No... we don't "earn" our salvation;
But we CAN earn HIS+ disapproval !
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Glory be to The FATHER,
Who created thee;
And to His Beloved SON+,
Who saves thee;
And to The Blessed HOLY SPIRIT;
Who sanctifies thee.
+ + +
Worthy is the LAMB+... worthy is the LAMB+... worthy is the LAMB+ that was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and blessing! Blessing and honor and glory and power be unto HIM that sitteth on the throne and unto The LAMB+ for ever and ever. Amen.
No... we don't "earn" our salvation;
But we CAN earn HIS+ disapproval !
~
Glory be to The FATHER,
Who created thee;
And to His Beloved SON+,
Who saves thee;
And to The Blessed HOLY SPIRIT;
Who sanctifies thee.
+ + +
Blessed
are the pure in heart;
for they shall see GOD.
Words of Our LORD and SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST,
as recorded by Matthew in chapter 5, verse 8.
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Did HE+ mean what HE+ said, literally ?
YES !
So... how do we become "pure" in our hearts?
It is OBVIOUS that HIS+ Word here in Matthew 5:8 is given to us... albeit gently... as an INSTRUCTION: that is, it is something concrete for us TO PUT INTO ACTION, it is an activity for us TO DO, a directive from Our LORD JESUS CHRIST for us TO PRACTICE. The Apostles learned from HIM+ and were diligent to teach the Early Church so. Here are their words:
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The Apostle John said, "And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as HE+ is pure." I John 3:3
The Apostle Peter admonishes, " Seeing that ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the SPIRIT unto unfeigned love of the brethren, love one another with a pure heart fervently: " I Peter 1:22
The Apostle James said, " Draw night to GOD, and HE will draw night to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded." James 4:8
So... how do we go about making ourselves "pure?"
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WE DO ALWAYS THOSE THINGS
WHICH PLEASE HIM+.
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We know to flee from sin and youthful lusts. We know to abstain from EVERY appearance of evil. We know how be chaste and modest in our dress. We give NO reason for ANYONE to stumble by eyeing our flesh nor to stumble by coveting, on account of how we visibly present ourselves.
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But, what about the whisperer, the accuser of the brethren?
Are we zealous to purify our thoughts
coming from the accuser against others?
Or, do we contemplate those accusing thoughts
and then AGREE with them ?
Many, many a Christian marriage
and untold numbers of churches
are floundering
because of the work
of the accuser going unchecked , un-stopped,
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This "work of the accuser" gets a foothold when we get our feelings hurt. If we are ignored or snapped at, if we are blamed or held in disrepute, if our motives or our words are misunderstood... the accuser steps in to help us "discern" the truth.
How can the father of lies
help us discern ANY "truth" ?
Here, then, is where the Holy Scriptures step in to combat those lies, fortify our emotions, and help us INTERVENE against the wicked spirits , the spiritual "bullies" who are afflicting us and our loved ones [ by getting us to accuse each other ].
Thy Word is very pure:
therefore Thy servant loveth it.
Psalm 119:140
In essence, we turn our back on the accusing lies trying to get us to AGREE with them, and we proclaim His+ Word. (Use the Psalms or other Scriptures. One Christian struggling deeply with hurt had to forcefully read 17 Psalms before the accuser quit her presence ).
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We REFUSE TO AGREE with the accuser, no matter how badly we have been hurt.
Why do Christians refuse to agree with the accuser?
We KNOW it is the evil one who uses unsuspecting flesh to hurt us. The evil one will then lay his evil working to the account of the "unsuspecting flesh". That person who was used to hurt us then has sin laid to his account.
Thus, we learn to "join with CHRIST" to fight the liars from laying siege to the person who brought us hurt or injury. We join with CHRIST to free that person from control of the wicked spirits lying to him/her. Yes, that very person who has done us wrong and is now being accused by our OWN hearts, we fight FOR, not against.
Once the Scriptures are " in the air", in our hearts, in our minds, and IN OUR MOUTHS, the distress and "need" to accuse the person who hurt us, will leave. We will be free and healed from the hurt and the love of CHRIST JESUS will be shed abroad.
With our mouths, we proclaim GOD'S HOLY WORD until His+ Word takes over our emotions.
With our mouths, we list all the RIGHT and GOOD things about the one who hurt us, making ourselves be fair.
With our mouths, we pray for GOD'S richest blessings to come to that person... all those things temporal and spiritual which will lead him to CHRIST or to a deeper walk.
Christians, let's do it!
Let's practice developing
a pure heart,
one that is pleasing unto
The LORD JESUS CHRIST.
+ + +
In the name of The FATHER, Who created us;
HIS Holy SON+ JESUS CHRIST, Who+ saves us'
And their Blessed HOLY SPIRIT, Who+ sanctifies us.
Amen.
GOD or Mammona, a wicked spirit.
HE+ did not call you to be monastic
in order to be with a group.
Rather,
HE+ called you to be monastic
in order to
be with HIM+.
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Yes, you may attend a group from time to time or on Sundays for fellowship... but don't give them your heart. Meet them through JESUS. Keep in mind you are not going for you, but for them.
So, do what you can as a semi-hermetic Monastic.
If HE+ calls you to prayer stations throughout the day, DO THEM.
If HE+ calls you to get up in the middle of the night for time with HIM+, DO IT.
If HE+ calls you to read through the entire book of Psalms every week,
then DO IT.
How little these acts of obedience are
compared to what HE+ has done for us!
Furthermore, you don't need a group to do these
(or some such similar things.)
These are simply
individual acts of discipleship,
individual acts of worship,
individual acts of devotion
which HE+ has called you to do.
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And dear ones, reflect on the outside what HE+ is doing on the inside.
Search HIS+ will and don some kind of a habit.
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Sisters, cover your body in some kind of modest apparel: no cleavage, no thighs. Do what you can do to NOT APPEAR LIKE THE FASHIONABLE WORLD. No, you don't have to look frumpy; be dignified, as befitting an Ambassador of the KING+. Give NO WITNESS to the world and its capricious fashions. It won't kill you.
One way to do this is to dress in solids instead of prints or plaids or stripes. Solid colors give a more dignified, more somber appearance. In the hot summer, solid whites or solid beiges are fine, with tops and bottoms being the same or close to the same colors because that looks more monastic, more separated. Avoid colors which draw attention to your Self. It won't kill you.
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Sisters, seek HIS+ face and don a head-covering of some sort , coming into line with the Word in I Cor. ll. Be brave enough to wear it in public, also, so as to not deny HIM+ in public. It won't kill you. What it will do, though, is set you apart so that hungry, hurting hearts will make a bee-line for you when the coast is clear [i.e., when no-one is looking ] !
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Brothers should also dress in a separate way, covering their bodies with clothing that reflects modesty instead of today's fashions. Solid colors are simply more dignified. Vests are always good. Suspenders help. Shirts with collars (versus Tee's) lend more sobriety.
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The LORD does not want us to learn to cling to each other; that is something we must UN-learn. HE+ does not want us to cling branch to branch, but rather simply to the VINE+ HIMSELF+. Groups distract us; HE+ wants our UN-divided attention... at all times.
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Take heart, little flock. Be of good cheer.
Ye are of much more value than the little sparrows.
Do the Work I + have called you to do, without distress.
You will lack nothing meaningful.
+ + +
+ + +