Meditations
for the Pascha Season
(The Passover Season, 2016)
Meditations
for the Monastic at Heart
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Now is My+ soul troubled;
and what shall I+ say ...
FATHER,
save ME+ from this hour ?
but for this cause
came I+ unto this hour.
FATHER,
Glorify Thy Name.
Then came there a Voice from Heaven, saying,
I have both glorified IT,
and will glorify IT again.
John 12:27-28
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Meditation Verse
Ephesians 2:4
[ ... and were by nature --- that is, by our
Adamic lineage and family spirits --- the children of wrath, even as others... ]
But GOD, Who is rich in mercy, for HIS great love wherewith HE loved
us,
Literal Greek:
But --- in contrast --- GOD being rich in mercy through HIS great
love (with) which HE loved us
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MEDITATION
In times past, before CHRIST came to
be LORD of our lives, we were conducted , the
literal Greek tells us,** into our UnRedeemed, UnSaved,
and UnRegenerated Family ways. Our
conductor, remember, was the dark and evil prince of the power (authority) of
the air. (** See yesterday's post entitled "Our Conductor.")
The satan works in the children of disobedience, conducting them
-- indeed, DRIVING THEM --- into the course of this world which leads to the
Wrath of GOD. In times past, we followed our family spirits in this path, our
Adamic lineage.
NOW, HOWEVER... with the Advent of JESUS CHRIST into our lives ... we are
invited into a different existence.
NOW, HOWEVER... instead of facing GOD'S wrath, we are being
over-whelmed by His great, rich, and fulfilling AGAPE LOVE.
Are we experiencing His great LOVE in a tangible way -- or -- do
we know His LOVE mentally, academically, as a head-knowledge that
we have been taught?
We usually AFFIRM that His LOVE is there; we usually do not feel
much of it, though, as we plod on through our existence.
Most of us struggle through life trying to "see" His
LOVE through the valleys and turmoil of life on planet earth.
If we SAW and EXPERIENCED His over-whelming fullness of that
AGAPE LOVE, the joy resting upon us
would be so strong that we would become invincible in it.
The JOY of the LORD would be our STRENGTH. We would be able to
face all difficulties with thanksgiving, praise, and a decisive VICTORY of faith over our troubles.
SO... how do we ACCESS His great LOVE which we do not doubt is
there ... and there for us? How do we
ACCESS that LOVE of GOD so that we are carried in joy over the mountains of
distress in our lives ?
A FEW STEPS TO ACCESS HIS+ LOVE
1. REPENT of SELF-PITY. It is a spiritual trap which leads to
depression, oppression, and worse. Self-pity is a SPIRIT. For some, it is a family spirit
which afflicts all members of the family. It torments. That is why you know it is a spirit, not a
reality.
It will be seen in various manifestations of sadness and sorrow,
but also in resentment, anger, and oddly enough, pride.
You can smell it. The spirit of self-pity usually is accompanied by
thoughts of "Why doesn't XYZ love
me? I don't deserve this, do I ? "
Bitterness and feelings of mis-treatment will be there too.
All of this MAY
indeed BE TRUE. We are helpless to
make anyone love us or even stop mis-treating us.
So... quickly and
EARNESTLY forgive. Quickly and earnestly pray blessings upon that troublesome
person or situation.
THEN LEAVE IT ALONE, COMMITTING it unto the LORD. DO NOT OPEN THE
DOOR of that "room" in your mind again. If it creaks open, SLAM IT
SHUT AGAIN in the Name of The LORD JESUS CHRIST. HE+ can take
care of it without your help.
2. RE-DIRECT ALL
THOUGHTS TO THE LORD, magnifying HIM+ and
glorying in WHO+ HE+ is. Bless The
LORD out-loud if possible; these tormenting spirits hate to
hear thanksgiving and praise. AFFIRM WHO+ JESUS is and
His+ great Victory over death, hell, and the grave ... and the satan.
3. REPLACE the tormenting thoughts with The WORD+ of GOD. Do not necessarily turn to the
comforting Scriptures ... yet.
But rather, turn to the AFFIRMATION of WHO+ JESUS is
Scriptures.
Try Psalm 24, Psalm 118, to start with. Out-loud is best;
tormenting spirits like to block the ears of one's heart. John 14 and John 15
are excellent torment-chasers. They will HAVE TO FLEE as JESUS' Name is being
lifted up.
Doing Scriptures out-loud CLEANS THE AIR. Remember: you are doing Battle with the
prince of the power of the AIR.
For we wrestle not
against flesh and blood,
but against
principalities, against powers,
against the rulers
of the darkness of this world,
against spiritual wickedness
in high places.
Wherefore take unto you
the whole armor of GOD,
that ye may be
able to withstand
in the evil day,
and having done all,
TO STAND.
Ephesians 6:12-13
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LET US PRAY:
Dear Holy, Heavenly FATHER,
We thank YOU for Your LOVE... that LOVE which came through the
Cross of JESUS CHRIST.
We thank YOU that by His+ excruciating death, HE+ beat the satan
for HIM+ and for us.
We do not mean to doubt Your Great LOVE, O Heavenly FATHER, when
we are in the midst of our troubles.
Forgive us for "agreeing with the satan" that we are
"unloved" ... when we feel
abandoned, un-loved, rejected, and helpless to change any of our conditions.
Move us from the mental knowledge of Your LOVE to the
APPLICATION of it in our lives. Show us
how to have victory over the lies the satan torments us with when we are faced
with troubles.
Then we will proclaim Your name and say with the Psalmist:
" I LOVE The LORD
because HE+ hath heard my voice
and my supplications. Therefore will I call upon HIM+ as long as I live. "
( Psalm 116 )
Again and again, in peace, let us pray to the LORD: LORD have
mercy, in the Name of our Beloved
SAVIOR+, the LORD JESUS CHRIST...
Who+ lived and died and Behold, HE+ said, I+ am alive
forevermore, AMEN, and have the keys of hell and of death... and am seated at
the Right Hand of My+ FATHER... and ever liveth to make intercession for
you."
... We pray. Amen and amen.
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Worthy is the LAMB+.
Worthy is The LAMB+
that was slain.
Worthy is the LAMB+,
Slain from the foundation
of the earth.
Revelation 13:8
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PRAISE and THANKSGIVING
be to The FATHER,
and to His Beloved SON+
JESUS CHRIST,
and to
the Blessed HOLY SPIRIT.
ONE GOD:
FATHER,
SON+,
and HOLY SPIRIT,
both now and forever,
world without end.
Amen.
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