Passover Meditation #32 for the Lenten Season 2012

I+,

I+ AM

The VINE+,

you the branches.

The one abiding in ME+

and I+ in him

this one bears much fruit...

John 15:5a, Green's Greek Interlinear

What kind of fruit is The FATHER looking for from the branches, from us?  Our LORD JESUS told us in Mathew 5,6, and 7 what has value in His+ eyes, what weighs in for Eternity.

• poor in spirit ... i.e., Self is not vaunting its will, its way
•  
• mournfulness, yearning ... over the Kingdom of GOD
•  
• meek ... teachable and correctable
•  
• hungering and thirsting after righteousness...not coveting  worldly status
•  
• merciful in heart ... giving the benefit of the doubt 
•  
• pure in heart ... single of eye
•  
• peacemaking ... taking our Self to the cross instead of to the judge
•  
• enduring during persecution
•  
• enduring during defamation of character, for JESUS' sake
•  
• letting the credit for good works go to The FATHER instead of to you
•  

O LORD JESUS, I empty me of Self. I want to be un-encumbered so that I can bear fruit unto THEE+, the AUTHOR AND GIVER OF LIFE+.  Take my life and let it be ever , always, LORD, for THEE+.

Passover Meditation #31 for the Lenten Season 2012

Abide in ME+

and I+

in you.

Even as the branch

is not able--

does not have the power--

to bear fruit of itself

if it abides not

in the vine,

So neither can you

if you

abide not

in ME+.

John 15:4 Green's Greek Interlinear

The CREATOR of both vine and man is stating a fact and TRUTH of existence here.

There is simply no way to avoid this:

You have no power, no ability, no way, and no means to bear fruit that will stand the fire of Judgment... 

UNLESS

you abide in HIM+

UNLESS

you do His+ Will

UNLESS

you accept His+ Word 

to cleanse you.  

There must be a union of two in order for fruit to be produced. Spiritually, the union comes when your spirit UNITES WITH CHRIST in the waters of Baptism and in the communing with HIM+ in the taking of the Bread and Wine. Furthermore, your communion with CHRIST JESUS is continual and on-going as HE+ becomes The LORD of your life, your thoughts, your motives, your actions. Much fruit is born from this UNION.

Fruit that is produced from the UNION of your spirit with the LORD'S HOLY SPIRIT is the ONLY FRUIT The FATHER weighs. 

O LORD, please help me to produce THAT fruit that weighs up for Eternal Life.  

Passover Meditation #30 for the Lenten Season 2012

Now you are clean

through The Word

which I+

have spoken

unto you.

John 15:3

Purged out and cleaned out. That's what His+ Word does for the serious-minded Christian who walks according to the SPIRIT and not according to the flesh.

HE+ speaks to us through His+ Word. HE+ is the Living Word. His+ Word should work on our hearts like a purgative works on our bowels.

We do not refuse this purgative. We do not neglect to apply His+ Living Word to our hearts...

...do we?  

Woe to the man who refuses My+ Words. He will not receive anything of ME+. My+ conviction will be lost on him and he will not EVEN SEE THE NEED to repent. Woe to the man who pushes My+ Words away from his life.

My+ Words are meant to heal you and make you whole. They will ONLY do that when you yield under their TRUTH, when you yield under their scrutiny.

Apply My+ Words to your life.

Apply My+ Words to your conduct.

Apply My+ words to your motives. 

Then you will be healed and made whole again, even in those areas of great wounding. You can be made whole NO OTHER WAY.

Come.

Passover Meditation # 29 for the Lenten Season 2012

...Every branch that bears fruit,

HE purges it,

 that it may bring forth

more fruit. 

John 15:2b 

Dear Brethren, receive that which purges you; do not refuse the chastening of The LORD.

Our LORD deals with each one of us in love.

HE+ knows what is operating in the hidden recesses of our hearts. HE+ knows where we oppose His+ values. HE+ knows where we do not submit unto His+ Word. HE+ knows where we take advantage of His+ mercy and indulge in sin.

Pray for and WELCOME the conviction of sin; it is a grace to enable us come clean before HIM+, for without HOLINESS none shall see The LORD.

Yes, attitudes are sin. Stop the entrance of the evil tormenting spirits into your life. Submit your thoughts to the Word and repent when your thoughts are out of line. 

Self-pity is sin. Be mournful about accusing GOD for not "loving you better." See HIS+ hurt for having to deal with whining, complaining you, that HIS+ death while you were yet a sinner was "not enough" to make you happy.

Resentment is sin. Roots of bitterness need to be exhumed and laid upon His+ altar for HOLY fire to consume. Don't let hidden issues poison your being.  

Anger is sin. Dig deeper and you will find the demon of pride propping up your angry stance.

Walk in ways of HOLINESS; let the HOLY SPIRIT purge you, from the inside out.

Because: if it is NOT in your heart... it won't come out your mouth.

If you belong to CHRIST JESUS, the only way you can sin

is

IF YOU

WANT

TO SIN.

Do you WANT to ?

Passover Meditation # 28 for the 2012 Lenten Season

Every branch in ME+

not bearing fruit

HE

takes it away

John 15:2 A

Our LORD, The True VINE+ , was speaking to His+ hand-picked disciples in the Upper Room, His+ discourse to them at the time of the Last Supper.

Here, HE+ was giving forth a stern and serious warning to the Eleven:

If you who are in ME+ are not bearing fruit, My+ FATHER will remove you... yes, even you ... far away from ME+. HE will lift you off and remove you from ME+ and from all the other fruit-bearing branches, at the same time.

No fellowship with CHRIST. No fellowship with others who are remaining on the VINE+. No life... both now  and later, after death.

ALONE. 

NO, hell is not a place to meet back-slapping buddies for a continual card game. NO. There will be the deepest "alone-ness" you can fathom with no relief in sight... ever.

ALONE...  for all Eternity. 

So, Christians all, let's do what we can to bear fruit: sow to the SPIRIT, share the GOSPEL --- using words when necessary ( ! ), grow in grace, forgiveness, and the knowledge of GOD our FATHER and Our LORD JESUS CHRIST. 

Repent ... and break up the fallow ground.   

Passover Meditation #27 for the Lenten Season 2012



The Vine After Pruning



I+,

I+ AM

the True VINE+,

and The FATHER

of ME+

is

the VINEDRESSER.

John 15:1 Green's Greek Interlinear

Our LORD JESUS CHRIST, the True VINE+ of Life, is in this world... planted, rooted, and growing.

In addition, the above verse tells us this True VINE+ is under the direct care of The FATHER.

.

YES ! 

.

Our HOLY FATHER which art in Heaven dresses that True VINE+.

.

The work of vindedressing starts when a master vinedresser, an expert,  evaluates the branches and shoots of the vine.  The master vinedresser knows with the assurance of training and experience which branches and shoots are living, which will produce fruit in the future. This master vinedresser knows this at a glance.

Now, nothing escapes the notice of this Master VINEDRESSER. No scab , no knotty lump, no infestation of insects, fungus, or warped branches escape HIS notice. Not one branch ... too long, too corpulant, or too encumbered... is ignored.

NONE

. 

Even the unruly ones who cannot stay within their moorings are under HIS watchful care.

So... if you are attached

to the True VINE+,

know

that you are ALSO 

under the watchful care

of The Master VINEDRESSER, 

Who notices all...

because HE created all

and knows exactly how

it perfectly should be. 

Does

HE have

the POWER

to bring

those branches

unto perfection

? 

Passover Meditation #26 for the Lenten Season 2012

~  ~  ~  The Door of the Cross ~  ~  ~

And everyone

living and believing into ME+

shall not ever die,

forever.

Do you believe this ?

John 11:26 Green's Greek Interlinear

WHAT ?  

We all know Christians who have died and have seen their lifeless body of clay at a funeral. We have witnessed those lifeless forms, so dearly beloved, being lowered into the ground and buried.

Didn't they die ?

NO.

NOT IF THEY WERE TRUE CHRISTIANS.

They simply left this location, leaving behind their vessels of clay which had CONTAINED and limited them to this earth, just like JESUS left HIS+ tired Body on the Cross.  A company of angels escorted them (Luke 16:22) through this demon-infested atmosphere and into the Presence of The LORD in the Heavenlies.

NO.

They didn't die.

They merely shed their lifeless, under-the-curse Adamic, earthly form .... but only for a season... just like JESUS left His+ Adamic Body for a short season.  Of course, their season is longer than 3 days and 3 nights, but nonetheless, it is only for a season ... if they did not die in their sins, without JESUS, without hope. 

Then, BEHOLD! Their earthly body will come forth out of the grave --- be it in ocean, earth, or ashes, it matters not to The LORD of Creation --- INTACT, HEALTHY, STRONG, BEAUTIFUL, and GLORIFIED like unto His+ Body !  

For our citizenship

is in Heaven,

from where

we also wait

for a SAVIOR+,

The LORD JESUS CHRIST,

WHO+ will transform

our body of humiliation,

for it to be conformed 

 to His+  Glorious Body,

according to the working

of His+ Power,

even to subject all things

to HIMSELF+.

Philippians 3: 20, 21 

When does this glorious event occur ?

As HE+ is returning to earth

with His+ Heavenly Armies

... and...

with the Company of Saints in Heaven,

the Saints' glorified bodies

will suddenly arise,

uniting

with their living spirits and souls. 

BLINK !

In a moment, a twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet... this change will occur.

After that --- also in a moment -- we who are "alive" yet upon this earth will be transformed and join the resurrected Saints and Our LORD ,

meeting HIM+ in the air as HE+ is returning to reclaim this earth from satan.

HE+ will destroy the darkness that covers the earth with the brightness of His+ Appearing.

What manner of CHRISTIANS then ought we to be ?

Passover Meditation #25 for the Lenten Season 2012 ( #24 repeated )

~ ~ ~ The Door of the Cross ~ ~ ~

I+

I+ AM

The Resurrection

and

The LIFE:

he that believeth

in ME+,

though he were dead,

yet shall he live.

John 11:25 Green's Greek Interlinear

How could those already dead believe in JESUS the CHRIST ?

Some, we know, did: Simeon the devout man awaiting the Consolation+ of Israel and Anna the prophetess of great age, who were both present in the Temple at His+ Dedication, John the Baptist, Joseph, the guardian ( Gowra, Aramaic) and husband of Mary. Perhaps Lazarus also, Mary and Martha's brother, believed in HIM+ since his sisters evidenced a strong belief in HIM+ as MESSIAH+. These all died knowing HIM+ ...but before Our LORD'S own death and resurrection.

Here, as recorded in John 11:25, Our LORD is looking ahead at what happened in those 3 days and 3 nights HE+ spent in the heart of the earth. (Mt. 12:40)

Well, what DID happen down there?

Sheol, the Old Testament word for "hell," was divided into 2 parts in the heart of the earth. One part was for the unrighteous ones who died in their sins. The other part was called "Abraham's Bosom" (See Luke 16:22).

[ Now, just a note on Abraham's Bosom. In the Old Testament, the bosom was configured as a CAVITY, a carrying-place. It was where one held to his chest things of value. Womenfolk would carry food and other precious items in their aprons, wrapping up the corners of their aprons around the items like a sack and carry the load CLOSE TO THEIR BOSOM. Thus, "Abraham's Bosom" in the heart of the earth was a CAVITY in the earth, filled with precious souls who had died in RIGHT standing with GOD.]

Our LORD spent 3 days and 3 nights down there, in the heart of the earth PREACHING to the DEAD who had died long before JESUS Our LORD was sent to the earth.

How do we know this?

Scripture tells us this

in 1 Peter 3:18, 19:

For CHRIST also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that HE+ might bring us to GOD, being put to death indeed in the flesh, but made alive in the SPIRIT; In which also HE+ went and preached unto the spirits in prison.

This Scripture tells us that JESUS Our LORD died a natural death in the flesh. When HE+ died, HE+ left His+ physical Body on the cross to be buried.

Now, we know The LORD JESUS never went into a jail, a prison, to preach. HE+ preached in many places, but never in an actual civil prison run by the Roman government, who had the authority over the prisons in Israel.

But rather, HE+ HIMSELF+ went in His+ SPIRIT into the heart of the earth... to preach to the dead !

Now THIS tells us some interesting facts:

   • "Death" was a prison from which no-one EVER left

    • it was located in the heart of the earth

   • the dead are simply gone unto ANOTHER PLACE ( either pleasant or bad)

   • the dead are not obliterated even though their bodies of clay are buried in the ground as "lifeless"

   • nor is their consciousness erased

   • nor have their emotions ceased

   • nor is their intellect diminished

Some OTHER Truths of GREAT interest are here also:

     • JESUS was intensely ALIVE the instant HE+ closed His+ eyes in death. We know this because HE+ had said... "It is accomplished, FATHER; into Thy HANDS I+ commit My+ SPIRIT."

     • HE+ left His+ dead, physical Body for 3 days and 3 nights

     • HE+ descended into the heart of the earth, into Sheol ( hell )

     • HE+ was not punished in hell but entered as a VICTORIOUS SAVIOR sent by The FATHER

     • HE+ asked no-one's permission to ENTER into the realm of the dead

    • HE+ asked no-one's permission to LEAVE the realm of the dead...

     • HE+ was busy for 3 days and 3 nights, as The FATHER sent HIM+ down there to preach.

Well, what did HE+ preach to this captive audience who could NOT leave the realm of the Dead ?

HE+ preached

the Good News !

I Peter 4:6 continues from the above Scriptures cited:

For unto this cause ALSO THE GOSPEL WAS PREACHED TO THE DEAD that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but MIGHT LIVE according to GOD in the SPIRIT. Green's Greek Interlinear

 

O Great REDEEMER+, O THOU+ Who+ had and still has the keys of Death and Hell, I thank THEE+ for dying on that mean Cross in order to break down the gates of Sheol, Hades, and hell in order to bring Life to those who had not the chance to hear the GOOD NEWS before they died.

Forgive me for forsaking the task of sharing this GOOD NEWS of victory over death with others.

Please forgive me of burying this "talent" entrusted unto me and keeping the GOOD NEWS locked up within my smug heart.

Forgive me for fleeing from my responsibility before GOD and man.

Cleanse me of the sin of Self-Preservation and help me instead to labor to Preserve those heading into Eternal Torments in hell and from thence, into the Second Death in the Lake of Burning Fire.

Help me , LORD JESUS, to proclaim this Victory over death, hell, and the grave to the Un-saved, the Lost, the Un-Redeemed amongst my family, friends, acquaintances, and even to strangers.

Passover Meditation #23 for the Lenten Season 2012

~  ~  ~ The Door of the Cross ~ ~ ~

Peter said:

And we,

we have believed

and have known that YOU+ are The CHRIST The SON+ of The Living GOD.

John 6:69 Green's Greek Interlinear

And Martha said:

Yea, LORD: I, I believe that

YOU+ are the CHRIST

The SON+ of GOD

which should come

into the world.

John 11:27 Green's Greek Interlinear

And JESUS said:

Truly, truly

I+ say to you,

the one

who hears MY+ Word

and believing

the ONE having sent ME+,

has Everlasting LIFE,

.

and does

not come into judgment,

. 

but has

passed out of death

into LIFE.

John 5:24 Green's Greek Interlinear

We believe The FATHER has sent HIS SON+, JESUS the CHRIST, into the world to give LIFE unto "whosoever will come" to HIM+.

.

We come on His+ terms with a Godly sorrow that:

• leads unto  repentance 
• which leads unto conversion
• through to the sanctified waters of Holy Baptism
• that leads unto our New Birth from above into CHRIST... making us New Creatures in CHRIST.  

Henceforth, we live unto CHRIST and die unto Self, through the means of our cross and through the Power of His+ Cross. 

To those who come on His+ terms, this entity called LIFE totally changes. Not only do we become New but all of LIFE becomes new to us.

We learn to do all sorts of new things:

• love others because HE+ first loved us,
• associate with the Lowly because HE+ associated with us,
• hate evil that we see in ourselves, instead of hating our neighbor.

And when we do these things,which is our part to do, the promise of GOD is this:

• We pass out of JUDGMENT and into Eternal LIFE, like the greatest insurance policy ever written because it is SURE and CERTAIN to occur. 

The vital point, though, is this: GOD knows when we believe unto obedience of heart instead of with our mind only... or because our culture makes us "christian...." or because our church or community membership makes us "christian..." 

No mind only, no culture only, no church only , and no community only constitutes faith in His+ eyes.

HE+ wants your heart.

. 

HE+ will not accept a substitute.

HE+ will allow you to experience everlasting death if you don't offer HIM+ the real thing: your total heart. 

HE+ will not accept a substitute, a decoy, a hollow commitment, a phony , a part of your life; HE+ wants it all... just like HE+ gives all of His+ heart to you. 

And if you try to deceive yourself, pretending you have given HIM+ all of  your heart,  you will receive your part in the Lake of Burning Fire and the Second Death with the devil, the false prophet, the beast, the fallen angels... and all those who love and make a lie, those who reject His+ Lordship over their lives. You cannot deceive HIM+.  

 

...HE+ 

will  not accept

a substitute

for your heart.

Passover Meditation #22 for the Lenten Season 2012

~  ~  ~  The Door of the Cross ~  ~  ~

Then Simon Peter answered HIM+,

LORD,

to whom

shall we go?

THOU+

hast the words

of Eternal Life.

John 6:68

To Whom do we  go ?

We go to jobs, vocations, careers.  We go to schooling, education, classes, in-services, seminars, conferences, and training.

We go to the bank. ( That's why we go to schooling, careers, etc. ) We go to the store. ( ditto ). 

We go to reunions, parties, get-togethers, festivities, and many, many activities.   Sometimes we even go to church. 

Then, we go to the doctor, the dentist, the therapist, and oftentimes the masseuse. 

We go and go and go,

don't we ? 

To whom do we go ?

One thing is necessary: and Mary has chosen that GOOD part which shall not be taken away from her, Our LORD JESUS said.

What part ?

She sat at JESUS' feet because HE+ was her LORD.

She sat at JESUS' feet because HE+ filled her heart.

She sat at JESUS' feet because HE+ was her Life's breath and she

could not go on 

without being near to HIM+... constantly.

To whom do we go ?

  



Passover Meditation #21 for the Lenten Season 2012

~  ~  ~  The Door of the Cross ~  ~  ~

Then said JESUS

unto the twelve,

"Will you,

you also 

go away?"

John 6:67 Green's Greek Interlinear

The LORD'S sorrow was real. HE+ knew the hearts of men. HE+ knew their frame, their weaknesses. HE+ knew their vacillating wills...

HE+ still knows.

HE+ knew how easily they were swayed by their own thoughts and feelings, easily influenced by those around them.

HE+ still knows.

HE+ also knew exactly how abhorrent it would seem to the Jews to think of eating human flesh and drinking human blood. 

HE+ still knows how abhorrent dying to our Self is, how we don't want to join HIM+ in picking up our cross,  how we want HIM+ to do His+ part... and our part too!

Yet, Our LORD persisted in making the path harder, the door higher, the way more narrow for those coming to HIM+ for Eternal Life.

Will you also go away?

Countless others have.

Countless others have, from those who walked with HIM+ in person along with the twelve 2,000 years ago... much to their un-ending sorrow and constant bitterness now... to those who are playing fast and loose with HIM+ today, thinking they can repent fast on their death bed...  if they have a death bed, that is.

Will

you also

go

AWAY

?

Away... to count JESUS a stranger rather than friend... to count JESUS as someone to ignore, to take or leave until a more convenient time.

NOW is the day of Salvation,

while it is called TODAY.

Tomorrow is not promised
for anyone...
neither is a tidy,
orderly death bed.
( Sudden accidents happen daily.) 

Harden not your hearts

as in the day of provocation. 

.

O LORD GOD, Who+ knows our weaknesses and our frame, look upon this Thy+ servant. I bring my Self, kicking and screaming, unto THEE+.

Dear JESUS, I don't want to be a stranger to you anymore. Help THOU+ my unbelief and rebuke the hindering spirit keeping me from THEE+. 

I will to close the gap , O Great REDEEMER+, because THOU+ hast promised to receive sinners and backsliders ... if they repent. I'm sorry I've hurt THEE+, dear JESUS.  

O LAMB+ of GOD I come... I come.