Praise the LORD!!!
***Due to my host family's son being home from college for the week, this is his room, I'll be publishing my post earlier then normal. In this way I can shutdown the computer earlier then usual.
Though for several days before Easter, or Resurrection Day, I'd had a bit of a heavy spirit. This was due to the fact that I've been preforming the works of this ministry now since Aug. '97' and for the most part totally alone. There are those that want to say that it can't be of GOD if it isn't receiving HIS blessings. Yet I beg to differ and here is why!!!
Hebrews 11:13,14
13 All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance. And they admitted that they were aliens and strangers on earth. 14 People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own.
For many years after he had received the promise from GOD of a son, Abraham had continued to carry on in faith. For though he had not seen any fruit produced, he still held on to that which GOD had promised. Though this was a man who's faith was accounted to him as righteousness and not just some 'prison inmate' that thinks he's been called of GOD(the words of another). There is no difference, be it any man that has a calling placed upon him by GOD, or another. For those of us, that have been called to profess faith in JESUS CHRIST, have a purpose in the KINGDOM of GOD on earth, and we shall fulfill this purpose for that reason. This reason, is that GOD's will for mankind may take place in just the order that GOD has set forth for it too.
Before the beginning of time, when GOD was laying the foundations for the heavens and all that exist within the universe, HE was setting into motion the very events and lives of all men, for all time! That's right, GOD has known every detail of HIStory, since before it even began. We can't even begin to fathom the knowledge of GOD, our minds are so limited in their abilities. They say that we use only 10% of our brain as it is and even if we were to use them fully, we still wouldn't even be close to a fraction of the intelligence of GOD. Let alone a full understanding of all HE has set into motion. We tend to forget that HE is omnipotent and omnipresent and that we're not even close to resembling any of these traits.
Every detail of our lives, as to our past, has been allowed to be just as they were for a reason. GOD has placed every detail in the exact place and time that HE wanted them to be. Right down to the minutest of details also. There has been nothing that has happened, that wasn't meant to happen, like it did and when it did, that GOD hasn't addressed in detail. Many want to say that satan has had a lot to do with all the sin within our lives, which he did, but not without the overlaying fact that GOD wanted these sins to be in our lives in the first place, in order to bring us to the exact place in time and relational standing that we are at this moment! That's right all those sins that I committed growing up, all the people's lives that I messed up and altered in some way, happened for the exact reason that GOD wanted them to! (Praise the LORD, I know I'm stepping on some theological toes this morning!!!)
I've had preachers tell me that GOD hasn't allowed the evil to take place in the world. That GOD is only manifested by acts of love and righteousness. GOD is personified by love and there is no evil within HIM, but this doesn't mean that HE didn't created it or allow it to happen for a reason! Believe me when I say this, that GOD knew, that when HE created satan as one of the arch angels, that he was going to try and usurp his power and take GOD's throne. That GOD knew that when HE created Adam and Eve and placed them in the garden with the tree of knowledge, that they were going to fall to temptation. GOD knew all these things and has allowed them for a reason. That HIS express purpose for mankind will take place and bring those that HE has chosen into right relationship with HIM for all of eternity.
Pilate, Pharaoh, Hitler, you, me and every person throughout HIStory have done to date just that which GOD has ordained to happen and each event that we take part in, until our final breathes will fulfill this also. I can't explain all the reasoning of GOD for things that have taken place. Just as Abraham couldn't of changed the outcome of his life according to GOD's purpose. What GOD has allowed to happen and what HE has set into motion will all bring about GOD's perfect will for mankind. So just as I was doing several weeks ago and working on setting up the LORD's ministry for me, I will continue to go about these works. Even if not one person ever comes along beside me and assist in it. I will continue to fulfill that which the LORD's has shown me. GOD only knows when it will begin to produce fruit, if it hasn't already(just because I've not seen it). Only GOD knows what the future holds for it and myself and every other person that ever will come into contact with it. No living being, knows the mind of GOD or can ever begin to understand all that HE has set into motion. We can only do that which HE leads us to do and have faith that HE will bring about everything that HE has shown us or told us that HE will. Every WORD of the Bible is true, though much has yet to take place. But you can count on one thing though, those that haven't happened yet, some day shall, and just as they are written!!!
There will be no other verses with this today, for it is written out of a spirit of explanation. One where I'm letting you know that which bears directly upon my future and the future of these writings. We should return to normal here in the near future when the LORD wills us too. For this too, GOD has a reason behind and it will accomplish HIS will for those that are involved with it!
Prayer request can be sent to: prayers@vineofchrist.org
GOD bless and good day,
Rev. Marshall Barth
Vine of CHRIST Ministries
Vine Ministerial Network International
Monday, April 5, 2010
04-05-10_Phip. 3:10,11_CHRIST crucified (a re post)
Praise the LORD!!!
I had made plans to write a devotional for today, with today being Easter though there is much upon my heart and I've nothing that I could do justice to in writing. So there will be no new devotional for today, though I will re post one and I think it is a good one considering the days we've just gone through. I pray you'll enjoy it and I also pray that I'll have something new for everyone tomorrow, LORD willing!!!
Philippians 3: 10,11
"I want to know CHRIST and the power of HIS resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in HIS sufferings, becoming like HIM in HIS death, and so, somehow to attain to the resurrection from the dead."
As I've stated before, the all important facts of our faith are to be centered on the works CHRIST has done for us. Both HIS redeeming death upon the cross and HIS resurrection unto eternal life. In these two facts lie all that is important to the faith, for within these lie all our hope. JESUS bore our sins, for all of mankind, upon that cross perched atop the hill Calvary. All the weight of our sinful nature was within HIM and HE willingly took it to the grave with HIM! The perfect sacrifice for all of mankind, in one instant all our sins were gone, totally eradicated from existence. All the years that we had bore them ourselves, they are gone the moment we allow JESUS to take over our lives. That is right, though HE bore the sins of the whole world upon HIS shoulders, it isn't until each and every person makes the personal choice to accept HIS gracious act, that they are wiped away. We each have this choice to make and only we ourselves are responsible for making it, no one else can do it for us and it isn't an automatically done act given to mankind without their doing anything. Though there are those that think this is what was done that day. We are not forced to take it, GOD has given us freedom of choice and we must decide for ourselves!!!
JESUS' resurrection open the door for us to live life eternally with HIM both in heaven and on earth. This is part of the package deal, we believe in HIM and the works that HE's done and this comes along with the redemption from our sins. These are but two of the great graces that JESUS afforded for us by becoming that perfect sacrifice, in our place. These we won't go into here though, they're not the reason for this devotional.
Now you say, "you know this and you've totally accepted both of these." Good, that is an awesome fact. But where are your eyes turned, where are your intentions focused? On these two facts, or on all the other promises within the Bible that are yours for the taking? All the blessing are great to know about, but on all of these, isn't truly where our focus is to be. Our focus, as taught within the WORD of GOD, is to be the two acts of CHRIST, those only HE could do for us. For on these rest everything, all those promises are worthless without these two acts done by JESUS and the one act that we are responsible for making. The New Testament writers were so adamant about these being the center focus of their teachings and their lives. We too should take this as a lesson. No matter what comes at us within life, we must continue to keep our eyes upon these, not on our problems or the world around us, but on the redemptive work of CHRIST and HIS bodily resurrection!!! In doing this, we're constantly focusing on our relationship with HIM. In this is the power of GOD manifested, in this is where all those great promises lie. CHRIST crucified and resurrected to life eternal. Focus on these and all the rest, they are right there for us, already within our grasp. So I ask, where are your eyes focused?
Prayer request can be sent to: prayers@vineofchrist.org
GOD bless and good day,
Rev. Marshall Barth
Vine of CHRIST Ministries
Vine Ministerial Network International
I had made plans to write a devotional for today, with today being Easter though there is much upon my heart and I've nothing that I could do justice to in writing. So there will be no new devotional for today, though I will re post one and I think it is a good one considering the days we've just gone through. I pray you'll enjoy it and I also pray that I'll have something new for everyone tomorrow, LORD willing!!!
Philippians 3: 10,11
"I want to know CHRIST and the power of HIS resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in HIS sufferings, becoming like HIM in HIS death, and so, somehow to attain to the resurrection from the dead."
As I've stated before, the all important facts of our faith are to be centered on the works CHRIST has done for us. Both HIS redeeming death upon the cross and HIS resurrection unto eternal life. In these two facts lie all that is important to the faith, for within these lie all our hope. JESUS bore our sins, for all of mankind, upon that cross perched atop the hill Calvary. All the weight of our sinful nature was within HIM and HE willingly took it to the grave with HIM! The perfect sacrifice for all of mankind, in one instant all our sins were gone, totally eradicated from existence. All the years that we had bore them ourselves, they are gone the moment we allow JESUS to take over our lives. That is right, though HE bore the sins of the whole world upon HIS shoulders, it isn't until each and every person makes the personal choice to accept HIS gracious act, that they are wiped away. We each have this choice to make and only we ourselves are responsible for making it, no one else can do it for us and it isn't an automatically done act given to mankind without their doing anything. Though there are those that think this is what was done that day. We are not forced to take it, GOD has given us freedom of choice and we must decide for ourselves!!!
JESUS' resurrection open the door for us to live life eternally with HIM both in heaven and on earth. This is part of the package deal, we believe in HIM and the works that HE's done and this comes along with the redemption from our sins. These are but two of the great graces that JESUS afforded for us by becoming that perfect sacrifice, in our place. These we won't go into here though, they're not the reason for this devotional.
Now you say, "you know this and you've totally accepted both of these." Good, that is an awesome fact. But where are your eyes turned, where are your intentions focused? On these two facts, or on all the other promises within the Bible that are yours for the taking? All the blessing are great to know about, but on all of these, isn't truly where our focus is to be. Our focus, as taught within the WORD of GOD, is to be the two acts of CHRIST, those only HE could do for us. For on these rest everything, all those promises are worthless without these two acts done by JESUS and the one act that we are responsible for making. The New Testament writers were so adamant about these being the center focus of their teachings and their lives. We too should take this as a lesson. No matter what comes at us within life, we must continue to keep our eyes upon these, not on our problems or the world around us, but on the redemptive work of CHRIST and HIS bodily resurrection!!! In doing this, we're constantly focusing on our relationship with HIM. In this is the power of GOD manifested, in this is where all those great promises lie. CHRIST crucified and resurrected to life eternal. Focus on these and all the rest, they are right there for us, already within our grasp. So I ask, where are your eyes focused?
Prayer request can be sent to: prayers@vineofchrist.org
GOD bless and good day,
Rev. Marshall Barth
Vine of CHRIST Ministries
Vine Ministerial Network International
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