NO CONDEMNATION ~ The JUDGMENT SEAT of CHRIST #3 ~ Pre-Passover Meditation

For GOD sent not HIS SON+ into the world to condemn the world;

but that the world through HIM+

might be saved.

John 3:17

The FATHER did not need to send HIS SON+ to condemn the world; it was already condemned. 

"NEXT YEAR . . . IN JERUSALEM ! " The Valley EXTENDS TO AZAL ! ~ Passover Preparation Meditation #5

A more ACCURATE depiction would have His+ Feet like BURNISHED BRASS, according to the vision of the Apostle John.

And His+ Feet shall stand in THAT DAY upon the Mount of Olives,

which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the Mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west, and there shall be a very great valley; and half of the mountain shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south. Zechariah 14:4

+  +  +

And ye shall flee to the valley of MY* mountains; for the valley of the mountains shall reach unto Atzal: yea, ye shall flee, like as ye fled from before the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah: and the LORD my God shall come, and all the saints with thee. * in the Hebrew text.

Zechariah 14:5

+  +  +

This “earthquake” of The LORD promises to be like no other earthquake produced by the movement of the earth’s Tectonic plates.

NEXT YEAR . . . in JERUSALEM ! ~ Zechariah 14:4 ~ HIS+ Glorious Entrance into THE Battle that Begins the Glorious REIGN on Earth of THE MESSIAH+ ! ~ Passover Meditation #3

His+ Glorious Entrance into the battle will occur when HE+ stands upon the Mount of Olives, currently the resting place of approximately 150,000 Jewish graves, some of whom lived through the Holocaust, like Menachem Begin.

And His+ Feet shall stand in THAT DAY upon the Mount of Olives,

Moving Towards CHRIST our PASSOVER .... LOVE Your Neighbor

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, and with ALL  thy mind, and with all of thy strength.  

This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it:  Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. 

On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets. There is no commandment greater than these.
( Matthew 22: 37-40 and Mark 12: 29-31, combined.)

So now, we confess to THEE, O LORD:

We have failed 
to love our neighbor 
as ourself.  
+ + +

Do we wish to be favorably thought-of by our friends, at all times?

Do we wish ourselves to be given the "benefit of the doubt" when hard choices have to be made ... and our friends hear about them ? 

If we become busy, do we want our friends to be "hurt" because of our SEEMING neglect of them ? 

If we become unavoidably taken with pressing duties and responsibilities, do we want our friends to feel like we are then giving THEM the "cold shoulder" and ignoring their friendship ? 

THEN.... if we wish our friends to be understanding, let us not harden our hearts towards them, when their duties call them away from interacting with us.

Do we love our neighbor as ourselves in the every day contingencies of life ? 

If WE DO NOT WISH to be: 

• ill-thought of when others hear of the hard choices we have had to make
• accused as neglectful of our friends when other duties press
• labeled as ignoring our friends when we are simply laden with an overload of cares... 

Then let us learn to tell the accuser of the brethren: 

BEGONE , you lying torment !  

Furthermore, let us make it an iron-clad RULE: 

When the accuser of the brethren tries to make us agree with him that we are being slighted by our friends and family  ~  that is a call to prayer for them ! 

If the accuser still badgers us about how they have "hurt" us by ignoring our friendship ...

THEN  let us fortify our prayers for them by fasting a meal or a day in their behalf.  

In this way we send notice to the adversary of our souls when he brings his lies to make us feel "hurt" when none was intended. 

In this way we train ourselves to be more watchful of accusing thoughts towards our friends and neighbors --- surely an indulgence of self-pity ( and / or bitterness, resentment, anger, etc. ) on our part. 

If we take heed to the accuser's thoughts hurled at us, we will have an AUTOMATIC CALL TO PRAYER for our beleaguered friends who may not have time for us.

THEY MAY NEED THOSE PRAYERS RIGHT AT THAT TIME that we are clamoring for their attention ! 

Thus, by prayers and fasting, we defeat the sly wiles of the devil and refrain from "joining the chorus of bullies" that are ranged against our friends. They are NOT neglectful: they are beleaguered ! 

We are able, with our corrected perspective now, to strengthen the Body of CHRIST with our hidden support. 

Ourselves, we REPENT... ashamed to have followed the father of lies instead of our good Master+ The LORD JESUS CHRIST, Who+ loved all.   We learn to love as HE+ loved, not accuse. 

LET US LEARN, then , to love our neighbors as ourselves, instead of reproaching them in our hearts when we feel "neglected." 

JESUS SAID: 

Therefore 

all things whatsoever ye would 

that men should do to you, 

do ye even so to them: 

for this is the law 

and the prophets. 

Matthew 7:12

+  +  +

 Let us pray:

O dear Heavenly FATHER, I have sinned against my friends.  They have meant me no harm. Nor have they even tried to neglect me. I have accused them of not caring and I am so ashamed of myself. 

Help me to stop this self-pity when my friends become busy or over-whelmed with life. 

Help me to fill my heart and my time with THEE+, O Righteous FATHER.  Help me to not be so focused on my needs that I neglect my busy friends. 

Let my prayers for THEM fill my heart instead of reproaches towards them.

I repent of my self-centeredness. I rebuke the accuser of the brethren; let him not control my thoughts. 

And LORD, when I am empty, help me to turn to THEE+ instead of to my friends.  Help me to turn to THEE+ for every need of my heart.  Then I will be fully supplied to be there for my friends, when they should have a need. 

This I pray in the Name of Our LORD JESUS CHRIST  Who+ held nothing back from me. 

Praise, honor, and glory are THINE+, O LORD !
 
 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.

+ + +

With ALL thy STRENGTH

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, and with ALL  thy mind, and with all of 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 strength.

+ + + 

We all want to be "strong" , not weak, in mind, in spirit, in heart, and in body. 

However, human strength at its best is sheer weakness in the eyes of The ELOHIM. We are only strong in the eyes of weak men who are naturally-minded, focused on this transitory and temporary life. Natural strength passes away with the sunset. 

Scripture tell us: 

HIS+ Strength is 

made perfect

in weakness. 

Therefore, the sooner we accept this TRUTH, the more we may draw upon HIS+ Strength.  

The more honest and humble we become about our own natural power,  the more joyous we grow in our weakness. 

 

  And HE+ said unto me,

My+ Grace is sufficient for thee: 

for My+ Strength is 

made perfect 

in weakness. 

Most gladly 

therefore will I 

rather 

glory in my infirmities, 

that the power 

of  CHRIST+

may rest upon me.

  Therefore I take pleasure 
in infirmities, 
in reproaches,
 in necessities,
 in persecutions, 
in distresses 
for CHRIST'S+ sake: 

for when I am weak, 
then am I strong.

2 Corinthians 12: 9-10

+  +  +

 Let us pray:

O LORD My+ GOD, I have been on the wrong track; I have sought human strength and prowess.  I have foolishly set my energies to achieve all that my natural man could achieve in my own strength. 

Help me to forsake the zest for fake, transitory strength and set my energies towards KNOWING YOU+,  instead.

Change my view of weakness. Change my idea of REAL STRENGTH. 

Melt me. 

Mold me.  

Fill me with Your+ Strength.

Use me. 

In my weakness, I come to YOU+.  Establish Your+ strength in my weakness, O LORD,  however it pleases YOU.+   

 In The Name of The LORD JESUS CHRIST I pray .

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.

+ + +

The GREAT Passover... the Time of Preparation

 

But HE+ was wounded

for our transgressions,

HE+ was bruised

for our iniquities:

the chastisement 

of our peace

was upon HIM+;

and with HIS+ stripes

we are healed.

Isaiah 53:5

+  +  +

The Lenten Season is upon us once again. It starts on Wednesday, March 1. 

It is the season observed by many Christians in many church groups to remember the GREAT Passover of the LAMB+ of GOD… the Greatest Passover … and the Last Passover… recognized by GOD. 

The Lenten Season is NOT the sole property of the Roman Catholic, the Eastern Orthodox, or any of the liturgical churches. It belongs to all Christians everywhere.

During this time on the Christian church calendar, Ash Wednesday ( arbitrarily selected)  starts the remembrance of The LORD'S journey towards Jerusalem as HE+ headed towards His+ Crucifixion.

Many churches observe this Season as a time of serious reflection upon what it cost The LORD to save us from our sins --- and the Second Death in the Lake of Fire, for all Eternity ---  and thus, as a serious season of repentance. 

During this time, Christians try to bring the body under more control of the HOLY SPIRIT. To do this, supernatural strength is required. So, Christians fast, calling upon The LORD for help. 

Some Christians choose to fast from a favorite food (coffee,  pizza, chocolate, popcorn, sweets, all snacks,  etc.) simply as a way to REMIND their flesh that the spirit is in control, not the body. When they do this, they are usually shocked at the battle such a small commitment begins between their flesh and their spirit. 

Others choose to fast from a meal or  do one or two days of total fasting. Oddly enough, THIS type of fasting actually is easier; there is no battle, once the commitment is made. The "eating" time then becomes Quiet Time of Refreshment from The LORD.

There are other types of "fasts" that some Christians do during this( arbitrarily selected ) 40-day season.

Here are some little ways one could choose to submit the body to the spirit:  

   No parties or social get-togethers.

No games.

No reading, apart from the Bible.

An hour of total silence per evening / day.

No "chit-chat" or long conversations.

No un-necessary conversations.

Limited social interaction, be it by phone, emails, or visits.

No dining out.

No DVD's, No magazines, No computer... Nothing that could be construed as "entertaining."

No music or no up-beat music.

Only dark purple clothing is worn or no bright clothing until after the Resurrection.

The purpose of fasting is not to be ascetic but to cut away worldly distractions IN ORDER TO FOCUS more fully upon The LORD JESUS.

Time with HIM+;

Stillness with HIM+.

UN-CLUTTERED TIME WITH HIM+

.... a stillness that is SO STILL

that it ceases to think about

the day's events and duties.

Some Christians have heavy work-loads. Some work in the public; some attend classes and have time-absorbing assignments and exams; some have small children in the home; some home-school.

Whatever the situation,

The LORD will

show the WILLING HEART

what kind of fast is pleasing to HIM+

... and how much

... and WHEN

it is to be done.

Even a 5-minute break with The LORD . . . 

and a brief meditation on a verse of Isaiah 53 or a verse of a Psalm --- instead of a cup of coffee and a doughnut --- will increase the closeness one has with The LORD during this season.  Much good fruit of repentance and Quietness before HIM+ refreshes the body more than coffee and doughnuts.

 

But HE+ was wounded ...

is a good place to start the Lenten Season of Meditations focused upon The LORD JESUS CHRIST.

Other good Lenten Season Meditations include: Isaiah 53, Psalm 51, Psalm 32, John 14, John 15,  and John 17. Revelation chapters 2 and 3 lend themselves to serious reflection for repentance, also.

During Lenten Season, there is no great rush ...

to finish a Psalm or Isaiah 53. Line by line, phrase by phrase of Isaiah 53 ... one phrase a day...  works well for the spirit to meditate upon WHY HE+ was wounded.

What did your life, your sins cost HIM+ ?

What are your life and your sins

still costing HIM+ ?

Is HE+ being wounded

by your sins

that you choose to hide

and not confess and turn from ?

Is HE+ again being wounded

because you refuse

to yield the controls over to HIM+ ?

Are you wounding HIM+

because you are being sovereign

over some areas of your "own" life ?

Are there any worldly values or goals

you are holding or pursuing

that are wounding HIM+ afresh ?

+  +  +

Thus, whether "your church" does the Lenten Season remembrances or not, each Christian can still choose to observe the 40-day time of preparation for the Great Passover ... the greatest Passover the world has ever had, and the last.

Thus, I pray each one of you search your heart and see if HE+ is calling you to observe this season of the preparation for the Great Passover ... not from duty, but from a sincere heart of love for what HE+ has done for you. 

~ Sr. Judith Hannah  + + +

Peculiar People, A PEOPLE for POSSESSION .... Passover Meditations for the Monastic-At-Heart ... Ephesians 1:18

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: 18

[ 1:17 That the GOD of our LORD JESUS CHRIST, the FATHER of Glory, may give unto you the SPIRIT of Wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of HIM+:]

The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of HIS+ calling, and what the riches of the glory of HIS+ inheritance in the saints ...

The literal Greek: 

The eyes of your  HEART   having been  illuminated in order for you all to have SEEN   what is the hope of HIS+ calling, what the abundance of the glory of HIS+ inheritance in the Saints...

NOTE THIS: 

The Greek word cardias , "heart," is found in the Byzantine Greek text, Nestle-Aland's Greek texts, the Greek Orthodox church's Greek text, the Latin Vulgate, and the Peshitta ( Syriac).

Neither the Pierpont-Robinson Byzantine Textform nor the eclectic Nestle-Aland Greek text lists a single varient for that word!

The word "understanding" (Gk: dianoias ) is found in the Textus Receptus, one of the few places it disagrees with the Byzantine text in important places.

+  +  +

Meditation

This verse hardly needs anything but  praise and unfeigned worship by those  Our LORD deems worthy of being called "His+ Inheritance."

Redeemed hearts have been illuminated by His+ SPIRIT --- we are told in verse 17 ---  of Wisdom and revelation. This is supernatural wisdom which un-regenerated man cannot receive.

THIS IS NOT "MENTAL" KNOWLEDGE.

Supernaturally we see, we perceive that hope which accompanies His+ calling, a hope so tangible that it is more real than the food we eat.

The eyes of our heart, being illuminated by the SPIRIT, can "see" this very real and very solid hope !

The eyes of our heart can also "see" the abundance, the great wealth of glory placed in store for His+ Saints.

His+ glory will rest upon us... and then we ourselves become a people for possession,**  which is His+ own inheritance!

**A people for possession   is the literal Greek for "a peculiar people" of the KJV, found in 1 Peter 2:9.

The Prophet Isaiah tells us:

 HE+ shall see of the travail of His+ soul,

and shall be satisfied:

by His+ knowledge shall My Righteous SERVANT+  justify many;

for HE+ shall bear their iniquities.

53:11

And the Apostle Paul tells us in Philippians 2: 7-8:

 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..

+  +  +

Let us pray:

O LORD JESUS, YOU+ Who+ made man in the likeness of The Holy GODHEAD, YOU+ took upon Yourself+ our likeness  !

YOU+ did not count Your+ position with The FATHER in Glory something to "lord it over" us with, but rather YOU+ emptied Yourself+ and became a SERVANT+... the servant of sinful man.

Knowing we would bruise YOU+ and smite you from the earth, YOU+ came anyways in order that YOU+ might taste death for every man.

Yet, YOU+ loved us, mankind, me.

YOU+ loved us from the beginning and came to rescue the very ones who put YOU+ to death ... then and now.

Blessed be Thy Holy Name, O CHRIST !

May we show forth our love for THEE+ by laying down our Self for Thy Name's Sake, O LORD JESUS... daily, quietly, consistently.

And if it is appointed to us that we should lay down our lives for THEE+, we do not want to falter and fail.

Keep us in Your+ possession , O CHRIST, and help us turn from temptation, that we might also be known as Righteous Servants of GOD.

In the Name of JESUS CHRIST, the LAMB+ of GOD we pray. 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

+  +  +

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.