Struggles to OBEY ?

PASSOVER MEDITATION

for The 2017 Preparation Season

to commemorate

The Great --- and FINAL --- Passover

 " CHRIST our PASSOVER

is Sacrificed for us,

therefore,

let us keep the feast... "

Romans 5

+  +  +

JESUS said,

" All authority 

is given unto ME+

in Heaven and in earth."

Matthew 28:18

LET US PRAY:

O Heavenly FATHER, I thank THEE that every knee shall bow and every tongue shall confess that JESUS CHRIST is LORD...  even all the beings in the Heavens, all beings and creatures upon this tired earth, and all beings under the earth.

Forgive me, O LORD, for my own struggles to obey, for my struggles to forgive, for my struggles to issue love to my enemies. Yes, even my struggle to issue love to those who love me.

How long, O LORD, must I be "ever learning" yet never able to put into PRACTICE Thy+ Truths without a struggle ?

I cry to THEE+ to help me put Self upon Thy+ Cross before the battle to obey begins.  Help me to grow into JOYFUL obedience... that kind of obedience that DELIGHTS to obey instead of reluctantly knowing that I "must" (sigh) obey THEE+, O LORD .

Therefore, I humble my Self to Thy+ LORDSHIP, even in these small matters that affect my soul and spirit.

Then perhaps, in due season, it may be said of me also, " The effectual , fervent prayer of  a righteous man availeth much."

THOU+ hast turned for me

my mourning into dancing:

THOU+ hast put off my sackcloth,

and girded me with gladness;

To the end that my glory

may sing praise to THEE+,

and not be silent.

O LORD my God,

I will give thanks unto THEE+ for ever.

Psalm 30: 11-12

JESUS CHRIST the LORD

" WHO+ 

gave Himself+ for our sins,

that HE+ might deliver us

from this present evil world,

according to the will of GOD

and our FATHER. "

Galatians 1:4

With ALL our MIND

REMEMBER:

You are dust, 
and to dust you shall return.

REPENT,

and believe the GOSPEL+. 

+  +  +

Most HOLY and Most Merciful ABBA... 

We confess to THEE and to one another and to the whole communion of saints in Heaven and on earth and before Your Heavenly Host... 

that we have sinned

by our own fault

in thought, word, and deed; 

by what we have DONE

and by what we have

LEFT UN-DONE. 

 As it is written:

Thou shalt love The LORD thy GOD, The ELOHIM, with ALL thy heart, with ALL of thy soul, with ALL of thy mind, and with ALL  thy strength.  

This is the first and great commandment.

So now, we confess to THEE, O LORD:

We have FAILED to love THEE 
with ALL 

of our Mind.

+ + + 

Where do we stop stray dogs from entering our home?

  AT THE DOOR of our house.  

Likewise, our MIND is a DOOR.  We stop temptations to sin, derogatory thoughts, urges to rebel against rules --- domestic home rules, public ordinances, and GOD'S HOLY ways --- at the DOOR of our MIND. 

But The LORD has given us a WATCH-DOG :  His+ Word. It will keep the "stray dogs" of the world away from  our MIND.   Let us honor this Divine Protector well, and set it to WATCH OVER THE ENTRANCE.

  Casting down imaginations, 

and every high thing 

that exalteth itself 

against the knowledge of GOD, 

and bringing 

into captivity every thought 

to the obedience of CHRIST;

 2 Corinthians 10:5

Let us Listen to the Apostle's admonishments about what to DO with our MIND:
  

 Let this mind be in you, 

which was also

 in Y'SHU+ the M'SHIKHA:

Who+, being in the form of GOD, 

thought it not a thing to be held onto 

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. 

Philippians 2: 5-8

+  +  +

 Let us pray:

 Heavenly FATHER, take my mind away from worldly concerns. YOU already know the things I have need of  before I ask. 

Your Word is TRUTH.  Sanctify my mind, so that I agree with Your Word in thought and in purpose and in deed.  


Grant me an understanding of Your Word so that I can replace my earth-bound thoughts with Your Word. 

I ask to have the Mind of CHRIST, as promised, so that I may perfectly love YOU and worthily magnify Your Holy Name, through The LORD JESUS CHRIST. 

Amen. 

+  +  +

 Create in me a clean heart, 

O GOD and renew a right spirit within me. 

Cast me not away 

from Thy+ Presence; 

and take not Thy RUACH ha KADOSH 

from me. 

Restore unto me 

the joy of Thy+ SALVATION; 

and uphold me with Thy free spirit.

Psalm 51

+  +  +

Ashes to Ashes,

Dust to Dust

in sure and certain hope

of the Resurrection

unto Eternal Life

through

JESUS CHRIST

our LORD.

+ + +

With All our SOUL ...

REMEMBER:

You are dust, 
and to dust you shall return.

REPENT,

and believe the GOSPEL+. 

+  +  +

Most HOLY and Most Merciful ABBA... 

We confess to THEE and to one another and to the whole communion of saints in Heaven and on earth and before Your Heavenly Host... 

that we have sinned

by our own fault

in thought, word, and deed; 

by what we have DONE

and by what we have

LEFT UN-DONE. 

 As it is written:

Thou shalt love The LORD thy GOD, The ELOHIM, with ALL thy heart, with ALL of thy soul, with ALL of thy mind, and with ALL  thy strength.  

This is the first and great commandment.

So now, we confess to THEE, O LORD:

We have FAILED to love THEE with ALL 

of our Soul.

We have failed to remove the LEAVEN as commanded us in Thy HOLY WORD.  Our "temple" is far from being "holy", ( worship services notwithstanding). 

We are content to KEEP ON GATHERING MANNA even when we have our allotted pot full. Nay, we are MORE than content to spend entire days with our eyes on the earthly concerns which our Soul savors.

Our Soul, our Nephesh,  is interested in our Daily Bread more that we are interested in The Living BREAD+ from Heaven. 

We say, "Can GOD know this? Is there understanding in the Most High ?" 

GOD'S UNDERSTANDING

IS NOT LACKING;

OURS IS.

+ + +

   

TAKE HEED:  Scripture ASSURES US ... 

 For the word of GOD is quick,  

and powerful, 

and sharper 

than any two-edged sword, 

piercing even to the dividing 

asunder of soul and spirit,  

and of the joints and marrow,  

and is a discerner 

of the thoughts and intents 

of the heart.  

Hebrews 4:12

 Let us pray:

O HOLY FATHER, I have played fast and loose with THEE.  I thought Thy SON+ was such a one as myself. 

I have forgotten the sharpness of Thine eyes ... and of Thy Divine Sword, the HOLY SPIRIT.

Thy forgiveness I need; I dare not raise my eyes to Heaven.  My soul, my Nephesh, has gone astray from Thy Word.  It has gone astray from Thy Ways.  

I have long savored the things of this world more than things of  Thy Kingdom. I have offered THEE a pittance of my soul, a corner of it, that's all.

Cleanse me by The BLOOD+ of Thy HOLY SON+ JESUS CHRIST. I now yield the contents of my soul to THEE. Empty it. Shake it down. Scrape it out and help me start a-fresh.

 Help my soul to adhere to THEE, as the ONLY ARK of safety.  Help me to monitor all things which I allow into my soul,  in order to please THEE ... unto WHOM my soul must make an account. 

This I ask in the Name of The ONE+ Who+ redeemed my soul from destruction, and crowns me with mercy and loving-kindness,  The LORD JESUS CHRIST

Amen. 

+  +  +

 Create in me a clean heart, 

O GOD and renew a right spirit within me. 

Cast me not away 

from Thy+ Presence; 

and take not Thy HOLY SPIRIT

from me. 

Restore unto me 

the joy of Thy+ SALVATION; 

and uphold me with Thy free spirit.

Psalm 51

+  +  +

Ashes to Ashes,

Dust to Dust

in sure and certain hope

of the Resurrection

unto Eternal Life

through

JESUS CHRIST

our LORD.

+ + +

FOUNTAIN of Favor ... Passover (Pascha) Meditations --- Ephesians 1: 2 --- The Sacrifice Lamb+

The Sacrifice Lamb has been slain
His blood on the alter a stain
To wipe away guilt and pain
To bring hope eternal
Salvation has come to the world
God's only Son to the world
JESUS the ONE+ for the world
YESHUA+ is HE ... Lyrics by Lamb, Joel Chernoff

Meditations  for Pascha

(The Passover Season, 2016)

+  +  +

Meditations for the Monastic-At-Heart

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.

John12:27-28

+  +  +

Meditation Verse : Ephesians 1:2

Grace to you all and peace from out of GOD, FATHER of us and of LORD JESUS CHRIST.

( Literal Greek, SRJ.  + + + )

Grace to you and peace from GOD our FATHER and from the LORD JESUS CHRIST. (KJV)

 +  +  +

Either way this verse is read, we see that The LORD GOD is the fountain of favor towards us all, and HE is the place of peace.

As a matter of fact, there is NO PEACE to be had in this world --- or in the world to come --- apart from The LORD.

Additionally, there is NO FAVOR or grace to be had, in Truth, in this world --- or in the world to come --- apart from The LORD.

How, then, do we obtain this unmerited favor and un-earned peace?

WHAT?

Know ye not

that your body is the temple

of the HOLY SPIRIT

which is in you,

which ye have of GOD,

and ye are not your own?

For ye are bought with a

Price+:

therefore glorify GOD

in your body,

and in your spirit,

which are GOD'S.

I Corinthians 6:19-20

Our peace with GOD our FATHER and that great Favor from HIM came at the highest PRICE+ imaginable:  through The BLOOD of Our FATHER'S Only-begotten SON+.  

HE+ became the LAMB+ of GOD, the unblemished LAMB+ provided by GOD The FATHER as an ACCEPTABLE sacrifice to cover our sins... the only acceptable sacrifice, ever. 

That PRICE+ cost The FATHER, as well as HIS SON+. Even though The FATHER did not leave His Throne in Heaven ( as some teach ? ), the sacrifice of HIS dearly-beloved SON+ cost HIM. 

We see the picture shown to us through Abraham not withholding Isaac as a sacrifice, a prophetic portrayal given to us as a pattern or TYPE that we should recognize The Jewish MESSIAH+ when HE+ came. Anyone who loves his child would realize the enormity of The FATHER'S sacrifice, even from a finite, human perspective.

The FATHER loveth the SON+

and has given all things

into His+ Hand.

John 3:35

Peace and favor are unobtainable in this world.  Some may negotiate for peace with bribes, as the nations of the world do.  Some may bribe --- or belong to the right "clubs" --- in order to obtain favor in this world. Most sell their soul in one way or another to obtain favor.

However, that elusive favor and un-obtainable peace come ONLY FROM The LORD.

Peace and Grace are not obtainable with gold and silver, with money or possessions. They are not obtainable with skills or gifted abilities, either, although the world would like us to BELIEVE that they are... hence, the carrot-and-stick "motivational" force behind worldly ambition.

Belonging to the “in” group of controllers only adds to our lack of peace; these groups are NOT known for their kindness to even their fellow club members.

The richest person on earth cannot purchase his own peace and personal grace from others. Neither can the most clever, the most talented and gifted ones among us. The biographies of the world's greatest names --- from artists to scientists --- show us that truth.

Peace and Grace come ONLY from Our FATHER Who art in Heaven, ( Hallowed be HIS name ), because HE sent HIS only-begotten SON+ JESUS CHRIST to obtain peace and grace for us. 

JESUS paid the price for our Peace with The FATHER.

JESUS paid the price for our favor and grace with HIM, also. 

HE+ gives those unobtainable precious possessions to those who are bought with a PRICE+ and are not their own. 

Are you "your own" man today?

If you are, you will not be counted as His+ own.

Is your body functioning as the Temple of the HOLY SPIRIT, today ?

If not, a cleansing of the Temple is in order; recall: it has been done before.  A whip of cords was necessary that time because the users of the Temple KNEW better … but refused to cleanse their Temple themselves.

Is your spirit  earnestly living in eager pursuit of the Will of GOD ? Or... is the Will of the LORD an inconvenience imposed into your day ?   

Let us Pray:

O LORD CHRIST, forgive me for choosing my own agitation and fear over peace with THEE+. 

Help me to cleanse my temple, holding nothing back for my own comfort and indulgence of Self when I am hurting.  Help me to stop nursing my grievances and yes, even my sorrows. Help me to yield my emotions unto THEE+ ; I give THEE+ free rein to cleanse me of them.

Grant me Thy+ favor before GOD. If favor before man is Thy+ Will, then grant me the humility to know that favor actually only comes from THEE+ and that THOU+ hast a purpose in it. It is NOT for my own glory, but rather, for THINE+, O LORD.

I am indeed bought with a Price+, Thy+ Blood.  I give THEE+ back what is THINE+ by creation…  and THINE+ by purchase.

Help me to remember it.

In Thy+ Holy Name I pray these my imperfect prayers. Amen.

+  +  +

Glory 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.

+  +  +

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