Part 3 .... The Sign of the CROSS.... in TRUTH+

  What Would JESUS , The TRUTH+,  Do ?
Message by Byron Miller, Wellspring Mennonite Church, Athens, TN.

Drawing by The ORDER of The GOOD SHEPHERD+

Think about the answer to the motto, or the words, "What Would Jesus Do ?" 

That motto is good, 

but I think 

often the answer 

would be 

more self-evident, 

be easier to discern, 

if GOD'S Kingdom was my consuming focus.

In other words, our selfish desires often bring us 

into compromising situations, 

into positions, 

that cause us to question 

what GOD really wants in a given situation.

SELF CLOUDS OUR MIND FROM TRUTH.

There is nothing that can cloud our mind more than

 allowing Self to be in control.

Do we really desire our will to be in subjection to any?  

Too often we do not want that; that is not our desire.  

The human-ness in us balks at that ; it does not want it.

 We can yield here, we can yield there, in different areas... as long as we can still be our own master.

But GOD'S strength comes only through submission. We can try many other things, many good things. 

But do we want GOD'S strength in our lives ?

 

Look at  Romans 6  ....

What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?  GOD forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?   Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into JESUS CHRIST were baptized into His+ death?

Therefore we are buried with Him+ by baptism into death: that like as CHRIST was raised up from the dead by the glory of the FATHER, even so we also should walk in newness of life.   For if we have been planted together in the likeness of His+ death, we shall be also in the likeness of His+ Resurrection:   Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with Him+ ...

I do not know that there were any survivors of crucifixion ,save one, CHRIST. 

HE+ died, but HE+ "survived" , later. 

Crucifixion is death.

...   that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.   For he that is dead is freed from sin.  

Now if we be dead with CHRIST, we believe that we shall also live with him:   Knowing that CHRIST being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over Him+. For in that HE+ died, HE+ died unto sin once: but in that HE+ liveth, HE+ liveth unto GOD.

Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto GOD through JESUS CHRIST our LORD.

Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto GOD, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto GOD.

The call here is for Self to be

dead, 

buried,

crucified,

destroyed.

That is our Self, our will within.

Likewise reckon ye also yourselves 

to be dead indeed unto sin, 

but alive unto GOD    

through     

JESUS CHRIST our LORD.

What does it mean? How do I reckon ?

What exactly does that mean? 

Reckon means: account, credited as, account as dead, and to count in expectation, looking forward.

In exchange for our "death," these verses tell us 

we are planted, 

we are freed, 

alive, 

and 

... we are to be yielded. 

That is what HE+ wants for us, what HE+ will give us,  in exchange for our death. 

( Part 4 to be continued.) 

Dear Heavenly FATHER, 

From Whom all blessings flow, help me to be dead unto my Self ... in all aspects of my desires, my own will ... and alive only unto Thy Beloved SON+ JESUS CHRIST. 

O Holy FATHER, I call HIM+ "LORD,"   yet I do my own will so often. I neglect to submit my thoughts unto HIM+.  

I am careful to ask HIM+ to bless my plans... but I am forgetful to WAIT BEFORE HIM+ until I receive His+ approval  of those plans. 

Please help me to be regenerate in my mind, for the glory of Thy Holy SON+JESUS CHRIST, in Whose+ Name and by Whose+ strength I pray...  

Amen. 

Part 2.... The SIGN of the CROSS ... in the Inner Man

Drawing by The ORDER of the GOOD SHEPHERD+

Part  2 of Byron Miller's Message, Wellspring Mennonite Church,Athens, Tn

Who is in control ? 

Self will rationalize, it will deceive, it will twist facts. 

It will convince us that something is a "GOD-given right." 

How many times have we expressed that, or felt that, or heard that ? 

It is " a GOD-given right," we affirm .... 

in order for Self to retain that place in our heart.

As long as we look at things from our own perspective --- and not FROM GOD'S perspective --- that will be our mind-set.

Self on the Throne asks, "Will GOD punish me if I do that?" or "What is wrong with this ?" That is a pretty popular one: I am sure we have all heard that one and we have probably all said that, from time to time.

Well, What  is wrong with those sentiments, 

with those statements ?

The reality is, we should rather be saying, "Will this honor CHRIST, my Master ?  

" Am I the focus in my life ...or is CHRIST?

Instead, we say, "How will CHRIST enhance or make my life better ?"  --- or perhaps --- "How will CHRIST help me?"  

Now, not that HE+ will not, not that CHRIST does not, make our life better; yes, and we praise the LORD for that.

But... is "making my life easier or more comfortable" to be my focus, rather than building Christ's Kingdom?  

What can I do to honor my LORD and my GOD ? That should be my focus, our focus.

Too many times, though, we view the Christian life as, "What is it doing for me ? " rather than, "What can I do for The LORD ? "  How can I honor Him+ and build His+ Kingdom ?

In Philippians 2.... starting in verse 5

 Let this mind be in you, which was also in CHRIST JESUS:

Who+, being in the form of GOD, thought it not robbery to be equal with GOD: But made HIMSELF+ of no reputation, and took upon HIM+ the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, HE+ humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the CROSS.

While here on this earth, JESUS' ministry and His+ life-focus and everything that encompassed His+ Ministry here, was engulfed ...  was consumed ... with putting forward GOD'S kingdom.

 His+ focus was not on His+ own comforts. 

It was not all about "him," humanly-speaking. 

HE+ was not Self-centered, not even focused on His+ soon return to Heaven with all its glories and all its appeal. 

HE+ said to one would-be follower, "I do not even have a rock to lay My+ head on." And HE+ was the Creator of it all !

Now, can we get that mind-set, 

can we grasp how EMPTY of Self HE+ was ?

Oh Heavenly FATHER... 

How far I have strayed from the straight and narrow path, that for me to live is to empty my Self into Thy hands, unto Thy Will, for Thy good pleasure ! 

O LORD, help me not to be like those foolish maidens , so nonchalant about their coming LORD and Bridegroom.

Grant me the unction to sit quietly before THEE, to listen for Thy Word, to abide in stillness with THEE as my Beloved. 

Show me, O LORD, how to empty my Self and live unto CHRIST. 

How I long to see His+ Face ! 

Through the merits of Thy Beloved SON+, Our LORD and SAVIOR , JESUS the CHRIST, I pray. 

Amen

( To be continued to Part 3 )

xxx

The Sign of the CROSS... in our Daily Lives... Part 1

Drawing by the Order of the GOOD SHEPHERD+

Who is in Control ?

Message by BYRON  MILLER, 

of Wellspring Mennonite Church,

Athens, TN.  

PART 1

Our mind-set, 

our focus, 

the things that we cherish most, 

determine who we are.

Who is calling the shots on my decisions, on how I live, and really, on who I am?

In other words, within my own heart, who is in control of my life?

COLOSSIANS 3 

 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.

 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.

For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.

When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory. Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:

Our mind-set ... our focus ... the things that we cherish most ... determine who we are.

So... who are we?  

It talks in Colossians about setting our affections,    setting our focus, setting our ambitions elsewhere.

What do we value most ?   We need to set our affections, our focus, our ambitions on Heavenly, Eternal, Christ-centered things.

Notice in verse 1 it says,

 ... "Be ye risen... " not just have risen, not just were risen. We are not going to be risen. 

Note that the verb is  a present active form, BE RISEN.

Verse 3 says, "For ye are dead." 

Aha ! Does Self within me seem dead to those around 

me?  Is Christ living instead ?

Scripture says, "For ye are dead and your life is hid with 

Christ in GOD." 

Let's look at this another way.

 Who is hid in my life? Is it me that is hid... or is it CHRIST ? Who is most prominent ?

When somebody gets to know you very well, can they see what is driving your life ?

Verse 5 says mortify. "Mortify" is to subjugate by abstinence, discipline, or self-inflicted suffering.

"Mortify therefore..."  That  does not sound like something we are naturally going to gravitate towards, does it ? 

There is one Throne within each of our spirits.

Who resides there ? Christ asks for nothing less than to reside there, to reside on that Throne.

Now, Self  grudgingly gives up anything. 

Though, if forced to do so, Self will usually give up 

ANYTHING except the right  for Him+ to reside there as 

King+, as LORD in control.  

That, however, is what HE+ calls His+ own right, His+ 

own place in the human heart. That is HOME to HIM+.

Thoughts  like, "If I become a Christian, do I have to give up this? " or  "Since I am a Christian, can I still do that ?" are really LORD-SHIP questions. 

They are actually avoiding the real issue of LORD-SHIP in my life. 

Who is in control ?

 

Dear Heavenly FATHER, 

I repent of trying to control my life, my spouse's life, my friends' lives.  

Help me to STOP being so controlling of every thing and every body and to re-focus my energies on performing my own submission to Thy SON+, our LORD and SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST. ... for the glory of Thy HOLY Name. 

This I ask in the NAME of JESUS, my Savior...  the only ONE+ Who+ can save me from my Self.  Amen

The SIGN of the CROSS in our hearts... The Law INCARNATE+

PASCHA Preparation Meditation  
commonly called Lenten Meditation

Meditation upon The Law INCARNATE+ 

And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,  Speak unto all the congregation of the children of Israel, and say unto them, 
"Ye shall be holy: for I the LORD your GOD am holy." Leviticus 19:1-2

But as HE+ WHO+  hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of life because it is written, 

Be ye holy; for I am holy.

I Peter 1: 15-16

+  +  +

Yes, the LAW is dead. It does not give us LIFE, nor does The LAW of Moses even help us to obey it.

However, it still retains something precious for us.

 It retains GOD'S standard 

of RIGHT vs WRONG.

Even though Our LORD fulfilled the LAW, HE+ did not change the standard of what GOD considers RIGHT and what GOD considers WRONG !

Let us pray: 

O Holy FATHER, I am ashamed of the lack of holy standards in my life.  I see that I do not reflect Thy standard of holiness written in Thy Word, Incarnate in Thy SON+ JESUS CHRIST, and sought for by The Great Husbandman of the Vine+. 

Cleanse me now, that I may truly reflect Thy Character at all times to my family, my friends, and in my mirror. 

I thank THEE that THOU hast wrought for me such a full and cleansing Salvation, through the merits of Thy Holy SON+... the Standard of all holiness Incarnate. 

In Whose+ Name, and by Whose+ strength I come to THEE, O Holy FATHER, MOST RIGHTEOUS.  

+  +  +

The SIGN of the CROSS in the HEAVENS.... the KILLSHOT Eruption

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This is the actual SOHO LASCO 2C picture of the
" KILLSHOT " eruption of a million-kilometer long
filament on the sun, which erupted on the
backside of the sun.... 

not due to " earth getting lucky once again" 
but to the
great Mercy of The LORD !

At the time appointed, something similar to this 
KILLSHOT 
may strike the earth, according to Isaiah 30:26.

How should we then live ? 

Isaiah 30:26

²⁶ Moreover the light of the moon shall be as the light of the sun, and the light of the sun shall be sevenfold, as the light of seven days, in the day that the Lord bindeth up the breach of his people, and healeth the stroke of their wound.

The KILLSHOT filament eruption recorded on Saturday, Feb. 21, 2015 and released on Feb. 22, is seen on the frames from position of "3 o'clock"  continuing down to "6 o'clock" position. The glare of the sun is blotted out by the filter placed upon the picture so that the bright flares, CME's, and other eruptions on the sun may be clearly seen. 

Here's a picture of the MASSIVE SIZE of this eruption:  

To represent the earth in scale model, put the tip of your tiniest finger at the "5:20 o'clock position", at about 1/2 inch or more from the sun.  That spot would be the earth being IN FRONT of the eruption... and the earth being about 1/4 the size, in scale, of the tip of your tiniest finger. 

The SIGN of the Cross .... brings LIFE in place of Death ! The Pascal LAMB+ Brought LIFE instead of Death. That is why we love HIM+ through our repentance and obedience. ~ ~ ~ Lenten Meditation (Please ignore airplane ).

The SIGN of the Cross ... Being Carried !

The PASCHA Preparation Season  

~ ~ ~ Commonly called Lenten Season ~ ~ ~

The SIGN of the CROSS... being carried !

The LORD, our RIGHTEOUSNESS

+  +  +

We have completed the season when most followers of Y'SHU+ the M'SHIKHA have forsaken their normal routines  and stopped --- at one point or another --- to remember His+ Incarnation, around the time of the Roman taxation of the Jews living under the rule of Rome in Israel  ... most likely after the time of the in-gathering of the fall harvest.

Whatever we choose to call it --- "Christmas" or "Advent" or The Incarnation+ Season --- , we simply remember the approximate time of His+ coming to earth, being born as a babe in a humble setting, and donning the human robe of flesh to become the SECOND ADAM+.

It pleased Our FATHER Who art in Heaven to deliver mankind from sin, death, the satan, Sheol, and the grave through Y'SHU+ the M'SHIKHA. 

Thus, HE+ became Incarnate as the SECOND ADAM+ to suffer human death ... but this human death was unlike any other: HE+ rose triumphant, bodily. 

Death had NO dominion over HIM+. Furthermore, neither did the satan because the wicked one could find NO UNRIGHTEOUSNESS in HIM+. Death, then , could not holdHIM+.

In addition to that wondrous fact, The Risen LORD was pleased to bring all the Righteous Dead out of Sheol withHIM+, taking captivity itself captive and moving it 

up... up... up ... 

out of the heart of the earth and into the Paradise of GOD (ALAHA ), which is in Heaven ... that Heaven in which no un-righteousness dwells.

According to Scripture, however , Our Incarnate LORD didsomething else for us when HE+ submitted to the Crucifixion ... something that some followers of Y'SHU+have missed !

Y'SHU+ the M'SHIKHA 

became the LAW INCARNATE+ 

... as precisely as HE+ had become The WORD+ Made Flesh, The Living MILTHA+ of ALAHA , as the Aramaic / Syriac states.

For, what IS the WORD+  .....

 but the LAW INCARNATE+ ? 

That WORD+ is the LIVING Word+ which became flesh and dwelt among man, full of Grace and Truth.

+  +  +

Yes, the LAW is dead. It does not give us LIFE, nor does The LAW of Moses helps us to obey it.

But wait... it still retains something precious for us. 

It retains GOD'S standard 

of RIGHT vs WRONG. 

Even though Our LORD fulfilled the LAW, HE+ did not change the standard of what GOD considers RIGHT and what GOD considers WRONG !

No, indeed, Our LORD JESUS CHRIST established the LAW.  

So, where did HE+ establish  it ? 

HE+ established the LAW in our hearts !

Let us pray: 

Forgive me LORD, for setting aside Thy+ Holy Word... The Word that was given to me for my perfection, for my understanding of RIGHT vs WRONG. 

Help me to understand where I sin against Thy+ Holiness. Help me to understand Thy+ Ways. 

I humble myself before Thy+ Holy Word, knowing I have fallen short of keeping it hallowed within my heart, that I might not transgress against THEE+. 

Show me Thy+ Standard as I read Thy+ LAW... and Thy+ Standard is JESUS. 

Through Whose+ Holy Name I pray... 

Amen. 

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