Sharing with CHRIST our Lord and Life

CHRIST suffered for you, leaving you an example.......

To this you were called; because CHRIST suffered for you, and left you an example,that you should follow in His+ footsteps:





Who+ did no sin, neither was any deceit found in His+ mouth:





Who+, when He+ was insulted, returned no insult:





When He+ was made to suffer He+ did not counter with threats;





but commited Himself to HIM that judges righteously:





Who+ in His+ own body, brought your sins to the Cross,





so that all of us being dead to sin, could live in accord with GOD'S will;





BY HIS+ WOUNDS YOU WERE HEALED. First PETER 2; 21 - 24








Glory to the FATHER, and to the SON+, and to the HOLY SPIRIT,


as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen. + + +

Of Whom the World was NOT WORTHY... part 2

Of Whom the World was NOT Worthy…
part 1


Chapter 11, Fox’s Book of Martyrs…


In 1568, three persons were apprehended in Antwerp, named Scoblant, Hues, and Coomans. During their confinement they behaved with great fortitude and cheerfulness, confessing that the hand of God appeared in what had befallen them, and bowing down before the throne of his providence.

They expressed themselves in the following words: “Since it is the will of the Almighty that we should suffer for His name, and be persecuted for the sake of His Gospel, we patiently submit, and are joyful upon the occasion; though the flesh may rebel against the spirit, and hearken to the council of the old serpent, yet the truths of the Gospel shall prevent such advice from being taken, and Christ shall bruise the serpent’s head.

We are not comfortless in confinement, for we have faith; we fear not affliction, for we have hope; and we forgive our enemies, for we have charity.

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Be not under apprehensions for us, we are happy in confinement through the promises of God, glory in our bonds, and exult in being thought worthy to suffer for the sake of Christ. We desire not to be released, but to be blessed with fortitude; we ask not liberty, but the power of perseverance;

and wish for no change in our condition,

but that which places a crown of martyrdom upon our heads.”

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Scoblant was first brought to his trial; when, persisting in the profession of
his faith, he received sentence of death. At the stake he fervently said the Lord’s Prayer, and sung the Fortieth Psalm;

then commending his soul to God,

he was burnt alive.

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Hues soon after died in prison; upon which occasion Coomans wrote thus to his friends: “I am now deprived of my friends and companions;

Scoblant is martyred, and Hues dead, by the visitation of the Lord;

yet I am not alone, I have with me

the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob;

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HE+ is my comfort,

and shall be my reward.

Pray unto God to strengthen me to the end,

as I expect every hour to be freed from this tenement of clay.”

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The judge told him the only alternatives were recantation or death; and concluded by saying, “Will you die for the faith you profess?”

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To which Coomans replied, “I am not only willing to die, but to suffer the most excruciating torments for it;

after which my soul shall receive its confirmation from God Himself,

in the midst of eternal glory.”

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Being condemned,

he went cheerfully to the place of execution,

and died with the most manly fortitude,

and Christian resignation.

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Prayer from the Book of Common Prayer....

O Almighty GOD, Who+ didst give to Thy servants boldness to confess the Name of Our SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST before the rulers of this world, and courage to die for this faith: Grant that we may always be ready to give a reason for the hope that is in us, and to suffer gladly for the sake of the same, Our LORD JESUS CHRIST; Who+ liveth and reigneth with THEE, and Thy Blessed HOLY SPIRIT, ONE GOD, now and for ever and ever. Amen.

OF Whom the World was NOT WORTHY...

Of Whom the World was NOT WORTHY…

Introduction to All Saints’ Day

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During this up-coming All Saints’ Day and the dark-spirited halloween season which precedes it, let us focus our attention upon something edifying, something which engenders Life in CHRIST. Let us look at the PRICE many have paid to obtain the PRIZE of the high calling of GOD in CHRIST JESUS.

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Stephen, the first martyr for CHRIST JESUS, who loved not his life unto the death, is the first example of a CHRISTIAN dying rather than denying the LORD JESUS before men. After facing the angry mob of his fellow countrymen, Stephen gave them the Truth about their history, their sins, and their Messiah.

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This courageous and innocent lamb fell asleep in The LORD, having been stoned to death as he was sharing. On his way to The LORD JESUS, Stephen forgave his murderers… among whom was standing a zealous, angry, and implacable Pharisee by the name of Saul of Tarsus. He was powerful and dangerous. Stephen’s death was instrumental in Saul’s conversion, spiritually-speaking. Read about Stephen in Acts, chapters 6 and 7.

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Christians, during these troublous times, let us NOT be intimidated by the evil afoot, but rather let us spend our energies REDEEMING the time for CHRIST, growing secure and mature in CHRIST JESUS our LORD.

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Considering the martyrs and confessors of CHRIST JESUS, let us focus on those who were willing to PAY the PRICE. These are the worthy ones who sealed their testimony with their blood. These are the worthy ones throughout the ages who loved not their life unto the death, for their love of The LORD JESUS CHRIST.

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Instead of teaching our children and fellowman about ghosts and goblins and Charlie Brown’s Great Pumpkin, let us Christians teach our children about these fellow Christians who went before us…"for the blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church."

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Why do we even want to do this?

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We want to school our hearts to go

and do likewise,

should we ever be put to the test.

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We want our children to be willing to die for CHRIST

rather than deny HIM+...

and remain for a short season

upon this troubled earth…

but lose their souls for all Eternity.

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We ourselves want

to endure unto the end

so that we may obtain the prize too.

<(((><

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…from the Book of Common Prayer

Grant, O LORD, that in all our sufferings here upon earth for the testimony of Thy Truth, we may steadfastly look up to Heaven, and by faith behold the glory that shall be revealed as did Stephen.

And, being filled with the HOLY SPIRIT, we may learn to love and bless our persecutors first by the example of THEE+, O CHRIST and then, by Thy faithful witness, Stephen, who prayed for his murderers to THEE+, O blessed LORD JESUS, Who + standest at the right hand of GOD to succour [help] all those who suffer for THEE+, our only Mediator+ and Advocate. Amen.

MEDITATION on The WORD of GOD

PSALM 5:8

Lead me, O LORD,

in THY+ righteousness

because of mine enemies;

make THY+ way straight

before my face.

<(((><

MEDITATIONS on The WORD of GOD

PSALM 5:3

My voice shalt THOU hear

in the morning, O LORD;

in the morning

will I direct my prayer unto THEE,

and will look up.

<(((><

MEDITATIONS on The WORD of GOD

PSALM 4:8

I will both lay me down in peace,

and sleep:

for THOU, LORD, only [alone]

makest me dwell in safety.

<(((><

MEDITATIONS on The WORD of GOD

PSALM 4:3

But know that the LORD

hath set apart

him that is godly

for HIMSELF+:

The LORD will hear

when I call unto HIM+.

<(((><

MEDITATIONS on The WORD of GOD

PSALM 3:3

But thou, O LORD,

art a shield for me;

my glory,

and the lifter up of mine head.

<(((><

Meditations from The WORD of GOD


PSALM 2:12

Kiss the SON,

lest HE+ be angry,

and ye perish from the way,

when HIS+ wrath is kindled but a little !

Blessed are all they that put their
trust in HIM+.

<(((><

MEDITATIONS on The WORD of GOD ~~~ Our Refuge

MEDITATIONS from the WORD of GOD

PSALM 9: 9-10

The LORD also will be a refuge for the oppressed,

a refuge in times of trouble.

And they that know thy name

will put their trust in thee:

for thou, LORD, hast not forsaken

them that seek thee.

<(((><

MEDITATIONS on The WORD of GOD

...The Rose of Sharon...

MEDITATIONS on The WORD of GOD

Hear The Words of The LORD JESUS CHRIST:

Matthew 6:31-32
Therefore take no thought, saying,

What shall we eat?

or, What shall we drink?

or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?

(For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:)

for your heavenly FATHER knoweth

that ye have need of all these things.

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<(((><

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Judgment seems to be falling upon the world-wide mammon-serving system, the system. IT SHOULD. It is the mammon system which keeps men enslaved, by either love of mammon ...or fear of mammon. Sadly, engendering covetousness is a multi-million dollar business in western civilization and we have all been the victims of its programmed covetousness. The well-planned system of Covetousness as well as mammon will be judged.

Therefore, it is high time we Christians extricate ourselves from mammon’s control. We can only do this through The WORD of GOD, by the power of the HOLY SPIRIT, by serving CHRIST JESUS and doing HIS+ Will. We don’t want to fall under the Divine Judgment most assuredly coming against these kings of the earth and their system of unjust weights and measures or their system of covetousness. They are over-ripe for the judgment coming.

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<(((><

Let us pray:

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Forgive me, O LORD GOD, that I have taken the blessings of food and clothing and shelter for granted so much of my life. LORD JESUS, my KING, turn me away from coveting my neighbors' clothes, houses, lands, cars, modern conveniences, or life-styles.

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Forgive me for feasting my eyes upon magazines, advertisements, and even store windows which engender discontent and covetousness in me. Cleanse me of sowing to the flesh instead of unto Thy+ SPIRIT.

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Cleanse me of allowing mammon to make me afraid. Help me to put Your Kingdom and the furtherance of it above my material wants.

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Help me to live simply for Your Sake+, so that I may bear perfect witness of YOU, My LORD and MASTER+. Re-teach me how to be content and to stop lusting after the things of this world.

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Help me to lay up my security for the future into Your KINGDOM... and Yours alone. It will never fail, like the banks and retirement accounts and all the temporal securities that promise my future well-being, in the kingdom of mammon.

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I give you thanks and praise, O LORD, for removing me from this world's mammon-serving values and putting me solidly into Your KINGDOM. I pledge my allegiance unto YOU, O LORD, both now and forever. Amen.

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<(((><... swim in the waters of your baptism.

MEDITATIONS on The WORD of GOD...

Meditations for Troublous Times

from The LIVING WORD+ of GOD

Hear the Words of The LORD JESUS CHRIST:

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BUT SEEK YE FIRST THE KINGDOM OF GOD,
and HIS+ righteousness;
and all these things

shall be added unto you.

TAKE THEREFORE NO THOUGHT

FOR THE MORROW:
for the morrow shall take thought

for the things of itself.

Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.

Matthew 6:33-34

<(((><

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Our LORD JESUS CHRIST told us how to live in regards to mammon. HE+ lived that way HIMSELF+... setting our example.

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<(((><

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Let us pray:

LORD JESUS CHRIST, SON+ of GOD, I worship You and thank You for providing for me from the beginning of my life unto this very day.

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Forgive me, LORD, for taking all manner of thought for the morrow. Turn me from having one eye on the Kingdom of GOD… and the other on some kind of temporal security!

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Grant me the courage, O LORD, to actually seek first the Kingdom of GOD and Thy+ Righteousness. When my hands are FULL of doing Your Will, I know securely my heart and my soul and my body shall rest, because YOU have promised and GOD is not a man, that HE+ should lie.

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Forgive me for crossing, for transgressing, Your Holy Words, LORD JESUS.

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I acknowledge that YOU+ and YOU+ ALONE are the KING of kings and the LORD of lords. Therefore, I commit my life… and my keeping unto THEE +, KING of all the ages … both now and for all Eternity.

Amen.

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<(((>< ... swim in the waters of your baptism...

ALL HALLOWS' EVE... or halloween ???

REDEEMING THE TIME... for CHRIST JESUS our LORD !

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ALL HALLOWS' EVE is coming at the end of this month. Known as “halloween” to most of us, it has become a demon’s gleeful celebration the night before the Church remembered all the martyrs and confessors in Christian history.

[Confessors, by the way, are those who were imprisoned and usually tortured in some way and/or had their goods plundered for NOT DENYING the Name of CHRIST JESUS before men. The only difference between the martyrs and confessors is that the confessors did not die (immediately) from their tortures.

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Many of them were sent home… barely alive… and died at home from their wounds for the name of CHRIST, a few years afterwards, never recovering sufficiently. Some made it through, like Brother Yun, but carried the scars, and some, the handicap of being crippled or blind or some such life-limiting handicap the rest of their natural lives.]

In the process of time, the Church began to remember these saints, these martyrs and confessors on November 1 every year. It was a day for those Christians who remained to give thanks, think soberly upon life, and re-affirm their steadfastness to STAND for CHRIST in this wicked world.

The old English name for saints was hallows… those who were hallowed. Thus, the reprobate world who loves to mock the Kingdom of GOD made a spite-filled, demonic “holy-day” [ i.e., holiday] to commemorate their dishonorable ones and their deeds of tormenting and torturing those WHO WOULD NOT DENY CHRIST.

In the demonic commemoration, uncomfortable tricks and pranks were pulled on others by people in costumes, imitating demonic pranksters… unless the victims paid off the pranksters with a treat; hence the phrase: “trick or treat!”

As children, most of us enjoyed dressing up in foolish costumes. We enjoyed getting candy from relatives and friends. We enjoyed hollering “trikkertreet”… not knowing what we were alluding to… and most of us would not have even thought of pulling a serious prank on our friends or neighbors, with or without a treat.

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If you see a church group having a halloween party for the children, avoid it. It simply teaches the youngsters to disrespect the real hallowed ones, the true saints, who laid down their lives for The LORD JESUS CHRIST. That church is not spiritually-minded but thinking on things of this world, how the "church" can entertain the youngsters instead of converting them to SERIOUS CHRISTIANITY.

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If you belong to a church or group which simply "must" do something for the young people over halloween, then why not FOCUS on stories, movies, books, and activities--- including serious discussions led by spiritually-minded Christian adults-- about the CHRISTIAN MARTYRS through the ages? Let there be a focus on martyrdom and NOT denying CHRIST. Lead the young people in the various ways of going to the cross NOW... turning the other cheek NOW... not denying CHRIST NOW, in the face of their peers who are not at church. This will redeem the time and be better for them than silly parties and pranks and masks.

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Of course, the adults must set the example first.

Yes, ALL HALLOWS’ DAY (All Saints’ Day) is coming, as well as the eve before it. As Christians… and especially, those of us who have children or work with them in some way… let’s be prepared to paint the Blood of the Passover Lamb over the lintels and doorposts of our house. Let’s remain inside, under the covering of the Holy Blood of The LORD JESUS CHRIST, that we may be found to be well-pleasing unto HIM+.

Going one step further.....

let’s consecrate BOTH the eve before and the next day as a holy day unto Our LORD with some kind of fasting, some kind of reading about the apostles and ancient (and modern) Christians who loved not their lives unto the death. Read these accounts to your children. Read Hebrews chapter 11. Offer up some special prayers …NOT TO THE SAINTS… but rather, for ourselves unto CHRIST JESUS the LORD, that we may learn never, never to deny CHRIST before men, not even in little ways.

Let’s remember the blood of the martyrs and confessors is indeed the seed of the church. Let’s pray that we may be accounted worthy, also.