. I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine. And all mine are thine, and thine are mine; and I am glorified in them.

And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are. While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled.

And now come I to thee; and these things I speak in the world, that they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves. I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world. And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth.

Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me. Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world. O righteous Father, the world hath not known thee: but I have known thee, and these have known that thou hast sent me. And I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare it: that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them.”

I am impressed that this prayer may be the greatest prayer ever prayed. A preacher from the subcontinent India named Koshi has said: “Our God is a prayer hearing God, our God is a prayer answering God. and our God is a wonder working God!” TRUTH!  The question that came to me is: If this is Jesus the Son of God praying to His Father God, was this prayer answered? I’m not sorry, but the answer I come to is Yes! Without a doubt YES! How could the Father (our Father!) deny anything to His flawlessly obedient Son Jesus our Lord and Eldest Brother??? What is the implication of that answer??? 

The disciples and all who are born again are ONE in unity and fellowship with God in Christ! It may be hard to see this, especially in light of the divisions over denomination, doctrine, form, and custom in Christendom, but essentially if you were, are being and will be saved in Christ to live with Him forever, you are in union with Him and all His born again children! As we grow in Christ, in God who is Love and in the Holy Spirit, our unity in Him will overcome our diversity and differences, not to worry how attached we are to them now, or how offended we are by the differences we see in others, Christ wins us so that we may win Him! And when that happens we win each other!

The following quote is by a Dutch preacher (whose name I forgot to note) seen in a documentary..

“There was an interview with a Dutch church historian, and they asked him, these BBC people, about the Dutch church, and he made the most interesting remark, he said, ‘We have dozens of protestant denominations and Christian groups because to the Dutch person truth is more important than unity.’ And when I heard it, I thought, I’ve tried to say in a whole sermon what you said in one sentence. What he meant by truth and rightly analyzed, is my interpretation of the Bible, my dogmatic views, my doctrinal views. But Jesus said, ‘I am the truth.’ Truth is not a teaching; truth is a person. And if you have that person you have that truth, and in that person is always unity. But if we put our understanding of the scripture and our doctrinal views higher than the person of Jesus… and I’m going to say maybe something very sharp, and I want to say it respectfully and honorably… we worship idols. Anything we place above the Lord Jesus is an idol. Our unity is not in a teaching, it is in a person and in a person you always find one another."  

It is important to understand this quote for it will truly help us to ENJOY the sweet fruit of the our love and fellowship of, in and with God! I am very persuaded of the critically important need to see the wonderful truth in this quote about unity, truth and Jesus. 

1 John 1

1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life;

2 (For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;)

3 That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.

4 And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.

5 This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.

6 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:

7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

Earlier I wrote that in Hebrew parlance the word fellowship carries with it the strong content of partnership. That leads me to think about covenant, and covenant relationship(s).  And this speaks to the truth that we are in a spiritual AGAPE LOVE relationship with God, which is personal AND corporate, AND EVERLASTING!!! It doesn’t get any better than this! 

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Part Two

We... “We the people...” It would be interesting to do a word study on the word we in the Scriptures! When any ONE says WE, they are speaking for others! And suddenly this true story comes to mind which ended with this exchange:

Exodus 19

7 And Moses came and called for the elders of the people, and laid before their faces all these words which the Lord commanded him.

8 And all the people answered together, and said, “All that the Lord hath spoken we will do. And Moses returned the words of the people unto the Lord.”

Did they speak as one, in unity? 

Also I am reminded of another amazing word from scriptures, the word “Amen!” When we gather to pray, most often one prays and then in Jesus name WE say Amen!

Amos 3:3 Can two walk together, except they be agreed?

We are in Unity Month at my church, our church, and we are called to be one body in one faith by one God and Father of us all. When I began to follow Jesus in 1976 I came to see that as the scriptures say: Jesus is building HIS church. Now as the earth and humanity and believers are constituted we cannot all be gathered under one roof. Perhaps we ought to see the 2nd and 3rd heavens as a roofs. Because of human limitation we meet in congregations, 10’s, 50’s, 100’s  and larger. In heaven will there be a roof large enough? The reality is we don’t need a roof to cover us, for God our Divine Head is always above us. And by the majesty of His will, His Son: Lo! He is with us even now always! And to mention the Holy Spirit, Hallelu Yah!

Essentially the unity of God in the Father, Son and Holy Spirit is Spiritual and Relational. When we are born again He draws us via the Anointed Savior into a spiritual relationship with Him, with Them (Father, Son and Holy Spirit). He takes us as individuals into Himself, into the Father, and the Son and the Holy Spirit and we are changed! Headline: Whatever we were before that, we are not that anymore! We are (also) brought into the Body of Christ, joined in God and by God into a Spiritual unity with ALL the people of God already in Unity with each other THROUGH Him and TO Them. Who ever we were hanging with before has changed forever too.

2 Corinthians 5:14 For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead:

15 And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.

16 Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more.

17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;

19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.

20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God.

21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

HalleluYah !!!

Christian unity comes to the church by each one and all being reconciled to God, and THEREBY, THEREIN and THEREAFTER reconciled, unified to each other! Awesome! Paul writes that he and his fellow laborers we given the ministry of reconciliation. They were divinely inSpired persuaders of men who by the Power of God (the Holy Spirit) were reconciled to God and to each other. I have an unction in the moment to look up “reconciliation!”

Oh My! It just keeps getting better and better!

Lexicon Results

Strong's G2643 - katallagē  καταλλαγή

Transliteration katallagē

Pronunciation kä-täl-lä-gā' (Key)

Part of Speech feminine noun

Root Word (Etymology) From καταλλάσσω (G2644)

reconciliation
Outline of Biblical Usage

1) exchange

a) of the business of money changers, exchanging equivalent values

2) adjustment of a difference, reconciliation, restoration to favour

a) in the NT of the restoration of the favour of God to sinners that repent and put their trust in the expiatory death of Christ

Above I underlined in bold type the thing that stands out to me in the FCF context of unity month.

More questions: 

• How many appreciate the fact that God loves you?
• How many appreciate the fact that I love you?
• How many muslims appreciate the fact that Jesus the quintessential Jew loves them?
• How many white supremacists appreciate the fact that some African Americans love them. and that Jesus the quintessential Jew loves all African Americans?
• How many African Americans appreciate the fact that some white folks love them?
• How many Tootsies appreciate the fact that some Hutus love them?
• How many South African whites appreciate the fact that some kaffirs love them? 
• How many unbelievers appreciate the fact the believers in Christ and Jesus who is THE Christ love them?
• How many gentiles appreciate the fact that Messianic Jewish believers and Yeshua the quintessential Jew love them?
• How many gentile Christians appreciate the fact that Messianic Jewish believers and Yeshua the quintessential Jew love them?
• AND finally, how well, how much do I, do we appreciate the fact that Father God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit LOVE us with an everlasting LOVE? 

(( Definition of APPRECIATE

transitive verb

1a : to grasp the nature, worth, quality, or significance of

b : to value or admire highly

c : to judge with heightened perception or understanding : be fully aware of

d : to recognize with gratitude

2: to increase the value of ))

I submit that difference and diversity are essentially are words which have almost exactly the same meaning, and that diversity it is a politically correct code word, a buzz word for difference.  Differences ARE often very problematic until we are in Christ where ALL THINGS are made NEW! And they can remain problematic until we hear what God would have us to do to eliminate the problems!

Acts 17
26 And [God] hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation;

27 That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us:

28 For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.

And [God] hath made of one blood all nations of men!

Our diversities of color, ethnic membership, cultural history, cultural preferences, personal tastes are very important if we interpret them in the light of the Scriptures! They are the “artistry” of God, yes? no? If they are often/also a proving ground, even a fire of affliction on/in which God refines us into saints, we can be grateful for the process and the outcome if not the details of the differences!  The devil is in the details it is said, and he seems to often be in amongst “different” people(s) stirring up problems and sin.

But God’s outcome in you who abide in the Jesus the Vine is everlasting Life!

We all want to be loved. We all want what we are and who we are to be rejected... NOT!

We all want to be loved and accepted. And yet we are different, we see ourselves as different and we are seen as different by others! Some love or hate us for our differences. Some are indifferent to our differences and that can offend or please us too! We can also be loved or hated by those very similar to us!  Human problems arise from a multitude of diverse/different issues and reasonings!

What advantage do our differences, our diversities “bring to the table?” I see them as being inclusions on the God ordained platform(s) from which we all spring (we are His offspring!) into life, and why?

Revelation 4:11b “...for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.”

We need to bow to God the Creator our Maker and see ourselves as who we are:  “the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand.” Psalm 95  God essentially sees us as sheep. I wish were so dumb as sheep whom I have never heard hated each other over the curl or color of their wool!

We are God’s workmanship! We are “what God does!” We are not His hobby either, we are His beloved full time “job!” And God is always successful to finish the job! Hebrews 12: 2 Jesus is the Author and the Finisher of our faith, of us! We are, ALL who trust Christ, in the Holy Spirit’s Finishing School.

Revelation 5:9

And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;

Ephesians 2

1 And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;

2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:

3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.

4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,

5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)

6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:

7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. (Eph.3:10)

8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.

10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

11 Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands;

12 That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:

13 But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.

14 For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;

15 Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;

16 And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:

17 And came and preached peace to you (y’all) which were afar off, and to them that were nigh.

18 For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.

19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God;

20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;

21 In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:

22 In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.

I am not different than myself! I am what I am and that’s all that I am at any given point in time. In Christ I am a NEW CREATION, His workmanship. I am reconciled to Him by the Son as just as if I had never sinned, yet I’m being restored to the likeness of God in Christ!  God who lives outside of time and space is different than the thing I am today. He is flawless, Uncreated, Eternal, and as the Complete Jewish Bible is translated He is “More holy than the holiest holiness!” (Isaiah 6:3) AND...He is the same yesterday, today, tomorrow and forever. Can it be that when we get to heaven we will also be, in comparison with anything of flesh and blood on earth today, just like Jesus who IS “More holy than the holiest holiness?”  Astonishingly the answer will be yes! (in comparison, mind you!) And yet God will still be holier that that! 

More questions:

• Could I be comfortable coming to a place where I would never ever change, never become something other than I then am? 
• Do I want to be different in days to come? Why? Why not?
• Are the things in and about me that are different than the things in and about you important? Why? Why not? 
• Do the differences between us detract, add to, or change my life? Our fellowship?
• If you were to become a clone of me, or I were to become a clone of you, would it be an improvement for either of us?
• If I were to see Jesus and be like Him, would I be different from what I am now, would I be different from what you are now? 
• Am I different now from what you will be when you see Jesus?

1 John 3:2

Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

Five times in one verse: we! Our Faith, mine and yours is not different, it is not diverse, and it is through our same “like precious” faith (see 1 Peter 1:1) we receive the grace of God and His Holy Spirit and the Blood which saves us!

I am left imagining a celebration which never ends and where the fruit of the Spirit of Holy God is all that is ever served to us and by us!

Thanks be to God, whose in His everlasting mercy has forgiven US and saved US by His grace of Jesus the penultimate and the ultimate Messiah, and the ultimate King! And to mention the Holy Spirit...

Hallelu Yah !!!!!!!!!! Woo Hoo !!!!!!!!!!!!

O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin. 

There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.

But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.

Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.

The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope, Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body. For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?

But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.

What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?  He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth. Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 

As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. ~ Romans 7:24 to 8:39

everything is going to change some more!

In light of the rapid rate of political change in our nation, I believe strongly that we need to continue to DIG DEEP, and keep building upon the rock. Frankly we needed to do that at the height of our national success and affluence. Derek Prince taught that succeeding and prospering are more difficult tests of faith that failing and being poor. Matthew 5:1-12 seems to illuminate that teaching as true! The rebuke to the Laodicean Church bears witness too: “thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked.”  See also Ezekiel 16.

It may happen that the freedom we have to worship God in Christ will be encroached on more, as it has been so often in much of the world. There have been more christians martyred for the faith in the past 112 years than in all the 1900 years prior!

When we stand on the Rock, abide in the Vine, and continue to be discipled, and to disciple others, we can be assured Jesus our Rock and Vine is with us, giving us COURAGE to face whatever comes, even if it be martyrdom! I don’t want to be martyred, I want to live now for another 20 years and die having born more fruit that remains! But if we are faced with an executioner who offers pardon for a denial of the Lord and the faith, I trust the Lord our God will give me and thee the courage to accept an “early out!” 

Revelation 4:11 Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.

Revelation 12:11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.

Luke 12:3-5

3 Therefore whatsoever ye have spoken in darkness shall be heard in the light; and that which ye have spoken in the ear in closets shall be proclaimed upon the housetops.

4 And I say unto you my friends, Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do.

5 But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him.

1 Peter 5:5-6

6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:

7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.

Galatians 6:8-10

8 ... he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.

9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.

10 As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.