Showing posts with label 1 Peter 5:8-9. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 1 Peter 5:8-9. Show all posts

Saturday, September 22, 2018

VESPERS AT THE END OF THE SABBATH: The Celebration Train!




I Could Hear Music In Anything
And
The Celebration Train's Wheels
Were
- To Me At Least -
Musically Turning!

I Could Hear Them Plainly Singing!

Perhaps It Was My Guilty Conscience
- Valiant -
Ever Working ... For My Good
Projecting The Song I Was Hearing!

When It Was Going Slowly, It Said:

Backslide!
Chastise!

Confess!
Deliver!


When It Picked Up Speed, It Said:


You Backslide! 

God Will Chastise! 
You Confess! 
God Will Deliver!

I Was Amazed!

I Looked Around To Share My Discovery
But
Everybody Else Was Carrying On
- Into Self -
Trusting Mr. Good Vibes
- Our Decidedly Amiable Host -
To Make The Party Stay Alive!

I Had Been, Too ... Before
But, NowI Was No Longer So Sure
That This Party Was For Me
Because
I Knew That The Later It Got
People Would Really Start Behaving Badly!
Previously
I Would Have Joined Them Gladly!

Lord, What To Do?!
What Do I Do!?
I Have Not A Clue!

I Can Hear Working Conscience's Refrain!
How Do I Get Off
This Going Nowhere Train?!

Pull The Emergency Cord!

Huh?!


Pull The Emergency Cord!
Pull The Emergency Cord!
Get Off This Train
Before It Reaches The Fjord!

What Fjord?!
This Train Is Not Supposed To Be Crossing Any Water!
The Old Bridge Is Out Of Commission!
If It Tries
There Will Be A Slaughter!

Stop The Music!
Stop The Revelry!
Stop That Music!
People! People!

Listen To Me!

Shut Up! Shut Up!            
                You're Spoiling Our Fun!
Shut Up! Shut Up!                           
             Grab A Drink And ... SIT DOWN!!


Pull The Emergency Cord!
This Is An Emergency!

I Could Still Hear The Voice Speaking:

Pull The Emergency Cord!
Pull The Emergency Cord!
In A Spiritual Emergency
Non-Performance
In Almighty God's Eyes
Is
Treason!

I Pulled The Emergency Cord!

People Cursed And Cried Out!
They Spilled Their Drinks And Snacks!

Some Fell On The Floor
But
Their Lives Were Saved 
To Hear Me Excitedly Say:

Almighty God Visited His Mercy On Us Today!
We Were Heading Over The Bridge!

What Bridge?!

We Are Not Supposed To Be Crossing The Bridge?!?

Exactly!

Lord Jesus!

I Heard
I Heeded The Spirit's Warning!
If The Train Had Dared To Make The Crossing
None Of Us Here Would Now Be Talking!
We Were Going In The Wrong Direction!
We Would've Had Not An Ounce Of Protection!

People! People ...!

... Wait A Minute!
Where's The Driver?!
Where's Mr. Good Vibes?!

Where's The Host!?! 

He's Not Here!!

Gracious Me ...!

Brethren,
As The Story Goes
So Goes Life!
Satan Encourages Us
To Do Wrong
To Wrong The Living God
And
Then He Leaves Us
Me And You
- Deceived -
To Face Whatever Is Sin's Just Reward!

Let Us Trust God And ... Walk Straight!
Let Us Deny The Vile, Wily, Liar
And
Walk As Becomes The Overcomer Of
Sin Self And Satan
And
In The Appointed Day
We Shall Walk - By Right -
Through Heaven's Pearly Gate
Having Avoided
Satan And His Witting Companions' 
Designated Fate!

Let Jesus Walk You Safely Home!
Leave The Party-Hard
Fast-Talking
Hurry-Up Drivers
To Themselves!
Let Them Go To Hell On Their Own!




Saturday, July 22, 2017

VESPERS AT THE END OF THE SABBATH: Victory In Jesus: Trust The Word! + Prayer: Lord, Guide Us!


Brethren,
Please Draw Nigh!


All Ye That Love
The Lord Of Life
Have No Reason
- By Reason Of Faith -
At The Injustices Done
To Yourselves To Cry!


Let Us Bless God
For Truth And Light
And Let Us Live Our Lives
So That He In Us Will Find Delight!


Easy For You To Say!

Easier Said Than Done!

Brethren, No!
She Speaks The Truth!
We Need To Think Vertically!
Think Of The Two Yutes!


Yutes?!

Young Ones!

Who Are These Young Ones
We Need To Think Of?!


Brethren,
Who Were The Two Young Men
Who Championed The God Of Heaven
Even In The Midst Of Sorrow And Seeming Disgrace?!


I Know, I Know!
Joseph And Daniel!

Check!
These Young Men
Did Not Stand On Ceremony!


Joseph Did Not Take The Bait
Against His God
To Commit Adultery!


Daniel Walked Upright
In His Integrity
Not Permitting
The Machinations Of The Minions
To Stop Him
From Saying His Daily Prayers
To The God Of All Creation

AND
Before That
He Chose Not To Defile Himself
By Eating Drinking
Swine And Wine!

Both Of These Noble Men
Were By Very Evil
Set Upon
BUT GOD ...!
But God What?!

Question For You ...

Did God
A. Stop Joseph's Brethren From Trying To Kill Him
B. From Selling Him Into Slavery
C. From Potiphar's Wife Trying To Seduce Him
D. From His Being Wrongfully Accused
E. From His Being Cast Into Prison
F. From His Being Forgotten By The Baker
G. From His Languishing In Prison?


No, No, No, No ... On All Counts!
On The Issue Of Daniel:

Did Daniel's Unyielding Faith And Trust
In The Holy God
Stop Him From:


A. Being Carried Into Babylonian Captivity
B. Being Confronted With The Unclean Diet Of The King
C. Being Targeted By Jealous, Wicked, Men
D. Being Spied Upon
E. Being Caught In The Web Of Evil And Deceit
F. Being Arrested
G. Being Tried
H. Being Condemned
I. Being Cast Into A Den Of Hungry Lions
J. Spending His Entire Life As A Captive
K. Being A Captive Even Though It Was In  Gilded Cage?


A Thousand Times ... No!
But, Why?!

It Seems Kinda Unfair
Rewarding Devotion And Fidelity 

With Red Torment!

Red Torment! I Like That!
What Does Mean?!

Everyday Torment Is Black
No Chance Of Being Killed ...!


... So Red Torment Means
Life On The Line
High Possibly Of Bloodshed
Leading To Death!


You've Got It In One!

Yes!! 

Almighty God
- Our Lord -
Could Have 

STOPPEDJoseph From Being Set Upon By His Brethren
From Being Cast Into A Dry Well
From Being Sold As A Slave
From Being Separated From His Beloved Father!


Sounds A Lot Like Jesus, Doesn't It?!

It Should Make Us Think!

Almighty God
Could Have ...!


... He Didn't!

... But Didn't Stop
Daniel From Being The Flint
That Lit
The Dried Out Straw Of Raw Jealousy!


Think For A Moment
On True-Hearted Abel!
Moses In The River Nile!
Moses' 40 Years In The Training School Of God Before
The 40 Years Wilderness Experience!


Sad ...!
He Didn't Enter The Earthly Promised Land!

Rejoice ...!
 Before His Body Saw Corruption
Jesus As Michael Took Him
- After Rebuking Satan -
To The Heavenly Promised Land!


Take A Look Also
At Moses' Successor Joshua!
IF Ever There Is A Lesson For Us
It Is That!


What On Earth Do You Mean?
What Happened Just Before
The Big Battle Of Joshua's Career?


Do You Mean Before Jericho?!

Exactly!

He Had A Confrontation
With "The Unknown!"


And ...?!

He Uttered The Challenge:

"Are You For Us Or For Them?!"

And ...?!

The Response Was Swift
AND
All Of God's Children
Should Take It To Heart
AND
Raise The Standard Of Truth
The Pennant Of Faith
High
No Matter What It Is
With Which We Are Confronted!



Remove Your Shoes!
You Are On Holy Ground!
The Captain Of Heaven's Hosts
Is Here!
Stand Firm!
Listen To 
And
Do Exactly What I Say
Your Victory Over Sin Shall Appear!


Jericho Is Synonymous With Sin!
The Captain Of Heavens Hosts
ISThe Eternal
Christ Jesus!
Shoes Off On Holy Ground
IS

Nothing Between
You And God's Word

You And Christ!

When You Are Rooted And Grounded
You Will Stand Firm
In Jesus Christ's Faith
Against
The Thick And High Walls
Of The Devil's City Of Sin!


Did Joshua Believe?
Did Joshua Take Heed?
Did Joshua Execute
On The Word Of Preparation Given By The Lord?
Did Joshua Fight Valiantly?
Did Joshua - In The Name Of The Holy God -
Defeat The Citadel Of Satan?
Did Joshua Claim
AND
Inhabit
The Promised Land
The Great Reward?!


Indeed He Did!

Praise God For Grace And Coming Glory!

Brethren,
Don't Start Rejoicing Just Yet
For
In Every Lesson
There Is A Tale Of Caution!


The Cautions Today
Are Two!
In Joshua ... Remember Achan
Who
Though A Citizen
Of The Household Of God
Trusted Himself To Provide
His Own Financial Security
AND
Gave Up Sure Paradise
For The Lie
Which Lies In
The Goodly Babylonian Garment
- The Lies Of The Father Of Lies -
AND

The Perishable
Silver On Top Of Gold
Which Must
From Detection
Must Be Hidden
Under The Desert Sand Floor Boards!


Nasty!

That's Just Wrong!

Better Off Waiting For The Fulfillment Of The Promise!
Do You Know What Happens
To Those Who Would Be
God's Traffic Director?!


Lots Are Cast Against Them
Aka They Are Found Out
And They Are Denounced
For Troubling The Camp Of God
And Are Condemned
And Are Led Outside
The Camp Of The Righteous!


AND ...?!


And They Are Summarily Destroyed!

He Shouldn't Have Touched The Unclean Thing!
He Should Have Stood Firm
Just Like Daniel!


Achan Should Have Awaited
God's Appointed Crown Of Glory ...!


... And Could Have
- Like Joseph -
Saved Many
From The Congregation Of The Righteous
From The Strangers' Realm
Giving Them The Bread Of Salvation
So That For The Kingdom
Hungering Souls
May Be To Satisfaction
Be Completely Fed!


This Is Interesting!

We Started With Joseph And Daniel
AND

We Are Finishing The Same Way
Giving Credence
To The Truth Of The Word Of God:


Line Upon Line
Precept Upon Precept
Here A Little
There A Little!


The Hid Treasure Is Revealed
IF 

We Will
Trust The Living God
With Our Living

ANDOur Lives To Lead!
So ...

With That Said
What Have You Learnt Today?


Walk By Faith!
Don't Trust Your Eyesight!

Wisdom Builds A Sure House!
Don't Lean On Your Own Understanding!

Almighty God Is The Sure Foundation!

Goodly Babylonian Garments
And Stolen Hidden Silver And Gold 

Do Not Build A Prosperous House
Or Lead To Longevity!


Wait On The Lord!
Trust God And Grow!
Father Knows Best!

Eyesight And Hindsight
Are Not Equal
To The All-Seeing
All-Knowing
Ever-Present
Foresight
Foreknowledge
Of The Eternal God!


Those Are All Very Good Answers!
You Surely Have Been Studying!
Well Done!

Brethren Beloved,
Stand Firm In The Faith Of Jesus Christ

AND
For The Truth
Be Ye Old Or Youth!


Jesus Christ Is The Sure Foundation!
Trust Him At His Word
All The Time
AND
More Particularly

When You Can't See
How Why When Where If
To Sit Stand
Or Walk Run
Or Just Go!


The Righteous Are Never Forsaken!
The Wilfull And Unrighteous
- With Deliberation -
Committedly Forsake God
AND
Receive Into Themselves
Greedy-For-Gain's Just-Condemnation Award!


Any Last Words?

Don't Do A Lucifer
And Take The Adversary Of God Role
For
You Will Be As Satan
And
The Lake Of Fire, Then
Will Be Your Goal!


Well Said!

Let's Pray:

Thank You, God

For Truth And Light!
Let Us In Your Word Delight!
Teach Us
Feed Us
And
Day By Day
Guide Us
So That From Your Living Truth
We Will Never Stray!


Bless Us To Do Your Will

This Day
And
Keep Us Safe
Forever In Your Care
In Jesus' Holy Name, We Plead!
We Love You, Lord!
Haste The Glad Day Of Redemption!
We See Our Need! 
AMEN!






Monday, May 16, 2016

Exclusive Inclusivity!





The Sinner Is Welcomed But His Sin Is Not!
Our Faith Is Welcomed But Our Doubt Is Not!
The Truth Is Welcomed But Falsity Is Not
For
The Love Of God Is Enlightening Enlivening
AND
Saves Confessed Sinners
From The Sin Blot!

The Hopeless
The Helpless
The Valueless
The Worn
The Pitiful
The Peaceable
The Meek And Mild
Are Children
Of The Dear Master
The Inoffensive One
He
Who Made The Complete Payment
To Totally Redeem Everybody
Who Trusts 
Solely
In His Merits
To Avoid Paying
Satan And Sin's  Fees!

Inclusivity Is Exclusively Inclusive!
Exclusivity Is Inclusively Exclusive!
This Is Not A Play To Break The Hinge Of Your Tongue
But A Way To Show You
How God Moves Around!

The Sinner Is Loved!
The Act of Sinning Is Hated!
The Vile Sin Is Despised!
The Repentant Sinner Is Elevated!

Living For Self Is A Baleful Act!
Living For God Shows
That At Sin We Are Not Looking Back
No Matter The Manner
Of Satan's Vile Attacks!

Trusting The Word Of The Holy One
Shows Faith Which Garners Favor!
Trusting The Words Of The Money Philosophers
Is The Act Of A Wanderer
Who Loves Tickles
AND
The Savor Of Curried Favors!

Just Because
"They" Have A Giant Band
And Their Cause Is Fittingly Grand
Does Not Mean They Are Walking On The Glorious Strand
For
Celebration Pomp And Circumstance
Do Not Lead To Glory Land!

Beware The "Truth" Preacher
Who Is Richer Than God
For
To Be Sure
He Is Not Working For The Lord!

Beware Of The Teacher
Whose Words Do Not Substantiate
The Word Of The Word
Of How A Sinner
Gains Entrance Through
The Pearly Gates!

Beware The Short Cut
Road
Supposedly Leading To Life!
Beware The Word Of The Winsome Champion
Who Says Christians Shall See No Strife!

The Living Word Of The Master
The Shepherd Of The Flock 
Without Fear Of Contradiction Says:


"Love Me! 
Share My Earthly Lot!"


The Love Of God Is Sublime
The Difference Between
Grape Juice
And
Wine!






Sunday, October 25, 2015

One Church!?!




The Church is Poor in Pocket
The Church is Poor in Numerical Strength
The Church is Poor in Possessions
And what Little The Church has
Is in Constant Prayer Spent!

That Church is Rich in Pocket
That Church is Rich in Numerical Strength
That Church is Rich in Possessions
And whatever That Church has
Is on Constant Personal-empowerment Spent!

The Churches Believe in The Master
The Churches Pray unto The Living God
The Churches Believe in God's Promises
Of The Church getting its True and Just Reward!

One Church Preaches The Gospel
One Church Preaches A Gospel for Reward
One Church Teaches Love of God With Emotion
One Church Teaches The God of Emotion with Love!

One Church has for a Mission 
Gather The Masses By The Learned Word
One Church has for a Mission 
Gather The Masses By The True and Living Word!

One Church Gladly Gloats of Its Temporal Glories
One Church Gladly Gives Holy Praise to Its Eternal God
One Church Runs to and fro Gathering Rusting Trophies
One Church Runs Trusting To God From The World!

One Church!
Same God!
Similar Worship!
Same Prayers!
Similar Church!
Different Care!
One Church!
Same Mission!
Different Destination!

"Lord, There Is Something Seriously Wrong Here!"

We who Believe in God for Salvation
We who Believe in Jesus Christ and The Living Word
We who Believe in The Comfort of The Holy Spirit
Must Take Stock of what That One Church Really Says!

The True and Living God of The Holy Bible
The Author and Finisher of Our Faith
Is The Same Yesterday, Today and Forever
And Does Nothing To Be Popular Nor To People Scare!

"Repent and Be Baptized!" is a Constant!
Open The Door! 'I AM Knocking!" is a Constant, too!
And ... "Come unto Me and Rest from All Your Labors!"
Is Not Something That Is Held Back From The Seeking Few!

One Church has Itself A Stated Mission
One Church has Itself A Stated Goal
One Church - by A Name - is A Church, and
One Church IS The Church Of The Holy Living Eternal Father God!

No Stated Demonication
Registered Denomination nor
Hallowed Designation
Holds Any Water With Our Almighty God!
A Heart for Jesus Christ
A Life Divorced from Carnality and Vice
A Life Turned Toward Eternal Life
Is What Will The Holy God Suffice!

WANTED: 
A Prepared Church 
for 
The Holy One!
A Holy People - Not A Holy Building of Holey People!

PROVIDED:
A Heavenly Home
by
The Holy One 
for 
The Wholly-Prepared Church of The Holy Bible!