Is there a heart bent oβerbound by sorrow? Is there a life weighed down by care? Come to the cross, each burden bearing; All your anxietyβleave it there.
Refrain
All your anxiety, all your care, Bring to the mercy seat, leave it there, Never a burden He cannot bear, Never a friend like Jesus!
No other friend so swift to help you, No other friend so quick to hear, No other place to leave your burden, No other one to hear your prayer.
Refrain
Come then at once; delay no longer! Heed His entreaty kind and sweet, You need not fear a disappointment; You shall find peace at the mercy seat.
Words & Music: EdΒward H. Joy, 1920, alt. (MIΒDI, score). Joy, a SalΒvaΒtion ArΒmy muΒsiΒcian, inΒtroΒduced the song to the ThornΒton Heath Corps, and latΒer used it throughΒout CanΒaΒda. It was pubΒlished in The MuΒsicΒal SalΒvaΒtionΒist in 1929.
Joy joined the SalΒvaΒtion ArΒmy (SA) in CanΒterΒbuΒry, then played in the band at FolkeΒstone, and beΒcame an SA ofΒfiΒcer in 1894. He went on serve the SA Corps at TunΒstall, then the SA InΒterΒnaΒtionΒal headΒquarΒters in 1917, where he was UnΒder SeΒcreΒtaΒry in the ForΒeign OfΒfice. AfΒter 1919, he served as ImΒmiΒgraΒtion SeΒcreΒtaΒry in westΒern CaΒnaΒda, and in 1932 beΒcame edΒiΒtor-in-chief of The War Cry in South AfΒriΒca. He rose to the rank of SA colΒoΒnel, and reΒtired in 1938.
Beneath the cross of Jesus I fain would take my stand, The shadow of a mighty rock within a weary land; A home within the wilderness, a rest upon the way, From the burning of the noontide heat, and the burden of the day.
O safe and happy shelter, O refuge tried and sweet, O trysting place where Heavenβs love and Heavenβs justice meet! As to the holy patriarch that wondrous dream was given, So seems my Saviorβs cross to me, a ladder up to heaven.
There lies beneath its shadow but on the further side The darkness of an awful grave that gapes both deep and wide And there between us stands the cross two arms outstretched to save A watchman set to guard the way from that eternal grave.
Upon that cross of Jesus mine eye at times can see The very dying form of One Who suffered there for me; And from my stricken heart with tears two wonders I confess; The wonders of redeeming love and my unworthiness.
I take, O cross, thy shadow for my abiding place; I ask no other sunshine than the sunshine of His face; Content to let the world go by to know no gain or loss, My sinful self my only shame, my glory all the cross.
Clephane, Elizabeth Cecilia, third daughter of Andrew Clephane, Sheriff of Fife, was born at Edinburgh, June 18, 1830, and died at Bridgend House, near Melrose, Feb. 19, 1869. Her hymns appeared, almost all for the first time, in the Family Treasury, under the general title of Breathings on the Border. In publishing the first of these in the Treasury, the late Rev. W. Arnot, of Edinburgh, then editor, thus introduced them:β
βThese lines express the experiences, the hopes, and the longings of a young Christian lately released. Written on the very edge of this life, with the better land fully, in the view of faith, they seem to us footsteps printed on the sands of Time, where these sands touch the ocean of Eternity. These footprints of one whom the Good Shepherd led through the wilderness into rest, may, with Godβs blessing, contribute to comfort and direct succeeding pilgrims.β
1. Nearer, still nearer, close to Thy heart, Draw me, my Saviorβso precious Thou art! Fold me, oh, fold me close to Thy breast. Shelter me safe in that Haven of Rest; Shelter me safe in that Haven of Rest.
2. Nearer, still nearer, nothing I bring, Naught as an offering to Jesus, my king; Only my sinful, now contrite heart. Grant me the cleansing Thy blood doth impart. Grant me the cleansing Thy blood doth impart.
3. Nearer, still nearer, Lord, to be Thine! Sin, with its follies, I gladly resign, All of its pleasures, pomp and its pride, Give me but Jesus, my Lord, crucified. Give me but Jesus, my Lord, crucified.
4. Nearer, still nearer, while life shall last. Till safe in glory my anchor is cast; Through endless ages ever to be Nearer, my Savior, still nearer to Thee; Nearer, my Savior, still nearer to Thee!
Lelia N. Morris. Usage Mrs. C. H. Morris. Born: ApΒril 15, 1862, PennsΒville, Ohio. Died: JuΒly 23, 1929, AuΒburn, New York (at her daughΒterβs home). Buried: McΒConΒnelsΒville, Ohio. Leila Naylor Morris(1862-1929) As a child, Leila lived in MalΒta and McConΒnelsΒville, Ohio. In 1881, she marΒried Charles H. Morris. Leila was acΒtive in the MethΒodΒist church, camp meetΒings, and song writΒing, auΒthorΒing more than 1,000 Gospel songs. When her eyes beΒgan to fail in 1913, her son built a 28-foot blackΒboard with overΒsized staff lines, so she could conΒtinΒue comΒposΒing. βhymntime.com/tch
βI Heard the Voice of Jesus Sayβ by Horatius Bonar, 1808-1899
1. I heard the voice of Jesus say, βCome unto Me and rest; Lay down, thou weary one, lay down, Thy head upon My breast.β I came to Jesus as I was, Weary and worn and sad; I found in Him a resting-place, And He has made me glad.
2. I heard the voice of Jesus say, βBehold, I freely give The living water; thirsty one, Stoop down and drink and live.β I came to Jesus, and I drank Of that life-giving stream. My thirst was quenched, my soul revived, And now I live in Him.
3. I heard the voice of Jesus say, βI am this dark worldβs Light. Look unto Me; thy morn shall rise And all thy day be bright.β I looked to Jesus, and I found In Him my Star, my Sun; And in that Light of Life Iβll walk Till traveling days are done.
Words: Horatius Bonar, Hymns Original and Selected 1846.
Music: Vox Dilecti John B. Dykes, 1868 The key change halfway through accents the positive message of the last two lines, I came to Jesusβ¦
The last time that Henry Ward Beecher was in his pulpitβ6th March, 1887βhe remained for some time at the close of the evening service listening to the choir practising, and was evidently moved by their rendering of this hymn. While sitting and listening he noticed two street arabs coming into the church to enjoy the music also. He came down, and speaking to them tenderly he drew them to his heart and kissed them. Whether this touch of humanity was due to the hymn or simply the response of his deeply emotional nature in seeing two unfortunates before him, with all their undeveloped possibilities, we cannot say, but of this we are sure, that the last grand utterance that he heard in his church was this hymn: I Heard the Voice, etc., for, a few hours afterwards the shadows of the long night fell upon his ethereal spirit; the silver cord that bound him with the outer world was loosed, and though the soul still lingered over the mortal frame which she had filled with abundant life for seventy-four years, as if loath to depart, the eyes, the senses were all but sealed, and the lips on which listening thousands had hung for half a century were silent. It was fitting that he who took such an active part in the emancipation of the slave should close his life under the inspiration of this tender hymn, and take those two street arabs to his heart as representing the humanity he loved so well!
Alas! and did my Savior bleed And did my Sovereign die? Would He devote that sacred head For sinners such as I? [originally, For such a worm as I?]
Refrain
At the cross, at the cross where I first saw the light, And the burden of my heart rolled away, It was there by faith I received my sight, And now I am happy all the day!
Thy body slain, sweet Jesus, Thineβ And bathed in its own bloodβ While the firm mark of wrath divine, His Soul in anguish stood.
Was it for crimes that I had done He groaned upon the tree? Amazing pity! grace unknown! And love beyond degree!
Well might the sun in darkness hide And shut his glories in, When Christ, the mighty Maker died, For man the creatureβs sin.
Thus might I hide my blushing face While His dear cross appears, Dissolve my heart in thankfulness, And melt my eyes to tears.
But drops of grief can neβer repay The debt of love I owe: Here, Lord, I give my self away βTis all that I can do.
Words: Isaac Watts, Hymns and SpirΒitΒuΒal Songs, 1707;
[***Note from sage β you may not be familiar with this rendition β but it was the one that Fanny Crosby was referring to in 1880. The music sung in churches today was not written until 1885 when the well known refrain was added]
Hudson,Β Ralph E. Hudson,Β Songs of Peace, Love and JoyΒ (Alliance, Ohio: 1885)Β It is with this tune that the hymn is known asΒ At the Cross.
Fanny Crosby wrote of this hymn:
[In] the autumn of 1850β¦reΒvivΒal meetΒings were beΒing held in the ThirΒtiΒeth Street MethΒodΒist Church [, New York CiΒty]. Some of us went down evΒery evΒenΒing; and, on two ocΒcaΒsions, I sought peace at the atΒlar [sic], but did not find the joy I craved, unΒtil one evΒenΒing, NoΒvemΒber 20, 1850, it seemed to me that the light must inΒdeed come then or neΒver; and so I arose and went to the alΒtar alone. AΒfter a prayer was ofΒfered, they beΒgan to sing the grand old conΒseΒcraΒtion hymn, βAlas, and did my SavΒiour bleed, And did my SovΒerΒeign die?β And when they reached the third line of the fourth [sic] stanΒza, βHere Lord, I give myΒself away,β my very soul was floodΒed with a ceΒlesΒtiΒal light. I sprang to my feet, shoutΒing βhalΒleΒluΒjah,β and then for the first time I realΒized that I had been tryΒing to hold the world in one hand and the Lord in the other.
As earΒnest ChristΒian pasΒtor told of a young man about whom he had long felt much anΒxiΒeΒty, as he had seemed so unΒconΒcerned about his soul, and was, in reΒalΒiΒty, a real cause of disΒturbΒance and inΒterΒruptΒion in classΒes for other young men. MeetΒing him one day, the lovΒing pasΒtor sought once more to inΒfluΒence him, urgΒing, βWe want you for Christ and his serΒvice.β There was a cerΒtain change in his manΒner which did not esΒcape the eye of the prayΒerΒful watchΒer for souls, andβlackΒing time to do moreβhe seized the opΒporΒtunΒiΒty to seΒcure the preΒsence of his young friend at a ChristΒian EnΒdeaΒvor meetΒing soon to be held. True to his promΒise he was there. When an opΒporΒtunΒiΒty was givΒen for some of the young men to choose a song, it was seen that he was urgΒing his comΒpanΒion to seΒlect some parΒticΒuΒlar hymn. The other, yieldΒing to his reΒquest, asked if the hymn, βPass me not, O gentle SavΒiour,β might be sung; and both young men joined in the singΒing with evΒiΒdent inΒterΒest and heartΒiΒness. LatΒer in the evΒenΒing it was reΒquestΒed that all who were defΒinΒiteΒly on the Lordβs side would conΒfess their alΒleΒgiance by standΒing. WhereΒupΒon the one over whom the heart of the pasΒtor was speΒcialΒly yearnΒing rose at once, and with deΒciΒsion.
βTell me about your conΒverΒsion,β the thankΒful pasΒtor reΒquestΒed at the close of the meetΒing, when hands were clasped in glad, broΒtherΒly welΒcome and reΒcogΒniΒtion.
βOh, yes,β asΒsentΒed the other. βIt was all through that hymn we have just sung. I was workΒing on the canal at Gβ, and there was a meetΒing beΒing held at the MarΒinΒerβs ChaΒpel, nearΒby. The words floatΒed out over the waΒter, and from the tug where I was workΒing I could hear them plainΒly enough. When they were just goΒing to sing those linesββWhile on others Thou are callΒing, Do not pass me by!β a great fear came over me, and I thought, βOh, if the Lord were to pass me by, how terΒriΒble it would be!β Then and there, on the tug, I cried out, βO Lord, do not pass me by.β Andββwith a bright smileββhe didnβt pass me by. I am saved.ββ
Β The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
Thy way, not mine, O Lord, However dark it be; Lead me by Thine own hand, Choose out the path for me.
Smooth let it be or rough, It will be still the best; Winding or straight, it leads Right onward to Thy rest.
I dare not choose my lot; I would not, if I might; Choose Thou for me, my God, So I shall walk aright.
Take Thou my cup, and it With joy or sorrow fill, As best to Thee may seem; Choose Thou my good and ill.
Choose Thou for me my friends, My sickness or my health; Choose Thou my cares for me My poverty or wealth.
The kingdom that I seek Is Thine: so let the way That leads to it be Thine, Else I must surely stray.
Not mine, not mine the choice In things or great or small; Be Thou my Guide, my Strength My Wisdom, and my All.
Horatius Bonar
Born: DeΒcemΒber 19, 1808, Old BroughΒton, EdΒinΒburgh, ScotΒland.
Died: JuΒly 31, 1889, EdΒinΒburgh, ScotΒland.
Buried: CanΒonΒgate churchΒyard.
Bonar has been called βthe prince of ScotΒtish hymn writeΒrs.β After gradΒuΒatΒing from the UnΒiΒverΒsiΒty of EdΒinΒburgh, he was orΒdained in 1838, and beΒcame pasΒtor of the North ParΒish, Kelso. He joined the Free Church of ScotΒland afΒter the βDisΒruptΒionβ of 1843, and for a while editΒed the churchβs The Border Watch. Bonar reΒmained in KelΒso for 28 years, afΒter which he moved to the ChalΒmers MeΒmorΒiΒal church in EdinΒburgh, where he served the rest of his life. Bonar wrote more than 600 hymns. At a meΒmorΒiΒal service folΒlowΒing his death, his friend, Rev. E. H. Lundie, said:
His hymns were writΒten in very varΒied cirΒcumΒstances, someΒtimes timed by the tinkΒling brook that babΒbled near him; someΒtimes atΒtuned to the orΒdered tramp of the ocean, whose crestΒed waves broke on the beach by which he wanΒdered; someΒtimes set to the rude muΒsic of the railΒway train that hurΒried him to the scene of duΒty; someΒtimes meaΒsured by the siΒlent rhyΒthm of the midΒnight stars that shone above him.
Luke 16:10
He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much.
Bible translations β itβs a mess. If you are anything like me (logical, analytical, likes to read peer-reviewed research for *fun* on the weekends), the confusion surrounding Biblical translations seems to almost invalidate the Bible as a whole. To an external observer with a penchant towards experimental and evidence-based analysis, contradicting results invalidates the authority of the results. Due to the conflicting views on translations of Scripture, I am working to assemble my research to validate the authority of the Scripture in terms of the Authorized King James Version.
When Emperor Constantine took over the Roman Empire thanks to strong connections that were enabled by his father Caesar Constantius of the First Tetrarchy (AD 293 β 305), he sought to unify paganism and Christianity. By unifying them, he would be able to manipulate himself into a position of absolute divine authority and unanimous approval from all classes through an imperial cult, a state religion wherein an emperor or group of emperors are worshipped as demigods or deities. When Emperor Constantine did this, he:
Increased tolerance of Christianity while limiting regulations against Roman polytheism.
Mingled pagan holidays with Christian beliefs.
Called for the Council of Nicaea, establishing the Nicene Creed and deity of Christ.
All of the unified religions established as the official religion of the Roman Empire were called, as a unit, Roman Catholicism. In an effort to unify Christianity and people who had pantheistic views for peace under his βdivine leadership,β Constantine played his role carefully after analyzing that the Christians would not be so easily eliminated with simple persecution and massacre as was attempted during the reign of prior Emperor Diocletian and his Tetrarchy. Roman Catholicism embellished Christianity with ritualistic ceremonies, focusing on the value and authority of paganist rituals and ceremony as opposed to the authority of Scripture. Thus, any Scripture which was derived from the influence of that intermingling of Gnosticism, paganism and Arianism that was the result of Constantineβs efforts for a unified religion (Roman Catholicism) andany translation of Scripture which stemmed from that unification and desperate attempt to unite the pagans of the world with Christians uses a translation that:
1.) is anti-Trinitarian
2.) denies the authority of Scripture.
Most English Translations of Scripture come from copies of Greek codices of questionable translational authenticity kept in βthe holy city of Catholicsβ β Vatican City.
Please note the following illustration:
I will be providing more information on this topic as time permits.
Matthew 5:18
18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.
Click “Watch on YouTube” to hear this classic hymn!
Alas! and did my Savior bleed And did my Sovereign die? Would He devote that sacred head For sinners such as I? [originally, For such a worm as I?]
Refrain
At the cross, at the cross where I first saw the light, And the burden of my heart rolled away, It was there by faith I received my sight, And now I am happy all the day!
Thy body slain, sweet Jesus, Thineβ And bathed in its own bloodβ While the firm mark of wrath divine, His Soul in anguish stood.
Was it for crimes that I had done He groaned upon the tree? Amazing pity! grace unknown! And love beyond degree!
Well might the sun in darkness hide And shut his glories in, When Christ, the mighty Maker died, For man the creatureβs sin.
Thus might I hide my blushing face While His dear cross appears, Dissolve my heart in thankfulness, And melt my eyes to tears.
But drops of grief can neβer repay The debt of love I owe: Here, Lord, I give my self away βTis all that I can do.
Issac Watts [1707]
From his birth his father would read the Word of God to him and pray for him. His father was a godly preacher and a Nonconformist to the Church of England. His father was sent to prison twice because of his convictions. His family were Dissenters or Non- conformists. The Dissenters were Protestants who did not think that the Church of England had separated enough from the doctrines of the Roman Catholics and refused to conform to the Church of England.
Isaac was born in 1674 and was the oldest of nine children. At the age of eleven his father addressed a letter to all of his children encouraging them to βfrequently to read the Scriptures β get your hearts to delight in them β above all books and writings account the Bible the best and read it most β lay up the truth of it in your heartsβ.
Isaac Watts was saved at the age of fifteen and by the age of sixteen he had mastered Latin, Greek, Hebrew and French. When Isaac was about twenty he became dissatisfied with the singing of the Nonconformist Congregation. At that time it was viewed as sinful to sing songs that were not taken from the Scriptures the majority of which were Psalms or metrical Psalters. His major complaint was the quality of the writing, his father challenged him if he did not like what was being sung to do something better. Over the next two years, from the age of Twenty until he was Twenty two, he wrote the majority of his hymns. He was greatly criticized by both the Roman Catholics and the nonconformist who called his hymns βuninspiredβ because they were not direct quotations from Scripture. His reply to this was ββ¦if we can pray to God in sentences that we have made up ourselves (instead of confining ourselves to the Our Father and other prayers taken directly from the Scriptures), then surely we can sing to God in sentences that we have made up ourselvesβ.
Isaac Watts wrote Alas and Did My Saviour Bleed in 1707, it originally had six stanzas and no refrain. The original tune as intended by Isaac Watts is not known, but in 1800 Hugh Wilson began using his original music composition entitled Martyrdom. In 1885 Ralph F. Hudson added the refrain and the tune that we know use and know as βAt The Crossβ.
It is interesting to note before we explore the doctrinal content of Alas and Did My Saviour Bleed, the in the Fall of 1850 at the age of thirty, Fanny J. Crosby went to the altar at the Thirtieth Street Methodist Church in New York City. She had been to the altar twice before by had not received the peace she sought. While at the altar the congregation was singing the hymn βAlas and Did My Saviour Bleedβ, according to her own testimony and in her own words she says: ββ¦it seemed to me that the light must indeed come then or never; and so I arose and went to the altar alone. After a prayer was offered, they began to sing the grand old consecration hymn, βAlas, and did my Saviour bleed, And did my Sovereign die?β And when they reached the third line of the fourth stanza, βHere Lord, I give myself away,β my very soul was flooded with a celestial light. I sprang to my feet, shouting βhallelujah,β and then for the first time I realized that I had been trying to hold the world in one hand and the Lord in the other.β
Isaac Watts was a brilliant young man and because of his intellectual acumen and proclivity to study he was encouraged by his friends and a prominent Southampton physician to go to one of the Universities, at their expense, in hopes that he would eventually be ordained into the Church of England. Because of his background and being raised as a Dissenting Nonconformist, he refused and rather chose a nonconformist academy. He started preaching at the age of twenty-four and pastored his became pastor of a well-know independent congregation in 1702, he died on November 25, 1748.
The doctrinal content of βAlas and Did My Saviour Bleedβ could be examined from a plethora of Christian Theology, Justification, Propitiation, Christology, Anthropology, Harmitiology, Soteriology just to name a few, for all of these are contained within the lines of this hymn. We will however, briefly explore the doctrine of propitiation as found in the lines of βAlas and Did My Saviour Bleedβ.
This research, recently published (July 2024), entitled βReal-Time Self-Assembly of Stereo microscopically Visible Artificial Constructions in Incubated Specimens of mRNA Products Mainly from Pfizer and Moderna: A Comprehensive Longitudinal Study,β indicates that everyone who was coerced into taking that Pfizer or Moderna vaccine could very well be infected with some strange unidentifiable nanotech.
Just Read the Highlighted Text:
As we reported here, we have isolated numerous and various unidentified materials β a few ΞΌm in size β beyond the nanoparticles described in FDA reports for the mRNA injectables, in the Pfizer and even more so in the Moderna products.
Having concluded various experiments and careful observational studies, we infer that the materials and their observed stages of development are not natural. They are synthetic, and elemental seeming to govern a well-programmed process of structural self-assembly. That their provisional final production could be described as artificial has already been suggested in the numerous articles referenced so far…
β¦Sasha Latypova, an executive and researcher for the pharmaceutical industry, discovered an extreme deviation in side effects among the batch-to-batch vials of mRNA COVID-19 injectables. In a normal world, this sort of wildly uneven deviation would be intolerable in ordinary pharmaceutical products receiving routine oversight by regulatory bodies adhering strictly to established protocols and safety guidelines. Nevertheless, as the public has been reminded continually, we are living in a βnew normalβ. How, therefore, might we understand more generally this obvious deviation from the old normal? One way is to consider intentionality. These products were meant to serve foremost as experimental injections for the whole of humanity β including all ethnicities, sexes, and age groups.
This depiction squares with the FDA approval letter of the Comirnaty (Pfizer product; FDA, 2021), the post-marketing requirement, in infants under 6 months of age, the study completion of July 31, 2024, and the final report which is to be submitted by October 31, 2024. Worth nothing is that in the accompanying documents for the injectable products all details referring to the factories where they were manufactured were conspicuously redacted, which begs larger questions about secrecy undermining informed consent.
Broudy, Daniel & Lee, Young. (2024). Real-Time Self-Assembly of Stereomicroscopically Visible Artificial Constructions in Incubated Specimens of mRNA Products Mainly from Pfizer and Moderna: A Comprehensive Longitudinal Study. International Journal of Vaccine Theory, Practice, and Research. 3. 1180-1244. 10.56098/586k0043.
…
2 Timothy 3:1-9
3Β This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
2Β For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,3Β Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,4Β Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;5Β Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.6Β For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts,7Β Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.8Β Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith.9Β But they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be manifest unto all men, as their’s also was.
Congressional Republicans are trying to thwart a new federal housing rule they claim would allow Washington to play a heavy-handed role in trying to remake upscale neighborhoods as racially and economically diverse βutopias.β
The forthcoming regulations, expected to be formally proposed later this month, would leverage grant money to try and bring more affordable options into these neighborhoods. It would require local jurisdictions to report on their progress; theyβd risk federal housing money if they donβt.
But while the Department of Housing and Urban Development program essentially aims for more integration and equality, critics see a meddling federal government.
β[The rule] tells us how we can live, where we go to school, how we will vote, what this utopian type of neighborhood should look like,β charged Rep. Paul Gosar, R-Ariz., who sponsored an amendment to the House HUD spending bill Wednesday, blocking any future funding for the new rule. The spending bill was passed in the House with the amendment.
βThese rules want to manipulate the way American neighborhoods look,β he told FoxNews.com in an interview.
HUD officials and proponents of the new rule say it would do nothing but clarify β even simplify β current obligations under The Fair Housing Act of 1968.
More on thisβ¦
How Obama plans to diversify wealthy neighborhoods
Right now, local and state housing authorities must have plans showing they are βaffirmatively furthering fair housing.β In other words, making sure their communities offer affordable housing opportunities in all neighborhoods, not just the poor ones, and do not discriminate based on color, religion, sex, or national origin. Affordable housing is generally defined as housing that costs no more than a third of a familyβs monthly income.
The new rule would require jurisdictions to file a full assessment every five years that not only addresses the affordable housing landscape, but patterns in poverty and minority concentrations, as well as βcommunity accessβ to transportation, good schools and jobs.
In addition to the assessments, the new requirements include an action plan obligating the jurisdiction to βidentify the primary determinants influencing fair housing conditions, prioritize addressing these conditions, and set one or more goals for mitigating or addressing their determinants.β For its part, HUD would be sharing demographic data that local officials need to pull this together, while offering guidance and technical assistance.
But hereβs the rub. If cities and counties donβt comply, it could put millions of dollars in annual federal block grants at risk, which critics say is how Washington can bully governments to do their bidding.
βThis is nothing new,β countered Debby Goldberg, vice president at the National Fair Housing Alliance, who supports the rule. βItβs a planning tool. They leave it up to the jurisdictions to make their own decisions. HUD is not dictating what the answers must be, thatβs up to the locality.β
HUD Secretary Julian Castro argued this in a hearing of the House Financial Services Committee June 11, when Rep. Mia Love, R-Utah, asked him directly if HUD would be actively telling localities how to remake their maps. βI know as a [former] mayor you wouldnβt want the federal government to come in and tell you what to do with your zoning and your rules,β she charged.
Castro said: βThis is not about changing zoning laws, planning laws or anything like that.β He called the new requirements a βtoolβ for local communities to do what they already are obligated to do better.
βI wish I had this tool when I was mayor,β said Castro, who was mayor of San Antonio, Texas before he was appointed secretary of HUD in 2014. βWe want to ensure that local communities have the tools to assess the landscape of housing in their area, where the investments are, where the affordable housing opportunities are,β he said.
But Gosar is concerned that the feds would force local officials to plot out significant changes to their communities, as a requirement for grant money.
In order to get the money, he said, βyou have to give them the plan and ask for a sign-off. These rules are put into place to manipulate the way America looks.β
Critics point to the case of Westchester County, N.Y., which has been locked in a battle with HUD since itΒ settled in a lawsuitΒ brought by the nonprofit Anti-Discrimination Center over the countyβs lack of affordable housing units. The 2009 settlement, which HUD helped broker with the Justice Department, mandated the affluent county spend $50 million of its own money to build units, most of which would be in predominantly white neighborhoods. The county and HUD have been arguing ever since over compliance, with Westchester claiming HUD has been changing the rules along the way. As a result, HUD has repeatedlyΒ withheld annual funding from the county.
But Goldberg said this is the way it works β jurisdictions arenβt forced to comply with the law, but they wonβt get federal grants if they donβt. βThe law says if you are getting funds you have to show that you are affirmatively furthering fair housing,β she said, noting it was designed that way to better the quality of life for all Americans, not just the ones who can afford to live in affluent neighborhoods. Segregation by race and poverty traps families in dead-end, often unhealthy circumstances, Goldberg added.
βWe know that the more inclusive the neighborhoods are, the more robust your economy, the better the schools are, the jobs.β
This should be directed at the local level, not from Washington, Gosar said. He has introduced a stand-alone bill that would block the rule from reaching fruition. For now, it is up to the Senate if it wants to carve it out of their own HUD spending bill.
βOnce again,β he said, βitβs an overreach on our liberties to live and work and move to wherever we want.β
Just think about what takes place while you are worrying about paying your mortgage or if your sons and daughters will be sent to fight a no-win war. . . the liberals are busy at work leveling the playing field. There is a lot more to this story than appears on the surface. It is only a small piece of the total effort to eliminate the middle class. Stir your memories and look for commonality:
Common core dumbed- down education mandate
Pope and other religious leaders pushing for ecumenism
Climate change treated as a mandate
Sweden and Denmark move to eliminate cash
Terms like multi-lateralism and sustainability have become formulaic catch phrases to massage sheeple into the one world system
Biblical standards marginalized and excoriated
Merging of services, government agencies,Β and blurring of boundaries
There is no profit in belaboring this idea. Those who wish to be aware, are already aware. Those who are content to sit and passively accept the take over, are welcome to it. The blame for this, lies squarely in the pulpits of churches whose shepherds have herded their flocks straight into the New World Order. I have heard with my own ears, more than one pastor who proudly proclaims he will not preach on prophecy β because it is too controversial. Well, that is dropping the ball in a big way, especially since the Bible itself, is at a bare minimum β 40% prophecy. That means in conservative terms, you are missing almost half of the Bible. Is that OK with you? If Rick Warren is Americaβs pastor β we are in serious trouble β right now.
The Vine Vigil urges everyone to get out of their Cotton Candy churches, and find a fundamental, King James only church. Do you truly want to be sitting in a luke-warm, Laodicean church when the Lord calls us home? How will you answer the Lord about why you stayed in that worldly church? Your pastor should be speaking out about things going on in the world. If he isnβt β he is a weak coward and not following the pattern for shepherding which is Divinely recorded for us in the New Testament. I found my church by making phone calls, and visiting. It is definitely not the church that is closest for me to drive to, but it is by far the church that is closet to my Bible.
Under His wings I am safely abiding, Though the night deepens and tempests are wild, Still I can trust Him; I know He will keep me, He has redeemed me, and I am His child.
Refrain
Under His wings, under His wings, Who from His love can sever? Under His wings my soul shall abide, Safely abide forever.
Under His wings, what a refuge in sorrow! How the heart yearningly turns to His rest! Often when earth has no balm for my healing, There I find comfort, and there I am blessed.
Refrain
Under His wings, oh, what precious enjoyment! There will I hide till lifeβs trials are oβer; Sheltered, protected, no evil can harm me, Resting in Jesus, Iβm safe evermore.
Refrain
If $100,000 was your whole life savings, would you give every penny of it to someone in need? William O. Cushing did something like that. In the nineteenth century, when $1,000 was a lot of money, he gave his entire life savings to pay for the education of a blind girl.
That is not what he is remembered for, however. His fame is as a hymnwriter. One of his earliest hymns was the song, βWhen He Cometh,β which compared Christians to jewels whom Christ would gather when he came. Other notable hymns were written after he had experienced great grief and loss. But that is getting ahead of the story.
William Orcutt Cushing was born in Hingham, Massachusetts on this date, December 31, 1823. His parents raised him as a Universalist, but by reading the Bible for himself as a teenager, he became an orthodox believer. At eighteen he was convinced the Lord wanted him to become a minister and he trained for it.
His first pastorate was at Searsburg, New York. There he met and married Rena Proper in 1854 (which was also the year he wrote βWhen He Comethβ). After that he served in Auburn, Brooklyn, Buffalo and Sparta, New York. With the decline of his wifeβs health, William returned with her to Searsburg where she died in 1870.
After that, βcreeping paralysisβ stole his voice and prevented him from preaching any longer. He pleaded with the Lord to allow him to continue to serve in some capacity.
His prayer was granted. He wrote over 300 hymns. Some of these are still beloved by the church. βFollow onβ was written in 1878 to a tune by Robert Lowry. βFollow, follow, I will follow Jesus; anywhere, everywhereβ¦β it promises. βUnder His Wings,β printed and sung by Ira Sankey, sprang out of Cushingβs personal suffering and was suggested by Psalm 17:8, βHide me under the shadow of your wings.β Another of his famous hymns βRing the Bells of Heavenβ was written before his deep troubles had descended upon him. Composer George F. Root had sent him the tune. Cushing felt it needed joyful words and mused on it all day before the words came to him.
Last Friday, we studied that falsehood can ruin our lives. The next passage of Proverbs is so dramatic and intense, that it has received the Hollywood treatment, being featured in a movie, a television series, and a four part mini-series.
These six things doth the lord hate; yea, seven are an abomination unto him.
abomination = a person or thing that is disgusting; an action that is vicious, vile, etc.; intense loathing
Sin is a very, very, serious offense against God.Β
A proud look
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A lying tongue
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and hands that shed innocent blood.
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a heart that deviseth wicked imaginations.
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feet that be swift in running to mischief.
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a false witness that speaketh lies.
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and he that soweth discord among the brethren.Β
Proverbs 6:16-19
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All sin is wicked in Godβs sight.Β Humans tend to βcategorizeβ sin by making relative comparisons.Β In manβs eyes, lying is not as serious of a sin as murder is β but this famous Proverb proves that lying is anΒ abominationΒ to The LORD.Β Even the βsmallestβ sin will keep a person out of heaven.Β That means, even our βlittle white lies,β and gossiping had to be placed on Jesus Christ at Calvary.Β We all need to embrace Godβs perspective of sin, and completely eliminate manβs perspective.Β
Last week the lesson from the Word was a cautionary against idleness. Today, another warning β against falsehood β which is the sin most Christians overlook within themselves, while being quick to point it out in others.
Proverbs 6:12-13
King James Version (KJV)
12 A naughty person, a wicked man, walketh with a froward mouth.
froward = habitually disposed to disobedience and opposition
13 He winketh with his eyes, he speaketh with his feet, he teacheth with his fingers;
A direct gaze, without averting the eyes has long been considered a way of detecting honesty in a person. The Proverb is saying here that darting eyes, excessive blinking, and rapid hand gestures are all indicative of a dishonest person.
14 Frowardness is in his heart, he deviseth mischief continually; he soweth discord.
Truly β this must be the greatest trouble in the Body of Christ. It is tragic that so many false converts are within the fold β but it is a fact that must be faced. How could anyone professing the Name of Christ be βdevising mischief continually?β The LORD sees everything β and those that do these things will not go unpunished.
15 Therefore shall his calamity come suddenly; suddenly shall he be broken without remedy.
While we may sometimes wonder how evil people seem to prosper β (how do they get away with it?) we can see from this Proverb that the judgement for these offenses will come as a shock to the unrepentant β and without a cure.
2 Chronicles 36:16
King James Version (KJV)
But they mocked the messengers of God, and despised His words, and misused His prophets, until the wrath of the Lord arose against His people, till there was no remedy.
What a fellowship, what a joy divine, Leaning on the everlasting arms; What a blessedness, what a peace is mine, Leaning on the everlasting arms.
Refrain: Leaning, leaning, safe and secure from all alarms; Leaning, leaning, leaning on the everlasting arms.
Oh, how sweet to walk in this pilgrim way, Leaning on the everlasting arms; Oh, how bright the path grows from day to day, Leaning on the everlasting arms.
What have I to dread, what have I to fear, Leaning on the everlasting arms? I have blessed peace with my Lord so near, Leaning on the everlasting arms.
The Story Behind Leaning on the Everlasting Arms
Anthony Showalter was leading a singing school in an Alabama church in 1887. When he returned to his boardinghouse room one night, two letters awaited him. Both were from former students, and both men told of the recent loss of their wives. Mr. Showalter wrote back, seeking to comfort the young men in the midst of their grief.But what to write? When he came to the end of each letter, he wanted to include a Bible verse. He picked Deuteronomy 33:27, βThe eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms β¦.β
He pondered the words of that verse as he penned them into the letters, and the lyrics of the chorus of Leaning on the Everlasting Arms came to his mind. He wrote to his friend, Elisha Hoffman, explaining that he had a chorus, but no verses. Mr. Hoffman wrote back with the rest of the words of this famous hymn. Sam Duncan, a student and nephew of Mr. Showalter, was given the class assignment to write the tune for this poem. The piece was published under his uncleβs name in the book Glad Evangel for Revival, Camp and Evangelistic Meeting Hymnal.
The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms: and He shall thrust out the enemy from before thee; and shall say, Destroy them.
Revelation 19:11-16
11 And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and He that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He doth judge and make war.
12 His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns; and He had a name written, that no man knew, but He Himself.
13 And He was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and His name is called The Word of God.
14 And the armies which were in heaven followed Him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.
15 And out of His mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it He should smite the nations: and He shall rule them with a rod of iron: and He treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.
16 And He hath on his vesture and on His thigh a name written, King Of Kings, And Lord Of Lords.
Beyond the sunset, O blissful morning, When with our Savior, heaven is begun; Earthβs toiling ended, O glorious dawning, Beyond the sunset when day is done.
Beyond the sunset, no clouds will gather, No storms will threaten, no fears annoy; O day of gladness, O day unending, Beyond the sunset eternal joy!
Beyond the sunset, a hand will guide me To God the Father whom I adore; His glorious presence, His words of welcome, Will be my portion on that fair shore.
Beyond the sunset, O glad reunion, With our dear loved ones whoβve gone before; In that fair homeland weβll know no parting, Beyond the sunset forever more!
Virgil Prentiss Brock β Lyrics 1887-1978
Born: January 6, 1887, Mercer County, Ohio. Buried: Warsaw, Indiana.
Blanche Kerr Brock β Composer 1888-1958
Born: February 3, 1888, Greens Fork, Indiana. Died: January 3, 1958, Winona Lake, Indiana. Buried: Warsaw, Indiana.
One of the best-known and widely-used songs in the entire field of gospel hymnody is βBeyond the Sunset.β Mr. Brock has left the following account of its writing:
This song was born during a conversation at the dinner table, one evening in 1936, after watching a very unusual sunset at Winona Lake Indiana, with a blind guestβmy cousin Horace Burrβand his wife Grace. A large area of the water appeared ablaze with the glory of God, yet there were threatening storm clouds gathering overhead. Returning to our home, we went to the dinner table still talking about the impressive spectacle we had witnessed. Our blind guest excitedly remarked the he had never seen a more beautiful sunset.
βPeople are always amazed when you talk about seeing,β I told him, βI can see,β Horace replied. βI see through other peoples eyes, and think I often see more; I see beyond the sunset.β
The phrase βbeyond the sunsetβ and the striking inflection of his voice struck me so forcibly, I began singing the first few measures. βThatβs beautiful!β his wife interrupted, βPlease go to the piano and sing it.
We went to the piano nearby and completed the first verse. βYou should have a verse about the storm clouds,β our guest urged, and the words for this verse came quickly as well. Recalling how closely our guest had walked hand in hand together for so many years due to his blindness, the third verse was soon added. Before the evening meal was finished, all four stanzas had been written and we sang the entire song together.
And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.
sage
p.s.Β This post is dedicated to my husband for our 33rd anniversary.
RICK WARREN ON ROMAN CATHOLICISM: βWE HAVE MORE IN COMMON THAN WHAT DIVIDES USβ
Warren, whose Purpose Driven Life and Purpose Driven Church books have sold millions of copies around the world, recorded a video interview for the Catholic News Service in which he said: βWe have far more in common than what divides us.β
He continued: βWhen you talk about Pentecostals, charismatics, evangelicals, fundamentalists, Catholics, Methodists, Baptists, Presbyterians β¦ Well, they would all say we believe in the trinity, we believe in the Bible, we believe in the resurrection, we believe salvation is through Jesus Christ. These are the big issues.
βSometimes Protestants think that Catholics worship Mary like sheβs another god. But thatβs not exactly Catholic doctrine.β
He also referred to the Roman Catholic practice of prayer to the saints, which Protestants reject, saying: βWhen you understand what they mean by what theyβre saying, thereβs a whole lot more commonality.
βNow thereβs still real differences, no doubt about that. But the most important thing is if you love Jesus, weβre on the same team.β
He said that Church unity would realistically be βnot a structural unity but a unity of mission. And so, when it comes to the family we are co-workers in the field on this for the protection of what we call the sanctity of life, the sanctity of sex, and the sanctity of marriage. So thereβs a great commonality and thereβs no division on any of those three.β
Warren recently took part in a Vatican conference on the Complementarity of Man and Woman alongside conservative stalwart Russell Moore, president of the Southern Baptist Conventionβs Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission. His remarks are in tune with the tone of Pope Francis, who has spoken warmly of evangelicals and brought a different emphasis to inter-Church engagement.
[TBC: Commonality is not established by the lowest common denominator. To say someone loves Jesus means nothing if itβs βanother Jesusβ or if the βgospelβ they present is not the biblical gospel (2 Corinthians:11:4, Galatians:1:8). The works salvation gospel of Rome is contrary to the biblical gospel, and the Jesus of Roman Catholicism did not pay the full penalty for sin. Our Lord declared, βNot every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heavenβ (Matthew:7:21).]
Over aΒ decade ago I was chased out of my church, because of my tooth and nail resistance to going βpurpose driven.βΒ Now, Rick Warren is boldly going where he always intended to go β the one world religion.
2 Peter 2:1-3
2Β But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.
2Β And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.
3Β And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.
Dear Mr. Rick Warren β you make me sick.Β May God have mercy, and cause you to repent.
Jesus, keep me near the cross, There a precious fountain Free to all, a healing stream Flows from Calvaryβs mountain.
Refrain
In the cross, in the cross, Be my glory ever; Till my raptured soul shall find Rest beyond the river.
Near the cross, a trembling soul, Love and mercy found me; There the bright and morning star Sheds its beams around me.
Refrain
Near the cross! O Lamb of God, Bring its scenes before me; Help me walk from day to day, With its shadows oβer me.
Refrain
Near the cross Iβll watch and wait Hoping, trusting ever, Till I reach the golden strand, Just beyond the river.
Refrain
Text: Fanny J. Crosby, 1820-1915 Music: William H. Doane, 1832-1915
βIt may seem a little old-fashioned, always to begin oneβs work with prayer, but I never undertake a hymn without first asking the good Lord to be my inspiration.β
Galatians 6:14
But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by Whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.
12 Now these are the generations of Ishmael, Abrahamβs son, whom Hagar the Egyptian, Sarahβs handmaid, bare unto Abraham:
13 And these are the names of the sons of Ishmael, by their names, according to their generations: the firstborn of Ishmael, Nebajoth; and Kedar, and Adbeel, and Mibsam,
14 And Mishma, and Dumah, and Massa,
15 Hadar, and Tema, Jetur, Naphish, and Kedemah:
16 These are the sons of Ishmael, and these are their names, by their towns, and by their castles; twelve princes according to their nations.
17 And these are the years of the life of Ishmael, an hundred and thirty and seven years: and he gave up the ghost and died; and was gathered unto his people.
18 And they dwelt from Havilah unto Shur, that is before Egypt, as thou goest toward Assyria: and he died in the presence of all his brethren.
It is generally acknowledged that modern day Arabs are descended from Ishmael. This understanding comes from the Bible itself, Jewish Rabbis, and from a meager oral tradition. Mohammed claimed this descent himself, though it is truly impossible to determine his actual pedigree, due to the fact of the wandering and unsettled nature of the Ishmaelite tribes. There is no known literature to support any genealogy, outside of the Holy Bible. The Ishmaelites are mentioned on only three occasions in Scripture: Genesis 37: 25, 27, 29; 39:1, Judges 8:24, and Psalm 83:6.
Most Arabs believe that as the first born of Abraham, Ishmael was offered on the altar, not Issac, and therefore the Biblical Covenants and blessings belong to them, and not the Jews. However, many nomadic Arabs, still hold to the early pagan traditions from long ago β believing in a law of blood-revenge which requires a man to know his ancestors going back for four generations, but no father back than that. The physical attributes, language, customs and traditions (pre-Mohammed corruption) along with the infallible testimony of the Holy Bible, makes the Arab nations, largely Ishmaelite in all respects.
Psalm 83Β
83 Keep not thou silence, O God: hold not thy peace, and be not still, O God.
2 For, lo, thine enemies make a tumult: and they that hate thee have lifted up the head.
3 They have taken crafty counsel against thy people, and consulted against thy hidden ones.
4 They have said, Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation; that the name of Israel may be no more in remembrance.
5 For they have consulted together with one consent: they are confederate against thee:
6 The tabernacles of Edom, and the Ishmaelites; of Moab, and the Hagarenes;
7 Gebal, and Ammon, and Amalek; the Philistines with the inhabitants of Tyre;
8 Assur also is joined with them: they have holpen the children of Lot. Selah.
9 Do unto them as unto the Midianites; as to Sisera, as to Jabin, at the brook of Kison:
10 Which perished at Endor: they became as dung for the earth.
11 Make their nobles like Oreb, and like Zeeb: yea, all their princes as Zebah, and as Zalmunna:
12 Who said, Let us take to ourselves the houses of God in possession.
13 O my God, make them like a wheel; as the stubble before the wind.
14 As the fire burneth a wood, and as the flame setteth the mountains on fire;
15 So persecute them with thy tempest, and make them afraid with thy storm.
16 Fill their faces with shame; that they may seek thy name, O Lord.
17Β Let them be confounded and troubled for ever; yea, let them be put to shame, and perish:
18Β That men may know that thou, whose name alone isJehovah, art the most high over all the earth
Our last devotional, covered the birth of Jacob and Esau. We can not underestimate the value of this lesson from Old Testament history. The twins βstruggled together within herβ (Gen. 25:22) in the same fashion that our new natures (received at the new birth) struggle with our old natures (received at the natural birth) once we are born again. Like Rebekah, we have the two personalities struggling within us. It is the struggle for mastery in the inner soul of every single, truly born again believer.
God ordained for the βyoungerΒ new natureβ (Jacob) to have dominion over the βolderΒ sin nature.β (Esau)Β
Romans 6:14
For sin shall not have dominion over you
Genesis 25:29-34
29 And Jacob sod pottage: and Esau came from the field, and he was faint:
30 And Esau said to Jacob, Feed me, I pray thee, with that same red pottage; for I am faint: therefore was his name called Edom.
31Β And Jacob said, Sell me this day thy birthright.
32 And Esau said, Behold, I am at the point to die: and what profit shall this birthright do to me?
33Β And Jacob said, Swear to me this day; and he sware unto him: and he sold his birthright unto Jacob.Β Β
34 Then Jacob gave Esau bread and pottage of lentiles; and he did eat and drink, and rose up, and went his way: thus Esau despised his birthright.
Two wrongs occur here. Firstly, Esau in lust of flesh, sells what is not his to sell. Secondly, Jacob takes advantage of his brotherβs weakness, and βdealsβ for something that also was not his. The blessing was from God, through Abraham and Issac. Esau demonstrated that he had a very low regard for the birthright blessing. Like fleshly Issac, who loved Esau more than Jacob because βhe did eat of his venison,β Esau was given to fleshly appetites and and placed ALL of his value on βsavory meat.β
Like the carnal Christian, Esau chose fleeting, temporal satisfaction. Jacob highly regarded the eternal. Those believers who walk closely with the Lord, seek the long ranging spiritual promise of the birthright.
2 Peter 1:3-4
3Β According as His divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him that hath called us to glory and virtue:
4Β Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his motherβs womb, and be born?
5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
7Β Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
It is a fact, that the Holy Spirit indwells every truly born again believer. Though we may be weak, immature, and imperfect β if we have been βborn againβ of the Spirit β He dwells in us. 1 Cor. 6:19- What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? Rom. 8:9 β But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His.
It is one thing to have the Holy Spirit indwell us β but does He have us in such a way that He may fill us with the βAbundant Life?β Contrary to the teachings of prosperity preachers β the abundant life can not be found in our environments or circumstances, or in the many material things that we may possess. It is only found in the infilling of the Holy Spirit.
Ephesians 5:18
And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit
EPHESIANS 5:18 IS A COMMAND! TO BE FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT IS TO BE SPIRIT-POSSESSED, SPIRIT- EMPOWERED, AND SPIRIT-CONTROLLED.
1. We are filled with the Holy Spirit that we might have joy. Eph. 5:19-20 –19 Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; 20 Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;
2. We are filled with the Holy Spirit for service. Acts 6:3 β Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.
3. We are filled with the Holy Spirit for power to be a witness. Acts 1:8 β But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto Me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
4. We are filled with the Holy Spirit for the hour of persecution. Acts 7: 54-60 –
54Β When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth.Β Β 55Β But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God,Β Β 56Β And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.Β Β 57Β Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord,Β Β 58Β And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young manβs feet, whose name was Saul.Β Β 59Β And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.Β Β 60Β And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.
5. We are filled with the Holy Spirit that we may βwalk in the Spirit.β Gal. 5:16-26 – 16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. 17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. 18 But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law. 19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, 20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. 24 And they that are Christβs have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. 25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. 26 Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.
6. We are filled with the Holy Spirit that we may be led by the Holy Spirit. Rom. 8:14 β For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
WE CAN ONLY BE FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT IF WE DESIRE HIM TO FILL US. THEN WE MUST ASK HIM TO FILL US. AND FINALLY, WE MUST BELIEVE THAT HE FILLS US.
John 4:14
But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.
The separated life is simultaneously positive and negative.Β The old adage β βbe in the world, but not of the world,β was derived from the topic of this article. Β
Romans 1:1
Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God. . .
Read that carefully!Β We are to be βseparated unto the gospel of Godβ!Β This isΒ POSITIVE SEPARATION.
2 Corinthians 6:17
Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.
We must come out of ANYTHING that is contrary to the perfect will of God. This is NEGATIVE SEPARATION.
FOR THE BELIEVER β TO BE SEPARATED βΒ MEANS TO BE SANCTIFIED (SET APART) FOR SALVATION AND SERVICE
1. The Word of God has the power to separate the believer from sin. John 17:17 β Sanctify them through Thy truth: Thy Word is truth. Ps. 119:11 β Thy Word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against Thee.
2. God the Father has the power to separate the believer unto the βcoming of our Lord Jesus Christ.β 1 Thess. 5:23 β And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
3. God the Son has the power to separate the believer unto righteousness, βnot having spot, or wrinkle.β Eph. 5: 24,27 β
24Β Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.Β
25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave Himself for it;
26 That He might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the Word,
27 That He might present it to Himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.
4. God the Holy Spirit has the power to separate the believer unto salvation and service. 2 Thess. 2:13 β But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth.
If we are not separated, we can still have a relationship with God, but we can not have fellowship with Him.Β This is the problem of the dominant church spirit at this time β Laodicea.Β The majority of churches are now so closely allied with the world, there is no fellowship with God.Β They may be united with Him at Calvary, but separated from Him in sin. Β
Isaiah 59:1-2
59 Behold, the Lordβs hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither His ear heavy, that it cannot hear:
2 But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid His face from you, that He will not hear.
Without separation we can have:
Influence without power
Movement without achievement
Trying without trusting
Serving without success
Spiritual battle without victory
WITHOUT SEPARATION UNTO GOD β OUR ENTIRE CHRISTIAN WALK WILL BE βWOOD, HAY, AND STUBBLE.β
THE TRULY ABUNDANT LIFE IS ONLY MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH THE DEATH, BURIAL, AND RESURRECTION OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST β MADE REALITY BY SEPARATION UNTO HIM.
The only way for believers to live abundantly, is to serve the Lord Jesus Christ, Who Himself became our example. He served from the beginning, all the way to Calvary; and there became the obedient servant. . .βobedient unto death.β Phil. 2
Romans 12:1-2
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
In the above verses from Romans, believers are urged to take the necessary steps for abundant living. Please note the highlighted words in red.
1. We are to βpresent.β Of our own volition, we are to surrender to the perfect will of God β even though we may not know Godβs will for our lives β it is on our own part β AN ACT OF FAITH. John 7:17 If any man will do His will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of Myself.
2. We are to βpresent your bodies,β because God must control and use the WHOLE man. Your whole man was redeemed on the cross and sanctified! (set apart for service) 1 Thess. 5:23 And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
3. We are to βpresent your bodies as a living sacrifice.β No where is this better demonstrated than in the life of Paul β who was a βliving sacrifice.β In life he was a servant of Jesus Christ β Romans 1:1 Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God. . .
In spiritual battle, he was a warrior β Eph. 6:10-18
10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might.
11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
12 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.
13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God:
18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints.
He lived as a βprisoner of Christ,β in the will of God β Eph 3:1 For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles These words were spoken from a Roman prison β yet he never stated that he was a prisoner of Rome. To the Apostle Paul, prison was a part of the perfect will of God. Full of this conviction β he lived abundantly. Phil. 1:12 β But I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel. . .
In death, Paul was victorious β 2 Tim. 4:7-8
7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:
8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.
ONLY THOSE WHO ARE TRULY BORN AGAIN, CAN EXPERIENCE THE ABUNDANT LIFE. BY CHOOSING THE ABUNDANT LIFE β THE BELIEVER IS βTRANSFORMED,β BY THE POWER OF GOD β AND NO LONGER βCONFORMED TO THIS WORLD.β NOW WE CAN BE CONFORMED TO THE βPERFECT WILL OF GOD.β
There is no secret formula or ritual to living the abundant life; it is revealed, as are all great truths β in the Person of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Romans 6:10
For in that He died, He died unto sin once: but in that He liveth, He liveth unto God.
Faith that saves, identifies us with Christ in His resurrection. This IS the abundant life!
Colossians 3:1-4
3 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.
2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.
3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.
4 When Christ, Who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with Him in glory.
1. It is one thing to have eternal life by faith. It is another thing entirely to have abundant life by faith.
2. It is one thing to βbe made the righteousness of God in Him.β 2 Cor. 5:21 β For He hath made Him to be sin for us, Who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him. It is quite another thing to realize His righteous life is in us. 1 John 3:7 β Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as He is righteous.
3. It is one thing to live in Christ. 2 Cor. Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. It is another thing for Christ to live HIS life through us. Col. 1:7 β To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. . .
Romans 6:13
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.
Romans 6:13, shows us that every believer has a choice. We may yield unto God by faith, and enjoy abundant life, or the believer may yield unto sin and endure a defeated life. Rev. 3:1 β And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith He that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead. God wants ALL believers to know the power of a yielded life β for it will lift us above circumstances that circumvent abundant living. The abundant life begins the instant we yield to Him as Lord and Master (Not Lordship salvation!!) allowing Him to live His life through us by faith.
The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
The only way into eternal life is through faith in Christ as personal savior.Β
Once you are saved β do not stop there! Having eternal life is the most important, but there is so much more. Christ said that He came that we might have life more abundantly. ALL believers have life, but not all believers have abundant life.
In order to have abundant life, we need abundant resources. The only unlimited resource is the Person of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
John 14:6
Jesus saith unto him,Β I amΒ the way,Β the truth, andΒ the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me.
In order to possess this abundant life β we MUST abide IN HIM!
John 15:1-5
15 I am the true vine, and My Father is the husbandman.
2 Every branch in Me that beareth not fruit He taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, He purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.
3 Now ye are clean through the Word which I have spoken unto you.
4 Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in Me.
5 I am the Vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in Me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without Me ye can do nothing.
This kind of vibrant, abundant living is not for just a select few, it is what God wants for ALL believers. It is a deep spiritual life, and without it, the Christian life is meaningless.
If you do not have abundant life within you β you will soon yield to carnality. The fleshly life around you will overcome your puny resistance, and and you will be surrounded.
1 Corinthians 3:1-4
3 And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.
2 I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.
3 For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?
4 For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal?
The carnal Christian life is circumstance controlled β the abundant life is Holy Spirit- controlled. The carnal Christian life leads to one defeat after another β the abundant life leads to victory in Christ.
Man seems to know everything about life except how to live it abundantly.
Please continue on with this series, and determine that from now on β not to be satisfied with anything less than Godβs best β life abundantly.
Hebrews 11 is often called the βHall of Faith.β This is a chapter we need to visit often, and linger at. If we desire our faith to become strong in the Lord, there is no better place than this Scripture to see what strong faith is. Here we get a view of the history of Israel and the Church, written by faith, in the blood of the saints.
Hebrews 11:32-40
32 And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets:
33 Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions.
34 Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.
35 Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection:
36 And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment:
37 They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented;
38 (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.
39 And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise:
40 God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.
They worshiped by faith as Abel, and walked by faith as Enoch. They worked by faith like Noah, and lived by faith as Abraham. They governed by faith as Moses, and they followed by faith as Israel. They fought by faith as Joshua, and conquered by faith as Gideon. They subdued kingdoms as David, and they stopped the mouths of lions as Daniel. They walked through fire by faith as the Three Hebrew Children, the suffered by faith as Paul.
They died by faith as stephen β the first christian martyr
Acts 7:54-60
54 When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth.
55Β But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up steadfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God,
56 And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.
57 Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord,
58 And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young manβs feet, whose name was Saul.
59 And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.
60 And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.
By faith they were patient in suffering, courageous in battle, made strong out of weakness, and were victorious in defeat. They were more than conquerors by faith. It is only by faith in the all-powerful Christ that we can be superior to circumstances, and victorious over all the evil forces that would destroy us and our testimonies.
Hebrews 12:2
Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; Who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
The faith of the saints inspires us β but we must look to Jesus as our example of faith.Β
This concludes our Study on Faith β next up β The Abundant Life!
There is one passage in the Bible that perfectly portrays the three kinds of faith. It is well known β having entire books written to explore it. We will go a little deeper, using only Scripture β and not needing a whole book to understand the deep things of God!
In John 11, we see the faith of Martha in connection with the resurrection of her brother Lazarus. It begins when Lazarus fell ill, and his sisters Mary and Martha sent for Jesus to come and heal him. Jesus delayed His coming until Lazarus was dead and in the grave for four days. Then He arrived and found the limited, fundamental faith of Martha His only obstacle.
1. Marthaβs faith wasΒ limited.Β
John 11:21
Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if Thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.
The death of Lazarus meant the end of Marthaβs faith. She believed that Jesus had the power to raise her brother up from the sick bed, but not from the dead. Her limited faith restricted the power of Christ (not that He is not all-powerful β but in that He only worked miracles where they would be received and He would be believed on)
Matthew 13:58
And He did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief.
Limited faith is controlled by circumstances, and motivated by fear of failure
2. Marthaβs faith was fundamental. In John 11:23, Jesus said β βThy brother shall rise again.β These words were spoken to kindle hope in Martha, but she still prevaricated.
John 11:24-27
24 Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day. [Here she declares her fundamental faith in a Great Truth, but that is not enough!]
25 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in Me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: [Jesus is saying that He has all power over life and death]
26 And whosoever liveth and believeth in Me shall never die. Believest thou this?
27 She saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world. [She evades His question and states her creed. Stating one’s creed to the living, all-powerful Christ is shallow indeed – faith must go beyond creeds.]
John 11:35
Jesus wept.
It wasnβt only Marthaβs faith that was limited β it was many of the Jewβs who were doubting and decrying Him for delaying His arrival.
3. At last,Β unlimited faithΒ came to Martha when she agreed to have the stone moved from Lazarusβ grave.Β Martha first objected in unbelief. Β
John 11:39
Jesus said, Take ye away the stone. Martha, the sister of him that was dead, saith unto him, Lord, by this time he stinketh: for he hath been dead four days.
Then Jesus challenges her to believe.
John 11:40
Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God?
Martha demonstrated her new-found, unlimited faith, by allowing the stone to be moved, and then she waited in faith β and was rewarded!
John 11:43
And when He thus had spoken, He cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth.
Seeing is NOT believing.
You must believe first, and then you will see.
Faith comes before sight. Donβt be satisfied with limited, fundamental faith only, when you can have unlimited faith that pleases God β because it reveals His glory!
As you can see β a 300 page book is not required! You only need The Book!
Every believer can fall into the βlittle faithβ category β at least at some point in their walk. The LORD so perfectly illustrated this for us, and its remedy, in Matthew 14, which relates the incident of Peter walking on water to meet the LORD. We will examine this episode, and see ourselves as Peter, and what we can do to grow our faith.
Matthew 14:28-31
28 And Peter answered Him and said, Lord, if it be Thou, bid me come unto Thee on the water.
29 And He said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.
30 But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.
31 And immediately Jesus stretched forth His hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?
At this stage in Peterβs spiritual growth, he is a man of βlittle faith.β We know that after Pentecost, he became a spiritual giant. The important passage above, detailing Peterβs little faith β is something we can learn from β and it was designed for our learning. Think of the significance of Jesus coming to His disciples during a terrible storm, walking calmly on the water while they were in great distress. Peter asks if he can come to Him on the water β and the LORD said COME!
Before we begin β please reread the above scripture carefully!
PeterΒ did the impossible thingΒ – he walked on water by faith.
Next, PeterΒ did the conceivable thingΒ βΒ he took his eyes off ChristΒ – and looked at the water β he had second thoughts β and he doubted.
Then PeterΒ did the expected thingΒ β he began to sink β he failed.
Now PeterΒ did the right thingΒ β he prayed β βLord, save me.βΒ Peter reconnected to the Lord in faith.
Then PeterΒ did the impossible thing againΒ β with an extra β he walked on water back to the ship βΒ with the Lord.
The order of events is extremely important!!
The steps: Peter began in faith, and walked on water. Then he saw the storm, and had second thoughts which led to doubt. The doubt produced fear, that caused him to turn away, and brought on the failure.
In this lesson we see the success and failure of βlittle faithβ
We need faith that is bigger than the elements that seek to destroy us. We can have this kind of faith by prayer and fasting –
Matthew 17:20-21
20 And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.
21 Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.
and by feeding our faith on the Word of God.
Romans 10:17
So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.
The Vine Vigil 
